Chapter 87: Chapter 9:Dinner with the other teams!
Team 7 and Team Guy sat side by side at a long table in the bustling barbecue restaurant. The lively chatter of other patrons celebrating the Chunin Exams filled the air, but at this table, a heavy silence hung over the group. Across from them sat the teams from the Sand, Water, Lightning, and Stone villages. Only Yugito and Kakashi were missing, the former still chasing the latter somewhere in the Land of Iron.
The awkward tension grew as the Genin exchanged glances, each sizing up their potential competitors. Yuto, feeling the weight of the silence, decided to break it. "It's been a while, Haku. Zabuza-san," he began, offering a small smile. "I didn't expect to run into you here of all places."
Haku returned his smile warmly, her tone soft and polite. "I kind of hoped we'd run into each other. It's good to see you again, Yuto-kun."
Zabuza, however, clicked his tongue in irritation. "I wasn't hoping for a reunion. I wanted to fight Kakashi again, but I didn't expect him to get himself into... that situation."
Guy, oblivious to the discomfort of everyone else, chimed in with his usual exuberance. "Kakashi has been slacking off lately, which is why he didn't dodge my youthful Dynamic Entry! As his eternal rival, I am thoroughly disappointed!"
All the Genin at the table, except Lee, shared the same thought. 'Who would think of staying on guard against their own comrade?'
Meanwhile, Naruko and Hitomi struck up a conversation with Haku, eager to catch up. Naruko's cheerful laughter and Hitomi's polite interest created a small bubble of warmth amidst the tension. Yuto, on the other hand, felt a pair of eyes on him and turned his gaze to meet theirs.
From the Stone Village's side, Kurotsuchi, the granddaughter of the Third Tsuchikage, was watching him intently. Her dark eyes gleamed with curiosity and determination as she studied him. On the Lightning Village's side, a blonde girl with twin pigtails rested her hand on the hilt of her sword, her sharp gaze fixed on Yuto as well.
Yuto's lips twitched into a smirk as he sized them up in return. 'The one with the dark hair must be Kurotsuchi,' he thought, recalling her from the anime. 'She's cute, and she seems determined. But who's this preety blonde girl?'
Toka, the daughter of the Raikage, tightened her grip on her sword in excitement. 'This Yamanaka boy has a powerful aura. I wonder if he's as strong as he looks. I can't wait to test him in the exams.'
Kurotsuchi's thoughts were equally focused on Yuto, though for a different reason. 'So this is the genius my grandfather mentioned, the one who awakened a dojutsu related to the Senju clan. I'll defeat him and prove to Grandpa that I'm ready to take the Tsuchikage's hat.'
Unaware of their internal monologues, Yuto continued to observe them. 'Kurotsuchi looks feisty. That blonde girl, though... she seems dangerous.' He felt a strange pull toward Toka, not realizing she was the Raikage's daughter. 'She's definitely someone important.'
As the tension among the Genin simmered, Zabuza finally broke the silence with a scoff. "This is pathetic. Just wait until we're in the exams. Let's see how chatty you all are then."
Guy clapped his hands together, his voice booming across the table. "Ah, Zabuza, such enthusiasm for the youth of tomorrow! I can feel the fire of competition igniting in this room!"
Lee, ever the loyal disciple, mirrored Guy's enthusiasm. "Yes, Guy-sensei! The flames of youth burn brightly here!"
The rest of the group collectively sighed, realizing that dinner was going to be as chaotic as the exams promised to be.
Guy clapped his hands together with a wide grin, his enthusiasm practically radiating off him. "Since we're having this youthful dinner, we should make it even more youthful with introductions! I am Might Guy, the Green Beast of Konoha!" He struck a dramatic pose, his teeth gleaming in the light.
Tenten sighed, clearly used to this. "I'm Tenten, weapons specialist of Team Guy," she said, offering a polite nod.
"I am Rock Lee!" Lee announced with fervor, his voice brimming with determination. "A proud student of Guy-sensei and a practitioner of the power of youth!"
Neji merely glanced at Guy and Lee with a resigned look before introducing himself. "Neji Hyuga, of the Hyuga Clan," he said curtly, his tone as formal as his demeanor.
Guy turned to Team 7 with an encouraging wave. "Your turn, Kakashi's team!"
Yuto took the lead, standing up briefly. "Yuto Yamanaka, from the Yamanaka clan," he said with a confident smile. He gestured to his teammates. "These are my teammates—"
"Naruko Uzumaki!" Naruko interrupted with a grin, throwing up a peace sign. "Future Hokage, believe it!"
"Hitomi Uchiha," Hitomi said simply, her calm tone contrasting with Naruko's enthusiasm.
From the other side of the table, Zabuza snorted. "Zabuza Momochi, member of the Seven Swordsmen of the Mist," he said gruffly, his voice filled with impatience.
Haku, ever polite, followed his lead. "Haku Yuki," she said with a warm smile. She motioned to the two boys sitting beside her. "These are my teammates, Number One and Number Two." The two Genin looked uncomfortable, clearly unhappy with their nicknames, but neither dared to speak up under Zabuza's intimidating gaze.
Next was the Lightning team. The blonde girl sat confidently, resting a hand on the hilt of her sword. "Toka." she said, her voice carrying a note of challenge. Yuto nodded thoughtfully, observing the respectful way her teammates glanced at her. 'She's definitely someone important.' he thought.
The Stone team went next. Han, the towering Jinchuriki of the Five Tails, introduced himself tersely. "Han," he said, his voice as cold as the air outside.
The two boys on his team followed, but Yuto paid them little attention. His focus was on Kurotsuchi, who leaned back in her chair with a confident smirk. "Kurotsuchi," she said, her eyes locking onto Yuto's.
Finally, the Sand team introduced themselves. Temari and Kankuro gave polite but wary introductions, followed by their Sensei, Baki. When it came to Gaara, the red-haired boy stood slowly, his pale green eyes unblinking as he stared directly at Team 7.
"I am Gaara of the Sand," he said in an emotionless tone, his voice low and eerie. "Mother has been asking for your blood." He gestured toward Yuto, Naruko, and Hitomi. "You will die soon."
The chilling statement sent a ripple of unease through the table. Temari and Kankuro visibly stiffened, and several other Genin exchanged nervous glances. Even the normally unshakable Zabuza raised an eyebrow.
Yuto, however, leaned back casually and smirked. "Must be rough for the Kazekage," he said, his tone light and teasing. "If his wife is always drinking his blood when they make love."
There was a moment of stunned silence before several people stifled laughter. Naruko burst out laughing, slamming her hands on the table. Even Hitomi allowed a small, amused smile to cross her face. Toka coughed, clearly trying to suppress a laugh, while Kurotsuchi grinned openly.
Gaara tilted his head slightly, his expression unreadable, but the sand around him seemed to stir faintly. Temari quickly placed a hand on his arm, a silent plea for him to stay calm.
Zabuza shook his head, muttering, "Damn brat's got guts."
Guy, oblivious to the tension, clapped his hands again. "Ah, the energy of youth is truly invigorating! This is exactly the kind of camaraderie we need before the exams!"
Everyone else just groaned, realizing that this was only the beginning of the chaos to come.
(Pls give me some power stones!)
(Find out next time on Naruto:Eye system)