Final Exam: Opening and Sudden Change

A month passed in the blink of an eye amid intense training.

At dawn, the Hidden Leaf Village was already bustling. The streets were spotless, colored banners fluttered, and convoys of nobles and wealthy merchants from various nations had entered early. The villagers wore festive clothes, their faces brimming with pride.

The final round of the Chunin Exams had long since surpassed the meaning of genin promotion. This was a grand showcase that concerned the village's reputation.

Uchiha Ling stood in the contestants' lounge, looking through the glass window at the packed stands. Deafening cheers drifted over faintly, yet his heart was unusually calm.

The past month of grueling training had greatly improved his strength. More importantly, his control over the curse mark in his body had become far more practiced. Though he still could not actively use its power, maintaining its suppression had become almost instinctive.

"So this day finally came."

Someone said it in a low voice, breaking the silence in the lounge.

The atmosphere in the room was so heavy it felt like water could be wrung from it. The seven candidates each occupied their own space, maintaining a subtle distance.

Naruto paced back and forth restlessly, glancing toward the stands from time to time. Sasuke closed his eyes to rest, but his clenched fists betrayed the turmoil within him. Shikamaru leaned lazily against the wall, yet his eyes were unusually clear.

Temari and Kankuro stood together, their gazes occasionally flicking toward Gaara in the corner, carrying a barely perceptible worry.

As for Gaara...

Uchiha Ling could clearly sense that the chakra lingering around the red-haired boy was even more violent than it had been a month ago. Shukaku's will churned fiercely inside him, as if it could burst out at any moment.

"Candidates, please enter the arena!"

The staff member's voice broke the stillness.

When the seven of them walked into the arena one after another, the mountain-roaring, sea-surging cheers nearly overturned the sky. The sunlight was glaring, and Genma Shiranui had been waiting in the center of the field for some time.

In the VIP seats, the Third Hokage sat side by side with Orochimaru, who was disguised as the Kazekage. The heads of the major clans and the daimyo of various nations were all in place. Ling could feel several powerful senses sweeping across from the stands.

"We will now draw lots to decide the order of the first-round matches."

Genma Shiranui took out a sealed scroll.

The electronic screen rolled rapidly, then finally froze—

First match: Sasuke Uchiha VS Gaara

Gasps rang out across the stands. No one had expected the very first match to be such a heavyweight clash.

The corners of Sasuke's mouth lifted into a smile full of fighting spirit. In Gaara's eyes, a bloodthirsty gleam flashed.

"The other candidates, please return to the lounge and wait."

As Ling turned to leave, he brushed past Sasuke. He could feel the surging chakra inside Sasuke, as well as that suppressed, cold aura belonging to the curse mark.

"Be careful," Ling said in a low voice.

Sasuke gave a cold snort and strode toward the center of the field.

Inside the lounge, everyone watched the match through a crystal ball. When Sasuke displayed astonishing speed and tore through Gaara's sand defense with Chidori, even Kankuro and Temari showed looks of shock.

"That guy's speed..." Sakura murmured.

But Gaara's madness surpassed imagination. When the armor of sand shattered, revealing the savage face beneath, that terrifying chakra made the entire arena fall silent.

"I'm going to... kill you!"

Amid Gaara's roar, Shukaku's power began to run out of control.

Just then, countless pure white feathers suddenly drifted down from the stands.

"Demonic Illusion: Temple of Nirvana Technique!"

The spectators collapsed in swathes, and commotion broke out in the VIP seats. Sound Ninja and Sand Ninja disguised as Anbu suddenly launched their attack, and the entire venue instantly fell into chaos.

"It finally started." Ling stood up, a sharp glint flashing through his eyes.

Almost at the same time, the door to the lounge was blasted open, and several Sound Ninja rushed in.

"Find Sasuke Uchiha!" the leading Sound Ninja shouted.

What they saw, however, were the other six candidates already in combat stances.

"Looks like..."

Blue lightning danced over Ling's kunai.

"The warm-up has to start early."

Outside the arena, a massive Four Violet Flames Formation rose, enveloping the Third Hokage and the "Kazekage" within. Farther away, the enormous figure of the One-Tail Shukaku began to appear.

The Hidden Leaf Collapse Plan had officially begun.

(End of Chapter 25)