When Yukigetsu stepped into classroom 301, it was bustling like a marketplace. Over two hundred examinees filled the room, occupying every seat, with chatter and noise filling the air.
Before he could locate Hinata and the others, a sudden fragrant breeze hit him from behind. The next moment, a girl’s soft body pressed against his back, her slender, smooth arms tightly wrapped around his neck. Her excited voice filled his ears like a spring breeze.
“Yukigetsu, why did you take so long? I missed you so much!”
Yukigetsu covered his face in embarrassment, feeling like the center of attention. “Ino, can we not be so bold in public? You’re going to scare everyone…”
Just then, Sasuke, Sakura, and Naruto arrived at the classroom door. Upon seeing this scene, Sakura exploded instantly. Her forehead popped a big vein as she shouted, “Ino-pig! Let go of him!”
“Oh, it’s Sakura!” Ino, still clinging to Yukigetsu, looked over his shoulder. “Your forehead is as big as ever, ugly!”
Sakura’s fury turned her into a roaring lioness, “Say that again!”
Strands of hair brushed against his neck, soft and fragrant, but Yukigetsu quickly extricated himself from Ino’s embrace. He had no desire to feed everyone dog food in public; it would only provoke their anger…
As he turned around, he saw Choji and Shikamaru approaching. While Shikamaru wore his usual lazy expression, Choji was still munching on snacks.
“You guys are here too… This exam is such a drag…” As expected, Shikamaru’s first words were a complaint.
Yukigetsu helplessly swatted away Ino’s sneaky hand. It seemed she had taken a liking to acting like a rogue…
Hinata and Kiba soon joined them, as Yukigetsu was the undisputed core of Team 8.
“Everyone’s here. It looks like all nine new Genin are taking the exam this year.” Yukigetsu glanced around with a smile.
Shikamaru shrugged, “How far can we really get…”
“Don’t be so negative. You’re pretty strong when you try.” Yukigetsu patted his shoulder and winked.
Kiba eyed him, “You don’t seem nervous at all.”
“Woof woof!” Akamaru nodded in agreement.
Choji, hearing the bark, suddenly brightened up. That dog looked delicious…
“Stop yapping! I won’t lose to you, Yukigetsu! Just you wait!” Naruto, full of excitement, challenged him, likely still annoyed about being overshadowed.
“Hey, you guys… It’s better to keep quiet!”
A young man’s voice cut through the noise, “You must be the nine rookies who just graduated. All that chatter is giving me a headache!”
Naruto’s face scrunched up, his whiskers twitching, “Who do you think you are, acting all high and mighty?”
“I’m Kabuto.” The white-haired youth adjusted his glasses and gestured around, “Take a look around…”
Curious, the group turned their heads and were startled to see everyone staring at them!
The entire room had fallen silent at some point, leaving the nine newcomers as the focus of attention.
“Everyone gets a bit tense before the exam, so it’s best not to provoke them.”
Kabuto’s eyes flickered with interest, then he smiled warmly, “By the way, I’m somewhat of a senior to you. I have these ninja info cards with data on the examinees. Interested in taking a look?”
Intrigued, the group gathered around. They knew nothing about the other participants.
Kabuto pulled out a stack of cards, spread them on the floor, and picked out two, holding them up, “These two are the current favorites to win.”
Naruto leaned in eagerly, “Who are they? Is one of them me?”
Sasuke and Sakura rolled their eyes. Couldn’t he have some self-awareness? So embarrassing…
“First, there’s Neji Hyuga, known as Konoha’s strongest Genin.” Kabuto showed one card.
Yukigetsu touched his nose, unsurprised. Of course Neji would be a favorite; he was the strongest Genin in Konoha.
“Neji Hyuga, a year older than you, has completed thirty D-rank missions, sixteen C-rank missions, and one B-rank mission. Last year, his strength gained much attention, but he didn’t take the exam. In just a year, he’s become universally recognized as the strongest Genin.”
Kabuto’s voice was calm, but his eyes took in everyone’s reactions, particularly enjoying their astonishment.
“Impressive…” Ino nodded, then asked curiously, “Who’s the other one? Is it Yukigetsu?”
Kabuto glanced at Yukigetsu and shook his head, “No, the other one is Gaara of the Sand.”
Apart from Hinata, Kiba, and Akamaru, who had met Gaara earlier, everyone else was puzzled. They had never heard this name before. Even Shikamaru’s lazy expression turned serious, sensing something unusual from Yukigetsu’s reaction.
“Gaara of the Sand has completed twenty-one C-rank missions and three B-rank missions!” Kabuto couldn’t hide his amazement, “It’s rare for a Genin to complete a C-rank mission, even with a Jonin leader. But he’s completed three B-rank missions alone! Remarkable… And I’ve heard he’s never been injured during a mission…”
Everyone exchanged glances while Yukigetsu rubbed his forehead. Another formidable opponent in the Chunin Exams…
“Why isn’t Yukigetsu included? He completed a B-rank mission too…” Ino pouted, crossing her arms.
Kabuto adjusted his glasses and explained, “Well, most people don’t know him well since he’s a newcomer. Even those who know about his B-rank mission often attribute it to his elite Jonin brother, Kakashi, since they completed it together… So…”
“Hehe…” Yukigetsu chuckled, “So they think I took a shortcut…”
Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto exchanged a knowing look. They had witnessed Yukigetsu’s performance during the mission. Saying he relied on Kakashi’s help was laughable. He might not have been the strongest, but he was certainly the most crucial. To call it a shortcut was a joke…
“So, although you have a B-rank mission on record, most people are skeptical. They don’t consider you on par with Gaara.” Kabuto concluded, looking at Yukigetsu.
The boy shrugged, unfazed. It was fine by him; the attention lately had been too much. Lowering expectations wasn’t a bad thing…
Bang!
At that moment, the classroom door burst open, and a man with a scarred face in a black coat strode to the podium, “Impatient, aren’t you… I’m Ibiki Morino, the proctor for the first part of the Chunin Selection Exam.”
“Alright! The first part begins now. Submit your application forms and draw a number to find your seat.” Ibiki’s voice was calm and indifferent, “The written test will start shortly…”
“Written… written test—”
Naruto’s face turned pale, sweating bullets. He hadn’t expected a written exam… As the eternal dead last in the ninja academy, this was a nightmare!
Soon, the examinees received their number cards.
Yukigetsu found his seat and was surprised to see he was seated between Naruto and Hinata. What a stroke of luck, as if the heavens were hinting at something…
“Yukigetsu-kun… let’s do our best…” Hinata whispered, her eyes smiling.
Yukigetsu turned to meet her pure, beautiful gaze, and his own smile softened. This girl’s voice and demeanor always seemed to warm his heart…
—
Why does sitting between Naruto and Hinata feel so strange, as if I accidentally took something…—Yukigetsu—
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