It was the first day of the Chunin Ninja Exams.
The outskirts of the Forest of Death were packed solid.
Candidates, examiners, jonin team leaders, and villagers there to watch formed a dense crowd, their noise enough to make anyone's head spin.
Obito squeezed to the front and craned his neck, standing on tiptoe. "Why haven't they started yet?"
No one answered him.
Kakashi leaned against a tree with a book covering his face, looking as though he were asleep.
Rin quietly checked the contents of her medical kit beside him.
Minato stood a little farther away, speaking quietly with the Third Hokage.
The moment Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara stood together, everyone within three meters automatically cleared out-one look into Gaara's eyes was enough to unnerve anyone.
On the other side, Naruto chattered away with Sasuke and Sakura. Everyone in Team 7 was brimming with fighting spirit, completely unaware of what awaited them inside.
Sai stood at the very back of the crowd.
It wasn't that he didn't want to move forward. The person beside him simply couldn't be bothered to move.
Shuo leaned against a tree with candy in his mouth, his eyes half-closed, looking ready to fall asleep.
"Not going to take a look?" Sai asked.
"At what?"
"The exam."
Shuo thought for a moment. "No. Too many people. Annoying."
"You're a Genin too."
"There's no rule saying Genin have to watch."
Sai said no more.
He knew perfectly well that Shuo wasn't waiting for the exam. He was waiting for the man in the gray robe.
The man still hadn't appeared.
Before long, the gates to the Forest of Death slowly opened.
The candidates began entering.
Obito turned back and called, "Shuo! We're heading in!"
Shuo waved a hand languidly.
Naruto spotted him too and waved furiously