Opening Ceremony

The messages quietly passed back and forth were like threads, slowly weaving into traps to catch their prey, each lying in wait!

Time slipped by amid the strange atmosphere.

A few days later, Konoha finally announced that the Chunin Ninja Exams would officially begin in three days. Upon hearing the news, all the participating ninja eagerly prepared themselves, suppressing their excitement as they awaited this unprecedented—and perhaps never-to-be-repeated—exam!

Konoha fell quiet over the next three days.

The ninja from the various villages stopped wandering around Konoha and returned to their lodgings, preparing their equipment while getting into shape.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye.

The much-anticipated Chunin Ninja Exams officially began on a clear morning.

The opening ceremony was scheduled to take place in Konoha's main arena. Early that morning, ninja from the various villages and Konoha residents who had come to watch filled the streets, forming several streams of people that flowed toward the arena from every direction.

Standing on the balcony of his apartment, Shinji gazed at the throng in the nearby streets and remarked, "Konoha's residents really do love these big events!"

Just then, Haku and Karin came downstairs and waved up at Shinji on the balcony. "Shinji!"

"Yeah!"

Shinji nodded, then leaped straight down from the balcony.

"We're ready!" Haku said.

"Then let's go!" said Shinji.

Since Haku and Karin were Shinji's teammates, they had signed up for the Chunin Ninja Exams after he did.

As ninja, the three of them couldn't exactly squeeze through the streets with the villagers.

So they leaped onto the rooftops and hurried along the ridgelines toward the arena.

Along the way, they ran into Sasuke, Naruto, and Sakura's team, who were also headed for the venue, as well as Yakumo and Shion, with Tenten, who had been