Other than Ryusuke, twenty-three candidates passed the second exam.
Of those twenty-three, only six were not Konoha ninja. The rest... were all Konoha genin!
First, the Konoha 12 alone took up twelve spots.
Because of Inuzuka Kiba, his two teammates also passed the second exam, bringing the total to fourteen.
Then Yakushi Kabuto and his teammates, all spies Orochimaru had planted in Konoha, took another three spots.
The Sound Ninja Trio had already been killed by Ryusuke, but Otogakure still had three Sound Ninja who passed the second exam.
Clearly, during those five days, Yakushi Kabuto had learned of Dosu and the others' deaths and reported them to Orochimaru.
Those three Sound Ninja had been planted by either Yakushi Kabuto or Orochimaru.
The purpose was to allow Orochimaru to appear here openly.
After all, since the Sound Ninja Trio had not returned to report, Orochimaru did not know whether Sasuke Uchiha had used the Cursed Seal's power or liked the gift he had given him. That was why he had come specifically to see Sasuke Uchiha's reaction.
The Konoha 12, Ryusuke and Inuzuka Kiba's two teammates, Yakushi Kabuto and his teammates, plus the three Sound Ninja and Gaara and his siblings... made exactly twenty-four people!
"Ahem... I am the chief examiner for this test, Hayate Gekko."
After Sarutobi Hiruzen finished his speech, Hayate Gekko appeared in a body flicker with a form in hand. However, his dark circles and frail appearance made the candidates seriously doubt his status as a jonin.
Hayate Gekko ignored their looks and pointed at the large screen on the wall. "Your names will appear on the screen shortly, then you will be randomly matched. Those whose names appear will stay. Everyone else will go to the second-floor viewing platform and wait."
"Before the elimination rounds