Hayate gave Shikamaru and Sakura the two long drawing sticks marked six and seven, then held out the remaining five to Naruto and the others.
"Whoever draws number five goes straight to the top three. Of the rest, one fights two, and three fights four."
Hayate briefly explained the rules. They were very basic, but suited the current situation well.
After all, this was no longer the previous Chunin Ninja Exams. With only seven people fighting, there was no need to make things so complicated.
Everyone was just here to watch the fun. The whole thing would take an hour if it went slowly, or perhaps twenty minutes if it went quickly.
The ANBU and Root members in the stands had come to watch their juniors fight precisely because it would not take too long.
Yes, it definitely wasn't because a certain brother-obsessed Root Leader wanted to watch his younger brother, or because a few ANBU members who looked after Naruto wanted some entertainment.
Once Hayate finished speaking, he held the remaining five sticks out before the five of them. Five hands reached out in orderly succession, each taking a stick.
"Five."
Gaara raised the stick in his hand and looked at Gekko Hayate.
A flicker of surprise crossed Hayate's eyes. Then he nodded and said to Gaara, "Ah, then you advance."
Gaara lowered his head and pursed his lips. He didn't want a bye. He wanted to fight Naruto.
Shukaku: No, you don't.
So the first match had turned into an internal Team 7 battle?
Everyone in the spectator stands turned their eyes toward a certain shameless white-haired man who was looking down at Icha Icha Paradise.
"Huh? Oh, I didn't expect things to turn out like this." Kakashi raised his head, took three seconds to figure everything out,