Just as Kabuto was preparing to leave, he saw Naruto Uzumaki, who was leaping rapidly through the trees, raise his head and glance in his direction.
"Was I discovered?"
Kabuto's habitual smile remained at the corners of his mouth, but the pupils behind his lenses contracted slightly.
"What terrifying perception..."
Kabuto murmured, adjusting his glasses. "It seems Naruto Uzumaki really needs to be closely observed."
Naruto withdrew his gaze and pushed open the Central Tower's main doors with Sasuke.
The tower was brighter than the forest, with wall-mounted torches illuminating the entire circular hall as brightly as day.
At the center of the hall lay a smooth stone floor. Directly opposite the entrance hung an enormous scroll, its brush-written words describing the core principle of this exam.
Naruto took out the Heaven and Earth Scrolls from his ninja pouch, placed them side by side on the ground, and pulled open their ties at the same time.
Two clouds of white smoke burst forth at once. When the smoke cleared, a figure wearing a Konoha Chunin uniform stepped out.
"You've worked hard. I'm the Chunin messenger assigned to receive you."
Iruka spoke in the businesslike tone of an examiner.
But when his gaze passed Naruto and Sasuke and landed on the unconscious Sakura on Sasuke's back, the muscles between his brows twitched almost imperceptibly.
"Looks like you went through quite a battle."
Iruka dropped his formal examiner's tone, and his voice carried a concern that only the three of them could recognize.
"Iruka-sensei, Sakura needs rest."
"I'd like to talk with you more, but now isn't the time."
Iruka looked at Naruto upon hearing that.
Naruto used to pounce on him every time they met and shout, "Iruka-sensei, I'll treat you to ramen!" But now, he carried a tempered steadiness