bubblegum princess

chapter sixty two

⭒˚‧ ︵‿⭒ཐིཋྀ ཐིཋྀ⭒‿︵ ‧˚⭒
welcome to the final show;
THE EXAMS !
⭒˚‧ ︵‿⭒ཐིཋྀ ཐིཋྀ⭒‿︵ ‧˚⭒

𝞋𝞎

Inojin clung to Seiren as if she were the only anchor keeping him grounded amidst the whirlpool of nerves swirling inside him. His grip was firm yet trembling, the pressure weighing on him. Seiren, ever attuned to her friends' emotions, offered him a soft, reassuring hum. Her other hand moved gently through his hair, her fingers weaving a calming rhythm that soothed the storm in his chest.

Ahead, the gates loomed, marking the threshold to the open field and, beyond that, the dense forest where their exam would begin. The crowd of rookies buzzed with nervous energy, whispers, and murmurs blending into a low hum. Each team eyed their competition with wary glances, measuring strength and strategy before a single step was taken.

"Bro, she looks pretty, don't you think?" a voice drifted over the chatter, low yet unmistakable.

Seiren caught the faint murmur, but her focus remained on Inojin, her fingers never faltering in their soothing motion. The speaker's gaze, however, did not go unnoticed by Boruto or Inojin. A boy from the Cloud Village stood a distance away, his eyes darting toward Seiren with a lingering curiosity that bordered on boldness.

Inojin's eyes narrowed, a flicker of annoyance igniting within him. His gaze shifted toward Boruto, who stood tall beside Seiren, his chin lifted with quiet confidence. Her hand rested lightly against his, their pinkies intertwined in a silent, unspoken connection that neither seemed fully aware of yet entirely unwilling to break.

The sight made Inojin's lips twitch, the hint of a smirk forming as he leaned closer to Boruto and jabbed him sharply in the side. "Move it, idiot," he muttered, his tone laced with playful irritation. Boruto yelped at the sudden nudge, his startled expression quickly giving way to a glare aimed squarely at Inojin.

Seiren glanced up at the commotion, her eyes softening as she tugged Boruto closer, her hand tightening around his pinky. Her gentle pull was enough to make him stumble slightly, but he caught himself, the faintest blush dusting his cheeks.

Inojin's smirk deepened, satisfied with the closeness he had orchestrated. With a small huff of amusement, he released Seiren's arm and pivoted back toward Shikadai and ChoCho, his nerves momentarily forgotten. Shikadai raised a questioning brow but said nothing, while ChoCho offered a knowing grin, her eyes flicking between the trio with interest.

Meanwhile, Seiren adjusted her grip on Boruto, her fingers briefly brushing against his as they fell into a steady rhythm. The weight of the moment settled between them, unnoticed by the murmuring crowd yet palpable in the quiet exchange of glances.

The crowd erupted into scattered cheers and applause as Shikamaru's announcement echoed through the open field. The students from the five great villages—Leaf, Cloud, Mist, Stone, and Sand—stood grouped in their designated sections, their nervous energy palpable in the air.

Seiren's gaze drifted briefly toward the Hidden Sand Village. A boy, draped in a cloak of unusual, almost shimmering texture, caught her attention. The fabric seemed to absorb the sunlight, its inky black surface moving subtly with each of his small, deliberate motions. His face was obscured, but there was an undeniable intensity in his stance, a quiet confidence that made her curious.

Shikamaru's voice continued, calm yet commanding. "At this time, you are all getting a rare opportunity to fight against ninja from other villages. This is your chance to use the jutsu that you're proud of!" His sharp gaze swept over the gathered students, lingering briefly on his son's team.