After chatting in the corridor for a while, the Eighth Squad and Seventh Squad headed up to the third floor together, submitted their applications, collected their seat numbers, and prepared to go downstairs to the School Building.
In the stairwell, Sasuke Uchiha asked Izayoi, "Izayoi, have you noticed those guys these past few days?"
"Yeah."
Izayoi nodded. He knew Sasuke Uchiha was referring to the ninja from other villages who had been secretly investigating them.
As the Top Student of this class and the sole survivor of the Uchiha Clan, Izayoi and Sasuke Uchiha were both key targets of attention.
Over the past few days, quite a few people had indeed been lurking around outside Izayoi's home.
They had not crossed the line, though, so Izayoi had not paid them any mind.
"Have you run into a guy carrying a gourd on his back?" Sasuke Uchiha continued.
"No. Is he strong?"
"Yeah... he's a formidable opponent."
As if recalling something, Sasuke Uchiha's lips curled slightly. "This year's Chunin Exams are full of monsters. I can't wait to fight them."
"Then you might get your wish very soon." Izayoi smiled as though he had noticed something.
The moment they arrived at the lobby by the back entrance of the Comprehensive Building, a voice called out from behind them.
"Please wait a moment."
Upon hearing that voice, Sakura Haruno of the Seventh Squad immediately stiffened.
"It's you again, bushy brows! What do you want?" Naruto Uzumaki shouted, pointing at Rock Lee on the second-floor balcony.
Rock Lee leaped down from above and landed steadily. Then he assumed a taijutsu stance and looked at Izayoi with a serious expression. "My name is Rock Lee. I wish to challenge the strongest newcomer of this class. Please fight me, Izayoi!"
"Challenge Izayoi?" The Seventh Squad