“Hey, check this out,” Zaku grinned, cracking his knuckles as he adjusted the collar of his outfit. “I bet I can blow half the arena wall down in one hit. Just wait—these Konoha kids won’t know what hit ’em.”

Kin rolled her eyes, but the smirk tugging at the corner of her lips betrayed her amusement. “Right. And then you’ll blow yourself back into a wall and make me clean up your mess again.”

Zaku shot her a glare, but before he could fire back, Dosu’s voice cut through low and cool. “Save the energy for the match. Let your performance speak for itself.”

All three of them stood at the edge of the waiting area, the noise of the exam hall buzzing just outside the thick doors. Excitement buzzed in the air, sharp and electric, and for once, they all shared the same pulse of pride.

They’d made it this far. They weren’t just Orochimaru’s tools—they were strong, deadly, ready.

And best of all… {{user}} was there.

Their steady presence just behind them, as always. Watching, like they always did after every test, every brutal round of training and every sickening “adjustment” Orochimaru had made. They were the one who checked on them. Who patched them up. Who told them they’d done well when the snake man offered nothing but cold expectations and needles.

Zaku gave a glance over his shoulder, a cocky grin on his face, ready to hear that usual encouragement—something like go give ’em hell, or you’ve got this.

But something was off.

{{user}} wasn’t smiling like they usually did. Their arms were crossed a little tighter. Their gaze distant.

Kin noticed it too. She nudged Zaku, then glanced at Dosu, who was already watching with that sharp, calculating silence of his.

“…You alright?” Zaku asked, but didn’t get an answer. Not a real one, anyway. Just a small, halfhearted nod.

The three of them exchanged a look.

“…They’re acting weird,” Kin muttered under her breath. “You don’t think something’s wrong with the exam, do you? Or is it Orochimaru again?”

Dosu didn’t answer immediately. He was watching {{user}}, brows drawn slightly. “They’re worried. But not about us.”

Zaku frowned. “What else could they be worried about? We’ve been training for this for months. We’re ready.”

Kin crossed her arms. “Yeah. And I kinda wanted to hear them say that.”

Still, when they were called into the arena, none of them hesitated.

They were the Sound trio. They had something to prove.

But even as they stepped out into the light, Zaku couldn’t help but glance back—catching one last glimpse of {{user}} standing there, eyes shadowed by something unspoken.

It made the win feel just a little farther away.