Changing the Third Round of the Chunin Ninja Exams

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

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

"Orochimaru returned to Konoha. I saw him in the Forest of Death." Mitaraishi Anko's tone was heavy, as though she were reporting something earth-shattering.

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

"It's Sasuke!" Mitaraishi Anko hurriedly said. "Orochimaru said it himself—he has taken an interest in a young man from the Uchiha Clan."

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

Sasuke! At the mention of that name, the Third Hokage recalled him. He was a descendant of the Uchiha Clan, the only remaining Uchiha in Konoha. It was as though memories from the past were rising to the surface.

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

"There is 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." Mitaraishi Anko could only agree. The Hokage had already spoken.

Kakashi left quickly. 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 has ended. Let us proceed to the Ninja Hall!"

Just then, Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage of Sunagakure in the Land of Wind, walked in from outside and said, "Am I interrupting something?"

"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 deep, and beneath its magnetic quality seemed to lurk an air of slaughter.

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

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

Everyone present was surprised upon hearing 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 nobles and feudal lords of every nation, I believe team melees are the best format. Only then will it resemble war, and only then will the great figures of every nation truly enjoy the spectacle."

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

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

"..." Mitaraishi Anko, Might Guy, Morino Ibiki, and the other Jonin all 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. It will take place seven days from now."

"Hahaha..." Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, let out a laugh filled with triumph 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 a group of Konoha's Jonin. Only Kakashi was absent.

Seventeen people stood below the platform. They were:

Sunagakure: Gaara, who was still unconscious; Temari; Kankuro.

Konoha: Kabuto Yakushi, Akadou Yoroi, Tsurugi Misumi.

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

Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki, Sakura Haruno.

Team 8: Hinata Hyuga, Shino, Kiba Inuzuka.

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

Sasuke Uchiha of Team 7 was not present.

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

Mitaraishi Anko stepped forward at that moment and said mischievously, "He passed the test even while unconscious. Looks like I made this round too easy. Next time, I'll have to raise the difficulty."

Every Genin present exchanged looks at Mitaraishi Anko's words.

"What a pain," Shikamaru Nara said. "If there's a next time, it'll be the death of me."

In truth, there had been a small twist during the second round of the Chunin Ninja Exams. Due to bad luck, Gaara's team had seized three Earth Scrolls. Added to the Earth Scroll they already possessed, most of the Earth Scrolls had ended up in Gaara's team's hands.

If nothing unexpected had happened, Gaara's team would have controlled most of the Earth Scrolls, meaning the vast majority would have been eliminated. Only Naruto's team and Kabuto Yakushi's team would have advanced.

And Naruto had been that unexpected factor. He had actually used the Earth Scroll's Genjutsu to render Gaara unconscious, taking an absurdly powerful figure out of the fight.

Because Gaara had fallen unconscious, Neji Hyuga joined forces with Shikamaru Nara and surrounded Temari and Kankuro, forcing them to hand over their 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 Nara led Ino Yamanaka and Choji Akimichi around from the rear.

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

Shikamaru Nara 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, because Naruto was the one who had driven them into such a desperate situation.

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

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

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

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 a Heaven Scroll from the Sound Ninja Genin. Their luck had finally turned at the last moment, allowing them to advance smoothly to the next test.

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

Life 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 over there too."

"What!" Gaara was stunned on the spot. 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.