Hello guys! This is the re-write chapter number 11. Enjoy!

Chapter 11 Preliminary Rounds

The five days past by and in those five days Gaara hasn't spoken to me. Every time I think he is angry at me that I had said that I was afraid of him. So in those five days I have trained with Temari and Kankuro. They had also ask me with what was wrong, because I was so down. I had explained to him what had happened between me and Gaara. And luckily they understand me why I'm so sad. I think that they are also sad because of the relationship in the family. He don't see them as his siblings, but Temari and Kankuro are also afraid of him. I sighed and walked with my team and Baki-sensei to the big room. I saw other ninja's and Michi. I waved at her and she waved back and we also smiled to each other. We all stood in a line and listened to what would be said.

" First off, congratulations on passing the Second Exam." Said Anko. There was a silent and I became more nervous, but I'm glad that Michi has also passed. Also 6 other teams has passed.

" We will now have an explanation of the Third Exam from Hokage-sama. Everyone listen well." She bowed to the Hokage-sama. " Hokage-sama, please do the honors." The Hokage stepped forwards.

" The third Exam will begin. But before the explanation, there's one thing I want to make clear to all of you. It's about the true purpose of this exam. Why do we a joint exam with the allied nations. "To maintain good relations with the allied nations" and "heighten the level of the ninja"… Do not let those reasons deceive you. This "exam", so to speak, is…The epitome of a war between the allied nations."

" Huh, a war?!" I said and looked at everyone.

" What do you mean?" Said a girl with two buns.

" If we go back through history, the allied nations right now were… Neighboring countries that have fought each other over and over again. To avoid wasting military power, those countries decided to choose a place to fight… That's is the beginning of the Chuunin Selection Exam. " Explained the Hokage further.

" Why do we have to do that? We're not doing this to select Chuunins?" Said the blonde boy who was in the same team as Michi.

" Yes, this Exam does examine those who are worthy of the Chuunin title. But, on the other hand, it's also a place where ninja fight and carry their country's dignity. In this Third Exam, Feudal lords and famous people from various countries who may be potential clients are invited here as guests. And feudal lords from countries with hidden villages and ninja leaders will see your battles. If there's a significant difference in power, the strong country will be flooded with jobs. If a country is seen as weak, their jobs will decrease. And at the same time, countries are able to show how their village has grown and possess excellent military power to the adjacent countries. In other words, they can put foreign pressure on them." Explained the Hokage.

" Jeez…" I whispered and Temari was looking at me and gave me a weak smile.

" So why do we have to fight with the risk of losing our lives?" Said the boy with the dog.

" A country's power is the village's power. A village's power is the ninja's power. And a ninja's true power is only born in life-or-death battle. This Exam is also a place to show off the ninja power of one's country. Since this is an exam where you fight with your life on the line, it has a meaning… And your predecessors have fought and dreamed of being in the Chuunin Exam because of it."

" Okay, how long would this explanation be?" I sighed and heard Temari chuckle a little.

" But why do you say it is to promote good relations?" Said the girl with the buns again.

" I told you at the beginning to not get it confused with that. The custom of shaving one's life and fighting to maintain balance… that is the good relation in the world of ninja. This is a life-or-death battle for your dream and village's dignity." I hope that he is done with the explanation… I want to fight… I want to get this done!

" I understand now…" Said the blonde boy.

" I don't care. Tell us the details of this life-or-death exam." I sighed of course he is interested in the life-or-death exam.

" Then I will now begin the explanation of the Third Exam, but… " What another explanation?! Oh come on! I got very irritated and I heard Temari every time chuckle.

" Excuse me, Hokage-sama… I Gekkou Hayate, the judge, will explain." The Hokage agreed with that and that men started to explain.

" Everyone it is nice to meet you." And I heard that he must coughed a lot. " Everyone, before the Third Exam… *cough* *cough* " There is something I want you to do…" And he began coughing again. " Fight in some preliminary matches to see who gets to advance the Third Exam's main battle."

" Preliminary matches?" Temari and I looked at each other with confusing.

" Preliminary matches? What do you mean?" Said a boy with a ponytail.

" Sensei, I don't understand what you mean by preliminary matches. Why can't we just start the Third Exam with the remaining examinees?" Said a girl with pink hair, wait… Wasn't her hair longer?! It is now short! Has something happened in the forest?

" In this case, it must have been because the First and Second Exam were too easy, I don't know… But there are too many examinees left. According to Chuunin regulations, we must decrease the number of participants for the Third Exam." Said Hayate.

" What?!" I yelled and looked very irritating. What in the world? Damn…

"As previously mentioned by Hokage-sama, there are many guests for the Third Exam, so… We cannot just have a lot of matches. WE are limited on time, as well. So, those who aren't feeling well… *cough* *cough* *cough* " Man he coughed a lot… and who is talking who feels not well… " Excuse me. If anyone wants to quit after hearing the explanation… Please let me know. The preliminary matches will begin immediately."

After we were said that the preliminary matches begin immediately everyone argued about it. Kankuro, Temari and I looked at each other and then at Gaara… I don't know if I want to fight actually… I was planning to raise my hand, after what I had saw in the forest. I don't know if I want to fight actually…

" I forgot to mention this, but you will have one-on-one matches from here on out. So please withdraw if you wish."

" If you dare to lift your hand in the air Asuka. I will kill you." I heard Gaara talking to me, he didn't look at me I saw only his back. I dropped my hand immediately and looked at the ground. I felt the hand of Temari on my shoulder and she gave me sweet smile. I couldn't smile back and just looked back at the ground. Some of the teams are arguing of withdrawing.

Then the guy with glasses lifted his hand. Everyone was amazed when they saw that. Well my team not… We didn't care about that.

" Uhm… I will quit." I hear some people chatter with each other. Man, why do they care about it? I was startled, when am I acting like this? Is this because of Gaara? Well not that I must care about that guy with glasses but, why?

" Let's see…You are Konoha's Yakushi Kabuto-kun? You may leave, then." Said Hayate. Then when Kabuto-san left, that blonde boy began to asking loud why he is quitting… I don't understand it actually, I don't see anything on him why he can't go further with this? The only thing is that he has something with his nose, but his body looks okay.

Hayate began to cough again and went further with talking. " May I assume there are no more people who wish to retire?" It was silent again and looked at the other teams and at the team were Michi is. Why is she so worried? I tried to look what is wrong but I couldn't see it clearly.

" Then, let's begin the preliminary matches. It will be a one-on-one match. In other words, it will be like a real combat. Now that we have exactly 22 people, we will have 11 matches… And the winner will be able to advance to the Third Exam. There are no rules. You will fight until the other person dies, is knocked out… Or admits defeat. Uhm… If you don't want to die, please give up immediately. However, if I Judge that the match is over… I may stop you to prevent any unnecessary deaths. The thing that will hold your destiny…" Yes, we can finally fight! But after he had said that some wall moved and there was a big screen. " Will be this. This electric bulletin board, will randomly display the names of two fighters for each match. Without further ado, I will now display the names for the first match." Oh god. I hope that I don't must to fight first. The first fighters are Akadou Yoroi and Uchiha Sasuke.

" so that Uchiha guy must fight first…"

" Those who names were displayed, step up. The first match's fighters are Akadou Yoroi and Uchiha Sasuke. Are there any objections?" They both answered with no. " We will now begin the first match. Everyone other than the two fighters, please move up there. We all walked to the stairs. I followed my team and was watching Michi who walks on the other stairs. We both looked at each other and smiled. I stood with my team at the railing and were watching Sasuke. I'm sure that Gaara is curious how Sasuke fights... Then the match began.

Some way Sasuke is acting strange, but he tried to fight back. then he had that guy in a hold. But that guy grabbed the collar of Sasuke and some chakra came free. Then Sasuke couldn't move and the other guy slammed Sasuke with his arm and came free of Sasuke. But Sasuke couldn't move. I looked at Michi and saw that she was worried again. Has she feelings for him? Or is she just worried about her team mate? Then that guy grabbed the head of Sasuke with chakra in his head. I think that, that chakra absorbed chakra from someone else. That a battle could turned out like this… I hope that my opponent is not that strong.

Thanks for reading! ^_^