No!
No...
It could only be this Chunin Exams!
But... wasn't a Chunin Exams like this enough? Beneath their stunned expressions, Neji Hyuga and Tenten ran through every piece of information they knew about the matter. After thinking it over repeatedly, they ultimately arrived at one definite conclusion.
It could only be the Chunin Exams.
Other than the Chunin Exams, there was no reason the village would not hand down punishment.
But the man before them did not seem to be lying. Moreover, this Taki Chiba clearly knew more than they did—or rather, he saw farther. So there had to be something they had failed to see.
In other words, one Chunin Exams apparently was not enough—not enough for the village to refrain from handing down punishment.
At that moment, they suddenly understood the implication hidden within Chiba's questions.
However, they could not figure out what, aside from the Chunin Exams, could make the village refrain from punishing them at a time like this.
"Activate your Byakugan and take a look."
At that moment, seeing the looks on their faces, Chiba spoke again.
Clearly, he had realized that if he did not give them a hint, they would never understand.
Byakugan?
Hearing that, both of them froze, somewhat bewildered. They did not understand why the man before them was telling them to activate their Byakugan now.
"You'll understand once you look."
Chiba spoke again.
Hearing this, the two exchanged another glance.
This time, after that glance, Neji Hyuga's pale eyes slowly bulged forth. Veins began extending from the corners of his eyes, stopping only at his temples.
At that instant, everything within one and a half kilometers around him was exposed to Neji Hyuga's eyes.
This remote area, the nearby streets of Konoha, and part of the Hokage Rock Mountain