196.All Genin Gather

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In Konoha Arena, Genins gathering for the Chūnin exam created a lively scene.

"Oh~ are you here?" Shikamaru casually greeted, his tone laced with his characteristic laziness.

"Haha! How could the main character miss such an important occasion?" Naruto replied, his face beaming with confidence.

Sasuke, hands in his pockets, offered nothing more than a cool, detached presence.

"Hee hee~ For this Chūnin exam, I must impress Yuki-sensei with my skills!" Sakura declared with enthusiasm.

"Humph! That's my line!" Ino retorted, hands on her hips.

"What are you talking about, Piggy Ino?"

"Forehead Sakura!"

"Hey, cousins!"

The banter between the two girls was an everyday affair.

"Really, you two started early this morning," Chōji commented, opening a pack of snacks and settling in to watch the unfolding drama.

"Looks like everyone's here. Naruto seems especially motivated," Kiba remarked, with Akamaru perched on his head.

"Woof~" the little dog responded.

"I heard Hokage-sama personally tutored Naruto in ninjutsu recently, so his skills must have improved," Shino noted.

"Hokage-sama's personal training? That's really something," Kiba said, spreading his hands in admiration.

"Of course, my dad is the best!" Naruto said proudly. His father was not only a revered Hokage but also a loving parent at home.

Sasuke, meanwhile, couldn't hide his envy. He had sought ninjutsu guidance from his own father, who was often too caught up with official duties or police work to offer personal training. Eventually, Sasuke turned to Jōnin instructor Hatake Kakashi for lessons, which, although valuable, couldn't compare to being trained by the Fourth Hokage.

"Everyone, let's do our best!" Hinata whispered encouragement. She had quietly prepared a great deal for the exam, her innocent exterior masking her determined spirit.

"Hey~ the new generation seems quite ambitious," Tenten observed, watching the competitors curiously.

"They're definitely not to be underestimated," Neji added seriously. Despite being a year ahead, he refused to assume an easy victory, a humility instilled in him by his father, Hyūga Hizashi.

"Every competitor is someone to look forward to. I want to prove that hard work can overcome natural talent!" Rock Lee declared, his fists clenched in determination.

"Is that the Hokage's son?" Gaara mused, his gaze lingering on Naruto, hinting at the deep undercurrents of rivalry and respect among the young shinobi.

Gaara's appearance significantly deviates from the original. His black hair and silver pupils contrast sharply with the absence of the "love" kanji on his forehead and the iconic gourd on his back. Dressed in a gray-silver cloak, seemingly made from a metallic substance, Gaara's features and abilities diverge from the traditional due to differences in lineage.

"Gaara-sama, we are Sunagakure's top geniuses. We will surely rival the Hokage's son!" Kazuto declared with conviction. An orphan recognized early by Sunagakure's leadership, Kazuto was entrusted with a Forbidden Technique akin to the Eight Inner Gates, enabling brief surges of extraordinary combat power.

"Yo~ I can't disappoint my aunt!" A young female ninja, wearing a small gourd, expressed her determination. The niece of Karura and daughter of a Sand Shinobi Anbu, she represents the next generation of Sunagakure's talent.

"The Chūnin exam seems increasingly interesting!" Kurotsuchi, Onoki's granddaughter and a prodigy of Rock Shinobi, remarked with enthusiasm.

"Everyone here is remarkable," Chojuro observed, his posture reflecting a lack of confidence despite his legacy as a successor to the Mist Shinobi Seven.

Omoi humorously contemplated the dilemma of being too attractive, imagining a scenario where he becomes the center of affectionate disputes among female ninjas.

"What a mess, don't embarrass yourself!" Karui reprimanded Omoi with a punch, while Atsui, Samui's younger brother, voiced his intention to bring his sister back for a trial, alluding to past events involving the second tail.

Amidst the gathering, participants speculated about encountering ninjas trained by Yuki, anticipating elite competition. Jūgo, engaging in a moment of leisure with a bird, utilized his talent in animal communication for intelligence gathering.

With Konoha bustling, the challenge of locating Yuki amidst the crowd was noted, though confidence remained that a meeting was inevitable. This sentiment was shared among Rain Shinobi, who saw the Chūnin exam as an opportunity to demonstrate their strength and validate Yuki's significance to their village.

As Yuki observed from a vantage point, he reflected on his students and their developments, curious about the outcomes of their varied confrontations. These Genin, shaped by his teachings and modifications, were about to showcase the extent of their growth.