Yugao sat down beside Aoba with a cold expression.
Then she began scrutinizing Konan in front of her.
She remembered Konan was always wearing that black robe, so why did she suddenly feel like wearing a skirt today?
"Konan-san, good morning."
"Go… good morning," Konan's complicated thoughts were suddenly interrupted, and she also greeted Yugao.
Yugao nodded, then reached out her hand and directly pinched Aoba's face.
"Why didn't you call me to come eat breakfast?"
"Just now the sensei had something to discuss with me. Didn't I say, let you all come eat first?", Aoba explained helplessly.
"Really? Then maybe I was sleeping too deeply and didn't hear clearly," Yugao didn't withdraw her hand. Her other hand also reached out, kneading and squeezing.
Crack!
A crisp sound suddenly rang out like a thunderclap.
The chopsticks in Konan's hands broke into two pieces.
With a calm expression, she took out a piece of paper and wiped the soup on the table, casually tossing the broken chopsticks into the trash bin.
"Konan-neesan, are you okay?", Aoba looked at her in confusion.
Konan lightly shook her head, then used the paper to wipe the nonexistent sweat on the tip of her nose and said with a smile, "The ramen was a bit too spicy. I accidentally got too much spice, couldn't control my strength."
"I see."
Aoba picked up another pair of chopsticks and handed them to her, while pointing at the ramen in front of himself, smiling as he said, "Konan-neesan, I haven't touched this bowl yet. If you don't mind, you can try this one of mine."
Konan: "Then what will you eat?"
"I…"
"It's fine, Aoba can eat with me," Yugao helped Aoba push the ramen in front of Konan.
"...", Konan stared blankly at the ramen in front of her, neither speaking nor acting.
After a moment of silence.
She stood up.
Took out a handkerchief and wiped her full, red lips.
"No need, I'm already full. Aoba, let's meet again next time," After speaking, she walked toward the outside.
She didn't know why, but Konan's mood suddenly became very irritated.
Saying things like "most favorite," that was probably just polite talk.
The moment Yugao sat down, this guy's eyes had only her in them.
And watching Yugao do whatever she pleased to Aoba's face, Konan's heart was unexpectedly filled with envy.
'What on earth was wrong with me?'
"Konan-neesan…"
Aoba originally wanted to chase after her, but his arm was held by Yugao with a gentle expression.
"Aoba, you really are popular with onee-sans."
———
Time quickly passed to the afternoon.
All the genin who passed the Forest of Death were gathered in the central training room inside the tower.
Other than that, only the team-leading jonin and the referees responsible for the match were present.
Surrounding the area was a circle of audience stands with no seats.
Tsunade wore the Hokage ceremonial robe and stood on the high platform.
Behind her stood Hatake Kakashi, Sarutobi Asuma, Yamato, Yuhi Kurenai, Yugao, and other team-leading jonin, as well as the examiners of the test.
All the jonin were arranged in a row, solemnly watching the qualified participants below the stage.
Because it was a formal occasion, Tsunade didn't show her usual laziness. Her whole body radiated decisiveness and swift authority.
She stepped forward and solemnly said, "Next is the third round preliminaries. Only the victor can participate in the third round of the exam and have a chance to become a chunin."
The third round exam was also an individual battle, but it carried more of a performance nature.
Because this exam would have a large audience. Not only would many civilians come to observe, it might even include daimyo and nobles.
The Fourth Kazekage Rasa would also be watching.
As for who would become a chunin in the end, it wasn't necessarily based on who had the stronger strength.
Instead, it would be judged by the referee examiners through the course of the ninja's battles, to determine whether they were qualified to become chunin.
After all, any ninja team able to pass the Forest of Death basically already had chunin-level strength.
Tsunade had always disliked formalism, so her speech was also very concise.
After speaking briefly, she handed the floor to the referee on site, Gekko Hayate.
"Ahem… Everyone… ahem… I am Gekko Hayate… ahem… next I'll explain the preliminaries."
Gekko Hayate could cough three times in a single sentence.
He spoke unhurriedly, but the many ninja listening below were already getting anxious.
Mainly afraid he'd die on the spot.
"As the referee… ahem…"
Gekko Hayate continued, "First, absolutely no acting on impulse; second, absolutely no overlooking any bad acts; third, absolute fairness and clarity in judging…"
"..."
After simply and briefly explaining the rules.
Gekko Hayate paused for a moment and swept his gaze over all the examinees present.
"Lastly… ahem… if anyone wishes to quit, you may raise your hand."
A moment of silence.
"No one?", He looked over the crowd again.
After waiting a little longer, still no one chose to quit.
"In that case, the preliminaries officially begin."
As his voice fell, the large screen behind him immediately lit up. Names began rolling rapidly on the screen, and finally locked in place.
The genin on the field also retreated, led by their team-leading jonin to take seats around the audience stands, watching the battles between genin.
Worth mentioning, in this round of preliminaries, none of the Konoha members had to fight each other.
Sasuke, Naruto, Sakura, Yakumo, Hinata, Karin, all of them passed the preliminaries very smoothly.
When facing genin from other ninja villages, these few basically treated winning like eating and drinking.
Very quickly, the names on the screen changed again.
Gekko Hayate's weak voice rang out.
"Next match, Shirakumo Aoba vs. Kankuro!"
"My turn?", Aoba was a little surprised. He didn't expect it to be his turn so soon.
"Aoba, good luck!", Tenten and the other girls cheered for Aoba.
The girls who hadn't yet participated in the preliminaries also breathed a sigh of relief. At least they didn't have to go up against Aoba.
Aoba quickly walked to the center of the arena.
———
On the other side.
"Why is it me?", Kankuro looked at the match list, and his whole face turned bitter.
Last time he got punched into oblivion. A few days ago, he also saw Aoba one-shot nine Cloud ninja.
He felt like he was being targeted.
Temari shook her head and patted Kankuro's shoulder with a helpless expression.
"Pray for yourself."
Gaara also glanced at him coldly.
Kankuro just felt like his heart was as cold as a kunai.
The joys and sorrows of people are not the same.
Others were surrounded by encouragement and blessings from a bunch of girls.
But him…
"Aoba, although your strength is very strong, I'm definitely not weak. Who wins or loses in this match is not certain yet!", Standing in the center of the arena, Kankuro looked at Aoba and spoke resolutely.
Aoba only smiled, "Don't worry, it won't waste too much time."