After that day, Wuye and Temari's relationship changed slightly, though it remained hazy.
Temari often spaced out during training. Sometimes, she simply stopped cultivating altogether, sitting on the grass and staring at the sky.
Wuye did not press her for answers. He merely sat there spacing out with her...
The Chunin Exams were in full swing.
During the first written test, under Ibiki's terrifying pressure, Naruto did not show his usual thick-headed, inexplicably hot-blooded side. Using his Wood Release ability, he directly drained a Chunin examiner's chakra, got the answers, passed a copy to Karin, and casually showed off in Sasuke's face.
In the second round, the battle for the Heaven and Earth Scrolls, he put on another display against Orochimaru's giant snake, leaving Sasuke—whose neck had been branded by Orochimaru—even more depressed and withdrawn.
As for the preliminary matches before the third round, Hinata was absent, while Karin directly forfeited. Everyone else still lost or won as they should have. After one burst of youthful passion, Rock Lee still had half his body crushed by Gaara...
Wuye had sincerely tried to persuade him, hoping he would give up being a ninja and do anything else.
But Rock Lee stubbornly persisted, then clung to his teacher, Might Guy, and wept bitterly.
In truth, Wuye really did not want him to become a ninja. Even by the era of Lord Bo, he would not be able to open the Seventh Gate. His talent was far inferior to Might Guy's...
Ah, youth. Guy was still its most passionate spokesman.
"Lord Hokage, it's begun!"
In the Hokage's office, Nara Shikaku stood with several familiar faces.
Minato Namikaze and Hatake Sakumo were also present, all waiting in grim readiness.
"Other than the Sand Village, what are the other three major ninja villages doing?"
Wuye