---
Naruto's bold declaration rang out like thunder, instantly drawing the attention of everyone present. All eyes turned toward him.
With disdain, one of the candidates sneered, "I won't lose to you? You really dare to say that?"
Shikamaru frowned and muttered, "That guy... he just made everyone around him see him as an enemy."
Sakura, clearly frustrated, shouted, "Naruto, stop spouting nonsense!"
But Naruto stood firm, his expression serious. "I'm not talking nonsense. I'm just telling the truth!" He clenched his fists tightly, his eyes burning with determination.
Seeing this, Sakura quickly tried to smooth things over with the crowd. "Don't mind him, he's just joking. He can be pretty dumb sometimes."
Naruto, however, didn't appreciate her attempt to downplay the situation. "I'm not joking!" he declared adamantly.
At that moment, Sasuke stepped in, his voice calm but sharp. "No, Naruto is right. I'm not targeting anyone specifically, but... everyone here is trash."
A stunned silence followed Sasuke's words.
Kankuro muttered to himself, "Is this guy for real? Isn't he afraid of getting beaten up by everyone here?"
Meanwhile, Gaara's interest was piqued. "Sasuke... interesting. Only an opponent like him is worthy of me."
Sakura and Ino, on the other hand, were filled with admiration. "Sasuke, you're so cool!" they exclaimed in unison.
Sakon, one of the Sound Ninja, finally snapped. He stepped forward, anger contorting his face. "You brat, watch your mouth! Don't get too arrogant!" he snarled as he rushed at Sasuke, kunai in hand, like a predator going for the kill.
Sasuke, however, remained calm, not even flinching at Sakon's approach.
Seeing this, Sakon sneered. "Hmph, all talk and no action. I guess you're just a weakling after all."
"Sasuke, watch out!" Sakura and Ino cried out in unison, their voices filled with worry. Though they knew in their hearts that Sakon was no match for Sasuke, their concern still made them call out.
In an instant, Sasuke vanished from his spot and reappeared above Sakon, delivering a powerful kick to his back. The force of the blow sent Sakon flying through the air, crashing to the ground.
Sasuke stood over the fallen ninja, a smirk on his face. "So this is the strength of the Sound Ninja? Pathetic," he said with disdain.
"You...!" Sakon struggled to his feet, his face flushed with anger and humiliation. He had never imagined he would be defeated by Sasuke so easily.
Before Sakon could even gather his thoughts, Sasuke was on him again, moving faster than anyone in the room could follow. With lightning speed, Sasuke delivered a series of blows, leaving Sakon on the ground, unable to move.
"Nani?!" one of the onlookers gasped.
"What speed!" another exclaimed.
"When did he even make his move?" someone asked in disbelief.
"Is this the strength of a Konoha genin? Impressive... as expected from the number one ninja village," another voice added.
"As expected of Sasuke..." Sakura, Ino, and Naruto thought to themselves, awe-struck by Sasuke's performance.
Even Gaara's gaze toward Sasuke became more intense. He clenched his fists, clearly deep in thought.
Kankuro, on the other hand, was filled with fear. In his mind, Sasuke's threat was growing close to the level of Gaara's.
Temari and Karin both looked on with curiosity. "Not only is Sasuke handsome, but he's also so strong!" they thought.
"Calm down, all of you!" a low and commanding voice suddenly boomed through the room. At the same time, thick smoke began to rise, obscuring everyone's vision.
"I've kept you all waiting long enough. I am Ibiki Morino, the chief examiner of the Chunin Selection Exams."
From the smoke emerged a man with scars covering his face, followed by a group of proctors tasked with overseeing the exam.
"To the Sound Ninja, and to anyone else causing trouble before the exam even begins, I won't hesitate to disqualify you. Do you want to be eliminated before you even start?" Ibiki warned, his gaze landing squarely on Sakon.
Sakon opened his mouth to protest, but Ibiki cut him off sharply. "Let me make this clear: without the examiner's permission, no fighting is allowed. And even with permission, you must not endanger your opponent's life. Anyone who violates these rules will be disqualified on the spot. Understood?"
Ibiki scanned the room, waiting for any objections. Seeing none, he continued, "Alright, since no one has any issues, let's begin the first part of the Chunin Exam. First, submit your application forms and collect your number plates. You'll be seated according to the numbers assigned to you. Once everyone is seated, I'll hand out the written portion of the exam."
"Written test?!" Naruto yelled at the top of his lungs, his face pale. He knew all too well that the one thing he struggled with most was written exams.
"Sasuke, you've got to help me!" Naruto begged, looking utterly desperate.
"Don't worry, Naruto. I'm sure you'll manage to pass this exam," Sasuke said reassuringly. He knew the real challenge wasn't the written test itself, but each candidate's ability to gather and analyze information. Of course, those with a strong knowledge base could complete the test on their own, but the final question would be the true test of character. It required candidates to refuse to give up, no matter how difficult the circumstances.
In the end, it was Naruto's stubborn determination that would help many people pass this part of the exam.
---