The large examination hall slowly filled with young shinobi from different villages. Conversations, whispers, and the occasional nervous laugh echoed across the room as everyone waited for the written portion of the Chūnin Exams to begin.
Ren sat comfortably at his assigned seat, leaning back with a relaxed expression. Beside him sat Temari, who occasionally glanced around the room with quiet curiosity.
A moment later, the doors suddenly burst open.
Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, and Sakura Haruno rushed into the room.
Sakura was rubbing her forehead in frustration.
"Honestly, Naruto!" Sakura complained. "You almost made us late!"
Naruto scratched his head nervously. "Hey, we made it didn't we?"
Ren noticed Sakura immediately and casually waved his hand toward her.
Sakura blinked for a moment before smiling faintly and waving back. Her irritated mood visibly improved.
Not far away, Kabuto Yakushi approached Naruto's group with a friendly smile.
"Hello there," Kabuto said politely. "My name is Kabuto Yakushi."
Naruto tilted his head. "Uh… okay?"
Kabuto chuckled softly.
"I've taken this exam several times before," he explained. "So I gathered a bit of information about the participants."
Sasuke immediately stepped forward.
"Tell me about Gaara."
Kabuto adjusted his glasses before answering.
"Gaara of the Sand Village. A terrifying shinobi who has completed many missions without a single injury."
Around the room, several participants exchanged nervous glances.
Gaara himself sat silently nearby, his cold eyes scanning the hall.
Then Gaara suddenly spoke.
"What about Ren Senju… and the pink, blonde, and black-haired girls?"
Kabuto stiffened for a brief moment.
But he quickly regained his composure.
"Well," Kabuto said calmly, pushing his glasses upward, "Ren Senju… the brother of Tsunade Senju."
Several people in the room immediately reacted.
Kabuto continued.
"He completed multiple A-rank and B-rank missions shortly after graduation. All missions were completed in record time."
His voice grew more serious.
"Zero injuries registered. Every mission completed perfectly."
Murmurs spread across the hall.
"Already doing A-rank missions?" one ninja whispered.
"That's insane," another muttered.
Kabuto then continued.
"The pink-haired girl is Sakura Haruno, a student of Tsunade Senju."
Sakura blinked in surprise.
"She has mostly completed D-rank missions," Kabuto explained. "However, she was involved in an S-rank encounter with the rogue ninja Zabuza."
Gasps spread across the room.
Kabuto nodded slightly.
"She fought for several minutes before her sensei took over the battlefield. She is considered an extraordinary medical ninjutsu genius."
He added calmly.
"Zero injuries recorded."
Sakura looked both proud and slightly embarrassed.
Naruto grinned widely. "See? Sakura's awesome!"
Kabuto continued his list.
"The blonde girl is Ino Yamanaka. Also a student of Tsunade Senju."
Ino Yamanaka leaned back in her chair with a smug smile.
"She is considered a sensory genius and has completed mostly D-rank missions so far."
Ino shrugged casually. "Well, obviously."
Kabuto then looked toward another seat.
"And the black-haired girl is Hinata Hyuga, also a student of Tsunade Senju."
Hinata Hyuga looked slightly shy as attention turned toward her.
"She is also a medical ninjutsu prodigy," Kabuto continued. "Her missions are mostly D-rank as well."
Hinata quietly lowered her gaze.
Naruto whispered loudly, "Wow… you guys sound amazing."
Around the room, other participants began looking at Ren's group with increased caution.
Ren simply smirked slightly at the attention.
However, he was a little surprised to see Kabuto here.
So Orochimaru is still planning something? Ren thought quietly.
Beside him, Temari glanced at him thoughtfully.
"You're already strong enough to be a Jonin," she said. "Why are you even participating in the Chūnin Exams?"
Ren rolled his eyes.
"Girl, you're the Kazekage's daughter. Surely you know the reason."
Temari chuckled softly.
"I thought maybe you just enjoy bullying weaker ninja."
Ren smirked slightly.
"Like your brother?"
Temari raised an eyebrow.
Ren continued calmly.
"Sending a Jinchūriki to Konoha… Suna really is bold."
Temari smirked back.
"Well… so you figured it out."
She leaned back in her chair.
"Not surprising. But you're actually pretty easy to talk to."
Ren smiled casually.
"Careful," he said teasingly. "You might fall for me."
He tilted his head toward the other side of the room.
"And then you'd have to deal with three very angry birds."
Temari snorted.
"You're pretty narcissistic too."
She crossed her arms.
"And you think I would fall for you?"
She paused for a moment.
"Even if I did, you think I'd be scared of—"
Her sentence suddenly stopped.
Cold sweat slowly ran down her spine.
Three murderous glares had suddenly locked onto her.
Across the room, Ino, Sakura, and Hinata were smiling at her.
But that smile…
It was terrifying.
Temari felt her back become soaked with cold sweat.
Ren looked at her with a playful grin.
"So," he asked calmly, "what were you saying?"
Temari glared at him.
"You're enjoying this way too much."
Ren chuckled.
"Of course I am."
He leaned closer slightly.
"And since it's you… I might even ask the girls to make an exception."
He shrugged casually.
"So you're free to fall for me."
Temari's cheeks turned slightly red.
"Hmph!"
She quickly turned her head away.
"Who's falling for you? Dream on!"
As she said that, she suddenly realized something.
The terrifying pressure from the three girls had disappeared.
Temari glanced at Ren from the corner of her eye.
This guy… she thought silently.
He definitely did that on purpose.