They lined up in their teams at the end of the second round. Of the twenty-six teams that had entered the Forest of Death, only seven teams had completed both objectives which were to have both a Heaven and an Earth scroll and to make it to the central tower before time was up.

All three rookie teams had made it, as had two other Konoha teams- one was Kabuto's team of older genin, the other were more their age. Sakura thought she recognised the girl as one who graduated a year previous. A team from Sound, and a team from Sand- the one with the Jinchuuriki, Gaara, with the unstable seal, also made the cut.

"We have to have a preliminary exam before the real one," the proctor of the third exam announced between coughing fits. "Fact is we didn't expect so many of you to still be here. A lot of important guests will be watching the final round. They will have come to see only the best so we can't afford to waste their time."

He started coughing again. "If any of you want to bow out. Now is the time. The first two rounds tested you as teams. From here on out you'll be tested as individuals. The preliminaries will be starting immediately."

Sakura was grateful that she'd had a few days to rest up, she didn't know how she'd perform if their team had come in at the last minute.

"The winner's will be determined by one-on-one sudden death combat, so like I said if there's anyone who doesn't feel up to it now is the time to raise your hand."

She didn't think anyone would raise their hand. They'd all come this far but Kabuto raised his hand and almost cheerily excused himself from participating further. Naruto predictably demanded an answer to a question that was really none of his business in the first place and while Kabuto gave a logical answer, Sakura had a feeling that he wasn't being very truthful.

The proctor cleared his throat and asked if anyone else wanted to quit. "This is not an exercise. There are twenty of you so there will be ten matches. The winners of those matches will advance to the third exam. As for the rules there are none. You will fight until one dies, concedes defeat, or is physically unable to continue the match. The proctor's and jōnin senseis will step in to prevent any unnecessary loss of life."

A panel behind the crowd of jōnin sensei's, the exam proctors, and other shinobi of the Leaf, opened.

"The pairings of each match-up are completely random. Those not chosen for the first match will clear the floor and move to the upper level."

Sakura immediately turned and walked away when she saw Sasuke's name appear with one she wasn't familiar with. When only the proctor and the two genin were left on the floor, Sakura leaned over the rail to watch who won. Yoroi Akadō was one of Kabuto's teammates, which meant he was several years Sasuke's senior.

It wasn't surprising that Sasuke was on the back foot as soon as the match started, but he managed to claw his way back to a victory, though he was severely drained of chakra once he had.

It was another win for Konoha when Shino Aburame, a rookie from Team 8, went up against a Sound genin who seemed to have air vents in his hands. Shino's bugs blocked the vents and blew the guys arms out when he tried to use them.

Suna took it's first win when the puppet user Kankurō took out Kabuto's other teammate who had an ability to turn his limbs into rubber and stretch to restrain an opponent. It was weirdly reminiscent of how Orochimaru's neck stretched out and it made Sakura shudder and look away to see who was next.

She stared up at the screen impassively waiting for it to display the next match.

Ino Yamanaka vs Sakura Haruno.

"You look worried Forehead," Ino called out mockingly when their names popped up. "I mean you should. Even Sasuke collapsed, and it's probably just because he's so great that that's all that happened. I don't want to think what might happen to you if you continue. You should forfeit now."

"I won't quit but I suppose I should give you the same opportunity," she drawled in response.

Yeah bring it on!

"Like I would ever lose to you," Ino sneered. Sakura rolled her eyes. She was doing that a lot lately.

"Whatever Ino-Pig." She shot her a wicked smirk. "Your funeral." Sakura didn't bother with the stairs and instead leapt out into the open space and landed by the proctor in a crouch with her back facing the balcony everyone stood on. She glanced over her shoulder and up at her rival who was looking down at her with shock and not a small amount of wariness.

Ino's face hardened and she tossed her hair as she turned towards the stairs and made Sakura wait while she made her way to her and the proctor. Sakura merely raised an eyebrow and waited for the Proctor to call the start of the match.

She was confident in her skills against a kunoichi like Ino. She would have been a lot more wary of anyone else, but Sakura may have spied on a few of Team 10s training sessions while she was practising masking her chakra and like her before Wave, Ino wasn't that keen on boosting and maintaining her skills.

That wasn't to say that she hadn't improved because she had, but she had improved as part of a team. Her fighting skills relied on being only part of the attacking force, not the sole attacker. So when the Proctor called start Ino jumped back and immediately focussed on trying to capture her with her Mind Transfer jutsu.

Sakura shook out her left hand out and away from her body and then reached for her kunai pouch with her right. She cast the one handed sign to create a shadow clone down by her thigh. As soon as her clone popped into view, Sakura tossed her a kunai and they split up, stepping to either side creating a problem for Ino who could only capture one person and in doing so would leave her vulnerable.

Ino reached for her own weapons and threw a shuriken at Sakura's clone who battered it away surprising the blonde.

"What! Since when can you make substantial clones Forehead?" she demanded.

"A few weeks. Forfeit Pig. I don't want to hurt you."

Ino scoffed. "Do your worst."

Sakura shrugged and signalled her clone who threw her kunai with force and accuracy forcing Ino to dodge. Only she dodged towards Sakura who was waiting. She grasped Ino's wrist and pivoted, pulling Ino around her body, making her lose her balance and stumble to her knees. Sakura shifted her grip to Ino's shoulder and rested her blade up against her former friend's throat.

"Forfeit Pig. Last chance." She wasn't playing around, but she wasn't being as harsh as she could be. She carried sharp blades. Just pressing against them lightly was enough to break the skin.

Ino swallowed and felt the blade against her skin. It moved away slightly and she thought to take advantage of it, but felt the trickle of something wet slide down her neck. The metallic smell told her it was blood, but her mind just couldn't comprehend that Sakura had been the one to cut her. That she'd been cut at all.

"For-Forfeit. I Forfeit," she announced. The words had tumbled out on their own accord. Her body shivered as soon as Sakura let her go. Her words hung in the air, it was quiet. Too quiet. Ino's eyes lifted to the balcony but there wasn't anyone there. Eyes narrowed, she threw her hands together and pulsed her chakra.

"Kai!"

Sakura stood in front of her, her clone disappeared. Her throat didn't have a cut, and she wasn't bleeding.

"It was a genjutsu!?"

"Thanks for forfeiting Pig," Sakura grinned at her. Ino spun to face the sickly proctor who nodded.

"Haruno wins," he confirmed.

Ino let out an unladylike screech and stormed off back to the balcony with Sakura smugly following in her wake.

And just like that our girl's through to the next round! Review, favourite, and follow for the next episode!

~G