"The situation is really complicated."
Walking on the main street with the group of rookies, Takumi felt the tense atmosphere on the streets and couldn't help but sigh.
"Huh? What's up?"
Naruto looked blank, not understanding what Takumi was saying.
Beside him, Shikamaru sighed helplessly, "At least pay attention to the surroundings. Don't you see some people watching us with hostile intent?"
Naruto looked around and indeed saw many unfamiliar faces.
"Who are they? Why are they staring at us?" Naruto still didn't understand.
"Look at their forehead protectors and you'll know, dead last." Sasuke said with a disdainful expression: "Obviously they are Shinobi from other villages, probably all here to participate in this Chunin Exams."
"So that means they are all our future opponents!" Naruto's eyes lit up.
"Don't be careless. Those recommended to take the exam all have their own unique skills." Takumi pressed Naruto's shoulder, his gaze fixed ahead.
Ahead, three people were slowly walking towards them.
Two males and one female.
One male and the female stood on the sides, a slightly shorter person stood in the middle, carrying a large gourd on his back.
It was the Ichibi's Jinchuriki, Gaara!
Along with his sister Temari and brother Kankuro.
Even though they were in Konoha's pleasant climate, facing these three directly felt like experiencing the desert's aura.
Dry, scorching.
Suffocating.
"Hey, that guy has such heavy dark circles. Didn't he sleep well?" The thick-skinned Naruto pointed at Gaara's dark eye circles and shouted.
Bang!
"Stop making a fool of yourself! Idiot!"
Sakura punched Naruto on the head, leaving a fist-sized bump: "That's eyeshadow, don't you know?"
"Sakura..."
Naruto immediately looked wronged, covering his head.
Although Naruto was fooling around, the other rookies looked at Gaara's trio with seriousness.
"Such heavy killing intent!"
Kiba said gravely.
Akamaru shivered in his arms, not even daring to look.
The others also had serious expressions.
"Looking at their forehead protectors, they should be from Sunagakure, right?"
Shikamaru frowned tightly, a bit of incomprehension in his eyes. "Logically, we and Sunagakure are allies, so why is their killing intent so strong?"
"Who knows, maybe they want to intimidate us." Kiba grinned, a mix of nervousness and a hint of arrogance in his expression.
Still young, he didn't yet know what fear was.
He dared to fight any enemy…
Except Takumi.
After all, Takumi was too much of a freak and he couldn't find any way to win.
"Please restrain yourselves. Do you really want to kill people on the street?"
Takumi stepped forward, blocking everyone, shielding them from Gaara's cold killing intent.
Just the Ichibi's Shukaku…
Nothing to worry about.
The enemies he had faced were much more terrifying than Shukaku.
Gaara stopped walking, looked up at Takumi, and said nothing.
He was naturally a personality of few words.
Beside him, the tall Temari stepped forward, looking provocatively at Takumi.
"So it's you? Konoha's legendary strongest genius? I think you haven't met our Gaara yet. I hope you won't cry when the time comes."
Such a naked provocation…
Takumi naturally wouldn't fall for it.
But the others didn't have his composure.
"What did you say?!"
Sakura rolled up her sleeves and wanted to charge forward.
If Ino hadn't held her back desperately, she would definitely have given Temari a punch in the face.
"Don't be too arrogant, you guys."
Kiba was also very dissatisfied with Temari's attitude.
But he was calmer, only expressing his dissatisfaction.
He's not as impulsive as Sakura.
Takumi shook his head helplessly.
Although Sakura and Kiba meant well, the other party's provocation was so obvious, yet they fell for it so easily.
Wasn't that letting the other side look down on them?
Sure enough...
The contempt in Kankuro's eyes became more obvious. He slightly raised his chin, looking down on them.
"A bunch of naive brats. Probably haven't even been on a real battlefield, right? Can the mighty Konoha only find these still wet behind the ears brats to take the exam?"
"It seems Konoha isn't that great after all?"
"You!" Kiba clenched his fists, but a hand stopped him.
"Takumi? Don't stop me! They dared to insult our Konoha! I must make these people know the power of Konoha's Shinobi!"
"Don't be impulsive. Do you want to be disqualified?"
Takumi shouted sternly, then gave him a meaningful look.
Kiba came to his senses and looked around.
Unknowingly, a crowd had gathered around them.
There were people from Konoha and people from other villages.
If they started a conflict with Gaara and the others here, the Chunin Exam would end early.
"Tch!"
Kiba curled his lip and silently stepped back.
But the anger in his eyes didn't disappear.
"Since you are guests, please abide by our Konoha's rules."
"Konoha doesn't want to cause trouble, but we are not afraid of trouble either."
Takumi stood in front of Gaara, looking with righteous indignation.
"Well said!"
Guy walked out from the crowd and gave Takumi a thumbs up.
"Truly the Miracle Youth! So powerful, yet so restrained! Even your words are so inspiring!"
"Well said. Konoha will not initiate trouble, but we will never let off those who cause trouble wantonly."
Kakashi also stepped out, patted Takumi's shoulder, and stood by his side to support him.
"Well said!"
"Truly worthy of being Konoha's young genius!"
"This time, it's up to you!"
"Let the other villages see Konoha's power!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd.
Clearly, they were all excited and stirred by Takumi's words.
'Facing provocation, yet able to handle it calmly.'
'As expected of you, Takumi.'
Kakashi nodded secretly in his heart.
At this moment, a young man with a gentle appearance approached.
He stretched out his hand to Takumi with a friendly smile.
"Hello, I am Chojuro from the Land of Water. Entrusted by the next Mizukage, I came to lead the team to participate in this Joint Chunin Exam. I hope everyone will go easy on us."
Chojuro's friendly attitude had a very distinct difference compared to Gaara and the others' attitude.
'Who exactly is our ally here.'
Takumi mocked internally.
Then showed a gentle smile and shook his hand: "Welcome. Konoha welcomes anyone who comes with goodwill."
The scene of the two shaking hands was very harmonious.
"Camera! Camera!"
Sakura shouted internally, wanting to permanently preserve Takumi's heroic and righteous image.
…
In the crowd, Orochimaru's eyes were fixed on Takumi.
"Oro... Oro-sa... Si… Cough, Ma'am, he is Takumi."
Because they were in a crowd, Kabuto didn't dare to say Orochimaru's name or gender, since Orochimaru is disguised as a woman now.
Otherwise, they would be exposed.
He, a multi-sided spy, was professional!
Exposure could only happen when he wanted it.
Others wanting to know his true identity?
Impossible!
"Is that so? Truly an excellent body."
"Quite handsome too..."
"And has a lot of presence..."
Orochimaru couldn't help but stick out his tongue and lick his lips, looking like he was thirsty.
'I want it!'
'I want Takumi's body right now!'
'But must restrain!'
'It's not time yet!'
Orochimaru's body couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Kabuto placed a hand on Orochimaru's shoulder: "Please restrain yourself, Ma'am."
"Your drool is flowing."