Time ticked by, second by second.
After nine consecutive matches, the final bout had finally arrived.
It was also a battle that nearly every ninja in Konoha was watching, one that made countless people sit up and pay attention.
"Naruto Uzumaki versus Hinata Hyuga!"
As Kakashi's announcement rang out, two child-sized figures slowly left the sidelines and walked toward the center of the arena.
One was the son of the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, a gifted boy said to have inherited the will of the Yellow Flash.
The other was the eldest daughter of the Hyuga Main Family and the sole disciple of Kaguya Otsutsuki.
Kaguya Otsutsuki might not have been well known among ordinary people and rank-and-file ninja. After all, who knew how many years had passed since the era in which she had lived?
But certain great clans and clan ninja had naturally heard of her deeds. She was the progenitor of the Shinobi World, as well as the mother of the Sage of Six Paths.
As her sole disciple, just how gifted must Hinata Hyuga have been to catch her eye?
Naruto looked at Hinata, ten meters away, and clenched his fists.
"Hinata, you're strong, and you even beat Sasuke earlier. But you'd better take this fight seriously. I'm not that idiot Sasuke."
The image on the venue's screen zoomed in on Naruto, and his words were amplified for everyone to hear.
In a corner of the venue, Sasuke's face turned thunderous.
"That bastard. Just you wait!"
If this hadn't been the Fourth-Round Exam, with everyone watching, Sasuke would have charged over and fought Naruto. He wouldn't have stopped until he'd smashed that loud mouth of his.
"Naruto..."
Hinata bowed slightly. They had played together since childhood and were naturally close. If it had been anything else,