In the street leading up to the colossal stadium, the air itself seemed alive.
The merchants barked about skewers and dumplings, children darted between legs, waving little paper fans with clan symbols painted on them, and shinobi from various villages walked with a mix of curiosity and caution.
The anticipation for the finals was tangible l,ike static before a storm.
Two men strode side by side through the bustling avenue, their voices carrying above the din of the crowd.
"The first match is Hyūga Neji, right?" One of them asked, adjusting his headband as his eyes scanned the towering walls of the stadium ahead.
"Yeah," The other replied, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "Number one rookie from last year. Though… the boy he's up against is no pushover. The number one rookie from this year—Uzumaki Naruto."
The first man snorted. "True that. And let's not forget, he's the son of Lord Fourth. That alone makes this worth watching."
His companion chuckled, lowering his voice as though sharing a secret. "It's going to be interesting, all right. But don't overlook the Uchiha boy…"
"Of course," The first said quickly, almost reverently. "Sasuke Uchiha. His match is against one of the Sand's candidates. But…"
He paused, giving a sidelong glance. "I've heard some… nasty rumors about him."
The second man raised a brow. "Rumors? What kind?"
"That ninja from the Sand," The first said, his tone darkening. "They say he kills for fun. That he toys with his enemies, lets his sand soak in their blood. A monster in human skin."
For a moment, silence lingered between them, the crowd's cheer filling the gap. Then the second man shrugged with a smirk. "Does it matter? The Uchiha boy will trash him."
"Hmph… I suppose you're right," The first admitted, though unease flickered in his eyes.
Their footsteps quickened as the massive gates of the stadium loomed before them, guarded by Leaf shinobi in crisp uniforms. The line moved steadily, people flashing tickets, chatter rising with every step closer to the heart of the event.
"Your ticket and ID, please," One of the gatekeepers said firmly, extending his hand.
"Here!" The duo presented their slips without hesitation.
The gatekeeper checked, nodded once, and motioned them through. "All right. Please proceed inside. Head toward the H-column, seats D-15 and D-16, respectively."
As the men stepped past the towering doors, a voice rang out from the shinobi with the faintest of grins.
"And welcome… to the Chūnin Exam Arena."
The moment they crossed the threshold, a wave of noise struck them like a physical force, the electric tension of eyes from every nation gathered in one place.
------
Column C – Chūnin Exam Stadium Seating
The stadium buzzed with an energy that could make the very stone walls tremble. The cheers, laughter, and chatter rolled through the stands like waves, a thousand voices carrying expectation for the matches about to unfold.
Amidst this excitement, in Column C's seating row, a small group of familiar faces began to gather.
Hinata sat quietly in the second row, her pale eyes fixed on the battlefield below. Her hands rested lightly in her lap, her posture straight but slightly tense, betraying her nervous anticipation.
The seat she had chosen was tucked neatly by the wall separating Column B and C, giving her both a good view of the arena and the comfort of not being in the center of the crowd.
"You're already here?"
Hinata turned at the familiar voice, her expression softening immediately. "Huh?"
It was Ino and Choji, making their way down the aisle. Ino's blonde hair swayed with each step, and Choji was already nibbling on a small snack bag as though it were a natural extension of his hand.
"Choji-san, Ino-san," Hinata greeted politely, her voice warm though still carrying that faint shyness that never left her.
"Our seats are in the front!" Ino announced brightly, pointing toward the two spots directly before Hinata. She gave a little spin of her finger, her tone half-excited, half-proud, as if she had pulled some strings to secure them.
Before Hinata could respond, another voice called out warmly, echoing against the walls.
"Ino-san! Choji-kun! Hinata-san!"
All three turned toward the sound. A young man in a purple robe hobbled down the steps, leaning heavily on a crutch under his right arm.
"Lee-san?" Hinata's eyes widened slightly, her tone edged with surprise and concern.
"Gai-sensei!" Ino and Choji exclaimed together when they noticed the tall, green-clad figure beside him.
"Yo!" Gai-sensei raised his thumb skyward, his trademark blinding smile somehow brighter than the sunlight pouring into the stadium.
Lee gave a small but earnest smile as he reached the row.
"I am still in recovery from the battle that day," He admitted as he carefully lowered himself onto the empty seat next to Hinata. His movements were slow, controlled, but the quiet wince in his eyes betrayed pain that his words did not.
"Gai-sensei!" Ino called out quickly, turning from Lee to the man at his side.
"Hm?" Gai turned toward her, eyebrows raised dramatically.
"I thought Lee-san would have recovered by now," Ino said, her voice soft with concern though her eyes sharp with curiosity.
"Oh, that!" Gai slapped a fist into his palm with his usual booming energy. "The medics told me it will take Lee another month before he can recover completely!"
His tone was as cheerful as if he were announcing the result of a contest, but the flicker in his gaze told a different story.
"Was it that serious?" Ino asked, her brows knitting together.
Choji lowered his snack bag, his expression uncharacteristically sober. Even Hinata's hands tightened slightly in her lap as she leaned toward Lee, her pale eyes shimmering with worry.
Lee answered with a soft, almost self-mocking smile. "Yes… You see, my body could not take the strain from opening the gates."
His voice carried no bitterness, but the forced brightness of his tone was its own kind of weight.
'What Gai-sensei does not tell them,' Lee thought quietly, his smile never faltering, 'is the intense pain I am burdened with on my spinal cord. As the days pass by, it grows worse…'
The silence that lingered was broken abruptly by Gai, who suddenly turned his head and bellowed across the stadium with such vigor that nearby spectators flinched.
"Oh? If it isn't my eternal rival!" His voice carried as though he wanted the entire arena to hear.
Across the way, in Column B, a lone silver-haired figure raised his head from the book he had been reading.
Kakashi closed it with a soft snap, lifted his gaze, and met Gai's with one eye curved in amusement.
"Gai," Kakashi greeted with his usual calm, the single word delivered like a sigh that carried both acknowledgment and familiarity. He gave the faintest of nods, a gesture so small and subtle, yet Gai lit up as though it were a triumphant salute.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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