Drawing Lots for Grouping

Meanwhile, Menma and Hinata walked side by side down streets that were gradually growing livelier.

He casually pillowed both hands behind his head, while Hinata walked half a step behind at his side, her head lowered slightly, her hands clasped in front of her. Every now and then, she would secretly lift her eyes to glance at Menma's profile, then quickly look away again, her cheeks faintly red.

Today was the third round of the Chunin Joint Exams, the final day that would decide whether all the candidates could advance to Chunin.

Konoha seemed to have gathered all its vitality and noise into this one day.

Although most of the travelers, merchants, and nobles who had come to watch the ceremony had already set out for the tournament venue in the north of the village, the streets were still packed with people.

Many civilians who could not get into the venue, or tourists simply enjoying the festive atmosphere, gathered at izakaya, cafés, and even open-air stalls all over the place.

Some business-minded shopkeepers had long since set up their own televisions outside their stores, or were using projection screens to broadcast the venue's footage in real time.

Crowds gathered in front of the screens, eating snacks, drinking beverages, chattering excitedly, guessing, and cheering for the ninja squads they favored. The noisy waves of sound nearly lifted the roofs.

The air was filled with the aromas of all kinds of street food, the smell of sweat, and a cheerful, heated atmosphere unique to festivals.

"By the way, Menma-kun." Hinata seemed to suddenly remember something and spoke softly. "'Big Sister' said... if there's a chance today, she wants to come out and see exactly how strong the opponents are."

The "Big Sister" she spoke of naturally referred to Big Sister Hinata.

That