6. Kabuto
When the first stage of the Chūnin Exam began, Morino Ibiki established a rule that instilled fear in the participants. If one team member answered the tenth question incorrectly, the entire team would be punished by remaining Genin forever and would never be allowed to take the Chūnin Exam again. However, Ibiki offered an option for those who were hesitant to withdraw, with the guarantee that they could retake the exam the following year.
Amidst the tense atmosphere, Kabuto, who was also participating in the Chūnin Exam, observed Naruto’s actions. Naruto drew the attention of all the participants by slamming the table and shouting at Ibiki that he would neither run away nor give up. With unwavering determination, Naruto declared that even if he had to remain a Genin for life, his dream of becoming Hokage would never change.
During the meeting of the three Sannin, a fierce battle ensued involving Tsunade, Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Kabuto. Kabuto exploited Tsunade’s fear of blood, rendering her paralyzed with fear. In that moment, Naruto stepped in to protect Tsunade and decided to fight Kabuto.
Naruto used his incomplete Rasengan to attack Kabuto. However, before the attack could land, Kabuto struck first by channeling chakra into Naruto’s right thigh, severing the vastus lateralis muscle. This caused Naruto to struggle to stand, leaving him in a vulnerable position.
Kabuto then mocked Naruto by reminding him of his words during the first stage of the Chūnin Exam. He taunted Naruto, asking if he now felt scared and wanted to run away. With a sarcastic tone, Kabuto advised Naruto to stop shouting like a child. He told Naruto that he needed to be wise and accept the reality that, in certain situations, surrendering and fleeing could be the more sensible choice.
Kabuto also ridiculed Naruto’s dream of becoming Hokage, calling it a foolish ambition of a child who believed everything in life was easy. According to Kabuto, Naruto’s words about his dream held no true meaning and were nothing more than empty promises.
