𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐒𝐮𝐤𝐢 | ɴᴀʀᴜᴛᴏ

Mark?

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✧˖*°࿐

Team seven stood within a crowded area. It was an indoor stadium, filled with teams that passed the second exam. Kazumi had instantly noticed a familiar bob-styled hair, watching Lee catch her gaze and wink towards her direction. He'd even give her a thumbs up, which only made her awkwardly crack a tiny smile in reply.

I should thank him for what Sakura claimed he did for us...

She also liked the way the male didn't look twice at her hair and state. As she turned to face him, Lee only shook his head with a knowing look, causing her to stay in one place. It was like he had read her mind, giving her a wide toothy grin which stretched on his rosy cheeks. Kazumi's smile twitched, surprised.

I'd like to have a fair match with him...

She turned her appreciative face away from Lee, looking at the other teams around her. Her academy team's passed as well when noticing Hinata and Shikamaru's teams nearby. Kabuto stood beside team seven with his own team, and just a few metres away, Gaara's team was visible within the crowd.

Sakura stood beside Kazumi, smiling at the back of Sasuke's head. Naruto stood in front of him, grinning to himself.

Only seven out of the twenty-seven teams passed. That's twenty-two of us in total. If the next test is what I'm suspecting... I'll likely have to go up against at least one or two teams within this room.

Kazumi clenched her fist from her side, glancing all around the room once more. She caught sight of the familiar Sound-nin, surprised to see them still standing. She hadn't expected they passed after the condition they were left in. It was still a mystery to both Kazumi and Naruto, though she just shrugged it off and assumed Sakura and Lee handled themselves well against them.

One Sound-nin in particular caught her eye, his arm in a brace whilst his two other teammates had bandages wrapped in all different places. He seemed to be glaring harshly at the back of Sasuke's skull, making Kazumi's brow quirk up, intrigued. Before they could unintentionally lock eyes, Kazumi refocused her attention towards an eager Uzumaki.

"Wow!! Wow!! Old man Hokage, Iruka-sensei, Kakashi-sensei, and even Super Brows is here. It's like everyone is assembled!" Naruto shouted, pumped.

"Heh... I can't say that I'm getting a good feeling..." Sasuke almost smirked.

Kazumi then looked at him, her gaze following the Uchiha's up ahead where the jounin's and Hokage stood. She skimmed her eyes past the examiners on the sidelines, as if trying to find someone. Though, he wasn't there. Orochimaru. A fraud among the examiners.

The Kumo subconsciously placed her fingertips against her throat.

It should be a good thing he's gone... but, should I be worried about this?

"HOKAGE-SAMA WILL NOW EXPLAIN THE THIRD TEST. Listen carefully." Anko yelled, silencing the chattering crowd, "Now, Hokage-sama, please."

The old man nodded, facing the crowd of genin's.

Kazumi exhaled out of her nose, removing her fingers from her throat to pay proper attention to the smoker.