The sun hung high in the sky, its rays casting long shadows. Sakura's voice echoed in his mind, her question piercing through his concentration.

"Naruto, where do you envision yourself in five years?"

He had answered without hesitation, his dream as clear as day. "I want to be Hokage!"

But Sakura had pressed further, her expression serious. "That's not what I asked. Do you see yourself as Hokage in five years? That's a very difficult goal to achieve. Villages prefer experienced leaders. It's not impossible, but..."

Naruto huffed in frustration, the weight of her words settling in. "What's your point, Sakura? That's what I envision."

Sakura sighed, glancing towards Sasuke, who had been silently observing their exchange. Sasuke, sensing her plea for help, stepped forward, his voice calm and direct.

"In the next five years, Naruto, you won't be Hokage," Sasuke said bluntly. "Sakura is trying to ask if you see yourself being more respected, if the villagers like you, or if you're still hated. Chasing their approval is sad. You should focus on your own goals, not on what they think."

Naruto stared at Sasuke, shocked by the length and depth of his words. Even Sakura looked surprised. Before Naruto could respond, Kakashi appeared in a swirl of leaves, his masked face unreadable.

"It's time for the Chunin Exams. The first part is happening now," Kakashi announced, disappearing as quickly as he had come.

Sasuke turned to Naruto and Sakura. "We'll discuss this later. We need to get to the Chunin Exams."

Naruto nodded, still processing Sasuke's words. He followed Sakura and Sasuke, his mind a whirlwind of thoughts. Could he truly become Hokage if the villagers didn't accept him? Would they revolt against him? The realization hit him hard—becoming Hokage wouldn't magically earn their respect. They could still turn on him.

As they walked, Naruto pondered Sasuke's other point. Why did he crave the villagers' love and respect? Did their opinions really matter? Most of them treated him horribly. Maybe Sasuke was right—he should stop caring about their approval.

Lost in thought, Naruto barely noticed when they arrived at the Chunin Exams building. The massive structure loomed before them, filled with ninjas from various villages. The tension in the air was palpable.

Sakura looked at Naruto, concern etched on her face. "Are you okay?"

Naruto forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking."

Sasuke smirked. "Don't think too hard, dobe. We need you focused."

Naruto glared at Sasuke. "I know, teme! I'm ready."

They entered the building, weaving through the crowded hallways. The buzz of conversation filled the air, a mix of excitement and nerves. They passed by ninjas from the Sand Village, their fierce expressions a stark contrast to the friendly chatter of other groups.

As they made their way to the designated room, Naruto couldn't shake his thoughts. What if he never gained the villagers' respect? What if they never saw him as anything more than the nine-tailed fox's vessel? He clenched his fists, determined to prove them wrong.

They reached the room, where other participants were already gathered. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation. Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke found a spot and settled in, scanning the room for familiar faces.

Sakura nudged Naruto. "Look, it's Hinata."

Hinata stood with her team, her eyes briefly meeting Naruto's before she looked away, blushing. Naruto gave her a small wave, and she shyly waved back.

Sasuke's gaze was fixed on another group. "There's Gaara of the Sand. He looks intense."

Naruto followed Sasuke's gaze and saw the red-haired ninja, his cold eyes scanning the room. Gaara's presence sent a shiver down Naruto's spine. This exam would be no joke.

Suddenly, a familiar voice called out, breaking the tension. "Hey, Naruto! Over here!"

Naruto turned to see Rock Lee, his bright eyes and bushy eyebrows unmistakable. Lee waved enthusiastically, his teammates Neji and Tenten standing beside him.

"Lee!" Naruto exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face.

Lee walked over, his energy infectious. "Are you ready for the exams, Naruto? I've been training hard for this day!"

Naruto nodded, his earlier worries momentarily forgotten. "You bet! I'm going to show everyone what I'm made of!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Don't get ahead of yourself, dobe. We haven't even started yet."

Lee's expression turned serious as he looked at Sasuke. "Sasuke Uchiha, I challenge you to a fight before the exams begin."

Sasuke raised an eyebrow. "A fight? Now?"

Lee nodded vigorously. "Yes! I want to test my skills against you."

Naruto stepped between them, his competitive spirit flaring. "Hey, what about me? I want to fight too!"

Lee shook his head. "Sorry, Naruto. My challenge is to Sasuke."

Sasuke smirked, stepping forward. "Fine. Let's do this."

Before they could begin, a voice interrupted. "Save your energy for the exams."

They turned to see Guy Sensei, Lee's mentor, standing with his arms crossed. "You'll have plenty of opportunities to test your skills."

Lee bowed respectfully. "Yes, Guy Sensei."

Naruto huffed in disappointment but understood. The exams were their priority. He glanced at Sakura, who gave him an encouraging smile.

With the tension eased, they settled in, awaiting the start of the Chunin Exams. Naruto's mind wandered back to Sasuke's words, but he pushed them aside for now. There would be time to reflect later. For now, he needed to focus on the challenge ahead.

As the proctor entered the room and called for attention, Naruto took a deep breath. This was it the start of the Chunin Exams. He was determined to prove himself, not just to the villagers, but to his teammates and, most importantly, to himself.

The proctor's voice rang out, marking the beginning of the exam. "Welcome, everyone. The Chunin Exams begin now."