The Third Chunin Exam Preliminaries Begin

Once all the squads that had passed the second exam and their squad leaders had arrived, Issui and Anko followed the Third into the third exam's venue. Of course, Hayate, who had been there in the original story, was nowhere to be seen. Issui had taken his job as examiner for the third exam, so he could only stay with the Anbu.

Once everyone was in position, the Third stood on the podium. Behind him were the leaders of the seven squads: Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai, Guy, Baki, and the Sound Ninja squad's Jonin leader (actually Orochimaru). Anko and Issui stood to his left, and Ibiki and Iruka to his right.

After everyone quieted down, Anko said, "Lord Hokage will now explain the third exam. Everyone, listen carefully... Lord Hokage, please."

The Third grunted, stepped forward, and said, "The third exam will begin shortly. Before I explain it, there is something I must make clear to you all. It concerns the true purpose of this exam... Why do allied nations prepare for this exam together? Friendship between allies, improving one another's abilities—I hope you won't misunderstand its true meaning. This exam is... a miniature version of war between allied nations."

"What's going on?" Tenten couldn't help asking. The other examinees had questions too.

The Third took a puff of his pipe and continued, "A look at history will make it clear. The nations that are allies now were neighboring countries that fought each other constantly in the past. To avoid wasting military strength and leaving both sides crippled, the nations chose this as their battlefield. That was how the Chunin Exams originally began."

Naruto asked, puzzled, "Why does it have to be this way? Isn't the exam supposed to select Chunin?"

The Third continued, "Indeed, it is also meant to select ninja with the strength of Chunin. On the other hand, it is a place where ninja who bear their nations' prestige fight with everything they have. For this third exam, we will invite the feudal lords and prominent figures from the nations that commission our work. The feudal lords who control the ninja villages and the ninja leaders will watch your battles. If the gap in national strength is obvious, the strong nations will receive more commissions. If a nation is judged weak, its commissions will decrease. At the same time, it serves as a threat to neighboring countries: 'Our village has this kind of strength.' In other words, it can exert diplomatic pressure."

"Even so, why do we have to fight to the death?" Kiba asked.

"A nation's strength is its ninja village's strength. A ninja village's strength is its ninja's strength. And a ninja's strength can only be born in a fight to the death. This exam is an opportunity to display the strength of our nation's ninja and make the others understand it. It is meaningful precisely because it is an exam in which you stake your lives. And for that very reason, those who came before us took the exam with the dream that 'this is a goal worth striving for,'" the Third replied.

"But why call it 'friendship'?" Tenten asked.

"That is why I said earlier not to misunderstand its true meaning. The practice of maintaining balance through killing is what the ninja world calls friendship: fighting with your lives on the line for your own dreams and your ninja village's prestige," the Third said sternly.

Naruto gave a quiet snort. "I understand."

Gaara said indifferently, "None of that matters. Hurry up and tell us what this fight we have to risk our lives in involves!"

The Third grunted. "Then I would now like to explain the third exam, but actually... uh... ahem..."

Issui appeared in a flash and said to the Third, "Forgive my rudeness. Please leave the rest to me, Issui Kanna, who has accepted the job of adjudicating."

"I'm counting on you..." The Third nodded.

Issui turned around and said, "Hello, everyone. Before the third exam, there's something I need you all to do..."

Naruto protested, "What? You're the examiner? You've got to be kidding me!"

Issui snorted and continued, "Don't underestimate my strength. Haha, kids, before the official exam, there's going to be a preliminary round."

Shikamaru was somewhat angry. They had finally passed the exam, so why did they have to do a preliminary round?

Sakura also asked, "Um... sir, why do we need a preliminary round? Why can't the remaining examinees take the third exam now?"

Issui sighed. "Well, because both this exam and the previous one were too easy, there are rather a lot of people left. So, according to the Chunin Exams regulations, we need to reduce the number participating in the third exam."

Sakura asked in confusion, "How can you do that?"

Issui replied, "As Lord Hokage just said, many guests will be coming to the third exam, so it can't drag on. There's a time limit too. Anyone who's feeling unwell, or anyone who wants to withdraw after hearing that explanation, please report it now, because the preliminaries are about to begin."

Kiba asked, "You mean the exam's starting right now?"

Ino said weakly, "We only just passed the exam. How can we..."

Shikamaru sighed. "What a drag."

Choji said, "Ah, what about food, then?"

Naruto silently encouraged himself to work hard and pass.

Issui continued, "I forgot to mention: the next exam is an individual competition. You may raise your hand and withdraw if you wish."

Orochimaru looked at Sasuke and gave a sinister smile. What a fine prey he is.

The Cursed Seal on Sasuke's neck flared up again, and he immediately clutched his neck. It seemed to be because of Orochimaru.

The Third looked at Sasuke and said, "Just as I thought."

Ibiki said, "What should we do?"

Anko said firmly, "Stop the exam immediately and have the Anbu protect and isolate him. It would be best to have him stop taking the exam immediately."

"He won't obediently listen. He's a member of the Uchiha Clan..." Kakashi said.

Anko got angry. "What nonsense are you talking about? Force him to withdraw if you have to! Even if his Chakra is sealed, the power of that Cursed Seal will still react and forcibly draw out his power. It's a forbidden technique that eats away at the person it's placed on. It's already a miracle that the boy has endured it. Normally, he would have died long ago, Lord Hokage."

"Anko, don't worry. If anything goes wrong, I'll stop it. Besides, I believe Sasuke can overcome the Cursed Seal's corrosion with his own strength," Issui said calmly.

"Hey, you from the Sound Ninja, don't deliberately show even that little bit of killing intent toward my examinee, or I won't... be... polite!!!" Issui said, staring hard at Orochimaru.

"Ah, my apologies. Seeing my students pass the exam got me a little excited," Orochimaru said, apologizing of his own accord. Tch, kid, don't get too pleased with yourself. I'll deal with you next time.

Issui gave a wicked smile. "Is that so? Remember to be more careful next time. You deliberately hid it, but I'm very sensitive to killing intent. All right, my examinees, anyone who wants to withdraw, do it now. There won't be another chance."

Kabuto stepped forward and raised his hand. "Me. I'm already feeling very unwell. I was injured too badly in the earlier fighting, so I can't continue." "I recall he's taken the exam many times, hasn't he? And he withdrew partway through the official exam many times?" the Third said with a frown.

"Yes, the records show he's taken the Chunin Exams six times in total. This is his seventh, and all the previous attempts ended in failure... Ah, right, do you remember that boy who survived the Battle of Kikyo Pass? It's him," Anko said, looking at the documents in her hand.

Realization dawned on the Third. "Oh, the enemy boy adopted by the medical team's Jonin, Tenzen Yakushi? I remember now. So it was him..."

Issui said to Kabuto, "Kabuto Yakushi of Konoha, right? You may withdraw."

Naruto was quite puzzled by Kabuto's withdrawal. "Why, Kabuto? Didn't we say we'd work hard together?"

Kabuto said apologetically, "Sorry, Naruto. I already couldn't hear out of one ear because of the Sound Ninja's attack earlier, and I took quite a few injuries in the second exam, so..."

Issui was furious at Kabuto's act. The man was simply too shameless. He then said, "All right, anyone else withdrawing? Those who have withdrawn should leave immediately. Don't get in the way of the remaining contestants continuing the exam."

After a long wait, no one else withdrew.

"No one else is withdrawing? Then the preliminaries will begin now. I'll explain the rules. The rules are that there are no rules. Once the two opponents begin fighting, the match ends only when one side admits defeat or dies. The winner qualifies to advance. There happen to be twenty people left here, so there will be ten matches. That means only ten people will enter the next exam. There is one point I need to clarify: when I judge that one side can no longer fight, I'll step in promptly to prevent unnecessary corpses. Now then, what determines your fate next is... Anko," Issui said.

Anko nodded and spoke into the radio. "Turn it on..."

An electronic bulletin board gradually appeared in the upper right corner of the exam hall's north wall.

Issui pointed to the board. "Each pair of contestants will be selected here. The two opponents will be paired at random. Now, the contestants for the first match will be announced... Sasuke Uchiha versus Akado Yoroi. The two opponents, stay here. Everyone else, go up to the viewing platforms on either side of the hall."

The result of the fight between Sasuke Uchiha and Akado Yoroi went without saying. Sasuke suppressed the Cursed Seal's corrosion and used his Sharingan to adapt Rock Lee's Taijutsu, creating the Lion Combo and winning the match.

Seeing the power that Sasuke had unleashed from who knew where, Orochimaru felt an even stronger desire to possess him.

Issui felt a surge of contempt as he watched Orochimaru's sinister smile. But the next match was about to begin, and the opponents randomly selected for the second match were completely different from those in the original story. How interesting.

"The second match is about to begin. Neji Hyuga versus Zaku. Both contestants, please come forward," Issui said, looking at the electronic board.

"Hey, both your hands are injured. Can you still fight?" Neji said, looking at Zaku. He relies on those two hands to attack with sound, doesn't he?

"Tch, even though I haven't fought you, I know you're strong. But don't underestimate me. I still have one hand that can move. This hand is enough for me to win." Zaku held out his left hand.

"Now, the second match begins. Neji Hyuga versus Zaku!"