Chapter 3

The Preliminary Rounds

As the hour approached midnight the three genin raced through the forest, easily outrunning any of the competition and making their way to the tower. Upon their entry, they came across a mysterious parchment on the wall with a riddle written upon it.

Dosu- Reading the scroll. If you do not possess Heaven, gain knowledge and be prepared. If you do not possess Earth run through the fields and seek strength. If you open both Heaven and Earth scrolls dangerous paths turn into safe ones. This is the secret of something. It shall lead you on your way.

Zaku- Pondering. Dangerous path's turn into safe ones, huh? So all we have to do is open the scrolls than, right?

Kin- I guess so.

They pause and exchange looks with one another.

Zaku- Rolling eyes. Well, what are you two waiting for? Open the scrolls!

By Zaku's request Dosu and Kin promptly opened the scrolls.

Dosu- Reading the scroll. Asummoning jutsu!? Wide eyed. Quick, Kin throw the scroll.

Dosu and Kin lobbed the opened scrolls a short distance. The scrolls than started to release a thick layer of smoke. When the smoke cleared, the three ninjas were surprised to see a tall slender chuunin bearing the symbol of the leaf village standing before them.

Dosu- Who are you?

Chuunin- Hmm. Do you not recognize me in this form my pupils. Makes a hand sign, than followed by another cloud of smoke, only to reappear as a more familiar face.

Dosu-Lord Orochimaru! Why did you bear the form of a leaf ninja?

Orochimaru- It was my disguise, the chuunin's are supposed to greet the test takers upon their arrival to the third and final part of the exam, and I made sure that I was the one to greet you three. Pulls out a watch from his pocket. And you made great time. But what else could I have expected from you three?

Zaku- Chuckling. So I take it we pass?

Kin- Wait, what was the point of this test, and what about the giant tablet what does it-

Orochimaru- Smiling. It does not matter now; the three of you pass. Leans forward. Now tell me, what happened in your encounter with the Uchiha boy?

Kin- Pointing to Zaku's arms. Well, see for yourself.

Orochimaru- Hmph, so that was the worst of it?

Dosu- We battled Sasuke very briefly, his power was overwhelming, and we were forced to retreat. And as for Zaku, we will need a medic to inspect his condition.

Orochimaru- Chuckling and thinking to himself. Excellent.

Zaku- What exactly are you planning?

Orochimaru- Patience Zaku all will be revealed soon enough.

Dosu- Nodding. Very well then.

Orochimaru- Starting to walk away. They wish to inform you of the next event and want you to gather in the main hall. I will disguise myself yet again to observe the three of you, and Sasuke. Get some rest you have but five hours

Kin- But, what about Zaku? Can we at least get him to a medic?

Orochimaru- Very well than, come with me.

At five o'clock sharp in the morning the eight surviving teams and their jounin sensei's were gathered together in a large corridor with a giant statue of two arms forming a hand sign. Among the ninja's were the proctors from the first exam Ibiki and Anko, along with the Third Hokage of the Hidden Leaf Village.

Neji- Thinking to himself. As I expected, all of the best are here.

Zaku- Glaring at Sasuke. Sasuke Uchiha, I'll get you back for what you've done to me, no matter what it takes!

Ushio- To Kiku. So are friends from the Sound Village made it huh?

Kiku- There are a lot more teams than I expected. Smirks. Maybe we didn't gather as many scrolls as we should've.

Temari- To herself. I can't believe it only eight teams out of twenty six are left.

Dosu looked about the room to notice that the ninja called Gaara was the only one without a scratch on him.

Dosu- That Sand ninja, there is something very peculiar about that one…

Hinata- To herself. Naruto's team passed.

Hokage- To himself. It's hard to believe that there are so many left and so many of them rookies. Looking back to Kakashi, Asuma, and Kurenai. So that's why they fought so hard to recommend them. This is the first time we have needed to hold a preliminary round in five years.

Anko- Shouting. All right now pay attention! Lord Hokage is going to explain the third exam to you. So you better listen carefully maggots! Turning to the Hokage. Lord Hokage, they're all yours.

Hokage- Clears his throat. First, before I tell you what the third exam entails, I want to explain something about the test itself. Listen closely now it's something all of you need to understand. I'm going to tell you the true purpose of these exams.

Kin- To herself. Hmm, somehow I knew there was a deeper meaning to all of this.

Hokage- Why do you suppose our country upholds these exams in conjunction with our ally's? To raise ability levels of the shinobi, and to increase friendship between allied nations, but it is important to understand its true meaning. The exams are, so to speak. Pauses and puffs smoke from his pipe. They're a representation of the battle between allied forces.

Dosu tried as hard as he possibly could to focus on the Hokage's rambling, but eventually drifted off and thought of Lord Orochimaru's true intention.

Dosu- Thinking to himself. What could that man possibly want with Sasuke Uchiha

As the Hokage finished up his little history lesson Dosu looked up and caught the eye of his sensei whom had taken the appearance of a tall slender Sound ninja.

Gaara- Becoming irritated. That's fine I can handle any challenge you throw at me, just tell me what the details of the exam are already.

Hokage- Nodding. Hm, very well than. Now listen closely I'm going to tell you all what you are going to be doing in the third exam.

Just than a leaf ninja landed from above in a kneeling position in front of the Hokage.

Leaf Ninja- Lord Hokage, before you do please allow me Hayate Gekko, appointed as proctor of the third exam to speak first.

Hokage- So be it.

Hayate-Rising. It's nice to meet you all. Coughs. There's something I would like all of you- Coughs, to do before the third exam. Coughs for about ten seconds, than pauses. Um, we have to have a preliminary exam before we move onto the real one.

Ino- A what?

Zaku- Shouting. A preliminary exam? What do you mean by that?

Sakura- I'm sorry sensei excuse me, but I really don't see the point. What's this preliminary all about, why can't we just move onto the third exam?

Hayate- Well you see, the first and second exams might have been too easy, the fact is we never expected so many of you to still be here. And according to the rules of the chuunin exams, it says a preliminary round can be held at any stage in order to reduce the amount of candidates remaining.

Sakura- But, is that fair?

Hayate- It's just at this stage we need to speed things up a bit, Coughs, and as Lord Hokage said, the guests will be watching we can't afford to waste their time. They've come to see only the best.

Hayate- Clears his throat. Sorry about that, as I was saying the preliminaries will be starting immidiatly.

Kiba- Shouting. C'mon you mean right now?!

Ino- We just finished barley surviving the last exam don't we at least get a break?

Shikamaru- Whining. Man, what a drag.

Choji- Hey when do we eat?

Dosu- To his team mates. Lucky for us, we had a little bit of resting time.

Hayate- Oh yeah, the winners will be determined by one on one combat sudden death.

For the next couple of minuets the room paused in an awkward silence, only to be broken by whispering amongst the teams. Strange facial expressions exchanged between one another.

Hayate- All right then, we will now begin the preliminary rounds. This round will consist of one on one combat with individual intensity. This is not an exercise, there are twenty four of you remaining that means that there will be a total of twelve matches and the surviving candidates from these twelve matches will advance to the preliminary rounds. As for the rules there are none, you will fight until one dies or admits defeat or is rendered physically incapable of continuing. Naturally those who are losing are urged to conceive defeat promptly to avoid a fatal out come. Now, it's time to reveal what fate we've chosen for you. Turns to Anko.

Anko- Nods. Open the panel.

A section of the wall recedes upward revealing a large black screen.

Hayate- The names of each pair of opponents are chosen completely at random, before each match these names will be displayed on the screen behind me. Well, I guess there's nothing more to say let's begin.

The shinobi stared at the giant screen, eagerly waiting for the names of the first combatants to appear. Than the screen flashed with a bright yellow glow than returned back to it's original green color. All of a sudden a loud scattering noise was made and the names shot across the screen. The contestants glared at the screen, for the names of the first two combatants had finally appeared.

Hayate- Sasuke Uchiha versus Temari.

Sasuke- Smiling. Didn't waste any time did they? Just than he rabidly twitched his left arm and grasped onto his curse seal firmly.

Temari- Smirking. I couldn't have asked for a better match up.

Dosu- Glaring at Sasuke. Sasuke Uchiha.

Hayate- All right now, those whose names have been drawn come forward.

Sasuke and Temari walk towards Hayate.

Dosu- To himself. What's wrong with him? He's acting very strangely, could it be the curse mark?

Kankuro- To himself. Good luck Temari, you're gonna need it.

Sasuke- Twitches again.

Hayate- Um, all right then, let's begin the first match, Coughs, ok, everyone other than the two opposing combatants please clear the area and make your way to the upper level.

The eight teams split down the middle, team Lee, Ino, Naruto, and Kiba made their way to the right stair case. While team Dosu, Gaara, Kabuto, and Ushio proceeded up the left stair case. Sasuke's sensei briefly walked by to talk to him, than followed the rest of his team up the stair case.

Hayate- Ok now, let the first match between Sasuke Uchiha and Temari proceed. Hayate than steps out of the way of the two combatants and awaits their first moves.

Temari- Smirking. Well than shall we begin?

Sasuke analyzed his opponent and decided to try out some basic attacks on her. First, he threw four shurikens. She smiled at him and she briefly disappeared and dodged the shurikens. Sasuke was surprised to see them on the ground behind her.

Temari- If that's the best you can do, don't expect me to toy around with you for long, I'd like to end this match quickly.

Sasuke- Cunningly. Don't worry about that, I'll ensure my victory in no time.

Sasuke attempted to attack Temari yet again, he dashed around her in a clockwise fashion. Hoping Temari would lose sight of him as he threw a kunai towards her, but she dogged it again. Temari stood still, she seemed as if she wasn't even moving a muscle yet she still had the speed to dodge Sasuke's attacks. Sasuke growing irritated with her immense speed decided to dash in and strike above. Sasuke leaped above Temari, he than threw out a number of hand signs.

Sasuke- Shouting. Fire style jutsu!

Temari stared at Sasuke wondering if he could really perform a fire style jutsu before he blew an enormous flame from his hands. With great force Temari waved her fan about and cleared the fire.

Temari- Smugly. Wind beats fire.

Sasuke, growing tired with these games she was playing with him, decided to rush in for the attack. He dashed with great speed towards Temari, but with the wave of her giant fan, he was blown backwards. Luckily, he landed on his feet and used his right hand to help slow himself down.

Temari- Lowering her brow. You're pretty quick on your feet. I wonder how you'll perform in mid air.

Temari waved her fan once more this time creating a tunnel of air traveling at immensely high velocity. Sasuke was receiving cuts and slashes from the air's great speed. All of a sudden the tunnel gave out and Sasuke crashed to the floor.

Temari- Well that didn't take long.

Struggling to stand up, Sasuke staggered onto his feet. He stared down Temari for a minuet or so, than his eyes lit up. He had a plan.

Orochimaru- To himself. Oh my Sasuke, I wonder what you'll do to turn this one around.

Sasuke threw four shurikens at Temari, knowing she would dodge them Sasuke charged her once again.

Temari- Annoyed. Don't you learn little boy, or are we going to have to go through this again?

Sasuke- Oh, I've learned from my mistakes and putting them to good use!

Temari waved her fan creating a great amount of pressure, suddenly Sasuke vanished from her sight in a cloud of smoke being replaced by one of his own shurikens he had already thrown!

Temari- Astonished and searching the room for Sasuke. What?! Where did he go?!

Temari heard a loud shredding sound, and turned to see Sasuke where he had thrown his shurikens before and his kunai drawn. Temari soon noticed that her fan was shredded by Sasuke's knife.

Temari- Wide eyed. No way, a substitution jutsu?

Sasuke- Now to deliver the finishing blow! And don' think for a second that just because you're a girl that I'm going to hold back!

Sasuke charged her once more pulled back his right arm and clenched his fist. Than in the blink of an eye he vanished from the room.

Temari- Worried. What?! No, not again! Thinking to herself. He's too fast, even for me I can't keep losing sight of him like this!

Just than Sasuke reappeared crouching in front of Temari and extended his right foot into her jaw sending her flying as he quickly sprung off of his hand after her. Many looks shot across the room from Naruto to Dosu to Guy to Neji to Lee who had all experienced this maneuver at one point in time.

Lee- Surprised. Hey, that's my move!

Naruto- No way, that's bushy brow's move!

Dosu- Rubbing his chin, to himself. That brings back painful memories.

Sasuke appeared directly behind Temari and they floated for a brief period of time.

Sasuke- I know the first part was ripped off but it's completely original from here on out. He extended his index finger and placed it on Temari's spine.

Just than Sasuke's body was overcome with an immense amount of pain jutting from his left shoulder.

Temari- Cockily. Ha, don't tell me I'm going to have to turn this fight around.

Sasuke- Grasping his shoulder. Don't worry, I won't give you that chance.

Orochimaru- Smirking from the sidelines. Come now Sasuke show us your true power.

The curse mark seemed to be acting up again and the marks overcame his body for a brief moment than they faded. With a great amount of power he pushed off of Temari and jutted his left leg into her side. While she blocked the leg he spun around her body and floated beside her before extending his arm and slamming it into her face. She dived to the floor head first, with Sasuke hovering just a little bit above her. Than extended his left arm and pushed it against her stomach placing her on her back. He than made a complete flip in the air and quickly smashed his heel into her gut, just before she hit the floor, creating wild impact.

Sasuke- Screaming. Lion's barrage!

Dosu- Amazed. Incredible

Naruto- Whoa.

Lee- Wide eyed.

Kankuro- Worried. Temari!

The impact than sent him flying backwards onto his stomach while Temari laid on her back and was out for the count. Than Hayate made his way forward to inspect Temari, he noticed the blood trickling from her mouth and checked her pulse, she was still alive. He than heard heavy breathing from beside him and noticed that Sasuke was struggling to stand.

Hayate- Without energy. The winner, Sasuke Uchiha, will advance to the finals.

Orochimaru- Smiling. Perfect.

Naruto- Cheering. Yeah, Sasuke!

Sakura- Cheering. All right Sasuke!

The medic's came in with a stretcher to carry Temari out of the way so the next match could commence.

Gaara- Mumbling. Big deal.

Clearly in poor physical condition, Sasuke had a large amount of trouble trying to stand, his sensei quickly came to his aid, he turned to Hayate and spoke to him briefly. Than he grabbed Sasuke's shoulder and disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Orochimaru made a hand sign and also vanished. Dosu looked to where his sensei had been, puzzled and pondering for an answer.

The screen scrambled the names again in search of the next contestant. It was yet another familiar face to the sound ninja, one of their own. The screen had stopped on the two names, Zaku Abumi and Shino Aburame.

Zaku- Thickly. Heh, who's that loser?

Shino- Silent.

Both Shino and Zaku made their way to the main stage, with still no sight of Orochimaru.

Hayate- Let the second match between, Zaku Abumi and Shino Aburame commence.

The two stared each other down with much intensity, as Zaku tried to concoct a strategy.

Shino- Well, it looks like this match will be over pretty quickly due to your arms limited movement.

Zaku- Yeah well, we'll see about… Twitching his left hand. Hm, looks like a got a little bit of feeling back in this one.

Zaku slowly raised his arm from the sling he had been given by the medic. He than looked up at Shino and bolted towards him. With the use of his left arm he tried to deliver a hook to Shino's face, but he quickly blocked it.

Shino- Stiffly. Like I said, this fight will be over pretty quickly.

Zaku- Smiling. Don't be so confident of yourself.

Zaku than opened his hand to reveal the wind tunnels in his arm and blasted Shino onto the floor sending him rolling. The whole room was astonished at not only that Zaku could even move his arms after having them snapped backwards, but also the fact that he was still able to utilize his slicing soundwaves.

Kin- To Dosu. Well, looks like Zaku might be around longer than we expected.

Dosu- Hm, maybe not this Shino guy doesn't look like someone I'd want to go up against. There must be more to him than we are seeing.

Shino staggered to his feet.

Zaku- Cunningly. What do you know; it usually doesn't take me more than one direct blow to the head to kill my opponent, you must be pretty lucky.

Shino- Breathing heavily. The trick to secure my victory is to have an ace up your sleeve. Pointing behind Zaku.

Zaku slowly turned his head and quickly noticed the now approaching army of insects.

Zaku- Astonished. Ah, w-what kind of a jutsu is that?!

Shino- Grinning. Oh, it's no jutsu it's a special ability of mine. Oh, are you running out of ideas, you do realize that you can only attack one of us at a time with the limited use of your one arm? If you turn your attack to me the bugs will get you, and vice versa. So much for your cocky attitude.

Zaku looked down at his other arm and began to laugh.

Zaku- Smirking manically. It's like you said, the key to secure my victory is to have an ace up your sleeve.

Zaku than pulled out his right arm and extended both arms to their full length, one arm towards Shino and the other towards the approaching insects.

Dosu- To himself. So Zaku, you led all of us to believe that Sasuke had really broken both of your arms, a clever ploy.

Zaku- Shouting. Now it's time to use my favorite jutsu! Air cutter!

Zaku along with the other spectators realized that there was no air being released from his arms. Than his arms began to swell up.

Kin- Worried. Dosu, what's wrong with him?!

Dosu- It seems that Zaku is having trouble exerting the wind from his arms; perhaps Sasuke snapped the tubes in his arm when he dislocated Zaku's shoulders.

Kin- I don't know Dosu, his arms look swollen. To herself. Come on Zaku, you can do this!

Zaku let out a blood curdling scream, as he pushed to expel the air. More buzzing noises came from inside Zaku's arm, Shino stood there waiting for his plan to take action.

Zaku- To himself. Lord Orochimaru recruited me for this special mission personally, he housed me as a child, he sent me to school to become a ninja, he fed me, he clothed me, and he cared for me; he believes in me and believes that I will pass to the next round. Screams. I will not fail him!

In a great effort, and a final burst of power the insects were propelled from inside Zaku's arms outwards and as the mighty winds blew, Shino was shot backwards into a wall, as the armies of insects were ripped to pieces by the incredible air pressure. When the air finally receded, Hayate came to inspect Shino.

Zaku- Breathing heavily, and with a large smile. You're one smart kid but, unfortunately you don't have the power to put your brains to use.

Hayate- The winner by knockout, Zaku Abumi.

Zaku soon made his way back to the upper level next to his companions.

Kin- Leaps onto Zaku hugging him tightly. Zaku, you pulled it off!

Zaku- Smirking. Looks like we have a long way to go huh? Looking around. Where is Lord Orochimaru?

Dosu- He left. Apparently he has more important things to tend to.

To be continued…