"It's Naruto! I almost didn't recognize you. Long time no see!"
Hearing that, Tenten shifted her gaze away from the still-petrified Rock Lee. Her eyes lit up when she turned and saw Naruto. "You changed your look?"
"You were still wearing that orange outfit the last time we met."
"This looks good. Much more spirited than your previous set."
Naruto was about to reply when Neji beside him tilted his head slightly and gave him a look.
His gaze lingered on Naruto for a moment. His expression did not change, but his eyes slowly moved between Naruto's white trench coat and black turtleneck before he withdrew his gaze and asked, "You know each other?"
"Yeah, he ordered custom ninja tools from my family's ninja tool shop, so we've met once."
Tenten answered without hesitation.
Watching the scene unfold, watching the natural conversation between Tenten and Naruto, Sakura suddenly felt an indescribable sense of discomfort well up inside her.
She cleared her throat, then grabbed Sasuke's sleeve and called out to Naruto.
"Let's go, Sasuke, Naruto. The exam is more important. Don't waste time here!"
Naruto nodded to Tenten in farewell, then went with Sasuke and Sakura through the crowd, which had returned to normal, and headed up the stairs toward the third floor.
At that moment, Rock Lee finally snapped out of his petrified state. Looking in the direction Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura had left, his thick lips moved slightly. Then he clenched his fists and straightened his back once more.
After passing through the second-floor mezzanine, the corridor became noticeably quieter.
Most of the examinees who had truly seen through the genjutsu had already gone inside. Only the three of them remained on this short stretch of stairs.
Just then, a burst of hurried footsteps came from around the