Kurenai called Hinata and the others together, told them about the Chunin Exams, and said they could sign up freely. Naturally, neither Kiba nor Shino refused.
Time quickly reached the registration window; the sign-up desk for the Chunin Exams was set in classroom 301 of the Ninja Academy.
At the moment the corridor outside the room was packed with Genin from Konoha and from every other village, the air thick with restlessness and unease.
Hyuga Hinata stood quietly to one side, her pale eyes calm as still water, yet seeming able to see through everything.
Her gaze swept slowly forward and finally settled on the rather crude genjutsu disguise covering the doorway.
The illusion was like a thin gauze veil hiding the true scene beyond the entrance.
To Hinata, however, it was nothing more than a childish trick.
She saw through it easily and spotted the two gatekeepers—Izumo Kamizuki and Kotetsu Hagane.
Right now Izumo and Kotetsu were viciously punching and kicking Rock Lee.
Lee was sprawled on the ground, curled up in pain, with no strength to fight back.
"Damn it, let me in! I want to take the Chunin Exams!"
Lee pleaded.
The two gatekeepers ignored him, sneering at the Genin.
"Heh… you wet-behind-the-ears brats should hurry home. The Chunin Exams aren't a playground; you could end up crippled—or even dead."
Kotetsu folded his arms, looking utterly contemptuous as he added lazily.
"Better quit while you can. This isn't a place for little punks like you. With your level, dreaming of facing the Chunin test? Stop wasting your time."
Just as Sasuke was about to speak, Hinata stepped forward.
Her pale eyes regarded the two examiners calmly.
"You can drop the little trick."
The Genin outside the classroom broke into whispers, glancing at one another, not understanding what she meant.
Izumo and Kotetsu looked at her.
The others had all been shaken—some frightened, some ready to retreat—yet this girl of the Hyuga Clan seemed completely detached, her gaze clear.
"Interesting, but she only saw through it!"
With that he shot out a foot aimed straight at Hinata.
Hinata didn't move; at that instant Rock Lee whirled in like a gale and caught the examiner's kick.
Nothing like the battered boy of moments ago, he looked a different person, and everyone realized he had been faking.
Tenten spoke up.
"Didn't we agree to keep a low profile? Why are you grabbing the spotlight first?"
Rock Lee looked embarrassed, but instead of backing off he strode quickly toward Sakura.
Stopping in front of her, he drew a deep breath, gathered his courage, and in a loud voice shouted to the still-startled girl.
"You're Sakura Haruno, right? Please go out with me! I'll protect you with my life!"
As he spoke, his trademark bright grin flashed, white teeth gleaming beneath his bowl-cut and green spandex, looking oddly comical.
Sakura was clearly startled by the sudden declaration; her eyes widened in shock.
Recovering, she refused without hesitation.
"No way! Not in a million years! Your eyebrows are way too thick!"
Her tone was full of rejection; as she spoke she unconsciously edged closer to Sasuke, trying to put distance between herself and Lee.
Watching from the side, Naruto burst into loud laughter.
He felt Rock Lee was a lot like himself—he saw his own reflection in him.
The unexpected interlude turned the previously quiet scene into one of chaos and awkwardness, everyone's eyes on Lee and Sakura.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Hinata calmly walked past the still-entangled pair and headed for the third floor.
Kotetsu instinctively tried to block her—or test her again—and stepped forward, voice tinged with provocation.
"Hey, Hyuga girl, the Chunin Exams are dangerous. It's not too late to turn back."
Hinata paused, glanced sideways at him; her pale eyes showed no emotion as she spoke in a cool, level voice.
"Move."
No Killing Intent, no burst of Chakra—just that single word, coupled with her unruffled dismissal of the earlier genjutsu, sent an invisible pressure that made Kotetsu unconsciously step aside.
He stared blankly, then yielded the path.
Without stopping, Hinata vanished from sight.
Izumo watched her departing back and quietly melted into the shadows, slipping to a concealed spot.
"Hey, did you feel that? That Hyuga girl…"
"Yeah… looks like the old rumors were true. Hard to believe…"
Kotetsu nodded, face grave.
"Completely unreadable…"
"Heh… they've passed this round. Quite a few Genin look promising; this Chunin Exam is going to be worth watching, hahaha."
Outside the classroom Uchiha Sasuke, who had seen everything, frowned; he too had realized it was genjutsu, but someone had beaten him to exposing it.
"Hyuga Hinata… who exactly are you?"
Questions filled his mind along with an indescribable sense of urgency—if he couldn't even surpass these people, how could he ever kill that man?
Neji stood not far away, shock and bewilderment written across his face.
After years of training he was hailed as the class Genius; proud, believing that even as a branch member he could outshine the main house—and Hinata.
Yet he still couldn't see through the Young Miss of his own clan.
In his eyes Hinata's Chakra was vast and unfathomable, completely different from the traditional Hyuga flow, yet carrying an inexplicable harmony and power.
Inuzuka Kiba and Shino Aburame exchanged silent glances and quietly followed Hinata out.
Shino adjusted his glasses.
He knew the two examiners were no ordinary Chunin; that Hinata passed their test so easily was astounding—but also within his expectations.
Many around took notice of Hinata, eyes flickering with caution and curiosity.
[Ding! host has effortlessly seen through and become immune to the Chunin Exam's initial genjutsu test, displaying far-above-average perception and mental resistance before the examiners and several key Genin, drawing high attention and a reassessment of strength.]
[Reward: 1,200 points!]