After Sasuke finished, the next groups began fighting one after another. Though the order was somewhat different, just like in the original, those who were supposed to advance still advanced. The only difference was the addition of Wu Liang. More interestingly, the rival pair Ino and Sakura still faced each other. However, Sakura had learned Super Strength earlier than in the original. After defeating Ino, Sakura forfeited, meaning neither of them passed the preliminaries. Sakura's reason was simple: she said she wanted to become a medical ninja in the future, so whether she was a Chunin or Genin did not matter.
Once the preliminaries were over, the Third Hokage looked at the examinees below and said, "The candidates who passed the preliminaries are Ryo Senju, Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, Gaara of the Desert, Kankuro, Temari, Hyuga Neji, Aburame Shino, and Nara Shikamaru. Since there is one extra contestant, the final round may use a bye system. Or, if any of you are willing to forfeit, substitutions can be arranged then, depending on the situation.
"Now, I will explain the contents of the competition. The official matches will display your battles before an audience. I hope the representatives of every nation will give it your all without regrets. Therefore, the official matches will begin one month from now. This will also give everyone time to prepare. In other words, this is the time needed to notify the daimyo of every nation and the Kage of every village that the preliminaries have ended, as well as invite them to watch. It also gives you time to get to know your opponents, analyze their intelligence, and improve your chances of winning.
"At the same time, any injuries sustained during the preliminaries can be properly treated during this month, or you can use this time