Konoha Village.
The third stage of the Chunin exams arrived as scheduled.
After a month's extension for the Chunin exams, the final part seemed like a grand ceremony everyone had been eagerly waiting for.
Whether it was the lucky examinees who entered the third stage, the noble Daimyos of the Ninja World, the ordinary people of Konoha Village, or even the hidden schemers lurking in the shadows, all had been longing for this exam to come.
This time...
Uchiha Sasuke was not late.
For the young boy, there's always been a sense of regret in his heart.
Previously, in the real world, due to Akihara Kagura's interference, Sasuke didn't participate in the Chunin exams, which was both a regret and possibly a blessing.
Uchiha Sasuke was well aware of his opponent, undoubtedly the killing weapon from The Hidden Sand Village, Gaara, who was also a One-Tailed Jinchuriki… Sasuke believed Akihara Kagura didn't let him enter the Chunin exams out of concern he might die on the battlefield.
No matter.
This time, he wouldn't lose.
No matter what kind of power Gaara could unleash, it made no difference to Uchiha Sasuke; the more rampant Gaara was in the Chunin exams, the better...
Ideally, like a beast that only knows destruction, so that he could become a hero stopping the Tailed Beast Chaos in this Chunin Exam and make a grand entrance as a hero!
The identity of a hero...
Comes with many benefits!
Wasn't Akihara Kagura recognized as a hero in the real world for stopping Uchiha Itachi from controlling the Three-tails and causing the Tailed Beast Chaos in Konoha?
Unfortunately...
This exam only had eight Genin candidates left.
Yet, the audience watching these eight Genin filled the arena; the most prestigious Daimyos of the Land of Fire and the most ordinary villagers of Konoha were watching their performance.
"Results of the draw…"
The examiner, Shiranui Genma, chewing on a toothpick, went through the slip in his hand, announcing the opponents to all candidates: "Hyuga Neji VS Naruto Uzumaki, Kankuro VS Aburame Shino, Temari VS Nara Shikamaru… Uchiha Sasuke VS Gaara!"
"!!!"
Naruto Uzumaki's eyes held a hint of fighting spirit.
Because a month ago, during the extension, he witnessed the battle between Hyuga Neji and Hyuga Hinata, and decided he would defeat Neji to prove him wrong!
"…"
Hyuga Neji's eyes showed no waves, not even bothering to give Naruto Uzumaki a glance; his gaze was fixed only on Uchiha Sasuke.
For no other reason.
Here, only Uchiha Sasuke was the strongest.
Even Temari, who understood the power her brother Gaara possessed, had a bit of concern for him after hearing about Uchiha Sasuke from Hidden Sand Village's Jonin Maki after the second exam ended…
"Gaara."
Temari's gaze held some concern, as she knew very well her brother's temperament: "Maki-sensei mentioned, that black-haired kid is very strong, with a mastery of many powerful jutsus, maybe be a little more cautious…"
"I know."
Gaara's eyes didn't even lift.
No matter how strong the opponent's power, it didn't matter; he hadn't seen the strength of Susanoo personally, only heard Maki mention Uchiha Sasuke mastered many extremely powerful jutsus, a terrifying little brat whose age couldn't be judged…
Terrifying?
Could anyone in the Ninja World be more terrifying than himself?
Gaara, with dark circles under his eyes, could clearly feel the beast sealed within him, as long as he unleashed the beast's power, everyone would understand who the most terrifying existence truly is!
Just right...
The higher-ups of The Hidden Sand Village had already permitted him to unleash that beast's power during this exam, to create an unprecedented chaos in Konoha!
Just right...
To first use that beast to kill a genius from Konoha!
To let everyone here know, who is the person in the exam grounds that most needs to be feared!
"Hmm?"
Uchiha Sasuke seemed to sense Gaara's gaze, his mouth curling into a smile, casually speaking first: "Congratulations…"
"Hmm?"
Gaara looked at the black-haired boy in front of him in surprise.
"You drew a terrible lot…"
Uchiha Sasuke wore a mocking smile, not even looking back as he walked toward the adjacent preparation area, leaving only Gaara with a throbbing forehead.
"Damn…"
Gaara's forehead throbbed with a cross mark, yellow sand slowly floating around him, wanting to kill Uchiha Sasuke on the spot!
Unfortunately.
The examiner Shiranui Genma refused him.
Luckily, Gaara didn't need to wait long, as the earlier exams ended quickly, the first match saw Naruto Uzumaki declaring he never believed in Hyuga Neji's so-called destiny, defeating the previous year's top fighter as a dead-last!
Defeated Hyuga Neji…
Was completely convinced by Naruto Uzumaki's indomitable spirit.
As a branch member of the Hyuga Clan, Hyuga Neji considered his father a scapegoat for the Main Family, believing he was only a weak member of the branch family himself, yet he saw hope of breaking fate in the victory over him by Naruto Uzumaki…
"Idiot…"
"Actually believed it…"
Uchiha Sasuke felt like he was witnessing two idiots; his gaze occasionally flitted upwards toward the Hyuga Clan leader Hyuga Hizashi in the stands, considering Naruto Uzumaki changing the Hyuga Clan's situation less reliable than relying on himself…