While Meihui was training in seclusion, the Chunin Ninja Exams had reached a fever pitch.
Shikamaru had advanced by showing off his brains, and Shino had advanced on the strength of his own abilities. Then there was Naruto, who had given his future brother-in-law Neji a thorough beating.
Today, it was Sasuke's turn to face Gaara. During this time, Gaara had tried to sneak into the hospital to finish off Rock Lee, but he had been stopped every time, which had left him rather unhappy.
He planned to kill Sasuke in today's match to vent his anger, while Sasuke had no idea he had been marked for death.
Just as Sasuke's match was about to begin, Meihui arrived.
The moment he saw Meihui, Sasuke could clearly sense that he had grown stronger again. If Meihui's power had once been kept tightly under wraps, now he was like a block of ice, giving off an intense chill.
"You've gotten stronger again?" Sasuke asked, despite already knowing the answer.
"Yeah. I accidentally figured out a new ability," Meihui replied calmly.
Everyone around them fell silent. Do you even hear yourself? What do you mean, you accidentally figured out a new ability?
That humblebrag was too much. Sasuke couldn't resist giving himself two slaps. Why did I have to be such an idiot? Why ask when I could've just kept my mouth shut?
"Next, would both contestants please enter the arena." Unexpectedly, the person announcing the start of the match this time wasn't Gekko Hayate, but Genma Shiranui.
Meihui gave it some thought. We're in the Shippuden period now. Having Hayate-the hurricane-die isn't too much to ask, right?
And so the match began. Sasuke immediately used the same moves Rock Lee had used against Gaara that day. Shameless borrowing-no, no, the Sharingan's copying