Sakura wiped the corners of her eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to keep her voice steady.
"It's okay... we'll take it again next time."
Naruto glanced at her. He wanted to say something, opened his mouth, then closed it again.
He scratched his head and forced a smile that looked worse than crying.
"Yeah. Next time."
Seeing that smile, Sakura felt her nose sting and almost lost her composure.
She turned away, pretending to look at the distant dunes.
Genya stood a short distance away, watching it all.
Ino came over and stood beside him, following his gaze toward Naruto and Sakura.
"Weren't you a little too harsh?"
There was no accusation in her voice. It was simply a statement.
Genya fell silent for a moment.
"They'll get stronger."
Ino glanced at him and said nothing more.
The day of departure arrived.
At Sunagakure's entrance, Konoha's group was ready to leave, the examinees carrying their packs and gathering in twos and threes.
The groups from the other villages were leaving one after another as well. Kumogakure, Iwagakure, and Kirigakure each took their examinees and their own intelligence with them.
Sunagakure's leaders stood at the village entrance to see them off.
Baki stood at the front, with several elders and Granny Chiyo beside him.
Chiyo rarely made public appearances anymore, but with the Five Great Nations gathered in Sunagakure, she had still come out to show her face.
She was old, her back slightly stooped, but her eyes were still keen.
Kakashi stood at the rear of Konoha's group, holding that little orange book without even looking up.
His silver hair stirred in the sandy wind, his dull eyes fixed on the pages as he turned them one after another.
Chiyo's gaze swept over Konoha's group, then suddenly stopped.