Happy times always pass very quickly.
In the blink of an eye, it was August 5th, Year 60 in Konoha.
Only two days remained until the official matches of the third exam.
After spending half a month playing with Hanabi, Izayoi finally said a reluctant goodbye to Karin, carrying several large scrolls with him.
But before leaving, Izayoi instructed Karin, "Karin, on the desk in my study, there's a scroll I haven't put away yet. It contains the training method for a certain technique. After I leave, remember to practice it diligently. I hope that by the time I come back, you will have already mastered it."
Hearing that Izayoi would come back after some time, Karin immediately perked up and stood at attention, promising, "Yes! I won't disappoint you, Izayoi-kun."
"Then we'll head back first. Goodbye."
"Goodbye, Karin-nee."
Hanabi also waved goodbye to Karin.
Karin smiled and waved back, watching Izayoi pick up Hanabi, then vanish in an instant.
At 6 PM, Izayoi returned to Konoha with Hanabi right on time.
"So many carriages, and lots of people..."
Walking along the main street, Hanabi glanced around and sighed lightly.
"After all, the day after tomorrow is the official Chunin exam. Ordinary people don't have the Instantaneous Movement Jutsu, so they have to arrive early," Izayoi smiled.
"Onii-chan, Hanabi will definitely come cheer for you! Don't lose, okay?" Hanabi clenched her fist and said to Izayoi.
"Don't worry, Onii-chan will definitely win," Izayoi said confidently as he looked toward a certain direction. His gaze seemed to penetrate all obstacles as a confident smile appeared on his face, softly saying, "In every way."
After sending Hanabi, who was carrying a sealed scroll with souvenirs, back to the Hyuga clan's gate, Izayoi waved goodbye and returned home to make the final preparations for the grand event arriving in two days.
...
August 7th, Year 60 in Konoha.
At dawn, Konoha's main street began to bustle, gradually becoming a noisy crowd.
When the sun was high, fireworks even started.
Whether ordinary civilians in simple clothes or nobles dressed magnificently traveling by carriage or sedan chair, all headed toward Konoha's plaza.
An hour before the exam, the plaza was already packed with no empty seats.
Many people who came from other regions or foreign countries but failed to get tickets even blocked the entrance, quarreling with the ninjas.
After confirming they really couldn't enter, they didn't leave but stayed outside the plaza, planning to enjoy the match through sound and their imagination.
Unfortunately, the ninjas' minds were still too simple — no internal tickets were reserved to be sold outside as scalpers, nor did anyone set up betting outside. Otherwise, they could have made a fortune.
"Izayoi-kun, long time no see."
After a month, Hinata finally left her home and came to Izayoi's house.
The side effects of the professional photo shoot had long been dissipated by her strong longing.
The moment she saw Izayoi, Hinata unusually threw herself into his arms, tightly hugging his waist, her tone and eyes full of affection.
"Long time no see, Hinata."
Izayoi returned the hug firmly. Even with the strong pressure against his chest, he surprisingly had no distracting thoughts.
The two had been inseparable since they were six years old, and this was the first time they had been apart for so long.
For Izayoi and Hinata, who had long been used to each other's presence and couldn't live without one another, this month had been very difficult.
Izayoi was okay since he had his little sister accompanying him.
But for Hinata, this time had been truly agonizing.
Especially in these last two days, listening to Hanabi talk about traveling and looking at various photos of Izayoi and Hanabi together, Hinata rarely felt jealous of her younger sister.
So as soon as the vacation ended, she couldn't wait to come find Izayoi.
This time apart not only didn't weaken their feelings but made them even deeper.
They held each other silently for a long moment before finally separating and eating breakfast.
While Hinata was cleaning the dishes, Izayoi returned to his room, took out one of the birthday gifts Hanabi and Hinata had prepared for him — a white robe with flame patterns — and several large scrolls brought back from Sakura Street, then went into the private bathroom.
By the time Hinata finished putting away the dishes and loosened her apron, Izayoi was already out of the room.
They then left the house together, heading to Konoha's plaza.
Konoha Plaza was a spherical open-air building, similar to a special exercise field like the Death Forest, and was one of the places normally closed to the public.
The plaza only opened on important festival days.
Entering through the contestant entrance, the spacious arena was already filled with the chief examiners and some candidates.
Seeing the chief examiner smoking a thousand-wood cigarette in his mouth, Izayoi knew the main character of "Naruto: Shippuden" was still doomed to die.
"I thought you two were busy dating and forgot about the exam."
Just as Izayoi and Hinata joined the team, they immediately received a sharp barb from Uchiha Sasuke.
Hinata still looked shy, while Izayoi smiled lightly, "Looking at you, it seems this month hasn't been good for you."
"Quite the opposite, this month has been great," Uchiha Sasuke smirked confidently. "If we meet in the finals, I promise to surprise you."
"I'm looking forward to it."
Izayoi glanced at Sasuke's neck. Seeing no Heavenly Curse Mark, he knew Sasuke had likely been training with Hatake Kakashi just like in the original story.
If nothing unexpected happened, Sasuke should have mastered Lightning Release: Chidori.
This meant Sasuke's Lightning Release nature transformation had reached a certain level and could start the stage of form transformation to learn Chidori Stream and Raikiri.
The stronger Sasuke became, the happier Izayoi was.
Time passed by minute by minute, and the other candidates arrived one after another.
Just like Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto didn't arrive chased by a herd of bulls.
The newest chapter was out on volume 69 of the manga, released first at the bookstore!
In the VIP stands, Sarutobi Hiruzen and Orochimaru disguised as the Fourth Kazekage had already taken their seats.
Checking the time on his pocket watch, Jinmon Shiranui looked at the ten candidates before him and slowly said, "Time's up. Candidates who haven't arrived will be considered to have forfeited. Their opponents automatically advance."
Hearing this, many candidates looked at Uzumaki Naruto.
Among the eleven candidates, only Tosu Tsuno was absent.
Naruto, who advanced without a fight, placed his hands on his hips and laughed loudly, "Hahaha… That guy must be afraid of me and took the chance to run away."
"Now, let me explain the exam rules." Jinmon Shiranui took out a clipboard and, after crossing out Tosu Tsuno's name from the list, said, "You've all attended the ninja academy and know about no-rules fights. The official exam allows the use of any means. Killing your opponent won't bring any consequences because the death consent signed in the second exam is still valid."
"So, for those overestimating themselves, it's better to admit defeat decisively at critical moments. Otherwise, if you die, it's for nothing. Don't expect me to intervene."
"Candidate #2 forfeited, so #1 Uzumaki Naruto automatically advances. Candidate #3 Hyuga Hinata and #4 Temari remain. Others please move to the waiting area."
As Jinmon Shiranui's words fell, Gaara, Kankuro, and Hyuga Neji immediately left.
Izayoi and the others cheered for Hinata before heading to the spectator area.
"Great, the first match is sister's! Sister, ganbatte!"
Watching Hinata and Temari remaining on the field, Hanabi loudly cheered from the audience.
"Hanabi, mind your manners," Hyuga Hizashi admonished.
"Okay."
Knowing not to embarrass her family outside, Hanabi quickly sat up straight, her face serious.
"Hyuga Hinata, right? Are you really a newly promoted genin this year?"
On the field, Temari looked at Hinata—three years younger but with a figure that completely outshone her. Even mature women might not have such assets. Temari's eyes and mouth twitched slightly.
Thinking about the intelligence reports that said Hinata had a handsome childhood friend who was top of the class from enrollment to graduation, mastering multiple nature transformations and developing an S-rank Arashi Release ultimate technique. After graduation, they were teammates who had never been apart since childhood. Even Temari, princess of the Sand Village and daughter of the Kazekage, couldn't help but feel jealous.
Perfect in appearance, personality, and background, and even her partner was like that?
This woman—maybe in her past life—saved the world!
Hinata didn't know Temari's thoughts.
But hearing Temari's words, she still felt a bit shy.
She never understood why women the same age or older always looked at her with conscience and showed envy and jealousy.
It was a heavy burden.
At least, that was Hinata's initial thought.
Until she found out Izayoi liked her too, even to the point of nosebleeds, she no longer saw it as a burden on her strength, but a proud asset.
Thinking this, Hinata's shyness instantly vanished, and the corner of her lips slightly curled up.
In Temari's eyes, Hinata gave her a disdainful smile, staring at her barren assets.
The princess of the Sand Village instantly blew her top.
With a bang, Temari took off the three-star fan on her back, slammed it heavily onto the ground, and sneered coldly at Hinata, "Rich girl, I hope your strength can satisfy my three-star fan."
Those two words, "rich girl," seemed to flip some switch in Hinata.
Glancing at the direction where her little sister and father were, veins bulged on both temples. Looking seriously at Temari, Hinata said, "I will give it my all."
Their eyes instantly locked, sparks flying.
The powerful aura also caught the interest of Jinmon Shiranui, who took off his thousand-wood cigarette and raised his arm, shouting:
"Chunin Selection Third Exam · Official Match, Hyuga Hinata VS Temari... officially begins!"