Four Limbs? Five Work Too!

Though everyone was puzzled, no one whispered among themselves. They silently watched Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe and said:

"If you misunderstand the Allied Nations Exam as something meant to promote friendship between countries and improve the level of shinobi, then that will be quite troublesome."

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused and exhaled a cloud of smoke.

"This exam can be said to be a microcosm of the battles between allied nations."

At Hiruzen Sarutobi's words, the crowd below broke into chattering discussion.

At that moment, Tenten poked her head out and asked in confusion, "Lord Hokage, what does that mean?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi continued:

"During the third exam, many feudal lords and prominent figures from various countries who commission us for missions will be present. They will watch your battles."

"If the gap in strength is too great, the stronger countries will receive more commissions."

"This exam is meant to display your country's shinobi strength to others. Only by staking your lives can you demonstrate a shinobi's full power."

Gaara said with a cold expression:

"Whatever. Just tell us what the third exam is."

Kanami strongly agreed with Gaara's words.

He did not know how the others felt, but listening to this was making him unbearably sleepy.

A gaunt, sickly-looking man landed before the crowd.

"I am Gekko Hayate, the referee for the third exam. Before we begin, there will now be a one-on-one preliminary round."

The crowd below began discussing it in confusion.

"Preliminaries?"

"What do preliminaries mean?"

Sakura raised her hand and asked, "Sir, I don't understand what you mean by having us participate in preliminaries."

With her question, everyone fell silent as well.

Because what she had asked was exactly what they wanted to know.

Gekko Hayate coughed weakly several times.

"Cough. Since there are still a few too many people left, we'll reduce the number. Anyone who is unwell, cough, cough... may withdraw and leave. The preliminaries will begin shortly."

At his words, the crowd erupted again.

Many people voiced their dissatisfaction.

"What do you mean? We just passed, and you're making us fight without giving us time to rest?"

"Exactly! This isn't fair at all!"

"You have no humanity!"

The people complaining around them were all more or less injured, with disheveled hair and grimy faces.

Seeing their appearance, Fūka and Yuzuki felt even more grateful to Kanami.

If they had not had a powerful teammate like Kanami, they would surely have been complaining about this suddenly added preliminary round too.

Gekko Hayate said flatly:

"Cough. This is the microcosm of conflict between nations, cough... a microcosm. In actual combat, no one will consider whether you've... cough cough... rested well."

Hinata watched him cough several times just to finish a sentence, concern appearing on her face.

She murmured softly:

"Sensei is the one whose health is bad..."

After hearing Gekko Hayate's words, the noisy voices gradually quieted until the surroundings fell silent.

"No one is withdrawing?"

"I give up."

Kabuto Yakushi raised his hand, bowed slightly to Gekko Hayate, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the others, then headed toward the exit.

He had recognized Orochimaru among Hiruzen Sarutobi's group long ago.

Now that Orochimaru was personally present, there was no need for an intelligence-gathering spy like him to remain here.

Several more minutes passed, yet no one else chose to withdraw.

Gekko Hayate stopped waiting.

"Now, the preliminaries begin."

As the electronic screen in the upper-right corner displayed the names Sasuke and Yoroi Akado.

The first battle was declared to have begun.

Kiba Inuzuka watched Sasuke stagger as he walked and asked, "Can Sasuke win in that condition?"

Kanami said calmly, "He can win. He won't lose to some insignificant nobody."

A bespectacled man wearing a face mask overheard their conversation and walked over.

He said coldly, "What makes him worthy of beating Yoroi Akado?"

Kanami glanced at him and thought for a long time before finally remembering.

This man was Misumi Tsurugi, Yoroi Akado's teammate. Like his companion, he would end up becoming someone else's stepping stone.

Kanami casually spat out two words: "Strength."

Misumi Tsurugi snorted. "Hmph! Are all you rookie brats this arrogant?"

Kanami shot him a disdainful sidelong glance and ignored him.

He was merely stating the facts.

Seeing Kanami's expression, Misumi Tsurugi grew quite irritated.

"I'll bet Yoroi Akado wins. Do you dare bet with me?"

"A bet?"

Kanami was immediately interested. He loved people who came rushing over to hand him money.

However, Kanami still wore an utterly calm expression on the surface.

He asked casually, "Bet on what?"

"How about two hundred thousand ryō?"

Kanami shook his head. "I don't bet money. I have more money than I can spend."

What? Was there really someone who thought they had too much money?

Misumi Tsurugi blanked for a moment, then looked Kanami over again.

Seeing that he was handsome and well-dressed, perhaps this kid really did come from a wealthy family and did not care about money.

Now he could make a killing!

He secretly rejoiced inwardly.

Misumi Tsurugi suppressed the smile at the corner of his mouth and said, "Ahem, then what do you want to bet?"

Kanami thought about it. This guy's ability was to extend his body at will.

So he asked, "Can only your four limbs extend?"

"Hmph, four limbs? How ignorant. All five of my limbs can extend."

Only after Misumi Tsurugi answered smugly did his expression change.

Lowering his voice, he asked, "How do you know my ability? I don't remember seeing you in the second exam."

"The intelligence Kabuto-senpai sold me included information about you."

Kanami knew the two were on the same team as Kabuto Yakushi. Since Kabuto had already forfeited and left, Kanami could say whatever he wanted.

At that, Misumi Tsurugi's face turned livid, and he cursed inwardly.

Damn Kabuto! He even sold his teammates' real information to others!

Kanami continued, "If Sasuke wins, how about you tell me the secret of your body-extending ability?"

Misumi Tsurugi looked hesitant and glanced from the corner of his eye at the Sound Ninja in the stands opposite them.

Seeing that the Sound Ninja was not paying attention to what was happening here.

He swallowed hard and whispered:

"Agreed. But if Yoroi Akado wins, you have to give me five hundred thousand ryō."

Kanami smiled and nodded.

Even if the other party had asked for ten million ryō, he would have agreed. It was not as though he could lose.

Seeing that Kanami did not even blink at five hundred thousand ryō, Misumi Tsurugi felt some regret.

He should have asked for one million ryō!

Damn it! He had practically thrown away five hundred thousand ryō for nothing!

In his eyes, Kanami was a fat sheep that had delivered itself to his doorstep.

On the arena floor, after Sasuke and Yoroi Akado tested each other by throwing shuriken.

Sasuke suddenly seized an opening, planted both feet in Yoroi Akado's shoulder sockets, and tightly locked Yoroi Akado's arms against his body.

Naruto cheered from the stands, "Awesome!"

Sakura beamed as well. "Sasuke's going to win."

Misumi Tsurugi gave them a contemptuous look:

"Idiots. He's not as weak as you think."

Yoroi Akado, who had just been locked down and unable to move, suddenly regained his mobility.

He slammed a fierce punch into Sasuke's chest, taking the chance to break free of Sasuke's hold.

Sasuke climbed to his feet from the ground with a pained expression.

"What happened? My body suddenly has no strength..."

He recalled how the other had kept fighting him at close range, his hands periodically pressing against Sasuke's body.

Sasuke panted heavily and said, "You absorbed my chakra?"

"Heh heh, you only noticed now?"

Yoroi Akado, wearing black sunglasses, chuckled and rushed before Sasuke, grabbing his head and using his chakra-absorption ability.

"It's over."