"Naruto... Sasuke..." Naruto and Sakura spotted them and were overjoyed. Naruto was glad that Yin Xiang had finally returned, while Sakura was delighted that both of them were so handsome.
"Kankuro, stop embarrassing yourself." A voice suddenly came from behind Sasuke. "You're making the whole village look bad." Everyone except Yin Xiang was startled by the sudden appearance.
At the same time, all the jonin had gathered on the Third Hokage's side. "I didn't summon you here for any other reason. You can probably guess why, now that you've seen everyone gathered here," the Third Hokage said, looking at the ninjas below.
"So it's already that time," Kakashi said first.
"We've already informed the other countries, haven't we? We've been seeing their ninjas in the village from time to time, after all," Asuma added.
"Then... when is it?" Kurenai asked.
"One week from now," the Third Hokage said.
"That's pretty soon." Kakashi sounded completely unconcerned, despite saying it was soon.
"Phew..." The Third Hokage let out a puff of smoke. "Then let it be officially announced: the Chunin Exams will begin seven days from today, on July first."
Over on Yin Xiang's side, Kankuro looked up at the person in the tree and said fearfully, "I... I understand. Sorry." Then he glanced fearfully at Yin Xiang. That guy's bloodlust... seemed even stronger than his own.
"I'm truly sorry about that," Gaara said to Yin Xiang. At the same time, he thought, He threw that kunai with incredible precision, and it looked like he did it without even trying. His eyes are full of bloodlust. This guy is really strong. And then there's that one, too. He looked at Sasuke.
That guy's eyes are really annoying, Sasuke thought as he looked back at him.
Whoosh...
Gaara turned into sand and swept down from the tree, appearing in front of Kankuro and Temari. He stood before Yin Xiang. Sasuke also stood up in the tree. "We're leaving. We didn't come here to play," Gaara told Kankuro and Temari. Then the three of them turned to leave.
"Wait!" Sakura ran after them and called out.
The three stopped, but didn't turn around. "What?" Temari asked, her back still to Sakura.
"Judging by your Forehead Protectors, you're ninjas from Sunagakure. The Land of Fire and the Land of Wind are allies, but the treaty should prohibit ninjas from freely entering each other's countries. State your purpose. Depending on the circumstances, we'll..."
"Sakura," Yin Xiang called, stopping her before she could continue. The three from Sunagakure also turned to look at her.
"They're here for the Chunin Exams," Yin Xiang said. "They've come to take part."
"Mm, that's right." Temari nodded, and the three of them turned and continued on their way.
"Hey, what are the Chunin Exams?" Naruto asked Yin Xiang. Just then, Sasuke jumped down from the tree. "Hey, you over there! What's your name?" he called after Gaara and the others.
"Huh? Me?" Temari turned around first, her cheeks flushed.
"Not you. The one next to you with the gourd on his back," Sasuke said to Temari.
Gaara turned around. "I'm Gaara of the Desert. I'm a little interested in you, too. What's your name?"
"Sasuke Uchiha," Sasuke replied. They exchanged a brief look. Then Gaara turned to Yin Xiang. "And you?"
"Namikaze Yin Xiang," Yin Xiang said calmly. "What about me? What about me?" Naruto sprang out from beside Yin Xiang and shouted. Gaara glanced at him, then said, "Not interested."
After that, the group turned and left.
Sasuke also turned to look at Yin Xiang. He hadn't expected that the person he'd chased away from the lake would be so strong, too. What was with that bloodlust in his eyes?
"Hey, Konohamaru, am I really that weak?" Naruto crouched on the ground, dejected.
"You're still a little weaker than Big Brother Sasuke," Konohamaru said, crouching in front of Naruto. Naruto immediately went berserk when he heard that.
On another tree nearby, three Sound Ninja were watching. "What do you think?" one of the standing male ninjas asked the one sitting in the middle.
"I don't think they're anything special, but those two black-haired guys from Konoha and the gourd-carrying one from Sunagakure—those three are worth keeping an eye on," said the seated ninja.
"Over there." Yin Xiang suddenly looked in their direction, startling the three of them. Naruto and the others followed his gaze and only then noticed them. "Look again, and—" Yin Xiang said without moving.
"I'll tear you apart." The rest of his sentence came from behind them.
"W-when did he..." The three turned around in shock, only to find Yin Xiang already standing behind them.
"So fast!" Sasuke's eyes widened. He looked at where Yin Xiang had been standing, but there was nothing there. "What an incredible Body Flicker Technique."
"We're leaving!" The lead Sound Ninja hurriedly ran off, and the other two quickly followed. Only then did Yin Xiang return to where he'd been standing. Even if Yin Xiang did it again, Sasuke still couldn't see how he'd gotten there.
Back on the Third Hokage's side.
"Now, as the Chunin Exams are about to begin, I'd first like the leaders responsible for the new Genin to step forward," the Third Hokage said from his chair.
Kakashi, Kurenai, and Asuma stepped forward.
"How are the ninjas under your care? Do any of the Genin you've recommended plan to take this exam?" the Third Hokage asked. "Of course, this goes without saying: formally, any Genin who has completed at least eight missions can be recommended for the exam by one of you. Though usually, they need twice that many missions to gain enough experience to take part."
"Let's start with Kakashi." The Third Hokage looked at Kakashi.
"Team 7, led by Kakashi: Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto Uzumaki, and Sakura Haruno. In my name, Kakashi Hatake, I recommend them for the Chunin Exams."
"Team 8, led by Kurenai: Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, and Shino Aburame. In my name, Kurenai Yuhi, I recommend all three for the exam, as above." Kakashi stood to Kurenai's left, so she said "as above."
"Team 10, led by Asuma: Ino Yamanaka, Shikamaru Nara, and Choji Akimichi. In my name, Asuma Sarutobi, I recommend all three for the exam, as above."
"All three teams recommended their Genin..."
"New Genin are taking the Chunin Exams?"
"This hasn't happened in five years." The Chunin behind them began discussing it among themselves.
"Wait!" Iruka hurriedly stepped forward and called out.
"What is it, Iruka?" The Third Hokage looked at him. Kakashi, Kurenai, and Asuma also turned around.
Before you continue