Chapter 249: First Encounter with Gaara
Naruto withdrew the three pronged kunai from Kankurō's throat, but his gaze remained steady.
"Since you've come to Konoha, please respect the village's rules."
His voice was calm, without any unnecessary hostility.
"That's the least you should do as guests."
Temari stared at him for a moment.
Then a faint blush crept across her face.
He was strong, composed, polite, and even good looking.
Compared with most of the troublesome people she dealt with back in Sunagakure, Naruto was almost unfairly impressive.
Konohamaru, meanwhile, immediately took advantage of the situation.
The moment Kankurō released him, he hurried behind Naruto and puffed out his chest.
"See that? My big brother is amazing!"
He pointed at Kankurō with renewed confidence.
"So maybe the weak ones are actually you Sunagakure guys!"
Kankurō's expression darkened.
His painted face twisted in irritation.
"What did you say, brat?"
Konohamaru was much braver with Naruto standing in front of him.
"I said you're weak!"
Kankurō's eye twitched.
"Brats who only know how to run their mouths are the most annoying."
His hand moved toward the bandage wrapped object strapped across his back.
Temari immediately noticed.
"Kankurō, stop."
But he was already angry.
Konohamaru stuck his tongue out.
"What? You're so weak you can't even stand hearing the truth?"
That was enough.
Kankurō began to move.
Then a voice came from the branches above.
"Stop it, Kankurō."
The words were quiet.
Yet the instant they were spoken, Kankurō froze.
Naruto had already noticed the new presence.
He turned toward a nearby tree.
A red haired boy stood on one of the branches.
Dark rings surrounded his pale green eyes, giving him an exhausted and almost lifeless appearance.
The red kanji for Love was marked across his forehead.
A massive gourd rested against his back, its surface showing several visible cracks.
Naruto studied him carefully.
Inside him, Asuramaru immediately recognized the newcomer.
Gaara.
Kankurō's face changed the moment he saw him.
"Gaara, wait. Let me explain."
He hurriedly pointed toward Konohamaru.
"They started it. That brat"
"Shut up."
Kankurō went silent.
Gaara's expression did not change.
"Don't make me kill you here."
A thin wave of killing intent spread from him.
Kankurō stiffened.
Whatever anger he had felt toward Konohamaru disappeared at once.
Temari also became tense.
Neither of them doubted that Gaara meant exactly what he said.
Once Kankurō fell silent, Gaara turned toward Naruto.
"My apologies."
His tone was flat, but the words themselves were sincere enough.
While speaking, Gaara quietly assessed Naruto.
Naruto had detected Kankurō's chakra threads.
He had avoided them without hesitation.
Then he had crossed the distance and placed a kunai against Kankurō's throat before either of them could properly react.
Fast.
Alert.
Dangerous.
This was no ordinary Genin.
Gaara's body dissolved into sand.
The grains flowed down from the tree and gathered on the ground below.
A moment later, he stood before Naruto.
"I am Gaara of the Desert."
He looked directly into Naruto's blue eyes.
"A Genin of Sunagakure."
His gaze lingered on him.
"You interest me."
Gaara's voice remained low.
"What is your name?"
Naruto smiled.
"Uzumaki Naruto."
He already knew that someone like Gaara would be participating in the coming exams.
"I hope we meet during the Chūnin Exams."
Gaara stared at him for another moment.
"I look forward to it."
He turned away.
"Kankurō. Temari."
His tone became cold again.
"We didn't come to Konoha to play."
"Let's go."
Kankurō said nothing.
Temari gave Naruto one final glance before following.
The three Sunagakure Genin disappeared down the street.
Naruto watched them leave.
Gaara.
Even at a glance, there was something unusual about him.
That killing intent was far too heavy for an ordinary Genin.
Inside Naruto, Asuramaru was equally interested.
The Chūnin Exams were finally about to begin.
A tug at Naruto's sleeve brought his attention back.
Konohamaru looked up at him.
Naruto smiled.
"Come on."
Konohamaru blinked.
"Weren't we going to eat barbecue?"
His eyes immediately lit up again.
"Right!"
The confrontation disappeared from his mind almost instantly.
"Let's go, Big Brother Naruto!"
The two headed toward an Akimichi barbecue restaurant in the village.
As Konohamaru had warned, the place was crowded.
They waited for a table, ate until they were satisfied, and eventually parted ways.
Naruto then headed toward Team 7's meeting point.
Sasuke and Sakura were already there.
Naruto greeted them and had barely settled in when Kakashi finally appeared.
This time, he was carrying three forms.
Kakashi handed one to each of them.
"These are applications for the Chūnin Exams."
Sakura stared at the paper.
"The Chūnin Exams?"
Kakashi nodded.
"Participation isn't mandatory."
He slipped his hands into his pockets.
"Whether you enter is entirely your decision."
"If you want to participate, fill out the application and report to Room 301 at the Ninja Academy in five days."
His visible eye curved slightly.
"As for the next few days, consider them time off."
Sakura looked down at the application.
They had only been Genin for a short time.
And already they were being given the chance to advance to Chūnin?
Her gaze drifted toward Naruto.
Then Sasuke.
Her mood sank almost immediately.
The difference between them had become painfully obvious.
Naruto could use Flying Thunder God.
He had fought Zabuza.
He possessed strange abilities she did not even understand.
Sasuke had also been training constantly and growing stronger.
Could she really keep up with those two?
Naruto showed none of Sakura's hesitation.
He had already known the exams were coming.
He folded the application and put it away.
Then he turned to leave.
Sasuke immediately called after him.
"Naruto."
Naruto looked back.
"Training ground?"
Naruto smiled.
"Sure."
The two walked away together.
Again.
Sakura remained where she was, staring after them.
Her expression gradually became blank.
Why did this keep happening?
Five days passed quickly.
On the morning of the exam, Naruto met with Sasuke and Sakura.
Together, the three entered the Ninja Academy.
The building was far busier than usual.
Genin from Konoha and several other villages moved through the corridors, all carrying the tension of competitors who knew they were about to be tested against one another.
When Team 7 reached what appeared to be the third floor, they found a large crowd gathered outside Room 301.
Two Shinobi stood in front of the door.
They had apparently decided that no one would pass without proving themselves first.
Whenever someone tried to approach, they forced them back.
One of the two looked over the frustrated crowd.
"The Chūnin Exams aren't meant for everyone."
His companion crossed his arms.
"Some Genin enter these exams and lose more than just their confidence."
"Some give up being Shinobi entirely."
The first man gave a humorless smile.
"So stopping you here could be considered an act of kindness."
The surrounding Genin looked furious.
Some muttered under their breath.
Others clenched their fists.
Yet no one wanted to be the first to step forward.
Naruto studied the door.
Then his gaze shifted slightly.
Genjutsu.
He walked through the crowd.
People turned toward him.
Naruto stopped in front of the two men.
"Excuse me."
One of them raised an eyebrow.
Naruto pointed toward the false room.
"Could you release the Genjutsu?"
The corridor went quiet.
"I'd like to reach the actual third floor and register for the exam."
The two men exchanged glances.
One smirked.
"So you noticed."
His posture shifted.
"But noticing the illusion isn't enough."
He raised his hand and moved toward Naruto.
Before the strike could begin, cold metal touched his neck.
The man froze.
Naruto stood directly in front of him.
A three pronged kunai rested lightly against his throat.
Several Genin in the crowd stared in shock.
Some had not even seen Naruto move.
The examiner's eyes narrowed.
Naruto remained perfectly polite.
"Could you release it now?"
The man stared at him for a moment.
Then sighed.
"You're not bad."
He released the Genjutsu.
The distortion surrounding the corridor faded.
What had appeared to be the third floor was revealed for what it truly was.
Naruto withdrew his kunai.
"Thank you."
Then he walked past them.
Sasuke followed without comment.
Sakura hurried after both boys.
The three continued upward until they reached the real third floor.
At the end of the corridor stood the correct examination room.
Naruto pushed open the door.
A wave of voices struck them immediately.
The room was already packed.
Genin from different villages filled almost every corner.
Some talked quietly with their teams.
Others stared openly at potential competitors.
The atmosphere carried a mixture of nervousness, arrogance, suspicion, and excitement.
Naruto had barely entered when a familiar voice called out.
"Naruto! Sasuke!"
Naruto turned.
Ino Yamanaka came charging toward them.
"You guys are so late!"
Her arms opened.
Naruto's instincts reacted before his thoughts did.
He stepped neatly aside.
Ino sailed past him.
Sasuke, unfortunately, stood directly behind Naruto.
Ino crashed into him and immediately wrapped her arms around him.
Sasuke's face went blank.
Ino grinned.
"Well, if I couldn't hug Naruto, Sasuke is good too."
Sasuke looked deeply unimpressed.
"I've been waiting forever, you know."
The rest of their former Academy classmates soon gathered around.
Familiar voices filled the area.
Old classmates compared teams, exchanged remarks, argued, boasted, and tried to judge how much everyone else had changed since graduation.
Inside Naruto, Asuramaru yawned.
Compared with the battles he had witnessed across several worlds, the squabbling of a room full of Genin was painfully mundane.
He had almost stopped paying attention when the doors opened.
The atmosphere changed.
A large group of examiners entered.
At their head was a tall, intimidating man wearing a black bandana.
Scars covered much of his face.
His presence alone was enough to quiet most of the room.
Morino Ibiki swept his gaze across the assembled Genin.
Then his eyes shifted toward the Shinobi from the Hidden Sound who had been causing trouble.
His voice carried across the classroom.
"I'm Morino Ibiki."
"The chief proctor for the first stage of the Chūnin Exams."
Silence spread.
Ibiki's expression hardened.
"You Shinobi from the Hidden Sound."
"If you don't want to be disqualified before the exam even begins, control yourselves."
His gaze then moved across everyone present.
"And that applies to all of you."
"No private fighting without an examiner's permission."
He paused.
"Anyone who ignores that rule will have their qualification to participate revoked immediately."
The room became completely still.
The first stage of the Chūnin Exams had begun.
....
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