"I'm pink." Sakura Haruno showed her bamboo slip as well. This time, Shino Aburame was the one who would be fighting a girl.
"Kakashi-sensei, what about me?" Choji Akimichi asked quietly from the side. Though he was strong, he wasn't as fast as the others, so he hadn't managed to grab a slip.
"Choji, you don't need to compete. I hereby declare you a Chunin," Kakashi Hatake said calmly.
"Huh?" Choji Akimichi's mouth fell open, spilling potato chips.
He wasn't the only one. Everyone else looked stunned too!
The third round hadn't even started, and now he was a Chunin?
"We didn't expect so many people to pass the second round, and someone withdrew just before the preliminaries. There was going to be a bye anyway."
"We did make fewer bamboo slips for the third round. That's because the rule is that whoever fails to grab a slip gets a bye and becomes a Chunin," Kakashi Hatake explained with perfect composure.
Choji Akimichi was utterly dumbfounded. He hadn't done a thing, yet he was the biggest winner?
"Asuma-sensei, congratulations on training a Chunin!" Might Guy gave him a big thumbs-up from the spectator stands.
"Am I supposed to say thank you?" Asuma Sarutobi replied bluntly. "Still, it certainly beats having your Team 3 fight among themselves."
"It's fine. Isn't Team 7 fighting among themselves too?" Might Guy was as optimistic as ever.
"So, the black slips are the only ones left to reveal?" Kakashi Hatake asked.
Everyone's eyes drifted toward them. The answer was already clear.
They were none other than the two names drawing the most attention!
Qingchuan Tianming vs. Gaara!
Tianming could only say he was delighted with this opponent! Everyone else was from Konoha. He could neither go easy on them nor lose, which made for an unsatisfying fight.
Gaara was different. At this point, he still belonged to Konoha's enemy camp!
Besides, the One-Tail Jinchuriki could take a beating!
If anyone learned what Tianming was thinking, they would surely call him crazy! After all, Gaara had a record of killing Jonin and quite a reputation!
Gaara could take a beating! What an incredible way to think!
"The two with number one, stay here. Everyone else, step back." Kakashi Hatake led the way off the field.
In an instant, only Shino Aburame and Sakura Haruno remained in the arena.
"Shino! Don't refuse to hit girls like Shikamaru does," Sakura Haruno said with a light laugh.
"I won't," Shino Aburame replied flatly. The Aburame Clan only ever cared about insects!
"The third round of the Chunin Ninja Exams begins!" Kakashi Hatake gave the signal.
Sakura Haruno charged straight at him. Tough girl Sakura went right in, fists first!
The others had retreated to the edge of the field and were watching the fight with keen interest.
Tianming, however, was a little distracted. He kept glancing at the Sand Village trio standing in the distance, then looking up toward the highest seats!
The higher-ups there had Anbu Ninja guarding them closely.
Orochimaru's plan should be starting by now.
At that same moment, large numbers of Sound Ninja, together with Sand Ninja, appeared in the Forest of Death and the dense woods outside Konoha.
A black crow landed on a Sound Ninja's arm. The leader removed the note tied to its leg, gave it a cursory glance, then gestured in another direction!
"Begin the operation!"
At the command, several Sound Ninja stepped out of the ranks, bit their thumbs in perfect unison, and traced the Summoning Technique on the ground! In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen enormous summoned snakes came roaring out.
In another direction, a Sand Village Jonin stood atop a tree! He suddenly formed hand seals, and as his chakra surged, countless tiny grains of sand slowly fell.
"Ninjutsu! Sandfall Current!"
Boom! Boom!
Yellow-brown sand crashed to the ground like a falling river, then swept across the Forest of Death.
At the same time, the same scene unfolded in several parts of Konoha.
Back at the Central Tower, the fight between Sakura Haruno and Shino Aburame had already been decided!
Just as Sakura Haruno punched Shino Aburame away and prepared to follow up with a second attack, a dense mass of Kikaichū enveloped her lower legs.
All it would take was one command from Shino Aburame, and Sakura Haruno's lower legs would be completely devoured in an instant!
"I surrender!" Sakura Haruno raised her hand.
With that, Shino Aburame became the second person to pass the Chunin Ninja Exams.
The second match followed immediately-the much-anticipated showdown between teammates!
Rock Lee and Neji Hyuga walked into the center of the arena.
"Go, Rock Lee! Go, big brother!" Hinata Hyuga cheered from the stands.
Although Neji Hyuga didn't answer her, a faint smile appeared on his lips. "Rock Lee, let's fight to our hearts' content! No regrets!"
"Let's fight to our hearts' content!" Rock Lee's fighting spirit flared instantly. He slid forward, closed in on Neji Hyuga in a flash, and lashed out with a sweeping kick!
"Eight Trigrams Eleven Palms!" Neji Hyuga abandoned Gentle Fist and opened with his signature move.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Their very first clash set off a succession of sonic booms!
While the two were locked in a fierce battle, Tianming appeared in the spectator stands and plopped down beside Hinata Hyuga.
"Tianming, you're here!" Hinata Hyuga said, pleasantly surprised.
"Yeah." Tianming patted his trousers, then pulled an exquisite sachet from his bag. "I bought this sachet for you. It contains quite a few herbs that help calm the mind. It's yours-a gift to celebrate you getting out of the hospital."
Before you continue