From the last episode, Gaara appears from no where next to Sasuke without Sasuke sensing him. Gaara stops Kankurou from wasting effort on the brats (Konohamaru and Naruto especially). Gaara was also impressed of the ability Sasuke to injure Kankurou with a little pebble. We soon find out that these three shinobis are from Village of the Sand and they are named Gaara (the one that appear beside Sasuke), Kankurou (the one with face markings and grabbed Konohamaru) and Temari (the girl with the huge fan). The 3rd Hokage asks Kakashi, Kurenai and Asuma whether they think their teams are eligible for the Chuunin Exam and all 3 of them says their teams are ready for the exam. Iruka objects stating that Naruto isn't ready yet. Gai even backs Iruka but it could be just personal competition between himself and Kakashi so he doesn't want Kakashi's team to be better than him. However, Kakashi stands firm to his decision telling Iruka that Naruto is now his student and not Iruka's anymore. Next morning, after long waiting, Kakashi arrives late at the meeting point again and hands each of them the application form for the Chuunin Exam. Sasuke and Naruto are both anxious about it but Sakura seems a little uncertain. After Naruto finished his mission, he met Konohamaru and the Konohamaru Corps. While talking to them, a shinobi appeared from no where and capture Moegi. He demands the Scroll of Sealing. Naruto then defeats him with the Kage Bunshin no Jutsu and saves the day. On the same day, Sasuke asks Sakura out for a walk with him. Sasuke tells Sakura to quit the Chuunin exams as he thinks she's not ready yet. She's happy that Sasuke is concerned bout her. Suddenly a shinobi appears and hold a kunai against Sasuke's neck and ask Sakura to quit the exam. She tells him that everything is just a simple illusion trick because she knows Sasuke will never ask her out. With that the shinobi withdraws from the area. Iruka then appears on a roof and reports to Kakashi that indeed all the "rookie nine" is prepared for the exam. Back at the Academy 2 bullies were making a scene as trying to stop people from going into the examination room. Sasuke, Naruto and Sakura arrive and Sasuke states that it's an obvious Genjitsu trick and even his teammate, Sakura notices it. Sasuke then attacks the bully but was stopped by Rock Lee. Sasuke was shocked that his kick was being stopped so easily. Everyone introduce themselves then head on their own way. The bullies transform back into Examiners and it seemed that they were only testing the rookies.