On the other side, Menma and Hinata walked shoulder to shoulder down the gradually bustling street.
He had his hands casually resting behind his head. Hinata walked slightly behind him, half a step to the side, her head slightly bowed, her hands clasped in front of her. Occasionally she would sneak a glance at Menma's profile, then quickly look away, her cheeks slightly flushed.
Today was the third round of the Joint Chunin Exams, the final match day that would determine whether all examinees could be promoted to Chunin.
Konoha seemed to have concentrated all its vitality and clamor on this day.
Although most of the tourists, merchants, and nobles who had come to watch had already left for the match venue in the northern part of the village, the streets were still filled with streams of people.
Many commoners who couldn't enter the venue, or tourists simply enjoying the festive atmosphere, gathered in front of various izakayas, tea restaurants, and even open-air stalls.
Some merchants with a head for business had already set up their own televisions outside their shops or used projection screens to broadcast the venue's footage live.
Crowds gathered before the screens, eating snacks, drinking beverages, excitedly discussing, guessing, and cheering for their favored Ninja teams. The clamor almost lifted the rooftops.
The air was filled with the aroma of various snacks, people's sweat, and a unique, festive atmosphere of joy and excitement.
"By the way, Menma-kun," Hinata said softly, as if suddenly remembering something. "Big Sis said... if she gets the chance today, she wants to come out and see exactly how strong the opponents really are."
Big Sis Hinata had an extraordinary persistence for fighting and proving herself.
Hearing this, Menma curled his lip, his tone carrying a helpless smile: "Forget it. With Big Sis Hinata's strength, beating them would just be bullying, wouldn't it? And besides..."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the seemingly joyful and peaceful crowd around them, lowering his voice so only Hinata could hear: "Today... we might not even be able to finish the match peacefully."
With Big Sis Hinata's over ten years of experience, and the ferocious combat power formed by fusing Gentle Fist with the Dark Chakra unique to the [Limited Tsukuyomi World] due to Menma's help, she would be simply a dimensionality reduction strike among these Genin.
Even among the Elite Jonin of various countries, the current Big Sis Hinata's strength was very outstanding, and this wasn't even her growth limit.
With those extremely pure Byakugan, in-depth development might even awaken the Tenseigan, which would be another Six Paths-level combat power.
More importantly, no one knew when or in what manner Orochimaru would choose to launch the Konoha Crush Plan.
Would it be during the match?
During the award ceremony?
Or would he start with a big bang right at the beginning?
Once the plan was set in motion, the entire venue would become the most dangerous battlefield, and naturally, no one would care about the match.
Hinata understood Menma's unspoken words. She softly said 'Mm' and didn't bring up the topic again.
But her clasped fingers unconsciously tightened slightly.
As they spoke, they had already traversed most of Konoha and arrived at the large, dedicated training ground north of the village, behind the Hokage Rock, where the third stage was being held.
This was a giant amphitheater-like structure similar to the Roman Colosseum, built entirely of sturdy gray-white stone, imposing in appearance.
The perimeter was already heavily guarded by Konoha's Ninja on alert, with only a few designated entrances left open.
Spectators were entering orderly through different passages, the clamor faintly audible from within the towering walls, like muffled thunder.
Menma and Hinata walked towards the entrance reserved for participating examinees.
It was relatively quieter here, but many examinees and accompanying personnel were still gathered.
"Menma-nii! Hinata! Over here, over here!" An energetic voice immediately rang out.
Naruto was standing at the examinee entrance, waving his arm vigorously towards them and shouting excitedly.
He had changed into a brand new orange tracksuit today. His golden hedgehog hair was particularly eye-catching in the morning light, his azure eyes burning with fighting spirit, his face unable to hide his eagerness for the challenge.
Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji, who were about to enter the passage, were also drawn by Naruto's loud voice. They stopped and looked back.
"Yo, Menma, Hinata, morning." Shikamaru greeted weakly, his always tired-looking face seeming even more exhausted today, with noticeable dark circles under his eyes, as if he had experienced another sleepless night of thinking.
"Winning, I figure we probably can't win a single match," Shikamaru said bluntly, his discouraging words not held back, his gaze sweeping over the elite Genin from various villages faintly visible at other entrances. "I just hope... we get lucky with the draw and don't have to face you, or those monster teams from the Land of Stars or Cloud, in the first match."
"Don't worry, Shikamaru." Menma walked over to them and patted Shikamaru's shoulder with a smile, trying to cheer up this overly realistic guy. "According to custom, the draw grouping will try to avoid same-village teams meeting in the early stages. Your Ino-Shika-Cho formation has a big advantage in team matches. It's not necessarily hopeless."
The corner of Shikamaru's mouth twitched. He clearly didn't hold out much hope for Menma's comfort: "That's what they say, but... I just hope we don't lose too badly. I don't want Ino nagging me for the entire second half of the year."
"Hey! Shikamaru! What do you mean by that!" Ino immediately raised her eyebrows in anger, hands on her hips, her golden ponytail swaying with her agitation. "You're saying discouraging things before we've even fought! We worked so hard to get this far! Choji, right?"
Choji was holding a large bag of just-opened potato chips, stuffing them into his mouth one after another. When Ino called his name, he vaguely grunted 'Mm' twice. He tried hard to muster a little fighting spirit on his chubby face, but looking at the formidable opponents around him, it ultimately turned into an even deeper love for the chips.
"Unn... chips, replenish energy... I'll think after I finish eating..."
Looking at his teammates' varied performances, Shikamaru sighed again, looked up at the sky, and felt that today was really troublesome as hell.
After a brief conversation at the entrance, they walked together into the examinee passage.
The passage interior was spacious and bright, the atmosphere solemn. The sound of their footsteps echoed in the passage, mixed with the clamor from the distant venue like ocean waves, involuntarily quickening one's heartbeat.
Soon, they arrived at the examinee rest area on the lower level of the main venue building.
This was a fairly large circular hall, well-lit, with several rows of benches placed inside.
At this moment, quite a few people had already gathered in the hall.
Almost the instant they stepped into the rest area, several gazes simultaneously shot over.
Sasuke, dressed in black shirt and pants, leaned against a pillar, his bandaged hands crossed over his chest, resting his eyes. On his left and right were his teammates, Sai and Shigaraki.
Hearing footsteps, Sasuke slowly opened his eyes. Crimson three tomoes flashed and disappeared in his eyes, his gaze sweeping coldly over Menma before he lowered his eyelids again.
But the keep away aura and faint irritability emanating from him couldn't be completely hidden.
Kirigakure's Suigetsu sat carelessly on a bench, his Long Sword Nuibari stuck in the ground. Seeing Menma and Hinata, he grinned, showing his sharp teeth, revealing a smile that wasn't exactly friendly but full of fighting spirit.
Beside him, Chojuro pushed up his glasses, looking somewhat nervous.
Honoka stood quietly beside Chojuro, also becoming involuntarily nervous when she saw Menma.
Iwagakure's Deidara was being spoken to by his teammate Ku, looking somewhat impatient.
Seeing Menma's team enter, especially when he saw Hinata's pure Byakugan, his pupils noticeably brightened. He muttered in a low voice: "Hmph, I hope I can have a good fight with the Byakugan or Sharingan this time..."
Ku and Kirara only calmly glanced at the newly arrived Menma and the others before withdrawing their gazes. Their attention was more focused on the two Land of Stars' Genin Teams.
Kumogakure's Karui crossed her arms, curled her lip, and slightly frowned.
Omoi, sitting on a nearby bench, had a lollipop in his mouth, his face carrying its usual worry. Beside him, Atsui looked very excited, constantly flexing his wrists.
Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro of the Land of Stars stood together. Gaara leaned against the wall, arms crossed, resting his eyes. Only when Menma and the others entered did his eyelids move slightly.
Temari and Kankuro sized up Konoha's three teams, assessing possible opponents.
The other Land of Stars' team, Karin, Kurotsuchi, and Ranmaru, reacted completely differently.
The moment Karin saw Menma, her fiery red pupils instantly lit up like light bulbs switched on!
Her face immediately flushed with an infatuated red, she let out an incomprehensible 'Uuuu' sound, leaning forward, looking like she was about to charge over like a runaway horse!
However, Hinata, who was beside Menma, moved faster!
Almost the instant Karin's expression changed, Hinata, who had been standing shyly slightly behind Menma, like a startled fawn, with lightning speed, tightly wrapped both arms around Menma's right arm!
She pressed half her body against Menma, then raised her head. Her Byakugan activated instantly, the veins around her eyes faintly bulging, unyieldingly, with obvious warning and a sense of 'sovereignty declaration', glaring angrily at Karin!
Although her face was still red as if it could drip blood, the determination in her eyes made Karin's charging motion stiffen to a halt.
Kurotsuchi helplessly held her forehead nearby, while Ranmaru blinked his pale red eyes, curiously watching this sudden scene.
Just as the atmosphere was slightly delicate, several figures suddenly appeared in the open space in the center of the rest area.
The leading figure was tall and thin, his complexion a sickly pale, with heavy dark circles under his eyes. He wore the standard green flak jacket of Konoha, a samurai sword on his back, and casually held a dogtail grass in his mouth.
It was the proctor of the third exam, Gekko Hayate.
Behind him were several stern-faced Konoha's Chunin.
"I am the proctor of the third exam, Gekko Hayate." Hayate seemed oblivious to the slightly tense and strange atmosphere in the rest area. He lazily surveyed the twenty-four examinees who had all arrived, introducing himself.
Only when his gaze paused briefly on Menma and Naruto, confirming that Konoha's last two teams had also arrived, did he clear his throat and speak in his slightly breathy voice:
"Cough, so the last two teams have arrived. Without further ado, let's not waste time."
He paused, his gaze becoming slightly more serious: "Now, we will begin the draw grouping for the third exam, the 3v3 team tournament. Team leaders, please step forward."
At his words, the two Konoha's Chunin following behind him stepped forward.
One held an opaque black draw box, the other held a registration book and pen, ready.
Menma nodded to Hinata, who was still blushing and tightly holding his arm, indicating she should let go. Then he gently extracted his arm from Hinata's embrace and walked towards the center.
Shikamaru sighed and followed with his shoulders drooping.
Then, Sasuke, Hozuki Suigetsu, Deidara, Karui, Gaara, and Karin, the leaders of the other six teams, also stepped forward one by one, gathering before Hayate.
Menma was the first to step forward, reaching his hand into the round hole at the top of the draw box.
Inside the box were many smooth bamboo lots.
He casually pulled one out, glanced at the number on it, and handed it to the Chunin in charge of registration.
The Chunin quickly recorded it in the book.
Shikamaru, Sasuke, Suigetsu, Deidara, Karui, Gaara, and Karin also stepped forward in turn and completed the draw.
The process was quick. Only the faint sound of bamboo lots colliding and the rustle of the registrar's writing remained in the hall.
After all the lots were registered, the registrar returned the book to Hayate.
Hayate took the book, quickly scanned it, then raised his head, faced all the examinees holding their breath, and slowly announced the matchups that would determine their fate:
"First match, Konoha Village, Menma's team—"
He paused, his gaze sweeping towards the direction of the Hidden Stone team.
"Versus, Iwagakure, Deidara's team."
"Oh?" Deidara's golden eyebrows raised, a flash of excitement in his eyes. He looked again at Menma and Hinata beside him, the corner of his mouth curling into a playful smile.
"The Byakugan, huh? I'm really looking forward to it, hmm."
Ku and Kirara exchanged glances, a hint of caution in their eyes.
Although they hadn't drawn the Land of Stars' team they most wanted to gather intelligence on, this Konoha's team wasn't simple either.
They had gathered quite a bit of intelligence over the past few days. They knew Menma was the top student of this year's Konoha's Ninja Academy, hailed as a 'genius Civilian Ninja', and with a Byakugan user by his side, he would probably be a tough opponent.
"Second match." Hayate continued reading: "Konoha Village, Uchiha Sasuke's team, versus, Land of Stars, Gaara's team."
"!!!"
Sasuke's body trembled slightly. He abruptly raised his head, staring fixedly at Gaara, who was still resting his eyes not far away!
'This time... this time I definitely had to!'
'Defeat this guy!'
As if feeling that fiery gaze, Gaara slowly opened his eyes.
Those pale green eyes calmly met Sasuke's, also filled with anticipation.
"Third match, Konoha Village, Ino-Shika-Cho team, versus, Land of Water, Hozuki Suigetsu's team."
Shikamaru slapped his own face, letting out a silent wail.
The Kirigakure's current generation genius, Suigetsu with the Hydrification Technique and a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, another member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, and an Uzumaki Clan's member...
No matter how he looked at it, they were one of the most troublesome opponents!
Ino also frowned, and even Choji's chip-eating slowed down.
Suigetsu grinned, showing his full set of sharp teeth, his gaze sweeping over Ino and Choji as if assessing where it would be easiest to cut.
"Fourth match, Land of Stars, Uzumaki Karin's team, versus, Kumogakure, Karui's team."
Karin's attention finally shifted slightly away from Menma. She looked towards Kumogakure's team, especially Karui, who had red hair and dark skin, and although her chest was flat, she had long legs and a face with exotic charm. Karin curled her lip.
Karui snorted coldly, glaring back unafraid.
Omoi started worrying whether fighting would be very troublesome, since they had very little intelligence on the combination of the Uzumaki Clan and the Akaigan.
Atsui, on the other hand, clenched his fists, eager to try.
The matchup list was announced.
The atmosphere in the rest area instantly became completely different.
The previous atmosphere, mixed with curiosity, assessment, and tension, was quickly replaced by a more direct, more sharp fighting spirit.
Eight teams, twenty-four young geniuses from different villages, sized up their soon-to-be opponents. The air was thick with silent gunpowder, as if a single spark could ignite it all.
Hayate took in everyone's reactions. He coughed lightly twice, and his somewhat weak voice sounded again:
"The above are the matchups for the third exam."
"The matches will proceed in order. Please prepare, the two teams in the first match: Menma's team and Deidara's team. You will enter the arena in ten minutes."
"The other teams, please wait in the rest area or go to the designated areas in the spectator seating to watch."
"Now, dismissed."