CHAPTER 163: CHAPTER 163

Over the past month, Konohagakure’s students had been training hard, doing everything they could to get stronger for the real exam.

The students from Sunagakure were also working hard — just with the goal of destroying Konohagakure.

Everyone was stressed, tired, and overthinking everything.

Except for the group from Kirigakure.

From the Mizukage to the students, they all seemed totally chill — happily treating the trip like a one-month vacation in Konohagakure.

While the group from Kirigakure was having tea at a café,

Naruto, who had trained himself to the point of collapse, had just slept in the hospital for three days straight — and now he was going nuts on his hospital bed.

"This is no time to be wasting time!!"

"I need to get back to training right now!!"

What a mess. With only one day left until the actual exam, it was kind of too late to be freaking out now.

Shikamaru placed a fruit basket on the bed with a tired sigh.

"You were basically in a coma just a second ago, and now you’re bouncing off the walls. You’re such a pain."

"There’s only one day left. Even if you panic, it won’t help. Resting is part of training too, y’know..."

As Shikamaru spoke, he glanced at Naruto, who had suddenly plopped down on the hospital bed and gone quiet. A vein twitched on his forehead.

"What now... What’s wrong with you all of a sudden?"

"I’m hungry..."

This guy’s reaction was all over the place. But judging by that, he was probably fine.

Shikamaru sighed and pushed the fruit basket toward Naruto.

"Here, eat this."

"This was meant for Chouji, but he can’t eat right now, so I brought it to you."

Naruto’s face suddenly turned serious. He’d ended up in the hospital right before the exams.

"Chouji’s been training that hard too? Is he okay?"

"You’re overthinking it. He just ate too much and messed up his stomach."

Shikamaru gave a light smile when he saw Naruto looking so worried.

"Eh... so that’s all it was?"

Naruto glanced at Shikamaru thoughtfully, then looked down at the fruit in his hand. A mischievous grin quickly spread across his face.

"Then let’s go eat it in front of him."

"What a pain..."

Even though he said that, Shikamaru still followed along as Naruto shuffled forward in his slippers.

It just so happened to be the doctors’ lunch break, so the whole hospital wing was quiet and empty.

Naruto walked boldly ahead, peeking into the nearby rooms as he went.

Shikamaru walked beside him, feeling a strange pressure in the air.

Was it just because the area was too quiet without the doctors around?

"Hey..."

Just as Shikamaru was trying to figure out where this weird feeling was coming from, he noticed Naruto had crouched down at one of the doors and was quietly calling him over.

"What is it? This isn’t Chouji’s roo—"

Before he could finish, Naruto clamped a hand over his mouth and moved aside to give Shikamaru a clear view through the door window.

It definitely wasn’t Chouji’s room. The person sitting on the bed was Kimimaro.

He was leaning back slightly, eyes closed, with a blanket over him—he looked like he was sleeping.

Naruto had actually wanted to check on him right after the exams, but he hadn’t been able to find his room, so he gave up.

If Kimimaro were alone in the room, it wouldn’t be a big deal.

But he wasn’t. Gaara was standing by the bed, staring at him with a dark look.

Fine sand was coiled around the bed. Kimimaro was surrounded by it. If Gaara even moved his hand, Kimimaro could be crushed instantly.

No way... how did they manage to walk in on something this serious!?

A cold sweat ran down the side of Shikamaru’s face.

These two weren’t normal people. If something went wrong here, the whole hospital could be blown apart.

Gaara kept his cold stare fixed on Kimimaro, his mind replaying the moment his ultimate defense was broken.

Not just by this guy—there was also that proctor who stepped in at the end.

It had looked like the teacher stepped in just to stop the fight from getting out of hand.

But Gaara had seen clearly—clearer than anyone else. That teacher had stepped in to protect Kimimaro, not to keep the peace.

Otherwise, he could’ve just fought Kimimaro head-on and finished it right there.

It wouldn’t have been honorable, but it would’ve solved the problem early.

It’s not like Gaara hadn’t killed before. Kimimaro would’ve just been one more.

Gaara clenched his teeth, brow furrowing. The sand around Kimimaro started to tighten.

But then, suddenly, the hand Gaara had raised in front of Kimimaro stopped.

Can’t move!?

Just as he hesitated, Kimimaro suddenly opened his eyes from his fake nap and pulled a bone blade from his arm, pressing it right up against Gaara.

The sand floating around Kimimaro scattered immediately.

Gaara’s protective sand wasn’t even fast enough to block it—the tip of the blade was already touching his neck, and the sand was just a little too late.

Naruto, who was about to punch Gaara, came to a screeching stop. His raised fist froze awkwardly in midair.

"Ow, ow, ow..."

"When I use the Shadow Imitation Technique, the pain gets passed to me too."

Shikamaru twisted his neck with a grimace. Kimimaro’s blade was way too close.

If that blade moved even a little, not only would Gaara be done for—Shikamaru would be dragged down with him.

"Uh... uh, you’re awake?"

Naruto stepped back, looking shocked and completely caught off guard by what just happened.

Even Gaara, who was right next to Kimimaro, didn’t notice he was awake, let alone Naruto and Shikamaru, who get nervous just seeing Gaara.

"Yeah, I knew he came in."

"Thanks for helping hold him in place."

Kimimaro had been awake since the moment Gaara entered. He just had a weird feeling about this guy.

Trying to kill him in broad daylight? That took guts.

And even though he had a perfect chance to land a killing blow right away, this guy chose to sit beside him and go through a whole mental game.

Something felt off.

Kimimaro wanted to see what this was all about, so he didn’t fight back right away—just stayed super alert.

Besides, in this situation, he didn’t want to waste too many bones before the exam.

Kimimaro tilted his head slightly toward Naruto and Shikamaru, but the bone blade in his hand didn’t move an inch.

Surprisingly, he was the polite type.

Shikamaru looked at Kimimaro with some surprise. He didn’t expect this turn of events.

After all, back in the prelims, when Gaara and Kimimaro clashed—sand against bone—it didn’t look like this guy was normal at all.

Of course, it would be even better if he moved that bone blade away a little.

"You don’t have the determination to kill me. If you rush in like this, you’ll just end up getting killed instead."

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