Chapter 26 - Gaara
"What are you doing?"
Rin Itsuka asked speechlessly.
"Hmph, as expected of Naruto's woman, she actually managed to detect my presence!"
Konohamaru said this as he flipped open the box disguised as a stone.
"No, you've misunderstood."
Looking at Konohamaru and his gang in front of her, Rin Itsuka had no interest in explaining and turned to leave.
"What? Big brother, your taste isn't so great either, you actually like someone so short!"
"Hey, say that again and I'll beat you up!"
Rin Itsuka turned her head and glared at Konohamaru.
However, Konohamaru wasn't afraid at all, and instead shouted, "Come on then, come and chase me!"
After saying that, he turned and ran.
Rin Itsuka had only meant to scare him, so after he ran away she didn't intend to pay him any more attention. Unexpectedly, Konohamaru crashed into someone as soon as he turned the corner.
"Ow, watch it, kid!"
Kankuro grabbed Konohamaru by the collar as the boy sat on the ground.
Some might wonder — would a ninja like Kankuro really get hurt by a child as small as Konohamaru?
However, looking at their heights, Konohamaru's head only reaches Kankuro's waist. When he runs, he lowers his head, so he had crashed directly into Kankuro's most sensitive area.
The fact that Kankuro only cried out in pain, rather than collapsing entirely, actually shows just how tough he was.
Although it was Konohamaru's fault, he was used to being arrogant in the village, so instead of apologizing he loudly demanded that Kankuro let him go.
Kankuro's temper flared, and he raised his hand to strike Konohamaru.
At that moment, Naruto and Rin Itsuka, who had heard the commotion, came rushing over.
"You bandaged freak! Let go of Konohamaru!"
Upon seeing his friend in danger, Naruto, without stopping to ask who was right or wrong, shouted and charged toward Kankuro.
Kankuro isn't actually fat, but his thick, dark clothing makes him appear bulky.
'Just a Konoha genin.'
Kankuro thought dismissively, then moved his fingers, sending an invisible chakra thread that tripped Naruto.
"What just happened?"
Naruto tripped and fell for no apparent reason, completely bewildered.
"Pathetic. A Konoha genin."
Kankuro's tone was mocking.
"You did that, didn't you? What kind of trick was that?"
Naruto realized from Kankuro's tone that he was responsible and immediately shouted.
"Heh, you can't even tell? Someone like you would be dead in an instant on a real battlefield."
Kankuro looked down on Naruto even more.
"This really hurts..."
Meanwhile, Konohamaru, still dangling in the air by his collar, had reached his limit.
"Bastard! Let him go, you big bandaged freak, or you'll regret it!"
Naruto kept shouting in frustration.
"What did you say? Want me to finish this brat off right now?"
Kankuro's temper surged, and his grip began to tighten.
"Hey, that's the Third Hokage's grandson you're holding. Still want to go through with that?"
Rin Itsuka spoke up calmly.
"What?"
Kankuro froze and loosened his grip slightly.
"You're the Hokage's grandson?"
"That's right! My grandfather is the Hokage, and he won't let you get away with this!"
Seeing that Kankuro had hesitated, Konohamaru pressed the advantage.
"Kankuro, drop it. We're not here to cause trouble."
Temari, worried things would escalate, stepped in to stop him.
Just as Kankuro was about to release Konohamaru, a stone suddenly flew in and struck his wrist. His grip loosened, and Konohamaru dropped to the ground.
"Who did that?!"
Kankuro demanded angrily, rubbing his wrist.
"You've got some nerve, causing trouble in someone else's village."
Sasuke sat on a tree branch above them, casually tossing a stone in his hand.
"You! You actually attacked me from ambush! I'll kill you right now!"
Kankuro, the Kazekage's son, had never been treated like this back in his village, and his fury erupted immediately.
"Seriously? You're going to pull out your puppet already?"
Temari frowned. Revealing their abilities this early after entering the village was not a good idea for what lay ahead.
"Stay out of it! I'm going to teach him a lesson!"
Kankuro was no longer listening to Temari.
"Stop."
Suddenly, a figure appeared beside Sasuke, hanging upside down from the same branch.
"That's enough, Kankuro. Stop embarrassing yourself."
"But they started it..."
Kankuro visibly tensed at the newcomer's presence and quickly tried to explain himself.
"Shut up. Or I'll kill you."
"Y-yes, I'm sorry. It was my fault."
"It was all our fault. We're sorry."
Kankuro and Temari both apologized immediately.
Sasuke stared at the figure beside him. He wasn't tall, with red hair, dark rings around his eyes, the kanji for "love" tattooed on his forehead, and a large gourd strapped to his back.
'When did he get here? I didn't sense him at all.'
At that moment, Gaara turned and looked directly at Sasuke.
"My apologies."
Then he instantly reappeared between Temari and Kankuro.
"It seems I arrived early."
"N-no, not at all..."
Kankuro stammered.
"Hmph. We're not here to play around. Don't cause any more trouble."
"Yes, understood."
"Then let's go."
With that, Gaara turned to leave.
"Wait."
Sasuke dropped down from the branch.
"Who are you?"
"Me?"
Temari asked, her face flushing slightly.
"Not you. The one with the gourd."
"Gaara of the Desert. I'm quite interested in you as well. Who are you?"
"Sasuke. Uchiha Sasuke."
"Good to know."
Gaara turned and began walking away again, but Naruto objected loudly.
"Hey! What about me? You didn't even ask my name!"
"I have no interest in you."
Gaara said without turning his head.
"Unbelievable!"
"Naruto really can't catch a break."
"Shut up! Don't talk about me like that!"
"But it's the truth."
"Then learn to keep it to yourself!"
Listening to the commotion behind her, Rin Itsuka smiled quietly to herself. The Chunin Exams were beginning, and with them, a great danger loomed over the Third Hokage.
Meanwhile, at the Hokage Building, the Third Hokage was meeting with a group of Jonin to discuss the upcoming Chunin Exams.
After briefly going over the assignments, he posed a question to the room.
"As is customary, have any team leaders chosen to recommend their students this year? As you all know, the basic requirement is the completion of at least eight missions."
Ideally all sixteen, but these kids are still far from ready, Iruka thought to himself as he sat taking notes, already assuming his own students likely didn't qualify.
However, Kakashi stepped forward, formed a hand seal, and announced, "In my name, Kakashi Hatake, I hereby recommend Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, and Itsuka Rin to participate in the Chunin Exams!"
"What?!"
Iruka's jaw dropped.
But before the shock could settle, Asuma and Kurenai also stepped forward to recommend their own students.
"That's quite unexpected."
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, allowed a small smile.
"Wait a moment!"
Iruka suddenly spoke up.
"What is it, Iruka?"
Strictly speaking, as a Chunin, Iruka had no standing to interrupt a meeting of Jonin. But the Third Hokage was a patient and kind man at heart, and gestured for Iruka to continue.
Ps..
Im not well right now!...
End of this chapter..