At that moment, the owners of many inns throughout Konoha were grinning from ear to ear.
This enormous windfall had finally come their way. Every inn was completely full.
Even the late-arriving ninja had no choice but to cram four or five people into a single room.
By two in the afternoon, all the ninja had gathered at Konoha's examination hall.
Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura had also met outside Ichiraku Ramen. The three formed a team and headed toward the examination hall.
Along the way, Naruto instinctively glanced at someone not far ahead carrying a sand gourd on his back.
Gaara sensed the gaze behind him and immediately turned around, his cold eyes settling on Naruto.
At that moment, both Naruto and Gaara felt a faint stir from the tailed beasts within them.
"Naruto! Make sure you teach that brat a good lesson during this exam."
"I don't want to! Why should I listen to you?"
Meanwhile, inside Gaara, Shukaku began using words to tempt him.
"That brat is the same kind of existence as you. If you can't kill him, then your existence has no meaning."
Bloodshot veins immediately appeared in Gaara's eyes, and a chilling smile spread across his face. He stared fixedly at Naruto, as though he wanted to see what kind of monster lay within Naruto's body.
"Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill..."
Gaara kept muttering the word in a low, crazed voice.
Kankuro, standing beside Gaara, immediately sensed that something was wrong and instinctively looked over at him.
His expression instantly turned terrified. His gaze wavered, and his pupils began to tremble.
"Damn it! Why has Gaara suddenly lost control of his emotions?!"
"Temari! Think of something, quick!"
Upon hearing Kankuro, Temari immediately panicked. Sweat beaded across her face as she stepped in front of