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Two days later.
The streets of Konoha were especially lively, with people filling every corner!
Villagers were grouped together, heading towards the Konoha's Ninja Academy in unison!
Just yesterday, six prominent figures arrived one after another, and their luxurious carriages piqued the curiosity of the villagers.
As loyal citizens of the Land of Fire, the villagers of Konoha were thrilled to see the feudal lords of the Land of Fire arriving one after another. They could not contain their excitement!
Upon learning that the Chunin Exams were about to take place in Konoha, and that villagers could participate, the enthusiasm of the Konoha villagers reached an unprecedented level!
Near Sosuke's house.
At a busy stall.
"Come on, Auntie Kisaragi! Don't open your stall today! You know today is Sosuke's exam day!"
A middle-aged man cheerfully said to a big aunty.
"What! Does that mean little Sosuke will participate in this exam!?" the aunty exclaimed in surprise.
"Of course! Today is the day of the Chunin Exams, and Sosuke will definitely participate! With his abilities, he's bound to be in the exam!" the man said with certainty.
"Is that so! Then I must get dressed up! Haha, if it's Sosuke's exam, we must watch it for sure!"
"Wait for me! I have to call Millie and Nanhui too!"
"And don't forget to call that kid who practices with his hands. Sosuke is his idol, and if we invite him, we can all go together to cheer for Sosuke!"
"Ladies and gentlemen, I apologize, but I need to close my stall early today!"
Auntie Kisaragi hurriedly said, then quickly packed her things and rushed home.
The customers all wore understanding smiles, nodding in agreement.
Ever since the villagers found out that they were allowed to watch the exam, the whole village had become excited, looking forward to the Chunin Exams.
This excitement was partly due to their curiosity about ninja battles, but also because they wanted to see the two polite and well-behaved kids, Dai and Sosuke.
As celebrities, Dai and Sosuke attracted at least fifty percent of the villagers to the Chunin Exams, which somewhat eased the tensions between the upper-class ninja clans and the common people.
Meanwhile, on the street leading to the Ninja Academy.
At this moment, Sosuke and Dai were slowly following Shimura Himiko towards the Konoha's Ninja Academy.
Along the way, every villager who saw Sosuke would greet him warmly and offer words of encouragement.
"Sosuke, give it your all in the exam! We believe in you!"
Sosuke maintained a gentle smile on his face and politely replied one by one, not tired of doing so.
"Thank you for your support, I will do my best."
As the villagers gradually moved away, they could hear faint whispers of admiration.
"..... Sosuke is such a polite child.... he doesn't act like a ninja at all.... Konoha is fortunate to have such a child...."
"Yes, yes, his character is truly commendable!"
"Let's go... let's go... we won't go home... let's go watch the ninja battles and cheer for Sosuke while we're at it!"
".... That's a good idea... let's go!"
Shimura Himiko , who was leading the way, heard these hushed discussions.
She glanced back at Sosuke, who was increasingly handsome with age and growing up. In her heart, she thought,
"This guy, Sosuke... does this mean he has become a leader among the young generation of Konoha? Even though it's part of Uncle's strategy... there's something about this child that makes people naturally want to get closer to him..."
With that thought,
Sosuke didn't have many thoughts; he just loved the harmonious atmosphere of the village. He gently adjusted his glasses, and a glimmer of light flashed in his eyes.
However, his affection was limited to just that; he wouldn't forget his true aspirations... Above The Hokage Rock, perhaps, was where his true longing lay...
...
When Sosuke and the others entered the arena, several Daimyos and the Third Hokage were already seated on the high platform of Konoha, smiling as they watched the bustling scene below and occasionally discussing among themselves.
Various high-ranking officials of Konoha were seated around the Hokage and feudal lords, while the hidden corners were filled with elite members of the ANBU responsible for ensuring the safety of the leaders.
The enormous Konoha's Ninja Academy was vast enough to accommodate tens of thousands of people.
The continuously surging crowd of villagers filled the square, and the noise was incessant!
After Sosuke and Dai briefly informed Himiko , they headed down to the arena together.
When the participating candidates gathered together at one place, a commotion erupted from the audience stands.
"..."
"Look! Look! Isn't that child from the Hyuga clan? He's so composed despite such a situation; he truly lives up to being groomed by a prestigious clan!"
One person in the stands said, but his words triggered a wave of counterarguments from those around him.
"What's that supposed to mean? Have you seen Sosuke? Sosuke is right there!! Compared to Sosuke, the others are far behind!"
"Really?! So that's Sosuke! He seems to be a very calm child!"
"You don't even know Sosuke! That kid is recognized as a super genius even by the Academy!"
"Sosuke might be a bit too modest, but in everything he does and how he treats others, he gives people great confidence. Those kids from those big clans don't even come close to Sosuke!"
As the villagers were discussing, the seats arranged by some ninja clans were notably quiet, forming a sharp contrast to the area where the villagers sat.
In the Hyuga clan's designated area, the current clan head, dressed in simple traditional clothing, looked calmly down at Sosuke in the arena, thinking to himself.
Is that child Sosuke? From his appearance, there doesn't seem to be anything special about him... but since he's someone trained by Danzo at great effort... he must have remarkable qualities... Let's observe him for now...
In the Uchiha clan's designated area, Uchiha Kagami and Uchiha Mayo were sitting side by side, also observing Sosuke's every move.
"That's Danzo's disciple, right?" Uchiha Kagami suddenly asked Mayo, who was sitting next to him.
"Yes, even though it's the first time I'm seeing him in person, information about him has already been presented at the clan's meetings," Mayo respectfully replied.
"Information can often be subjective and may not reveal everything... Since that child is Danzo's disciple... try to make contact with him discreetly..."
Uchiha Kagami said softly, then closed his eyes and remained silent.
"Alright," even though filled with curiosity, Mayo didn't inquire further and softly agreed.
After that, he deeply etched Sosuke's name in his mind.
...
On the arena floor, a ninja suddenly walked to the center, cleared his throat softly, but the sound reverberated throughout the entire arena.
The noisy sounds from the stands came to a stop, and everyone looked at him in silence.
"Cough... Now that everyone is present... let the exams begin... I am the proctor and referee for this exam... Tsukikage Shingo..."
"Now, I announce... the rules for the third round of the Chunin Exams."