Gaara's remark left Kakashi only able to smile awkwardly in response.
After all, as someone who had participated in that exam, Kakashi knew better than anyone what Gaara had been like back then.
Sasuke had nearly died at his hands too.
If Yeyu had not stepped in during the final match, Sasuke's strength would never have been enough to defeat Gaara in his fully Tailed Beast-transformed state.
Gaara, however, did not seem embarrassed at all.
He even brought up what had happened back then. "Yeyu suppressed me in an instant."
"I still remember it vividly to this day."
"I wonder when he'll become Hokage."
"Your village is very fortunate. You have genius ninja like Second Pillar and Neji Hyuga, and now Yeyu has appeared as well. Perhaps this era will belong to them."
For a moment, Kakashi did not know how to respond.
Still, he could hear just how difficult Sunagakure's situation was.
Otherwise, Gaara, as the Kazekage, would not have said such things.
The first exam ended after only a little over two hours.
No unexpected incidents occurred.
The second exam was also a wilderness survival test.
However, Konoha's second exam was held in a forest.
Sunagakure's, on the other hand, was held in the desert.
The conditions were far harsher than those in Konoha.
Sunagakure's Training Ground was much larger than Konoha's Forest of Death, and the worst part was the lack of water and the difficulty of hunting.
If one lost their direction in the desert, failed to find water, or could not find food, it would greatly affect their combat strength.
They would be at a severe disadvantage when they encountered other teams.
The Forest of Death had a radius of ten kilometers, while Sunagakure's Training Ground had a full radius of fifty kilometers.
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