Italics indicate thinking

Bold is for attacks

Kale's POV

After I came to the Sound Ninjas were gone and most of the people who had helped up went on their way. We had to take multiple days to recuperate from that fight and we were running out of time to find a scroll. Since I was in now shape to be urgently fighting again I took the time to meditate and felt a new spell click in my mind. At the last few hours through we did manage to get a scroll with the help of that Kabuto guy. While we were walking to the tower I asked Sakura if she had learned anything more about that thing on Sasuke's arm but she wouldn't answer me.

"No one is here." I said looking at the empty room with just a phrase written on the wall.

"Looks like there are words missing." Sakura said "I think this is where we open the scrolls."

We took out the two scroll "Let's open them."

When we opened the scrolls I saw the writing on them.

"It's a summon scroll!"

Naruto and Sakura dropped the scroll that let off a puff of smoke that cleared to reveal…

"Hey, it's been a while." Iruka-sensei smiled.

"Wait…what?!" Naruto said confused.

"The end of the exam is set up so that the Chunin can meet the participants." Iruka explained "And I was allowed to greet you guys."

"Greet?"

He quickly checked his watch "Wow…you just made it, the second test you guys passed. I'd celebrate and buy you a round of ramen but-."

"YAHOO!" Naruto jumped forward and hugged the man "We did it! I'm happy!"

"How the hell does he have that energy?" Sasuke sighed sitting down.

"We passed." Sakura panted.

"I wonder what's next?" I groaned laying down on my stomach "So I guess if we had opened the scrolls early you'd have popped out and ended us."

"Had you broken the rules and opened the scrolls I would have had to knock you out for the remainder of the test."

"Good thing you two didn't open it." Sasuke said looking at our two teammates.

"Thank you Kabuto!" Naruto cried.

"Sensei." Sakura pointed at the wall "What's that message on the wall, a word is missing."

"Who cares?!" Naruto yelled.

"Be quiet." I sighed.

"Actually I'm here to explain that." Iruka-Sensei sighed.

He told us that it was the Chunin model written by the Hokage, it was about hard work and balance, if your mind was sharp hone your body and if your body is tones sharpen your mind.

"Chunin are at the level of a military captain." Iruka explained "Knowledge, Stamina, Wisdom, strength, you need all of these things to succeed…I want you guys to take on the next step with that motto in mind. That is how you'll pass this test."

"Right!" we all nodded.

"And on the third test, don't push yourselves too hard okay." He smiled "Especially you Naruto, I worry-."

"The moment I got this headband I stopped being a student so don't worry!" Naruto said "This is a symbol of me being a grown up I'm not a kid anymore, I'm a ninja."

"I see…" Iruka smiled "Well then head off for the third part of the exam."

There's more…damn it never stops.

When we entered the next room a few other teams were there, the Sound Ninjas, the Sand Ninjas, a bunch of teams from our age group and Kabuto's team. All the teachers and examiners had gathered as well.

Seven Teams passed…wow. A lot of the strong ones are left…Gaara, Rock Lee, Dosu, Kankuro…this should be interesting.

"The Hokage will now explain the third test!" Anko spoke loudly.

"Before we begin the third portion of the test there is something I want to let you know, the true nature of this exam." The old man started "All the allied countries come together for a reason, I don't want you to be confused about the meaning, this exam is…a war simulator."

"Huh?"

"A simulation…" I squinted.

"The countries weren't always allies, in order to prevent a full scale wasteful fight this exam was started." The Hokage explained.

"Why so I care!" Naruto yelled "This is for deciding who gets promoted!"

"That is true as well." The old man responded "but this exam is also used to show prestige, to show off countries' new recruits to the other nations. At the third exam will be many important individuals and leaders who will watch you battles, this shows them how strong a country is. If a country seems week they may lose clients. It can also show other countries which villages have power."

"So why do I have to risk my hide in battle?!" Kiba yelled.

"Because a villages strength is its shinobi's strength and true strength is forged in battle." The Hokage answered "The exam has meaning because your lives are at risk."

"Then what's the point of all that friendship talk then?" Tenten asked.

"This is friendship in the Ninja world, establishing balance. Before we begin the third porion there is one more thing. This is a life risking battle, your dreams and your home's are on the line." The Hokage said "Now the third test…"

"Let me sir." A man walked up while coughing "I am the referee after all."

The man stood up, he looked like he might drop dead right there.

"Hey everyone, I'm Hayate and I'm the proctor for the third portion of the exam, there just something I need to talk about real fast." The sickly man said "I need you to do something for me."

He sighed "This is actually a preliminary for the third test; this is going to decide who compete in the main event."

"Preliminary?!"

"I don't understand." Sakura said "We're not all allowed to participate."

"We worked our butts off to get here." I said "Come on!"

"Well…too many of you got this far, more of you were supposed to drop out by now." He said "You're actually too good, we have too many people remaining so we have to cut the number."

"So…" the man cleared his throat "If anyone wants to stop now, if your injured or whatever step up and drop out please."

I looked over at the Sound Ninjas, Sakura told me Sasuke broke the ones arm but…he wasn't quitting. In the end two people quit, Kabuto and one other member of his team.

That was strange…he doesn't look beat up, why quit now?

"Sasuke you should quit too." Sakura said "You've been acting werid since the forest, that mark hurts doesn't it."

I looked at Sasuke's shoulder and saw a swirl mark on him.

That's where Orochimaru bit him…

"Please quit." Sakura begged "I'm…worried."

"Shut up!" Sasuke hissed

"Stop hiding the pain." Sakura spat back.

"I said be quiet." Sasuke glared harder.

"No matter what you say I'm telling Sensei about that mark." Sakura said with determination.

Sasuke grabbed her hand "Shut up about that damn mark got it."

"Why are you being so stubborn." She begged "You're suffering."

"Stay out of my business." He demanded "If you take away my chance to fight these guys and get stronger I'll never forgive you."

"That's enough Sakura." I put my hand on her shoulder "He's too stubborn to listen to you right now."

"Stop trying to be cool." Naruto complained.

"Naruto…I want to fight you too." Sasuke smirked.

"Anyone else…okay by the way these will be individual battles so you don't have to worry about the rest of your team…final call…alright this is what we've got I suppose." Hayate sighed "We've got 20 entrants so 10 matches it is. Winners move up to the third test."

"For Rules." Hayate cleared his throat "Pretty much are none, fight till you're knocked out or can't keep going. Unless you want to die know your limit and tap out. But if I decide that the winner is clear I'll jump in and stop the fight so corpses don't pile up."

A scoreboard appeared "This will show what fight is starting, now then let's see who's going first."

The board lit up with two names.

"Sasuke Uchiha Vs Yoroi Akado."

One of us at the start…damn.

"Those two come forward everyone else please wait in the spectator area." Hayate said.

When we got to the upper level Kakashi-Sensei walked over to watch with us. Guy's team wasn't too far off, I noticed while I stood there Lee walked closer to us and Tenten waved to me, I waved back.

Sasuke's match started off easy, a few sharp weapons were thrown and then a Sasuke got his opponent in an arm bar but he quickly let the man out.

He's sluggish…that guy is like a vampire, sucking him dry.

"Come on Sasuke you're better than that!" Naruto yelled.

Sasuke suddenly ducked and kicked the man into the air.

That's Lee's kick.

I thought I saw some strange pattern on Sasuke as he jumped into the air but it faded before I could confirm it. Sasuke stomped the man into the ground and was declared the winner.

Sensei suddenly appeared in the ring and took Sasuke with him somewhere

"What a lame way to win." Naruto pouted "He got all beat up first."

"He won, that's what matters." I shrugged "Now pay attention the second match is about to be announced."

AN

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Till Next Time!