Clouds Gather

The respite after the preliminaries passed in the blink of an eye.

On the day of the finals, Konoha's gate guards, Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane, were exceptionally busy. By morning alone, they had welcomed numerous wealthy merchants and distinguished guests.

Atop the Hokage Building, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, dressed in his Hokage robes, gazed from afar at the people constantly entering and leaving through the gates. He murmured, "It's finally about to begin..."

Orochimaru had returned to the village with unclear intentions, and Mitaraishi Anko had vanished. A vague sense of foreboding welled up in Hiruzen Sarutobi's heart. He adjusted his hat and said to the ANBU on either side of him, "Move out!"

He had deliberately worn his armor beneath his robes today, praying inwardly, I hope nothing goes wrong.

In Konoha's open arena, the guests who had come to watch were already filing in one after another. The crowd was boisterous and deafening.

When Naruto entered, he did not see his Team 7 companions. Sakura, Sasuke, and Kakashi were nowhere to be found. Only one girl was secretly staring at him in a daze, her cheeks flushed crimson.

"Hinata! H-Hello," Naruto greeted her somewhat awkwardly.

"N-Naruto..." The moment Hinata saw Naruto, she reflexively began stammering and blushing.

Even Naruto, who was usually so oblivious, became inexplicably shy around Hinata.

Ever since Neji had punctured that unspoken barrier between them, Naruto and Hinata's daily interactions had become like this. Neither of the two youngsters understood what it meant for them to be so close. If it continued, then by the time they grew up, they would at least be childhood sweethearts.

Meanwhile, over at the Uchiha Compound.

After breakfast, Sasuke and Neji left together, heading in different directions. One went to the final battlefield of the Chunin Ninja Exams, while the other headed toward the Hyuga compound.

They walked away from each other, yet the same anticipation and unease flashed through their eyes. "The day has finally come..."

When Neji arrived at the finals venue, the other contestants appeared to be ready, and the spectators were also taking their seats.

Sakura was whispering with Ino. For some reason, neither of them looked very well.

Kiba Inuzuka tugged at Shino Aburame and chatted, "That's strange. Where's Hinata? Why isn't she acting with us?"

Akamaru barked twice in agreement.

Shino pushed up his sunglasses and pointed toward a corner. "Look over there!"

Kiba turned to look. Naruto and Hinata were chatting and laughing together, enveloped in a strangely pink atmosphere that seemed filled with the sour stench of romance.

Perched atop Kiba Inuzuka's head, Akamaru saw the scene as Kiba turned around. Sensing some unknown malice, he gave a pitiful whimper and squeezed his eyes tightly shut.

In the seats of honor, Hiruzen Sarutobi was exchanging the usual commercial flattery with the Land of Fire's daimyo.

Hiruzen Sarutobi revealed nothing on his face, but inwardly he was deeply puzzled. The daimyo, who had once been fat and bloated, looked quite different today. Even the double chin was gone. The man was brimming with enthusiasm and vitality, looking far more energetic than Hiruzen himself, the Hokage.

—Disasters had become frequent across the Shinobi World due to changes in the ocean, and the Land of Fire was no exception. Hiruzen could not understand why the daimyo could still smile.

At that moment, an ANBU quietly leaned in and whispered a few words into Hiruzen Sarutobi's ear. The smile at the corner of Hiruzen's lips suddenly froze.

"If the Third Hokage has business to attend to, please go ahead," the daimyo said considerately.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded.

A while later...

"Have you found him?" Hiruzen Sarutobi asked the ANBU urgently.

The ANBU shook his head. "After Sasuke Uchiha left home today, he disappeared at a street corner. Could Orochimaru have done it?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi irritably wanted a puff from his pipe, only to remember that he had not brought it today. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Before he could think of a response, the Kazekage entered.

A kind smile instantly returned to Hiruzen Sarutobi's face. He greeted him as if nothing had happened. "Welcome, Fourth Kazekage!"

The Kazekage before him was Rasa. Expressionless, without even moving his eyes, he exchanged a few brief pleasantries. Then Hiruzen Sarutobi loudly announced, "The official Chunin selection matches will now begin!"

The referee presiding over the matches was Genma Shiranui. With a senbon in his mouth, he silently counted the contestants and discreetly adjusted the match order.

The Third Hokage had temporarily inserted Sasuke into the finals, but Sasuke had "disappeared." All Genma could do was arrange his match as late as possible. If Sasuke never showed up, then he would simply be out.

Genma Shiranui read out the rules in an orderly manner. "This is the final examination. The rules are the same as in the preliminaries: there are no restrictions on methods, and the match will not end until one side surrenders or dies. Of course, if I determine that the outcome has already been decided, I may intervene and stop the fight."

"For the first match, Neji Hyuga will face Naruto Uzumaki. Everyone except the two contestants, leave the arena now!"

"The dead last versus the genius. What an interesting pairing," Izumo Kamizuki muttered to Kotetsu Hagane.

Most people believed this matchup held no suspense at all. Only Hinata watched Naruto in the arena, twisting the corner of her clothes between her fingers as she silently prayed, "Naruto, do your best!"

Standing opposite Neji, Naruto wore an extremely serious expression. "Today, I'll definitely defeat you!"

"Oh, really?" Neji replied coldly, his emotions unreadable.

After checking both sides, Genma Shiranui raised one hand, then brought it down. "Then, begin!"

Hyuga Hiashi was seated in the stands with Hanabi Hyuga, his expression grave. Naruto Uzumaki was the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki. The Third Hokage had eagerly pushed him into the spotlight; there was no way he would allow Naruto to be humiliated before everyone's eyes.

So this match between the "genius and the dead last" was actually built around a reversal. Naruto would use the "genius" as a stepping stone to gradually make a name for himself. The dead last overthrowing the genius—such a story would definitely draw attention.

Even if the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki was only a child, his combat strength would surely defy common sense!

Perhaps many people wanted to see Neji lose? An arrogant, sharp-tongued, disrespectful brat like him—wasn't he exactly the disposable character a protagonist would crush in a drama?

Neji assumed a strange opening stance. In an instant, two horns grew from his forehead, his hair became blacker than ebony, and his skin whiter than snow. His crimson lips looked as if he had just eaten a child, while his jade-like nails abruptly grew three inches longer.

The transformation stunned Naruto and the spectators alike, especially Hyuga Hiashi. Neji's forehead protector had been knocked away by his horns, revealing a smooth forehead with no Caged Bird seal.

Hyuga Hiashi might normally indulge Neji's antics and even tolerate him, but the moment Neji broke free of the Caged Bird, Hiashi's mindset immediately changed—no matter how fiercely a pet trapped in one's palm bared its fangs and claws, it was harmless, even occasionally pitiable; but a savage beast that had escaped its cage could only make one's heart tremble.