Making Friends Out of Nothing

Outside the examination grounds.

Sasori and Kakuzu were both stunned.

Looking at the sandstorm blotting out the sky in the distance, forget walking through it—even flying would not get them across.

Kakuzu asked uncertainly, "Is this the kind of life you people from Sunagakure usually live?"

Sasori slowly shook his head. "No. Only the Desert of Demonic Sands has sandstorms on this scale."

"Even in the Desert of Demonic Sands, sandstorms of this size are rare."

"Before a sandstorm like this formed, Sunagakure should have sent people to intervene."

"This is clearly an exam, yet there's such a massive sandstorm."

"Someone else may have interfered."

Kakuzu had not expected such a major turn of events. "Is their target also the Jinchuriki?"

Sasori hesitated. "I'm not sure, but there's no use discussing that now."

"We can't get through a sandstorm this big."

Kakuzu thought for a moment. "Then forget it. Let's head to the meeting point first and see whether it's Tobi."

"Alright!"

As the sandstorm grew ever more powerful.

Many Chunin Exam examinees had completely lost their sense of direction. Not only was visibility nearly zero.

Even the sand whipped up by the fierce winds scraped against their skin like a sanding machine.

Any slightly larger stone sent flying could leave someone bloodied and battered.

The team made up of Sakura, Ino, and Choji could barely move any farther.

Fortunately, Kankuro found them at that moment.

"Use these. They're sandproof cloaks."

As Kankuro handed the sandproof cloaks to them.

It was only when he spoke that Ino and the other two realized there was someone from Sunagakure standing before them.

Kankuro said, "The second round has been temporarily suspended. Follow the person beside me to the shelter first."

Temari, beside him, swung the giant fan in her hand.

She