Gaara

The mission ended early that day.

After finishing it, the group headed toward the Hokage Office.

Naruto walked with his head down, listlessly howling,

"Why is our mission buying groceries again?! We've completed an A-rank mission!"

Sakura walked beside him, still fairly energetic.

"Stop complaining, Naruto. Look at Sasuke—he never complains about this stuff."

Sasuke gave a cold snort.

Naruto rolled his eyes hard beside him.

Just then, Chiya spotted someone very familiar leaning beside the intersection ahead.

Kakashi!

Kakashi leaned against a streetlamp, still holding that book and reading it intently.

Naruto saw him too, paused for a moment, then ran over to greet him.

"Kakashi-sensei, what are you doing here?"

Kakashi's eyes curved.

"Ah, naturally, I was waiting for you."

Naruto looked utterly unconvinced.

"Tch, liar!"

Kakashi did not explain. He simply pulled four sheets of paper from his clothes and handed them over.

"Well, now that you're all here, it's time to give you these."

Naruto blinked.

"What are these?"

Sakura took one of the papers and glanced down. Her expression immediately turned more serious.

Sasuke took one as well.

"The Chunin Exams?"

Kakashi put away his book, his voice lazy.

"Let's make this clear first. This exam isn't a mission. I'm only recommending that you take part; whether you do or not is up to you."

Naruto had just opened his mouth to shout when Kakashi raised a hand and pressed down on his head.

"Listen first."

Naruto was pushed down a little, his cheeks puffing up.

Kakashi continued, "There will be people from other ninja villages in the Chunin Exams—the Sand Village, Sound Village, Grass Village, Rain Village, all kinds. Some are only there to advance in rank, while others may not be there just for the exam."

Sakura tightened her grip on the application form.

"Will it be dangerous?"

"Yes."

Kakashi answered immediately.

Even Naruto quieted down a little at that.

"You saw real combat in the Land of Waves. You should know by now that a ninja's battles are brutal. The Chunin Exams are more troublesome than you think. Getting hurt is normal, and if someone dies..." Kakashi paused, then looked at them all before continuing, "that isn't unusual either."

Naruto swallowed, then quickly lifted his chin.

"I'm not scared!"

Kakashi looked down at him.

"All right, I've made myself clear. Think carefully about whether you want to participate. If you do, turn in the application forms to Room 301 on the third floor of the Ninja Academy before three tomorrow afternoon. No late submissions."

Sasuke looked down at the form without speaking.

There was no need to ask. He would definitely go.

The same went for Naruto.

Sakura lowered her head, looked at the application form for a while, then raised her eyes toward Sasuke.

Kakashi took in all their reactions before finally looking at Chiya.

"How's your body?"

"I'm fine."

"Don't force yourself."

"I really am fine."

Kakashi stared at him for a while, then nodded.

"All right, that's it."

With that, his body blurred and vanished from where he stood.

Naruto held the application form, looking utterly excited.

"Whoa, the Chunin Exams! That sounds awesome! So, so, let's all enter together!"

Sakura glared at him.

"Did you hear what Kakashi-sensei just said? It's dangerous!"

"I heard him." Naruto stuffed the form into his clothes. "That's why I have to enter! I'm going to let everyone know that I, Naruto Uzumaki, will become Hokage soon!"

"Hey, Sasuke, don't tell me you're scared!"

Sasuke gave a cold snort.

"I don't know who was so scared of the enemy that he couldn't move."

"Ah! You stuck-up Sasuke! I'll prove myself!"

Sakura's eyes filled with hearts as she thought, As expected of Sasuke. He's so cool!

The group ran and bickered along the street when, upon reaching an intersection, they suddenly heard a shout ahead.

"Let me go!"

Chiya looked up.

Konohamaru was being held by the collar by a boy dressed in black, his toes nearly off the ground and his face flushed red.

Purple markings were painted on the boy's face, and a bandage-wrapped object was strapped to his back.

Beside him stood a blonde girl carrying a huge fan, frowning.

Chiya halted.

That should be Kankuro and Temari. Then Gaara should be here too.

Naruto immediately rushed over.

"Hey! Let Konohamaru go!"

The moment Konohamaru saw Naruto, he shouted, "Naruto-bro!"

Kankuro turned around and looked Naruto up and down.

"Another piece of trash."

Naruto clenched his fists.

"What did you say?"

Sakura hurried after him.

"Naruto, don't do anything rash!"

Sasuke remained where he was, his gaze falling on the bandages behind Kankuro.

A puppet. If that thing started moving in the street, the nearby residents would suffer.

He reached out and tugged Naruto back.

"Put Konohamaru down first."

Naruto looked at him unhappily.

"Hmph."

Kankuro sneered, tightening his fingers.

Konohamaru cried out in pain.

Smack!

A small stone flew over and struck Kankuro's wrist.

Kankuro loosened his grip, and Konohamaru fell to the ground before scrambling behind Naruto.

Sasuke stood nearby, still pinching a second stone between his fingers.

Kankuro's expression darkened.

"You bastard..."

He raised a hand toward his back.

Temari's expression changed.

"Kankuro, stop messing around."

Kankuro ignored her.

Chiya hooked a steel wire around his fingertips. Just as he took half a step forward, a voice came from overhead.

"Stop."

The voice was not loud.

Kankuro froze immediately.

A red-haired boy hung upside down from a tree branch.

His arms were folded, and his gaze was colder than anyone his age should have possessed.

Gaara.

Naruto looked up at him.

"When did this guy get up there?"

Sasuke raised his head as well.

Gaara dropped from the tree. His feet touched the ground without making a sound.

Kankuro took a small step back.

"Gaara..."

Gaara did not look at him.

His eyes first swept over Sasuke, then stopped on Chiya.

Gaara looked at him.

Chiya looked back at Gaara.

Gaara spoke.

"Name."

Naruto immediately pointed at himself.

"My name is Naruto Uzumaki! The future Hokage!"

Gaara did not even look at him.

Naruto's face stiffened.

Sasuke glanced at Naruto, the corner of his mouth twitching before he quickly suppressed it.

Gaara's gaze remained on Chiya.

Chiya knew he could not avoid it, so he could only speak.

"Chiya Uchiha."

Sasuke stepped forward as well, standing beside Chiya.

"Sasuke Uchiha."

Gaara's eyes shifted slightly.

"Uchiha Clan."

Several pedestrians along the street had already retreated far away. Konohamaru cowered behind Naruto, not daring to make a sound.

Temari walked over to Gaara's side and lowered her voice.

"We should go."

Gaara turned around.

After taking a few steps, he paused.

"I'll remember you. See you at the exam."

As his words fell, the three from the Sand Village turned and left.

Naruto watched their backs, so angry that he jumped in place.

"What was that?! He actually ignored me!"

Sakura let out a sigh of relief.

Konohamaru tugged on Naruto's clothes.

"Naruto-bro, that red-haired guy was really scary."

"What's there to be scared of?" Naruto patted his chest. "I'll definitely beat him in the Chunin Exams!"