Outside the alley.
The three Sand siblings stood frozen in the sunlight. Even Gaara, who had been radiating killing intent moments ago, now withdrew it, his eyes filled with shock as he stared into the shadow where Naruto had stood.
"Let's go!" Temari hissed in a low voice. In her panic, she didn't care about appearances anymore. She grabbed her two troublesome brothers by the hands and pulled them away from the alley without looking back. Only after they had run a long distance did she finally release them, panting heavily.
"What… was that?" Kankurō's voice shook. The purple-striped paint on his face couldn't hide the way his hand trembled against the wall.
He still had enough sense to avoid using the word "monster." With Gaara right beside him—his own brother and a jinchūriki—such words would be reckless.
"The… Nine-Tails." Temari's entire body was trembling. Her calves were so tense they had begun to spasm.
"How could the Leaf have something that terrifying?" Kankurō muttered, his lips quivering at the memory of what he had just witnessed.
…
Back in their lodgings, the Sand team leader, jōnin Baki, frowned deeply as he listened.
"The Nine-Tails? Impossible," he said, scanning the three siblings with sharp eyes. "You were fooled by that brat."
"Fooled?" Temari and Kankurō exchanged bewildered looks. Only Gaara remained silent, still and cold as ever.
"Sensei, what do you mean?" Temari asked anxiously, sweat beading at her brow.
Baki—his square face set with authority, clad in tight black inner wear beneath a brown flak vest—spoke firmly, his tone clipped and commanding. A strip of white cloth covered the left half of his face, adding to his severity.
"There's no need to worry. Over ten years ago, the Nine-Tails appeared in Konoha. According to reliable sources, that jinchūriki is already dead."
He paused, then added, "The current jinchūriki in Konoha is just an ordinary kid. He can't control the beast's power."
"The transformation you described—showing the beast's features—is something only a perfect jinchūriki can do. If the Leaf really had one, would we even be planning the Konoha Crush operation?"
"Then… you mean that brat wasn't truly controlling the Nine-Tails? He was just pretending to scare us?" Temari asked in shock.
"Exactly. Otherwise, how convenient would it be for Konoha's most important jinchūriki to just stroll right past you?" Baki nodded, his eyes gleaming as though he had unraveled Konoha's plot.
"The Chūnin Exams are, after all, a stage to showcase each village's new generation. Of course Konoha would seize the chance to intimidate the Sand."
"I see." Kankurō nodded, though he still felt something was off. But with their sensei's words and the backing of reliable allies, he let the doubts slide.
Temari exhaled in relief, but clenched her teeth, her voice sharp. "That bastard dared to toy with us. If he ever falls into my hands, he won't get away with it!"
Gaara, indifferent as ever, only shot them a cold glance. He didn't bother correcting their misunderstanding.
Because he knew. He could feel it clearly. That pressure had been real—the true presence of the Nine-Tails.
The next day, heavy rain fell over Konoha.
Carrying umbrellas, Sakura and Sasuke followed Kakashi toward the Hokage's building to submit their registration for the Chūnin Exams.
Beneath her pink umbrella, Sakura finally broke the silence. Summoning her courage, she called out to the figure walking ahead of her.
"Kakashi-sensei… why isn't Naruto allowed to take the Chūnin Exams with us?"
Kakashi stopped in his tracks. He turned and looked back at her.
"That was the Hokage's order. There's nothing we can do."
"But…" Sakura swallowed, gripping her umbrella so tightly her knuckles turned white. Her voice trembled as the rain pattered against her hair. "But we're a team, aren't we?"
The downpour drowned out nearly all sound. Sakura had to raise her voice just to be heard.
"You taught us that, Sensei—that we're a team. So… so we shouldn't just leave Naruto behind!"
Sasuke stopped as well, his brow furrowing. He said nothing, but the look he gave Kakashi spoke volumes.
"Even if this means disobeying the Hokage?" Kakashi's lone eye narrowed coldly. "What if your own eligibility is revoked as a result? Would you still insist?"
"I…" Sakura faltered at the thought of Sasuke being affected.
But Kakashi pressed on, ignoring her hesitation. His voice was firm, almost harsh.
"The Chūnin Exams are the only way for genin to advance. Once you become chūnin, the missions, the pay, the resources—they'll all be several times greater."
"You both have your own goals, don't you? Wouldn't it be better to reach them sooner? And remember, the Exams are held here in Konoha. It's an opportunity you won't get again."
"Miss it, and the next chance might come too late. By then, your peers from the Academy may already be jōnin."
"So tell me—will you still persist?"
Lightning split the sky, thunder roaring overhead. Rain pounded relentlessly on their umbrellas, as though demanding an answer from within their hearts.
Sakura and Sasuke fell silent. The rain magnified the weight of their hesitation.
"It's fine," Kakashi said at last, his tone softening. "Naruto not participating was the Third Hokage's command. This isn't something you can change."
"Come. If we're late, it'll be too troublesome."
He turned and began walking again, boots splashing in the puddles.
"I…" Sakura's tears spilled uncontrollably. She remembered the day they had first shared their secrets, Naruto's words of comfort.
"Being ordinary isn't so bad… if I could choose. But Sakura, your strength isn't in battle. You don't need to push yourself. Sasuke and I will handle the fighting."
She couldn't hold it back anymore. Her sobs escaped into the rain, bitter regret eating at her.
Naruto had never hesitated back then—so why had she?
"Kakashi-sensei! I… I still want to take the Chūnin Exams with Naruto!" Sakura lifted her head, crying as she shouted.
Her vision blurred with tears. She didn't even know if Kakashi had heard her. Maybe the rain was too loud. Maybe he was already too far away.
Or maybe…
Suddenly, footsteps splashed back toward her. Warm hands settled gently on her head. She looked up through her tears and met Kakashi's lone smiling eye.
"I agree."
"You really are excellent. Sasuke already told me. And you too, Sakura—you've done well."