Ten days later. The opening day of the Chunin Exam Finals.
Because this was a Chunin Exam held jointly across multiple nations, it ranked as one of the rare large-scale events in the shinobi world.
Within the structure of the ninja system, where information was everything, the Chunin Exam was the highest-tier public competition that existed.
Travelers who had caught wind of the news came flooding into Konoha from every corner of the shinobi world.
Fire Country nobles and daimyo who had received formal invitations from Konoha dispatched distinguished officials to attend on their behalf.
The village swelled with visitors, alive with noise and energy. The shopkeepers of Konoha wasted no time taking full advantage of the occasion, making a very tidy profit.
Sakura had gotten up early. After breakfast, she ran through a simple morning training session to warm herself up for the afternoon finals.
Once she finished, she went through her ninja tools one by one, carefully wiping down every kunai and shuriken.
"I'm heading out!"
After packing her tools into her pouch and fastening it, the girl looked at her parents and announced this with casual ease.
Her tone sounded less like someone about to compete in the Chunin Exam Finals and more like someone heading out to browse the shops.
Haruno Kizashi gave a bright, easy laugh. "Sakura, do you want Mom and Dad to walk you there?"
"I'm fine, I'm not a little kid anymore." Sakura wrinkled her nose. "Just head over to the spectator seats. I'll see you there."
Haruno Mebuki let out a quiet sigh.
Looking at her daughter's breezy, untroubled manner, she held back the criticism she would normally have offered without a second thought.
She stepped forward and straightened the collar of Sakura's outfit. After a brief hesitation, she spoke, worry evident in her voice. "If things get dangerous during the exam, forfeit right away. Your father and I won't be upset with you."
Mebuki had been retired for years, but she still had her connections. She didn't know about Gaara being a Tailed Beast Jinchuriki specifically, but she knew enough to know he was a savage, bloodthirsty ninja with terrifying ability.
"That's right. The Chunin Exam doesn't matter to us. Your safety is all that matters, Sakura."
Kizashi crossed his arms and nodded with complete sincerity.
Sakura looked at her parents, and something warm moved through her. She was quiet for a moment, then said softly, "Thank you. Both of you."
"But I'm not going to forfeit."
As she said it, the girl broke into a brilliant smile, radiant and unrestrained. A quiet, composed confidence shone through her clear brow.
"Trust me, Mom, Dad. I'm going to beat him, and I'm going to become an outstanding ninja right in front of your eyes."
She's grown up.
Mebuki stood looking at her daughter, poised and bright-eyed, and lost herself for a moment. Then she smiled too, her usually stern eyes curving into soft crescents.
"Alright. We believe in you."
"Then I'll see you there!"
Sakura laughed and walked out the door.
Mebuki and her husband exchanged a look, shaking their heads in fond defeat. "That wild girl is completely beyond us now."
"Have a little faith in our daughter." Kizashi put his arm around his wife's shoulders.
"I just hope she stays safe."
Mebuki let out a long breath. Sakura's attitude had done something to ease both their worries, but there was no such thing as a parent who didn't fret.
Inside the massive finals arena, the crowd was enormous and deafening.
Led by the examiner Genma Shiranui, the seven examinees competing in the official Chunin Exam Finals entered the arena in turn.
"Where are Sasuke and Naruto?"
Nara Shikamaru scanned the room with his half-lidded eyes, found no trace of either Uchiha Sasuke or Naruto, and muttered under his breath, "That Sound Village guy isn't here either."
As he muttered, Shikamaru glanced sideways at Sakura, who stood calm and unbothered beside him.
Catching his look, Sakura gave a small shake of her head. "Those two will come."
She knew her teammates. Right now they were almost certainly pushing themselves through training right up to the last possible moment.
Naruto went without saying. He had always seen Sasuke as his greatest rival and dreamed of nothing more than beating him.
Sasuke, though he said nothing, had never once taken Naruto's challenge lightly.
Up in the stands, the seats had already filled. The Third Hokage and Orochimaru, disguised as the Fourth Kazekage, had both taken their places.
"Welcome, honored guests. We will now ask the Hokage to offer his opening remarks for this Chunin Exam!"
A clear, resonant voice rang out from the highest platform of the arena. The roar of the crowd fell to immediate silence.
The Third Hokage nodded. Satisfied with the quiet that had settled over the hall, he began with a smile. "My deepest thanks to all of you for taking the time to come and watch this Chunin Selection Exam hosted by Konoha. On behalf of the village, I express my sincere gratitude."
He cleared his throat. "Now then, allow me to say just a few words..."
"Oh, come on."
Down on the arena floor, Kankuro's expression shifted as he said with unconcealed irritation, "This old man can ramble on for an entire day."
Up in the stands, Orochimaru's brow furrowed slightly, his eyes narrowing.
If they actually let the old man keep talking, he'd still be going by nightfall.
"Hokage, it's getting rather late. Perhaps we should get the matches underway."
Orochimaru cut in.
The Third Hokage, who had been flowing along at full steam, paused and gave the "Kazekage" beside him a look that held some unreadable quality. Then he nodded with a pleasant smile. "The Kazekage is right. It is getting late. Then let us begin."
The Third Hokage swept a hand out toward the crowd and called out, "Everyone, please enjoy the matches!"
Once the Third Hokage declared the start, not only the examinees but Genma Shiranui himself let out a quiet breath of relief.
Genma then turned to face the assembled contestants and walked them through the rules of the competition.
"The first match is Kankuro versus Aburame Shino!"
After finishing the explanation, Genma glanced at the list in his hand and told the group, "Everyone except those two, please clear the arena."
Once the others had stepped out, Genma looked between Kankuro and Shino and announced, "The match begins!"
A few minutes later.
Kankuro slowly raised his right hand, his expression entirely indifferent. "I forfeit."
Shino's brow drew together slightly. "You haven't shown your real abilities yet. Why are you conceding?"
Kankuro shrugged and didn't answer. Instead he turned to Genma. "Examiner, you can make the call now, right?"
Genma bit down on the senbon between his teeth and nodded. "First match. Winner: Aburame Shino!"
"We will now begin the second match!"
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