Hmph. You think those bits of sand are enough to save your big brother's Puppet Crow?
Lin Fan sneered at Gaara, who was hanging upside down from a tree, and shouted in a low voice.
The next second, Lin Fan's left hand suddenly blazed with light.
The Rasengan, which he'd successfully leveled up to its maximum and boosted to 100% chakra shape transformation, finally appeared.
Everyone present saw a sky-blue chakra sphere form in Lin Fan's hand, twice as large as the one before, as it slammed into Gaara's Shield of Sand.
Boom!
In an instant, a deafening crash rang out alongside a blinding flash of light.
Everyone saw the sand shield blasted open by Lin Fan's Rasengan.
The Puppet Crow's head and half its body instantly turned into splinters of wood, scattering through the air.
The remaining half of its broken body twitched now and then, suspended by the Chakra Threads.
Lin Fan then walked over to Kankuro.
He patted Kankuro's shoulder and said quietly, "Remember, don't casually insult a ninja's dignity in someone else's village.
"This time, I only taught you a lesson by smashing your puppet. But if I catch you doing it again, I'll put a hole through your heart."
Kankuro was clearly unwilling to accept Lin Fan's words.
He considered himself to have Chunin-level strength by now.
But after watching Lin Fan's Rasengan shatter his puppet, he could only grit his teeth and endure it.
What could he do? He'd failed to recognize a mountain when he saw one—and had happened to run into what might be the youngest elite jonin in Konoha.
Shock!
Stunned!
Petrified!
The many foreign ninja present couldn't help but feel horrified at the sight.
That ninja wearing a Konoha Forehead Protector looked about the same age as them.
Could he already be a jonin in Konoha?
Had that technique just broken through Gaara's Shield of Sand?
Temari stared at Lin Fan in a daze, a growing unease stirring in her heart.
Heh, interesting!
At last, I'd found an opponent who could truly hold my interest.
The next second, Gaara used the Body Flicker Technique to appear in front of Kankuro and Temari.
He faced Lin Fan with a feral grin, his expression dark.
Gaara, could you please not start a fight here just yet?
Kankuro had no time to dwell on the despair of being defeated by Lin Fan in an instant.
Seeing the look on Gaara's face, he hurried forward and gently touched his shoulder, trying to calm him down.
His purple-painted face was full of entreaty.
That's right, Gaara. Don't forget, we still have something important to do!
Temari quickly stepped forward and whispered in Gaara's ear.
The three of them had come to Konoha on a mission while taking part in the Chunin Exams.
And Gaara was the key to whether they could complete that mission.
She naturally didn't want him revealing his strength to everyone ahead of time.
"Get lost! Do you two want to die?"
Gaara spoke in a chilling tone.
His eyes were filled with cold killing intent.
Gaara's words sent Kankuro and Temari into a cold sweat. They didn't dare say another word.
Gaara quickly poured chakra into the gourd.
Sand poured from it, filling the sky.
Like golden waves, it surged toward Lin Fan.
Thump!
"Big brother Lin Fan, I'm sorry. This is all my fault."
When Naruto saw the sandstorm sweeping toward them, his legs gave way and he fell to the ground.
If he hadn't been looking around out of curiosity and accidentally bumped into Kankuro, how could this have happened?
"Hey, Naruto, what are you talking about? Team 7 is one unit. When trouble comes, we face it together."
Sasuke yelled at Naruto.
But as he watched the surging sea of sand charging toward them, his eyes were also filled with deep horror.
Lin Fan nodded in agreement, then prepared to form Hand Seals and use Earth Style: Earth Wall to block Gaara's attack.
Boom!
Just as the sand was closing in on the three of them, a deafening crash sent it billowing to either side.
Might Guy and Kakashi—the best-buddy duo—appeared in front of Team 7 and easily neutralized the attack.
"Good grief, you three little troublemakers never give your teachers a moment's peace!
"Still, even though I lost my bet this time, your determination has made your teacher very proud."
Kakashi turned around and gave the three of them a squinting smile.
As it turned out, Kakashi and Might Guy had been discussing yet another contest in the nearby woods. They'd happened to see the whole thing unfold and had made a bet on whether Team 7 would stand together against a powerful foe.
"Young ones, Konoha forbids fighting. That rule applies to foreign visitors, too.
"You can choose to fight Lin Fan three days from now. The Chunin Exams are the stage where you youngsters can let your youth burn to its fullest!"
Emperor Guy's eyes blazed as he shouted to everyone, his voice full of passion.
"What?"
The foreign ninja present couldn't help but stare in surprise at Emperor Guy's words.
So Lin Fan wasn't a jonin in Konoha after all.
He was a Genin, just like them, getting ready to take the Chunin Exams in three days!
Thinking back on the power of the Rasengan Lin Fan had just used, they couldn't help feeling their scalps tingle.
Had Lin Fan really improved so much since their days at the Ninja Academy?
"What a drag. Can I get back the application form I already submitted? I'm suddenly regretting signing up for these Chunin Exams."
Shikamaru, who'd watched the whole thing from the sidelines, slapped his forehead and sighed loudly.
"Damn it! Lin Fan's showing off in front of people from other villages again."
"Akamaru, when will everyone finally look at me like that?"
Kiba Inuzuka clenched his teeth and shouted in frustration.
"Lin Fan, you're so amazing! I-I need to train harder, too.
"That way, I'll be good enough for him."
After thinking sweetly, her face flushed red, Hinata's vision went dark and she fainted again.
Soon, Baki, the leader of Sunagakure's delegation, arrived beside Gaara.
"Gaara, please calm down for now."
After speaking, Baki gently patted Gaara's shoulder.
The anger on Gaara's face gradually faded, and the chakra in his body quickly settled.
"Baki, is that person really going to take the Chunin Exams three days from now?"
Gaara spoke in a low voice and pointed toward Lin Fan.
"That's right. He's one of Konoha's top candidates."
Baki answered Gaara seriously.
"Good. I can wait. Three days from now, you have to let me fight him properly."
Gaara gazed intently at Lin Fan, a cruel smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.