(Due to Little Train's mistake, the wrong chapter was uploaded for Chapter 42 earlier. My apologies to all you wonderful readers! It's been fixed now. Thanks to "Kan Hua Yu Ni" for pointing it out! There'll be an extra chapter today as thanks!
Also, Little Train would like to ask all you handsome readers to tap the update reminder and add this book to your bookshelf! Thanks on my knees! This book is currently under evaluation, and I need your full support! The better the numbers, the more extra chapters you'll get!)
All the candidates who had passed the second exam gathered in the Tower's main hall.
Towering spectator stands surrounded an open Arena in the center.
Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi stood beneath the statue at the very top, a pipe between his lips, his gaze sweeping over the candidates below.
Most of these Genin, who had just crawled out of the Forest of Death, looked miserable.
Some had bandages wrapped around their arms, others had bruises on their faces, and their clothes were in tatters. They looked like a group of refugees who had just fled a famine.
Only Son Goten's group looked strangely out of place.
Son Goten chewed on a piece of dried meat. It was a scrap cut from that bear earlier, and after some simple roasting, it tasted passable.
Karin stood obediently behind him, holding a jug of water, ready at any moment to serve His Majesty by letting him rinse his mouth.
"This is great! Everyone passed!"
A silver-haired young man wearing round glasses walked over, a gentle, harmless smile on his face.
It was Kabuto Yakushi, who had shared information with Naruto and the others earlier.
Seeing a familiar face, Naruto immediately grinned.
"Kabuto! You made it too!"
Kabuto Yakushi pushed up the glasses on his nose, his gaze passing over the members of Team 7 before finally settling on Son Goten.
"This year's rookies really are impressive. So many of you actually passed the second exam."
Kabuto held several Ninja Info Cards, his voice full of concern.
"The exams ahead will be even harsher. If you want information on your opponents, you can still come to me."
"After all, I've taken this exam a few more years than you have. I do have that much experience."
As he spoke, he reached out quite naturally, intending to pat Son Goten on the shoulder in encouragement.
His manner was exactly like that of a helpful senior looking after an inexperienced junior.
Just a second before Kabuto's palm touched Son Goten's shoulder.
Son Goten suddenly stepped sideways to the left.
It was a small movement, but perfectly precise.
Kabuto's hand met empty air and hung there.
The scene was rather awkward.
Son Goten swallowed the dried meat in his mouth and turned, his large, clear black-and-white eyes staring straight at Kabuto Yakushi.
The usual laziness was absent from his gaze, replaced by a startling sharpness.
"Listen, senior, I don't mind people sucking up to me."
Son Goten brushed some nonexistent dust off his shoulder, his tone flat.
"But I really hate people touching me with dirty hands."
The smile on Kabuto Yakushi's face froze briefly, then he resumed his affable expression.
"What are you saying, Goten? I only wanted to congratulate you."
"Congratulate me?"
Son Goten smiled.
He leaned closer, his nostrils twitching as though he were sniffing something.
"You know? The sound of your heartbeat is very interesting to my senses."
Son Goten pointed at his own chest.
"When ordinary people smile, their heart rate and facial muscles are in sync."
"But you're different."
"Your face is smiling, but your heartbeat is as calm as a stone. There's even a hint of... killing intent."
Son Goten's voice was soft, yet it reached the ears of everyone nearby clearly.
Behind his lenses, Kabuto Yakushi's pupils contracted slightly.
How was that possible?
This brat could hear heartbeats?
Even a sensory ninja couldn't pick up on physiological details that precisely without using hand seals.
"You really do like to joke, Goten."
Kabuto withdrew his hand without betraying anything, barely maintaining his smile.
"Maybe I was too tense in the forest earlier, and my heartbeat hasn't returned to normal yet."
"Really?"
Son Goten curled his lip, his face full of distaste.
"Drop the act. Your smile is even faker than those expired dried bamboo shoots I had at Ichiraku Ramen last time."
"Just looking at it kills my appetite."
With that, he turned away without giving Kabuto another glance.
Naruto scratched the back of his head, utterly confused.
"Goten, why are you being so mean to Kabuto? He's a pretty nice guy."
Son Goten grabbed Naruto by the collar and pulled him behind him.
"Idiot, stay away from this guy."
"If you don't want to get sold out and still help count the money, listen to me."
Although Naruto didn't understand, his blind trust in Son Goten's strength made him obediently shut his mouth and give Kabuto a wary look.
Kabuto Yakushi stood where he was, a white gleam reflecting off his lenses and hiding the darkness in his eyes.
This brat called Son Goten...
There was more to him than overwhelming physical strength.
That absurdly keen intuition was practically the natural enemy of someone like him, who specialized in disguise.
It seemed this fellow was the biggest variable in Lord Orochimaru's plan.
Just then.
A fit of violent coughing broke the awkward atmosphere in the hall.
"Cough, cough... cough, cough, cough..."
An examiner with a pale face and dark circles under his eyes, looking plainly as though he had overindulged in sex, walked out.
He looked as if he might breathe his last at any moment.
"I'm the chief examiner for the third exam, Gekko Hayate."
Hayate weakly raised his eyelids and surveyed everyone.
"First, congratulations on passing the second exam."
"However... cough, cough... a few too many people passed, exceeding the preliminaries' capacity."
"So, before the official third exam, we'll need to add a preliminary round."
At these words, an uproar broke out among the candidates below.
"We have to fight again?"
"Are you kidding me? I'm already exhausted!"
Quite a few people began complaining.
Gekko Hayate ignored their complaints and continued in the same half-dead tone.
"These will be individual matches."
"If you physically can't manage it, or don't want to fight, you can withdraw now."
Kabuto immediately raised his hand.
"I withdraw."
Since Son Goten already had his eye on him, there was no point in staying. It would only make it easier to expose his abilities.
With Kabuto's departure, the atmosphere among those remaining grew even heavier.
"All right, everyone who's left wants to continue, correct?"
Hayate pointed at a huge Electronic Display Screen above the hall.
"Then let's begin."
"This screen will randomly cycle through and display two people's names."
"Those selected must immediately enter the arena for a one-on-one match."
"The winner advances. The loser is eliminated."
"There are no rules. The match continues until one side dies, concedes, or becomes unable to fight."
Everyone's eyes focused on the black screen.
Even the perpetually languid Son Goten lifted his head and watched with interest.
"Hope I get a fun opponent."
Son Goten muttered.
"If they're too weak to even count as a warm-up, that'll be way too boring."
The names on the screen began scrolling rapidly.
Countless names flashed in succession, making everyone's eyes swim.
A few seconds later.
The scrolling slowed.
Finally.
Two names froze in the center of the screen.
Before you continue