After the exam in the Death Forest was over, Sand #1, Sand #2, and Sand #3 immediately returned to the hotel.
At this moment, the three of them were gathered in Sand #1's hotel room. There were a lot of Konoha snacks on the table that they bought from the street when they came back.
The three of them had hardly eaten anything for three days and two nights in the Death Forest, surviving only on standard military ration pills.
Although those pills meet basic ninja nutritional needs and provide energy, the taste of the Sand Village's food pills… is truly indescribable.
Sand #1 could stomach it, but the two girls, Sand #2 and Sand #3, had to pinch their noses every time just to swallow it.
Of course, it's not that Sand #2 and Sand #3 were delicate—rather, the unfamiliar delicacies on the table and their recent experience made them eager to taste all these Konoha snacks.
After a hearty meal, all three showed satisfied expressions. Even Sand #1, who was usually extremely self-disciplined, couldn't help but eat two more skewers of sweet dumplings.
He thought such sweets were perfect for restoring physical strength—and probably the favorite of all taijutsu fighters!
At that moment, Sand #2 finally let go of the tension from the second round of the Chūnin Exam. Like a lazy sloth, she hugged Sand #3, her voice trembling slightly.
"Waaah~ Sand #3, when the Hokage's assistant announced the results, I was scared to death."
"I barely made it to the next round. I almost failed! That was terrifying!"
"You and Sand #1 are way stronger than me. What if I had been the only one eliminated? I don't want to be separated from you two!"
As she said this, she sneaked a glance at Sand #1 with her big watery eyes, thinking she was subtle.
But in the eyes of Sand #1 and Sand #3, her feelings were impossible to miss—it was too obvious not to notice.
Sand #3 grabbed Sand #2's twin ponytails and started messing with her hair while sighing.
"Sand #2, you're a rare medical ninja. There aren't many like you in the Sand Village."
"There were so many people in the exam this time, and you still advanced to the top 26. That's incredible."
"To be honest, if I were in your position, I might not have made it to the finals. You're the only medical ninja among the 26 who advanced."
"Medical ninjas aren't great at combat, so the fact you passed is already a big deal~"
Sand #1, standing beside them, nodded in agreement. But he had noticed Sand #2's line about "not wanting to be separated." He quietly made up his mind.
Looking at his teammates of many years, Sand #1 decided to speak up about his future plans after the Chūnin Exams.
"Sand #2, Sand #3, what do you plan to do once the exams are over? I'm planning to take up a border mission after I get promoted."
Sand #2's heart skipped a beat. A wave of sadness surged over her chest, nearly suffocating her.
Sand #3 looked at Sand #1, confused.
"You're doing fine—why go to such a harsh place? Border duty is long-term, the pay isn't great…"
"And the missions are dangerous. Why not choose a better career path?"
Sand #2 nodded in agreement, clearly also hoping to talk him out of it.
But Sand #1 shook his head, firmly explaining his reasons.
"My mother lives out there. My father's buried there, and she refuses to leave. So I want to be closer to take care of her."
"And also… like you saw in the extra test this afternoon, there are still a lot of hidden dangers in the ninja world. Some people dared to attack a village like Konoha."
"If our own village were attacked one day… who would protect it?"
"I want to protect our home. Even if it's dry, harsh, and not beautiful—it's still home, right?"
Sand #2 looked into Sand #1's determined eyes. His words stirred something deep in her heart. She suddenly stood up, filled with emotion. It would be the most important decision she'd ever make.
"Sand #1! You're right! I want to go too!"
"A home of your own is better than anything else! I want to protect the Sand Village with you!"
Then she ran to the window and shouted out loud.
"I will definitely become a Chūnin!!!"
Her voice rang out through the open window, drawing the attention of several Konoha villagers. They looked over to see a cute girl with twin ponytails shouting boldly.
They couldn't help but smile. "Such a lively girl… it's nice to be young~"
In that moment, Sand #1 and Sand #2 silently formed a united front. Together, they turned toward Sand #3, their eyes full of expectation.
"Sand #3, what about you? What will you do after you advance?"
Sand #3 leaned back, propping herself up on the tatami mat. She couldn't help but reflect on her past.
In the Sand Village, every necessity was precious. The land was too barren to grow crops.
Harsh winds and dry sand made it impossible for seeds to sprout—they'd just wither away.
Only the oases had greenery or water, so everyone had to carefully manage their daily water use.
Even bathing required rubbing with sand to clean the body—only nobles had the luxury of using water.
"As for me… I might try to join Konoha's trading caravan."
"Our village is so short on supplies. I want to bring more things back from Konoha, so our people can live better."
"It seems like we might not get to do missions together again. But I'll still pass by the border often, so we'll have chances to meet."
Sand #2's big, watery eyes almost welled up with tears again. But eventually, she felt better.
Even though they wouldn't stay together as a team, it was enough that they shared the same goal—to make the Sand Village a better place.
Though their paths differed, they all led to the same destination...
…
…
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Send Power Stones
Bonus Chapter at 150 Power Stone
Second Bonus Chapter - 300 Power Stones
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