The next day, a group of people stepped into Training Ground 44.
Naruto swept his gaze around, a trace of nostalgia drifting through his eyes.
This was the first place where he had shown off his power—and taken care of several unlucky Root members along the way.
After receiving their Scrolls of Heaven and Earth, they each stood at the entrance.
Sasuke frowned as he surveyed the surroundings.
Karin glanced at him and asked bluntly, "What, looking for a toilet?"
Sasuke: "..."
Who the hell was looking for a toilet?!
"Ever since we came in here, I've felt like someone's been watching me from the shadows. It's making my skin crawl."
With his Two-Tomoe Sharingan awakened, Sasuke's instincts were far sharper than they had been in the original story.
Karin nodded with a look of sudden realization. "Oh, that. I saw a few Kusagakure weirdos staring at you earlier. They probably took a liking to that face of yours and want to kidnap you back as their bandit chief's wife."
A vein throbbed on Sasuke's forehead. "Why didn't you tell me sooner?!"
Karin looked at him like he was an idiot. "What good would telling you earlier do? From the start of the exam until now, haven't you already made enough enemies? A few more won't make a difference."
A strange curve tugged at Naruto's lips.
With Snake Lady eyeing him, Second Pillar's time to take off had arrived.
Though Naruto looked down on that Knockoff Sage Mode, he could not deny that it would give Second Pillar's confidence a tremendous boost.
The Chunin examiner checked his watch and pulled open the gates to the examination grounds.
Candidates from every village charged toward the heart of the forest from all directions.
Naruto led Sasuke inside at an unhurried pace, not