The great doors of the stadium parted with a low creak of wood and iron, and two figures emerged together into the open.
The Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, with the weight of years but the aura of authority still unshaken, walked side by side with the Kazekage of the Hidden Sand, his robes fluttering lightly in the breeze that circled the high arena.
The crowd erupted into respectful applause, voices rolling across the coliseum like thunder.
Nobody knew that Kazekage Rasa was already dead and the person currently walking besdie Hiruzen was actually Orochimaru.
Hiruzen's eyes, however, were not on the audience or Kazekage. Beneath the brim of his hat, his gaze swept the arena floor with a sharp, searching, and troubled expression.
'Still no sign of them… Naruto, Sasuke… what are you two doing at such a crucial hour?' His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, the only outward sign of his worry.
On the ground, beneath the gaze of thousands, eight figures stood in a perfect horizontal line. Dust stirred faintly around their feet, caught in the tension that filled the air.
Before them stood Genma Shiranui, the proctor, his senbon glinting in his mouth as he unfurled a slip of paper. His expression was calm, yet his voice carried the authority of final judgment.
"Hyūga Neji, Gaara, Kankurō, Aburame Shino, Temari, Dosu, Nara Shikamaru, and Haruno Sakura…" He read aloud, his eyes narrowing slightly at the absences. "…Looks like Naruto and Sasuke are absent."
The words hit like a ripple through the ranks.
'Lord Naruto…? Where are you?' Sakura's head snapped up, her heart skipping a beat. Her green eyes darted desperately across the crowd, searching for the flash of blonde, the grin that never faltered. But his shadow was nowhere to be found, leaving her hands trembling slightly at her sides.
'What a drag,' Shikamaru thought as he exhaled through his nose, his eyes half-lidded. 'Two of the strongest guys missing at the same time… This whole thing is going to be more troublesome than it already is.'
Hinata sat quietly in her seat above, pale eyes unblinking, scanning every inch of the floor. Her fingers curled against her knees. 'Naruto-sama… please hurry…'
Whoosh!
A whisper of wind revealed the figure of Raidō, who arrived beside Genma. He leaned in, speaking in low tones.
Genma's brows twitched, then he straightened with a low murmur. "I see…"
'Looks like they intend to start without those two, I suppose.' Shikamaru mused silently, his head tilting back to the open sky as though trying to detach himself from the tension brewing around them.
Genma's gaze lifted to the giant iron-banded gates at the far end of the stadium. The guards stationed there met his eyes, then nodded in perfect unison. The massive doors shut with a deep boom that echoed like the toll of a bell.
A gust of air kicked up as the perimeter guards vanished from their posts in blurs of motion, fanning out to reinforce the security beyond.
"BOOOOOO!!!"
The silence was shattered, and disappointment erupted from the crowd, a rolling wave of boos and jeers.
"No Sasuke?!"
"What about Naruto?!"
"Where are the real stars?!"
Genma's eyes narrowed, but his voice cut through the noise like steel against stone. "THERE IS A CHANGE IN THE ORDER OF MATCHUPS. Since the contestants of the first two battles have not appeared yet… we will start with the remaining matchups!"
"OOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!"
The stadium roared its approval now, the fickle masses shifting from disappointment to anticipation with startling speed. Excitement surged, stamping feet and clapping hands filling the air.
In the stands, Kushina tilted her head, her crimson hair swaying with the motion. Her brows furrowed slightly.
'Naruto… what are you up to?' A faint smile tugged at her lips despite herself. 'Don't tell me you're sleeping with someone, my love~.'
On the arena floor, Genma turned back to the eight lined up. His senbon shifted as he barked, "Throw out your chests and show your faces to the spectators. You guys are the stars of this Final Round!"
'Stars, huh?' Shikamaru sighed lazily. His gaze swept the endless sea of faces in the stands, his pulse racing. 'But the real star… my star… is still missing.'
"CHAA!!!" Sakura's inner voice screamed. 'I'll show them all! I'll be the best kunoichi here!'
High above, in the VIP balcony, Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped forward. His robes flared gently in the wind, and with a practiced movement, he lifted his arms. The noise of the stadium fell into a hush.
"Everyone," His voice boomed, rich with power and age, "thank you so much for coming to the Village Hidden in the Leaves for this year's Chuunin Exam Finals!"
The silence fractured into a storm of cheers, louder than before. Flags waved, voices called, the coliseum trembling with expectation.
"We will now begin the Final Rounds!" Hiruzen declared, his tone sharp, unyielding, echoing off every stone.
Genma stepped forward again, his eyes locked on the contestants.
"Listen up, you guys. The terrain is different, but the rule is the same as in the preliminaries... there are no rules. The matches will continue until one or the other dies, or acknowledges defeat." His eyes narrowed, sharp as blades. "However, if I judge that it has been settled, I'll stop the match there. Arguments will not be allowed. Understood?"
"Mm!" The voices of the contestants rang out together, sharp and firm.
Genma gestured with a sweep of his hand. "The rest of you, move to the waiting room."
The dust kicked up as the others began filing away, leaving only two standing tall, facing each other with quiet intensity.
Genma tilted his chin toward them, his senbon gleaming. "The first battle: Kankurō of the Hidden Sand… and Aburame Shino of the Hidden Leaf!"
"OOOOHHHHHHH!!!!!"
The crowd went wild, their collective roar crashing like a tidal wave against the stone walls of the stadium. The excitement boiled in the air, banners flapped in the wind, and the chant of voices overlapped one another in a chaotic frenzy.
"GO SHINO!!" Kiba's voice cut above the din, sharp and full of energy.
"WOOF! WOOF!" Akamaru barked right beside him, his small body vibrating with the same enthusiasm as his partner.
Hinata blinked and turned her head toward the noise, her pale eyes softening instantly.
"Kiba-kun!" She greeted warmly.
Lee leaned forward, his crutch tucked under his arm, and waved brightly. "Ah! Kiba-kun, you have arrived! Flames of youth burn brightest when cheering for one's comrades!"
Ino and Chōji twisted in their seats as well, surprise etched across their faces.
"Oh! You guys!" Kiba grinned, flashing a canine smile as he strode down the aisle, Akamaru padding beside him. "So you already grabbed your seats, huh? Not bad, not bad."
Lee adjusted his posture, curious. "Where is your seat located, Kiba-kun?"
"It's C-4," Kiba replied casually, scratching Akamaru's ears.
"C-4?" Chōji frowned, glancing at the empty chair immediately beside him. His hand still hovered protectively over his bag of chips.
Kiba's smirk widened as he jabbed a thumb toward the spot. "Heh, that must be it then!"
"WOOF!" Akamaru barked in agreement, bounding forward.
But just as Kiba started to sit down, Akamaru suddenly stiffened, a low growl rumbling in his throat.
"GRRRR…" His sharp eyes locked onto something with uncanny precision.
Kiba blinked and followed his ninken's gaze. "Huh? What's the matter, boy?"
Akamaru's focus was unwavering, teeth bared and hackles raised at Chōji's lap or, more specifically, the shiny orange bag of BBQ-flavored potato chips in his hands.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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