Late at night.
The sky was silent as a curtain.
However.
Konoha, the village representing the Land of Fire's military might, was not as peaceful as it appeared.
Because of the Chunin Exams.
Many ninja from other villages had entered the village.
Now, all sorts of people mingled together.
"You... what exactly is going on here?"
Gekko Hayate was patrolling Konoha's streets when he happened to overhear Kabuto Yakushi plotting with Baki, a Jonin from Sunagakure.
As the instructor of Gaara's three-person team, Baki's strength went without saying.
"You go on ahead. Naturally, something like this should be left to a ninja from your ally, the Land of Wind."
Baki looked confident.
As Kabuto Yakushi left, cold sweat appeared on Gekko Hayate's face.
Clearly, he understood just how troublesome Baki, a ninja from the Land of Wind, would be.
"Konoha: Dance of the Crescent Moon!"
Gekko Hayate opened with his ultimate move.
He summoned shadow clones and used the Body Flicker Technique to close in on Baki from above, the left, and the right.
Bang!!
But when his blade struck Baki's shoulder, it only broke the skin and could go no farther.
"What?"
Gekko Hayate's eyes trembled. He was a Special Jōnin, yet he could not even break through his opponent's defenses.
Did this guy have something like Gaara's Sand Armor too?
"As expected of Konoha's examiner. You've learned swordsmanship like this at such a young age."
Waves of wind release chakra appeared in Baki's hand.
They quickly enveloped Gekko Hayate, attacking him like blades of chakra.
"Wind Release: Wind Blade!!"
Gekko Hayate did not even have time to scream. The spinning wind blades left him crumpled on the ground in a pool of blood.
Baki offered no comment and merely shook his head.
Seeing that Gekko Hayate still had