I, Too, Have a Ninja Way I Want to Uphold

"So, before we begin the official third exam, we'll hold a preliminary round!"

"A preliminary round?" Naruto asked.

"That's right," Anko explained. "The rules are simple: one-on-one matches, with opponents chosen at random. The winners will qualify for the official third exam, held in front of all the daimyō and honored guests one month from now! For the losers, this is where it ends."

"Everyone, follow me."

Team 7 followed Anko to a wide arena-like hall on the ground floor of the Central Tower.

The teams who had passed the exam stood all around the arena: the three from Sunagakure, Gaara's team; Neji Hyuga; Rock Lee; Tenten; Kiba Inuzuka; Shino Aburame; Hinata Hyuga; Shikamaru Nara; Choji Akimichi; Ino Yamanaka...

And the subordinate of Orochimaru, from Sound Village.

Everyone's gaze converged on the enormous electronic display at the center of the arena.

The Third, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had also appeared on the second-floor observation platform with a number of Konoha's jōnin. His gaze swept over the examinees one by one before lingering on Ling Xuan for a moment, his expression profound.

"Now, we'll begin the draw for the first preliminary match!"

At Anko's command, the names of all the examinees began racing across the electronic display.

The atmosphere in the arena ignited in an instant, and everyone's breathing grew rapid.

At last, the names on the screen slowed to a stop.

The two names in the first matchup appeared clearly.

Sasuke Uchiha VS Yoroi Akado

"Oh? I'm up first?" Sasuke's lips curled into a cold smile. He needed a fight to test his strength—and find out what the sealed "curse" could do for him.

His opponent was the Sound Ninja with bandages wrapped around his entire body.

The two stepped onto the arena floor and faced each other from a distance.

"Uchiha brat, it's your good fortune to die in a body Lord Orochimaru has taken an interest in." Yoroi's voice was hoarse and grating.

"Enough talk." Sasuke's eyes turned icy in an instant.

Among the spectators, Ling Xuan watched calmly. His Eye of Truth had already analyzed the Sound Ninja named Yoroi Akado down to the last detail.

His chakra flow relied heavily on sound transmission. His armor wasn't merely defensive; it was a special device that absorbed and stored his opponents' chakra. He then released the stored chakra as sound waves to disrupt their hearing and sense of balance...

A clever technique, but...

It was useless against me—and equally useless against the Sharingan.

"Begin!"

At the proctor Gekko Hayate's command, Sasuke vanished from where he stood!

He used no ninjutsu, choosing instead the purest form of combat—and the one he excelled at most: Taijutsu!

"Lion Combo!"

Before Yoroi Akado could react, Sasuke unleashed a fluid series of attacks, each one landing squarely on him!

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The heavy blows made all the watching Genin blanch.

"S-so fast!"

"I can't keep up with his movements at all!"

Sasuke's relentless attacks drove Yoroi Akado backward. His prized sound-wave attacks were useless against Sasuke's Sharingan, which could predict his movements.

In the end, Sasuke finished the fight with a powerful downward kick.

"Winner: Sasuke Uchiha!"

The first match went to Konoha in a complete victory!

Sasuke stood in the arena, breathing slightly hard. He could feel the Cursed Seal's power stirring within him after the fight, but his gaze drifted toward Ling Xuan in the crowd. He knew this small victory was nowhere near enough.

Ling Xuan, for his part, wasn't surprised by Sasuke's victory in the slightest. His gaze had already shifted to the electronic display at the center of the arena.

The names for the second matchup were already scrolling across it.

Shino Aburame VS Zaku Abumi

Once again, it was Konoha against Sound. The Sound Ninja named Zaku could release highly destructive compressed air and ultrasonic waves through the air vents in his palms. His attacks had tremendous range and power. At the very start of the match, he whipped up a violent gale, hoping to overwhelm Shino Aburame with sheer force.

But his opponent was the heir to the Aburame Clan, one of Konoha's most mysterious clans of secret techniques.

Shino remained characteristically calm from beginning to end, simply standing in place as his opponent's attacks raged around him. Unseen by anyone, thousands upon thousands of Kikaichū had already spread through the ground and along the walls, silently forming a vast encirclement.

When Zaku briefly faltered from using ninjutsu repeatedly, Shino struck.

"Secret Technique: Insect Sphere."

Countless Kikaichū surged in from every direction like a black tide, swallowing Zaku whole in an instant. Zaku's Cutting Air Waves, powerful enough to shatter rock, were meaningless against a swarm capable of devouring chakra. In the end, he collapsed, drained of chakra.

"Winner: Shino Aburame."

Another victory for Konoha.

The next few matches were just as exciting, and Ling Xuan watched each one with great concentration.

His Eye of Truth cataloged every examinee's fighting style, the principles behind their jutsu, their chakra natures, and their personality flaws, storing everything in an enormous database.

This was all invaluable intelligence for controlling the entire game in the future.

At last, two names appeared on the electronic display, drawing everyone's attention.

Hinata Hyuga VS Neji Hyuga

The Main Family and Branch Family of the Hyuga Clan, one of Konoha's oldest noble families, would face off in a battle of fate in this little arena.

"Lady Hinata, it's not too late to give up." Neji looked at his cousin, who stood opposite him with her body trembling slightly from nerves. His expression was cold and indifferent. "You're not suited to be a ninja. Your fate was decided the moment you were born."

"I... I..." Neji's sword-sharp gaze left Hinata barely able to speak. Without thinking, she wanted to step back, to run away.

But just then, her gaze happened to fall on a calm figure in the crowd.

Ling Xuan.

He simply stood there, watching her. There was no encouragement or sympathy in his eyes, only detached observation.

As though he was waiting for something.

Hinata's heart gave a sudden jolt. She remembered what Ling Xuan had told her.

"Your Byakugan is your advantage."

"Keep working hard, and you'll grow stronger."

An inexplicable courage welled up inside Hinata.

She took a deep breath, raised her head to meet Neji's cold gaze, and assumed the Gentle Fist stance.

"I... I won't give up, Neji-nii!"

Hinata's voice still trembled a little, but her eyes held a resolve she had never shown before. "Because I, too, have a ninja way I want to uphold!"