Naruto: Princess of the Moon

CH 28: FROM FRIENDS TO RIVALS

After three consecutive matches, the proctor decided to give the Genin, and himself, a little break. Even those who hadn't fought yet were exhausted already.

Sakura and some of the others left at this moment to either use the restroom or grab something to eat. Naruto and Takashi, despite being two gluttons, didn't move from their places. They were so excited about the next match that they completely ignored their growling stomachs.

[Name] repeatedly sighed while looking at the pair.

Renji felt that if things kept going like this, calluses would grow inside his ears, "I know you're worried about them, but aren't you sighing a little too much?"

[Name] paused, looking back at him with only confusion reflecting on her face, "Who am I worried about?"

Now it was Renji's turn to be confused, "Niisan and Naruto-kun, right? Are you not sighing nonstop because they're clearly hungry, but not leaving to get something to eat?"

"Oh, that. No, I'm not worried about them." [Name] waved her hand, "I was just thinking that with how many people there are in this room who don't want to leave, I could have made some good business if I put some food carts in here. If I'd known earlier..."

Exactly how sad [Name] looked was how dumbfounded Renji was. Some people are just able to see a business opportunity anywhere they go.

The third proctor of the Chunin Exams, Hayate, strode back into the arena once he saw the Genin returning one by one. He waited until all 22 remaining Genin were on the balcony before speaking. "Now then, let's proceed to the fourth battle."

The names on the black screen began changing again, this time taking a little longer than before.

Sakura reached the side of her team and stood to Kakashi's right, Naruto being on his left. Naruto was so busy huffing that he didn't notice her return. "Mattaku, mattaku, nothing but weirdos all over the place!"

Kakashi glanced at him, "Don't you say that."

Sakura couldn't agree more, "You've got a point."

"You, too, Sakura-chan?!" Naruto just noticed her arrival and couldn't even greet her, too sad thinking about how his whole team thought he was the biggest weirdo in the room. And that was saying a lot considering the kind of people in here.

Sakura couldn't stop herself from laughing when she saw his reaction. Things had changed a lot since the day this team was created.

Kakashi suddenly placed a hand on Sakura's shoulders, his words making her freeze, "This isn't the time to be laughing." Without explaining any further, Kakashi pointed forward with his index.

Sakura looked in the direction he was pointing, her eyes growing wide when they landed on the black screen which had finally stopped on two names.

"Haruno Sakura vs Yamanaka Ino"

Sakura snapped her head toward Team 10. Ino's expression was just like her own, full of shock and disbelief. But as soon as she noticed Sakura's gaze, Ino turned solemn and looked at Sakura full of confidence.

Sakura couldn't allow herself to look any weaker. Not after the confrontation the two had had in the bathroom. They might have been friends once and her feelings toward Ino were still complicated, but she didn't want to lose.

Ino and Sakura went down the stairs one after the other. Once they reached the area, they stood on opposite ends as they waited for the match to officially begin.

As they stood there, Ino was the first to open her mouth, "I never thought... I'd be fighting you, Sakura. And what's more, so soon."

Asuma watched his student as he bit the lit cigarette he held in his mouth, Ino was a standout among the rookie kunoichi. With Sakura as her opponent, will she... no, can she get serious?