Changing the Chunin Ninja Exams' Third Round

In a cramped room, the Third Hokage's expression had turned grim. Besides the Hokage, the room was packed with Konoha's Jonin.

Kakashi, Might Guy, Morino Ibiki, Anko Mitarashi, and the others were all present.

"Orochimaru returned to Konoha. I saw him in the Forest of Death." Anko Mitarashi spoke heavily, as if recounting an earth-shattering event.

The Third Hokage asked, "What is Orochimaru after?"

"Sasuke!" Anko Mitarashi hurriedly said. "Orochimaru said himself that he had taken an interest in a young man from the Uchiha Clan."

Kakashi was greatly alarmed. Sasuke was his student, yet Orochimaru had set his sights on him. How could he possibly rest easy?

Sasuke! Upon hearing that name, the Third Hokage remembered him. He was a descendant of the Uchiha Clan and Konoha Village's last remaining Uchiha. It seemed that old memories were beginning to surface.

Anko Mitarashi suggested, "Lord Hokage, regardless of Orochimaru's intentions, Sasuke should be protected right now."

"No need." The Third Hokage said calmly, "The Chunin Ninja Exams are of great importance and must continue. We will observe Orochimaru's next move afterward."

"Yes." Anko Mitarashi could only agree, since the Hokage had already made his decision.

Kakashi quickly left. He needed to check on Sasuke, and he could not help feeling anxious.

The Third Hokage announced, "The second round of the Chunin Ninja Exams is over. Let us head to the Ninja Hall!"

Just then, Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage of Sand Village in the Land of Wind, walked in through the door and said, "Am I interrupting anyone?"

"Not at all." The Third Hokage's expression softened as he politely asked, "What brings the Fourth Kazekage here?"

"This year's Chunin Ninja Exams may need a change in rules." The Fourth Kazekage's voice was low and magnetic, seemingly carrying a hint of killing intent.

"The rules for the Chunin Ninja Exams were set long ago. Why change them so suddenly?"

"I have already discussed it with the kings, princes, and feudal lords of every nation, and all the nobles have agreed. The third round of the Chunin Ninja Exams will be held seven days from now. The event will be a same-field melee between three-man teams."

Everyone present was surprised by the Fourth Kazekage's words. They had not expected the rules of the Chunin Ninja Exams to change just like that.

The Third Hokage asked, "Why make such a change?"

"Because the original one-on-one duels were far too boring," the Fourth Kazekage said. "To better display the strength of ninja to the kings, princes, and feudal lords of every nation, I believe team melees are the best format. Only then will it resemble real warfare, giving those important figures from every country something truly exciting to watch."

The Fourth Kazekage continued, "After all, this Chunin Ninja Exam, where Genin risk their lives in battle, is really just a performance for the nobles of every nation."

"Now that the kings, princes, feudal lords, and nobles of every nation have spoken, they want to see team melees. I assume Konoha will not object."

"..." Anko Mitarashi, Might Guy, Morino Ibiki, and the other Jonin remained silent.

After a moment of silence, the Third Hokage finally made his decision. "Fine! Since the feudal lords and daimyo of every nation wish to see it, the third round of the Chunin Ninja Exams will be changed to a team melee, seven days from now."

"Ha ha ha ha..." Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, laughed triumphantly before leaving.

At that moment, quite a few people stood in the Ninja Hall. The Third Hokage and Fourth Kazekage were both present, along with Konoha's Jonin. Only Kakashi was absent.

Seventeen people stood below the platform. They were:

Sand Village: Gaara, who was still unconscious, Temari, and Kankuro.

Konoha Village: Kabuto Yakushi, Akadou Yoroi, and Tsurugi Misumi.

Konoha Team 3: Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee, and Tenten.

Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno.

Konoha Team 8: Hinata, Shino, and Kiba Inuzuka.

Konoha Team 10: Shikamaru, Ino Yamanaka, and Choji Akimichi.

Sasuke Uchiha of Team 7 was not present.

Temari was the first to speak. "Gaara fell unconscious under the Earth Scroll's genjutsu. Can you wake him up first?"

Anko Mitarashi stepped forward at that moment and said mischievously, "He passed the test even while unconscious. Looks like I set this round's difficulty too low. I should raise it next time."

Anko Mitarashi's words left every Genin present staring at one another.

"What a drag." Shikamaru said, "If there's a next time, it'll practically kill me."

There had actually been a small twist during the second round of the Chunin Ninja Exams. Due to bad luck, Gaara's team had snatched three Earth Scrolls. Combined with the Earth Scroll they already possessed, most of the Earth Scrolls had ended up in Gaara's team's hands.

Had nothing unexpected happened, Gaara's team would have controlled most of the Earth Scrolls. The vast majority of participants would have been eliminated, and only Naruto's team and Kabuto Yakushi's team would have advanced.

But Naruto was the unexpected factor. He had actually used the Earth Scroll's genjutsu to knock Gaara unconscious, stripping an absurdly powerful opponent of his fighting ability.

After Gaara fell unconscious, Neji Hyuga joined forces with Shikamaru, surrounding Temari and Kankuro together and forcing them to hand over the Earth Scrolls.

The situation at the time had been like this: in the Forest of Death, Neji Hyuga led Rock Lee and Tenten to block them from the front.

Meanwhile, Shikamaru led Ino Yamanaka and Choji Akimichi to circle around from behind.

Surrounded by two teams, Temari and Kankuro felt an unprecedented sense of danger. With Gaara unconscious as well, they had no chance of winning.

Shikamaru revealed a charming, confident smile. "Give up. I know all the Earth Scrolls are with you. Hand them over, and everyone can save themselves a lot of trouble."

Damn it. Kankuro cursed Naruto inwardly. Naruto was the one who had driven them into such a desperate situation.

Neji Hyuga said, "What? You still want to resist? I'll accompany you to the end!"

"We'll hand over the Earth Scrolls." Temari saw that the situation was unfavorable for her side, and they could only take the initiative to surrender the scrolls. Thus, Neji Hyuga's team and Shikamaru's team successfully advanced to the next round.

In that sense, Neji Hyuga's and Shikamaru's teams had Naruto to thank for their advancement.

Afterward, Temari and Kankuro took the unconscious Gaara and continued searching the Forest of Death for a Heaven Scroll. On the final day, they finally snatched one from the Sound Ninja Genin. They had finally gotten a bit lucky at the last moment and advanced smoothly to the next round.

Returning to the present, Anko Mitarashi walked over to Gaara in the Ninja Hall, casually formed hand seals, and shouted, "Release!"

Light gradually returned to Gaara's eyes, and he finally awoke from the genjutsu. The first thing he did upon waking was shout, "Naruto Uzumaki—"

"Yeah, yeah..." Naruto said weakly. "Why are you calling me?"

Gaara thought he was still in the Forest of Death, still fighting Naruto, so a terrifying killing intent erupted from his body.

"Hey, hey..." Naruto reminded him, "Everyone's watching you. The Fourth Kazekage—your dad—is standing right over there."

"What!" Gaara was stunned. Only then did he notice that he was in an unfamiliar hall, surrounded by people. He even saw the Third Hokage and the Fourth Kazekage.