July 7, Year 60 of Konoha, three o'clock sharp.
Candidates who'd reached the central tower early and were assigned dorms while awaiting the exam's end gathered in the first-floor hall after a proctor's notice.
Team 8 was among them.
The hall held twenty-four candidates and their jonin instructors.
As Anko Mitarashi had predicted, the second exam had cut the first exam's passers by at least half.
From twenty-four teams—seventy-two candidates—only eight teams, twenty-four individuals, advanced.
Konoha ninja dominated the group.
Specifically, aside from Gaara's sibling trio and the Sound Village's Dosu Kinuta team, all others were from Konoha.
These included Team 6, Team 7, Team 8, Team 10, Might Guy's Team 3, and Kabuto Yakushi with his two teammates.
"You reached the tower on day one—great work," Kurenai Yuhi praised Team 8 upon arrival, her gentle feminine warmth shining through.
In truth, as a sensory team, Team 8 arriving later than others was slow by their standards.
So, they took no pride in it—Izayoi and Hinata merely smiled.
Izayoi sensed something, glancing toward Team 7, locking eyes with Kakashi Hatake.
He nodded with a smile, understanding why Kakashi looked his way.
Clearly, Kakashi, digging into Orochimaru's involvement, had learned from Team 7 who unleashed that fire tornado.
Before the candidates could chat long with their jonin, Hiruzen Sarutobi and the second exam's proctor team appeared on the second floor.
All jonin instructors joined them in the stands, listening to the Third Hokage's speech.
Hiruzen explained that the Chunin Exams were a microcosm of allied nations' conflicts and that the third exam's formal matches, watched by dignitaries and crowds, required further culling of the second exam's passers to ensure thrilling, high-quality bouts. Then, Hayate Gekko took the stage as head proctor.
Cough, cough… "I'm the head proctor for the third Chunin Selection Exam, Hayate Gekko."
Clearing his throat, Hayate scanned the twenty-four candidates, checking a clipboard. "This is the preliminary round. The rules are simple: losers are eliminated, winners advance to the formal matches."
"Soon, the wall screen will display your twenty-four names, then shuffle them for random matchups."
"Before we start, anyone want to forfeit? If not, I'll upload the list."
"…I forfeit."
Hayate's words barely settled when Kabuto Yakushi raised his hand.
The move drew attention from Hiruzen in the stands and some proctors, but the candidates barely noticed.
Unlike the original, the rookies didn't know Kabuto.
Cough, cough… "Your name?"
"Kabuto Yakushi."
"Alright, you're dismissed."
Hayate scratched Kabuto's name off, asking again, "Twenty-three candidates remain, leaving one bye. Anyone else forfeiting?"
No one spoke, so Hayate grabbed a radio. "I hereby declare the third Chunin Selection Exam preliminaries officially begun!"
The screen flickered with static.
Names popped up one by one, as if typed backstage.
Once all twenty-three names appeared, the screen shifted. Two giant "VS" letters replaced the list, dominating the center.
Names flashed on either side of the VS.
Seconds later, the screen froze.
Dosu Kinuta vs. Choji Akimichi.
"Candidates whose names appeared, stay. Everyone else, to the second-floor stands," Hayate said.
"Choji, you got this!"
"Don't lose to some small-village ninja. Win, and Asuma-sensei will treat you to barbecue."
"…Mm!"
At the word "barbecue," Choji's eyes snapped open, nodding with fierce determination.
Joining Kurenai by the railing, Izayoi leaned forward. He didn't watch Choji and Dosu below but studied the Sound Village jonin beside Zaku Abumi and Kin Tsuchi.
Others might miss it, but Izayoi saw through the disguise instantly—it was Orochimaru.
He hadn't expected Orochimaru, after failing to plant the Curse Mark, to still infiltrate the tower for the preliminaries.
If so, why wasn't the first match Sasuke vs. Yoroi Akado?
Was he just spectating, or did he have other plans?
Sensing Izayoi's gaze, Orochimaru looked back, flashing a sly, wicked smile.
Izayoi smiled politely, nodding as if unaware of his identity.
Below, the fight concluded.
Though Dosu hadn't exposed his intel like in the original, Choji opened with Human Bullet Tank.
Tucking his head in and blocking his ears, he inadvertently dodged an instant knockout.
Still, his combat experience paled against Dosu, honed in gritty small-village scraps.
As in the original, Dosu dodged the Human Bullet Tank's charges, baiting a feint to trap Choji in a wall.
Using the body's moisture, a single sonic punch knocked Choji out.
"Choji Akimichi has lost combat ability. The first round's winner is Dosu Kinuta," Hayate announced.
Shikamaru Nara and Ino Yamanaka sighed, palming their foreheads.
Asuma Sarutabi, puffing a cigarette, chuckled. "No injuries is good enough. Choji's strong—he just met a bad matchup."
He flickered down, retrieving Choji without sending him to the medics.
The screen flashed names again, soon locking in.
Sasuke Uchiha vs. Zaku Abumi.
"I'm counting on you, Zaku," Orochimaru said with an encouraging smile.
"Yes!"
Zaku nearly saluted, vowing eagerly, "My lord, I won't let you down!"
From Team 7, Sakura warned, "Sasuke-kun, that village's ninja seem to use sonic ninjutsu. Be careful."
Naruto, arms behind his head, taunted, "Smug Sasuke, don't lose before facing me."
Sasuke, about to head down, paused, turning to Naruto with a smile. "Naruto, I'm looking forward to fighting you too."
For once, he didn't call Naruto "dead-last."
Naruto froze, his squinted eyes widening, staring blankly at Sasuke.
A strange emotion surged within, making him tremble with excitement, goosebumps rising.
---
Every 200 power stones 1 bonus chapter will be uploaded faster.
And if you want to read 30 chapters early, you can visit: Patre on . com / KangTL (REMOVE SPACE)