197.The Turmoil

A thank you for being my patron:

"Deva Path":

-Victor Gonzalez

-Mathias Zink

"Human Path":

-Codeseed g

-Sayemal Reaz

"Outer Path":

-chris

-Mohamed

-BlueFern XO

-Anil Singh

You can read 20 chapters ahead of everyone on p@treon.

P@TREON - p@treon.com/lessaservantofcosmos

(just replace the "@" with "a")

ps: Please support me on P@treon. I can really use your help!

--------------------------------------------------------------

"All the participants are here, right?" Hyuga Hizashi surveyed the crowd. As the chief examiner of the Chūnin exam, his presence commanded attention.

"The multi-village joint Chūnin exam will now commence," he announced, welcoming the assembly. "This time, we have participants from Konoha, Sand, Mist, Cloud, Rock, and Rain Shinobi villages. It's arguably the largest Chūnin exam in ninja history, offering a unique stage for villages worldwide to showcase their prowess."

"Please, give it your all!" he encouraged. During his speech, Hyuga Hizashi discreetly activated his Byakugan to scan the participants, ensuring no one used the Transformation Technique to disguise their true rank—a tactic to prevent villages from sneaking Jōnin in as Genin.

Indeed, the gathered Genin displayed exceptionally strong Chakra, many surpassing Chūnin levels. "They are young but held back in their promotion to retain their 'Genin' status—a common strategy, and Konoha is no exception. The Konoha Twelve, for instance, each possess the strength of a Chūnin," Hizashi noted, deactivating his Byakugan.

"The first test is a written exam, taking place in Konoha School's Building A, starting at two o'clock in the afternoon. You have time to rest or review until then," Hizashi concluded, dismissing the crowd.

At Ichiraku Ramen, Naruto shouted, "Teuchi-san, I'll have a bowl of tonkotsu ramen!"

"Coming right up, Naruto-kun! Extra servings for you!" Teuchi responded warmly, leveraging Naruto's status as the Hokage's son to attract more business, which had significantly expanded the once quaint shop.

"Why do I have to join you for ramen?" Sasuke grumbled, preferring rice balls over ramen.

"Eh~ So greasy!" Sakura remarked, wary of her diet.

"The pretty girl has to maintain her figure!" Naruto joked, then added, "But we're teammates for the Chūnin exam, Sasuke~" Despite their rivalry, they shared a deep camaraderie.

"Sakura, worrying about your diet can wait until after the exams. How can you perform well on an empty stomach? Especially in front of Yuki-sensei," Naruto advised, moving beyond his previous infatuation to offer genuine counsel.

"Okay then," Sakura agreed, convinced by the mention of impressing Yuki-sensei.

Sasuke couldn't help but smirk at Yuki's influence. 'It seems every girl falls for him,' he thought, puzzled by his lack of similar adoration despite his own good looks.

Sasuke, typically indifferent to matters of romance, found himself musing on a common human paradox: the tendency to long for what one lacks.

The ambiance at Ichiraku Ramen was disrupted by a voice of discontent. "Hey hey hey! We ordered our ramen before them; why hasn't it arrived yet?"

Teuchi, the owner, responded apologetically, "I'm sorry, we're quite busy today. Please be patient."

"But those kids over there got their order first. Why is ours taking so long?" complained Kidōmaru, pointing towards Naruto's table.

Jirōbō, visibly impatient and hungry, added, "Hurry up, we're all starving here!"

Teuchi found himself at a loss for words. After all, catering to the Hokage's son was a given, considering Naruto's role as a living advertisement for the shop.

"Naruto, don't stir up trouble before the exam," Sakura cautioned in a whisper, sensing the rising tension.

"These guys are the ones causing trouble," Naruto retorted, stepping forward to confront the disgruntled customers.

Despite Sasuke's muttered "This idiot," he too stood, ready to back his teammate.

The altercation escalated quickly, with Sakon, already irritable, and Naruto, unyielding, nearly coming to blows.

Suddenly, a intervention by Gaara, who appeared out of nowhere and used his sand to separate the would-be combatants, brought a momentary halt to the dispute.

"Stop this bickering. What's the argument about?" Gaara inquired, seeking to calm the situation.

Sasuke, analyzing the situation, noted the metallic quality of the sand and deduced Gaara's use of Magnet Style ninjutsu.

Dismissing Gaara's attempt to mediate, Sakon broke free from the sandy grasp with ease, showcasing the power of his curse seal.

"This is Konoha territory," Naruto declared, using Wind Style to clear the sand from himself, underscoring his right to defend his home ground.

Gaara, aiming to de-escalate the situation and showcase his abilities, was left embarrassed by the unintended outcome of his intervention.