"What did you say, Kakashi-sensei!?"
"You want us to take the Chunin Exams!?"
As the two voices burst out simultaneously, the blond boy and the dark-haired boy on the training ground abruptly turned toward each other, their faces taut as their gazes locked.
The two boys were naturally Naruto and Sasuke, whose strength had grown by leaps and bounds during their recent special training under Jiraiya and Sakumo respectively.
By now, neither of them retained the immaturity and childishness they had shown when they had first left the Ninja Academy.
Naruto wore light orange clothes with several black stripes, along with spiral markings at several places along the sides.
He looked taller and leaner than he had when he first graduated from the Ninja Academy.
Because he had gradually learned to wield the Nine-Tails' power under Jiraiya's guidance, the more proficient he became at using it, the fainter the whisker marks on his cheeks grew.
With Kushina's features paired with the azure eyes and golden hair he had inherited from Minato, he now looked far more sunny and handsome.
Sasuke, meanwhile, wore a small light-colored kimono with a large Uchiha Clan crest on the back.
He was as handsome as ever, with a hint of coldness on his face. A somewhat short blade was tucked into his waist.
As their gazes met, it was as though fierce sparks flickered between them.
Seeing that neither of them was willing to yield, Kakashi, standing before them, scratched his head in frustration and said softly.
"Seriously, you two. It's been so long—how come you're still like this whenever you meet?"
Hearing that, Sakura, who stood to the side in a qipao-like outfit, somewhat sheepishly raised her hand and asked.
"Kakashi-sensei, we only graduated from the Ninja Academy not long ago. Isn't it too