Naruto: i am the strongest hunter.

Chapter 4: The First Step

Two Months Later – Naruto's POV:

Two months. That's how long it's been since I graduated from middle school. Today marks the day I finally take the entrance exams for Konoha Hunters Academy (KHA)—the first step toward becoming a full-fledged hunter.

For the past two months, I've pushed my body and mind to their absolute limits, spending hours training relentlessly every day. My mornings were filled with strength training, endurance drills, and speed exercises, while my nights were dedicated to studying for the written test.

Academics were never my strong suit, but I knew I couldn't afford to fail. The entrance exam is divided into two parts:

1. The Written Test – Tests knowledge about dungeons, monster classifications, hunter regulations, and general academics.

2. The Physical Test – Evaluates a candidate's physical capabilities to see if they are fit to become a hunter.

According to the old man, the physical test isn't that difficult for someone like me, but the written portion required me to study more than ever. Despite my struggles, I refused to let anything hold me back.

---

I stood at the bus stop, waiting for my ride. The city around me was already awake, the streets bustling with people. When the bus finally arrived, I stepped inside, only to find it completely packed.

"Great…" I muttered under my breath.

With no available seats, I grabbed onto the metal bar and braced myself for the long ride. An hour passed, and the bus finally stopped at my destination.

Stepping off, I found myself in front of a massive stadium-like building—the Konoha Hunters Academy Entrance Exam Center. It looked exactly like the Hero Association Headquarters from One Punch Man, towering over the surrounding buildings with its colossal steel gates and futuristic architecture.

Taking a deep breath, I exhaled slowly.

"So this is KHA… the first step to becoming a full-time hunter."

All around me, hundreds of students were making their way inside, dressed in school uniforms or training gear. Each of them carried the same burning determination in their eyes. They had all come here for the same reason—to enter this prestigious school and prove themselves.

I clenched my fists, feeling my own excitement rise.

Just as I was about to enter, I accidentally bumped into someone.

Thud!

The person fell backward, landing on the ground with a surprised yelp.

"Oh, sorry! Let me help you." I extended my hand, feeling slightly awkward.

The person looked up, revealing short pink hair and striking emerald-green eyes. She hesitated for a moment before taking my hand.

"Umm… sorry," she mumbled, avoiding eye contact.

I quickly pulled her up, shaking my head. "Nah, that was my fault. I should be the one apologizing."

The girl rubbed the back of her head and let out a nervous laugh. "Um… this is awkward…"

I chuckled. "Yeah, a bit."

Trying to break the ice, I asked, "What's your name? My name's Naruto. Are you here for the entrance exam?"

She nodded. "Yes, I'm Sakura Haruno. And yeah, I came to take the exam."

I blinked, realizing who she was. Sakura Haruno.

> Wait a minute… isn't she supposed to be, like… different?

I glanced at her again, noting how she carried herself—her posture was more poised, and her physique was… well-developed. That was definitely not what I expected from the Sakura I knew from the original timeline.

'Wasn't she supposed to be flat-chested? Why is she—?!'

I quickly snapped out of my thoughts, forcing myself to focus. She noticed my brief stare and flushed in embarrassment, shifting uncomfortably.

I cleared my throat. "Ahem, well, good luck on the exam. Hope we both make it in."

She smiled slightly. "Yeah, good luck to you too."

With that, we parted ways, each heading toward our respective exam halls.

---

The Written Exam

The exam hall was massive, filled with rows upon rows of students. Each desk had a numbered seat, and I quickly found mine. After a short wait, the proctors distributed the test papers, and the exam officially began.

For three straight hours, I focused entirely on answering the questions.

Half of the test covered dungeon theory, monster classifications, and hunter regulations. Thanks to the old man, I aced this section with ease.

The remaining questions involved general academics—math, science, and problem-solving. Some were tricky, but I managed to handle them.

Once I finished, I handed in my paper and stepped outside, stretching my arms.

" Not bad. I think I did pretty well."

---

The Physical Examination

After submitting my test, an examiner led me and the other candidates through a long hallway where we were assigned to different rooms for the physical assessment.

My assigned room was 101-D.

When my number was called, I entered and was greeted by an elderly proctor dressed in a formal uniform. He examined me carefully, then started the test.

The physical assessment was pretty straightforward:

Basic medical check-up – They checked my vitals, ensuring I had no underlying health issues.

Strength test – Simple exercises like push-ups, squats, and grip strength measurement.

Stamina test – Running on a treadmill to gauge endurance.

It wasn't anything too extreme, and the whole thing barely lasted ten minutes.

"Alright, you're done," the examiner said, marking something on his clipboard. "You may leave now."

I nodded and exited the room.

---

Feeling a bit hungry, I decided to grab a bite at a small restaurant near the exam center. The place had a cozy atmosphere, filled with students who had just finished their tests.

I ordered a quick meal and sat down at an empty table. Just as I was about to eat, I noticed three guys walking into the restaurant.

One had spiky black hair tied up in a pineapple-like style.

Another was chubby but had a relaxed and friendly aura.

The third had marks on his cheeks, giving him a wild appearance.

They sat at a table beside me, talking amongst themselves. I ignored them at first, focusing on my food, but then—

"Hey," the guy with the pineapple hair spoke up lazily. "Weren't you the guy taking the KHA entrance exam? I think you were in front of Kiba, right?"

I turned toward them, raising an eyebrow.

"Oh yeah! That's the guy!" The one with the cheek marks—Kiba—said.

The chubby one smiled. "What's your name? I'm Choji, that's Kiba, and the lazy guy here is Shikamaru."

I blinked, instantly recognizing them.

Shikamaru, Choji, and Kiba… This world's versions of them, huh?

Realizing this was a good opportunity to make friends, I smiled.

"My name's Naruto."

To be continued…