Team 7 entered the room, walking past various teams and competitors from different villages. Naruto, with his usual energetic enthusiasm, led the group forward. "We're finally here! Time to show everyone what we're made of!" he declared.
Sakura, while still a bit nervous, followed behind, glancing over the other teams. "There are so many people here..." she muttered, realizing the gravity of the exam.
Hyuk, however, walked with his usual cold, distant demeanor. His gaze casually scanned the room, indifferent to the excited and determined competitors that filled the space. In his mind, he had little to prove here. He was confident in his abilities, and most of the people around him were merely obstacles.
Suddenly, a voice interrupted their thoughts. "Sasuke! Hyuk! It's been a while!" Ino Yamanaka called out from across the room, waving enthusiastically as she approached Team 7 with her own squad in tow—Shikamaru and Choji flanking her.
Sasuke, unsurprisingly, remained silent, not bothering to react. Hyuk, on the other hand, simply glanced at her, then turned away as if her presence didn't even warrant acknowledgment.
Ino, undeterred, focused her attention on Hyuk, letting out a playful giggle. "Hey, Hyuk. You're looking as handsome as ever. Maybe we should team up sometime?" She gave him a flirty smile, clearly trying to get his attention.
But Hyuk didn't care. He had no interest in girls his age, much less in Ino. His preferences leaned toward older, more mature women, something that had become more apparent to him after his recent experiences. Without so much as a response, he turned his back to her, his gaze wandering elsewhere.
Ino blinked in surprise at the cold rejection. "Hey! Are you ignoring me?" She pouted, clearly annoyed by Hyuk's indifference.
Naruto, meanwhile, took the opportunity to boast. "You really think Hyuk's gonna pay attention to you, Ino? He's too focused on becoming stronger!"
Ino crossed her arms, frustrated. "Well, maybe I was looking at the wrong guy, huh?" She shot a glare at Sasuke, who still hadn't acknowledged her.
Choji, munching on his bag of chips, sighed. "Ino, maybe you should focus on the exam instead of flirting…"
Shikamaru, as usual, looked completely unbothered by the situation. "This is such a drag…"
Before the conversation could go any further, another voice cut through the chatter. "So, you're all here to take the exam too, huh?" Kiba Inuzuka smirked as he approached with his teammates, Hinata and Shino, at his side.
"Don't think you're gonna have it easy," Kiba continued, his cocky grin in full display. "My team's gonna crush it in the exams."
Naruto wasn't one to back down. "You think you can beat us? Ha! Team 7's going to be the best in the whole exam!"
Sasuke, still aloof, remained focused, but even he couldn't ignore the growing intensity in the room. With so many competitors in one place, the air was thick with anticipation. The challenge had been set, and everyone knew it.
Hinata, standing quietly beside Kiba, glanced shyly at Naruto but said nothing, her cheeks lightly flushing as usual. Shino, as always, stood silent and observing, his shades hiding his expression.
As the groups exchanged subtle challenges, a hush fell over the room as a few new faces appeared.
Gaara of the Sand, accompanied by his siblings Kankuro and Temari, entered the hall, their presence immediately commanding attention. Temari's gaze quickly found Hyuk, remembering the brief exchange they'd had earlier. She didn't say anything, but her sharp eyes followed him, intrigued by his cold and confident aura.
Gaara, with his emotionless expression and the giant gourd strapped to his back, paid no mind to the others, his thoughts focused on the upcoming exam. His desire for blood and the thrill of battle simmered just beneath the surface.
As more teams arrived and tensions built, the room seemed ready to burst with excitement and rivalry. Everyone had something to prove, and the Chuunin Exams were their chance to make a name for themselves.
Sasuke smirked as he glanced around at the other competitors. "This is going to be interesting."