#75 - Chapter 75 The exam finally begins Rock Lee vs. Neci!

Training Ground 13.

Naruto and Sakura were by the bridge, watching the stream flow, waiting for something.

"Naruto, will Kakashi and Sasuke make it back in time?"

With only an hour left until the start of the third round of the Chunin Exams, Sakura was worried, fearing that Kakashi and Sasuke might have forgotten the time while training.

"Let's wait another half hour. If they don't come back, we'll head to the arena first."

Naruto wasn't worried that Kakashi and Sasuke would miss the exam; they weren't that careless.

The only thing to consider was whether they would return early and meet them at the training ground, or if they would be late as usual, only showing up right before the exam!

Time ticked by, and soon half an hour had passed.

Naruto glanced at his watch and said, "Let's go."

Rustle, rustle~

A few leaves fell.

Naruto and Sakura had just taken two steps when two figures appeared in front of them, back to back.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"......"

Naruto slightly raised his finger, charging a laser.

"If you keep acting, I'll shoot you dead!"

"Uh..."

Kakashi and Sasuke immediately returned to their usual appearances.

"Cough, cough, really, Naruto, after a month apart, you're still so heartless," Kakashi said with a sorrowful expression.

"Kakashi-sensei, Sasuke-kun!"

Sakura, seeing the two clearly, happily ran over and threw herself into Sasuke's arms.

"Sakura, let go, let go!"

Watching Sasuke and Sakura playfully bickering, Kakashi narrowed his eyes and smiled slightly, "Sakura is still the same as ever~"

"Alright, let's go!"

......

The Chunin Exam arena was already packed with people.

Daimyos and nobles from various countries, well-known figures, sat in their seats, chatting happily.

"Yo, Kakashi!"

Naruto and the others had just arrived at the arena when they heard Might Guy calling them from not far away.

"That's Bushy Brow's teacher, right?"

During the preliminaries, Sakura was deeply impressed by Might Guy.

She even once thought of Rock Lee as Might Guy's biological son.

"Kakashi, you're too late!" Might Guy walked over with Rock Lee and the others.

"The exam hasn't started yet, has it?" Kakashi glanced upwards, and, seeing that the Hokage hadn't arrived yet, he felt relieved.

"This is Sasuke, right?"

Might Guy noticed the change in Sasuke and couldn't help but praise, "To have such presence in just a month, truly remarkable!"

Neji and Rock Lee also felt the threat from Sasuke, but the one they were most concerned about in Team Kakashi was Naruto!

His strength was unfathomable; it was fortunate that they hadn't drawn him in this exam.

"Naruto!"

Hearing someone call him, Naruto subconsciously turned his head, "Hinata?"

Hinata hadn't changed much in the month they hadn't seen each other.

"Long time no see, Naruto~" Hinata said softly as she walked over.

"Long time no see," Naruto nodded, looking behind her.

Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame were old acquaintances, and as for the black-haired, red-eyed jonin Kurenai Yuhi, he had also seen her during the preliminaries!

The three jonin began to chat with each other, and before long, the last team of the Konoha rookies also walked over.

"Sigh, out of the three Konoha rookie teams, our team is the only one without anyone making it to the finals," Asuma said, with a cigarette butt in his mouth, looking at Shikamaru and the others with a resentful expression.

Shikamaru looked up at the sky, muttering, "What's so good about getting into the finals? It's such a drag!"

Asuma looked like he couldn't be more disappointed, then looked at Team Kakashi.

Sasuke and Naruto, each of them was so reassuring!

If it weren't for the Ino-Shika-Cho trio having to be in the same team, he would have protested to the old man about why he put two such powerful guys like Naruto and Sasuke in the same team!

"Naruto, Sasuke, it's time to go down!"

At this time, the proctor of the exam, Genma Shiranui, had arrived, and the examinees were gradually entering the arena.

Before the official match, these examinees still needed to be displayed like monkeys for the daimyos and nobles to watch.

"Esteemed guests! I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone for coming to watch the Chunin Selection Exams held by Konoha. Next, the ten contestants who passed the selection will compete! Please enjoy the matches!"

The voice of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, came from the top of the viewing platform.

And as his speech ended, the audience in the stands let out deafening cheers.

It was clear that Hiruzen Sarutobi still held great prestige in the eyes of these people!

"Before the match officially begins, I have something to tell you all."

Genma Shiranui suddenly spoke in the arena, "Although the venue is different, the rules of the match are the same as the preliminaries: one-on-one battles until one side dies or surrenders."

"And if I think the outcome of the match is already decided, I will stop the match. Do you all understand?"

Seeing that none of the ten spoke, Genma Shiranui continued, "Next, the first round of the match will begin. Rock Lee and Neji Hyuga, stay behind; the rest of you, return to the waiting room!"

Upon receiving the order, the crowd returned to the spectator seats, leaving only Neji and Rock Lee.

"Lee, although I hate to say it, but... do you really want to fight me in this match? You have no chance of winning," Neji advised with a calm expression, as if stating the obvious.

"There's no need to say more, Neji. I've been waiting for this day for a long time. Today—I will do my best to defeat you! I will prove... that hard work can surpass talent!" Rock Lee said with a serious expression.

Neji chuckled, "That's right, hard work can surpass talent, but what about a talented person who works hard? Lee!"

Lee's heart trembled, but his resolve remained firm and unshaken!

"Then I'll work harder than a genius! Even harder! I will definitely win!!"

"Heh, it seems there's no point in saying more."

Neji activated his Byakugan, adopting the Gentle Fist stance, and said seriously, "Then come on, Lee, let me see how your hard work will defeat me!"

"I will prove it!" Rock Lee clenched his fists, ready to go!

Genma Shiranui, seeing that the two had finished their trash talk, said, "Then... the first round of the third Chunin Exam—begin!"

As the words fell, the arena once again erupted in deafening cheers.

Naruto sat in the audience seat, shaking his head at the excited appearance of the nobles and daimyos not far away.

Ninjas risk their lives fighting for their so-called dreams, but they only provide these nobles with a little entertainment.

"Konoha Whirlwind!!"

In the arena, after Neji and Rock Lee confronted each other for a while, Rock Lee was the first to lose his patience and kicked out a leg.

His speed was very fast, obviously having removed his weights before the match!

To face Neji, he had to go all out from the start!

: Updating...