Iruka led Naruto, Yuri, Sakura and Sasuke into a room, where the other remaining competitors were. Yuri's eyes widen when she saw that there were barely half remaining left. Among the 78, 22 have made it so far. All of the teams stood in a line, waiting. Yuri saw Kiba's team, with Hinata and Shino. Neji's team, with Lee and Ten Ten. Ino's team, with Shikamaru and Choji. Kabuto's team. She frowned when she saw three sound ninjas that had attacked them earlier, keeping her eyes on them. Strangely, there was another girl with them. Yuri wondered where she was during the fighting. Then her eyes fell towards Gaara's team with Temari and Kankuro. Well, at least they made it. She kept her eyes on Gaara, staring at him when she noticed something strange.
There wasn't a single scratch on him and neither did, Temari and Kankuro.
Yuri blinked in surprise. Everyone else was completely beaten and scratched up and could use a bath, but they remained completely unharmed. She saw Temari glanced over, her eyes meeting Yuri's. Yuri smiled and made a small wave. But Temari didn't wave back. Her eyes looked suddenly sad for some reason, like something was bothering her and she turned back, staring up front. Yuri frowned, wondering what was going on.
Then Yuri glanced upwards to the front and was also surprised to see the Third Hokage and other Jonins and Chunins, like Kakashi, Gai, Kurenai, Ibiki, along with the Sand sibling's sensei, Baki waiting for them as they stood in front of a large statue with performing a hand sign. Yuri's eyes widen a little more when she saw that her father, Kisuke, was among them. She saw that he could barely contain himself, beaming with pride as he wanted to pounce her with a hug. He gave her a thumbs up and a smile.
Yuri smiled back at him until she noticed a strange man standing behind her father. She assumed the man was a sensei to another group of sound ninjas as he had their village symbol on his forehead protector. Yuri frowned as she silently stared at him. She felt a cold shiver run down her back. There was something very off about him. His appearance was almost snake like, almost like Orochimaru's. She shook her head. That can't be a coincidence.
There was no way he would be here, would he?
Iruka walked over to join with the other Jonins and Chunins, and Naruto, Sakura, Sasuke and Yuri regrouped with the others, waiting, wondering what was going.
"First off, for the second test, congratulations on passing!" The Third Hokage shouted.
"I can't say that I'm getting a good feeling about this..." Yuri heard Sasuke murmured.
"Lord Hokage will now explain the third test. Listen carefully!" Anko shouted.
"For the coming third test, but before I explain that there is something that I'd like you to know. It concerns the true reason for this exam." The Third spoke.
"There's a reason?" Yuri questioned.
"Why do we have all the allied countries taking the exams together? "To promote friendship among the countries."To raise the level of shinobi." I don't want you to be confused about the true meaning. The exam is a replacement for war among the allied countries." The Third said as he continued. Almost everyone's eyes widen in surprise.
"What?" Ten Ten asked, still in shock.
"If you go back in time, the current allies were enemies who fought each over who would rule. In order prevent wasteful fighting. The stage that these countries set for battle...That is the origins of this chunin exam selection."
"Then why the hell do we have to do that crap?! Isn't this thing for deciding who's a chunin?!" Naruto shouted, angrily.
"It is a fact that this exam decides which shinobi have what it takes to be a chunin. But on the other hand, this exam has another side. Where each countries shinobi risks their own life to protect their land's prestige." The Third spoke.
"Prestige?" Ino asked, confused.
"Watching this third exam will be leaders and influential individuals, from many countries who make up the clients of shinobi. And the leaders of these countries will also be there to watch each of your battles. If the strength of a country is clear, that country will receive more clients. And if they are weak, they will lose clients. And this will signal to potential enemy countries "that our village has much power." So, it will send a political message to the outsiders."
"But why do we have to risk our lives in battle?!" Kiba shouted.
"The strength of the country is the strength of the village. The strength of the village is the strength of the shinobi. And a shinobi's truth strength is born only through life-risking battle." "This exam is placed to see each country's strength and to show off your own. It only has meaning because lives are at risk. And that's why those that have come before you have fought in the chunin exam for this dream that is meaningful." The Third Explained.
"Buy why did you say stuff about it being for friendship?" Ten Ten asked.
"I said it in the beginning, I didn't want you to confuse the purpose of this. By losing life and establishing balance. This is the shape of friendship in the world of shinobi. Before we begin the third test, I will tell you one more thing. This is not just a test. This is a life-risking battle with your dreams and your country's prestige on the line."
"I don't care what it is. Just hurry and tell us what this life-risking battle entails." Gaara spoke. Then a man suddenly poofed into the room when he appeared, and he knelt down in front of the Hokage. The man appeared to be sick and had pale skin, short brown hair, dark colored eyes and dark circles underneath them as if he hadn't gotten enough sleep. He wore his forehead protector as a bandana on his head and a flak jacket like the other shinobi in the Leaf Village.
"I apologize Lord Hokage. From here on, as referee, will please allow me, Gekko Hayate."
"By all means." The Third nodded. Hayate stood up and faced the group.
"Hello everyone, I'm Hayate. Um, before the third test there's something I'd like for you to do. It's a preliminary for the third test to decide who gets to participate in the main event."
"Preliminary?" Yuri asked.
"Preliminary? What do you mean?!" Shikamaru shouted, angrily, wanting to know as well.
"Sensei, I don't understand this preliminary, but why aren't people allowed to participate in the next test?" Sakura asked.
"Because the first and second test may have been too easy this year. We have a bit of too many people remaining. According to the chunin exam rules, we must have preliminary and reduce the number of participants for the third test."
Yuri frowned. "But that's not fair!"
"As Lord Hokage indicated earlier, there will be many guests at the third test. So, the fights could take too long. We are at a limited time." Hayate spoke as he started to explain. "So those who aren't feeling well, those who feel like quitting after these explanations please come forward now. Since we will be starting the preliminary immediately."
"Right now?!" Kiba exclaimed.
"But those who have arrived last haven't had time to rest yet after five days! That's not going to be fair for them!" Yuri shouted.
"That's why I'm giving you an out now. Do you concede?" Hayate asked.
"Yuri, you're not planning on quitting, are you?" Sakura whispered to her.
"You can't!" Naruto shook his head.
"No, I'm not going to. But I still think that is not fair!" Yuri spoke.
"I'm going to quit." Kabuto raised his hand. Yuri, Naruto, along with Sakura's eyes widen in shock, while Sasuke frowned as he stared at him suspiciously.
"Kabuto?" Naruto questioned.
"Hmm...You're Kabuto Yakushi, from the Leaf, right? You may leave now." Hayate spoke. "Does anyone else want to retire? I forgot to tell you that from now on, you'll be doing individual battling. You may raise your own hand based on your own judgement."
"Kabuto! Why are you quitting!? Why!?" Naruto exclaimed, demanding an answer.
"I'm sorry, Naruto. But my body's all beat up and now we have to risk our lives. I just can't." Kabuto said.
"Are there anymore who don't wish to fight?" Hayate spoke again. Sakura glanced over at Sasuke in worry.
"Sasuke, you should also quit! You have been acting strange since that Orochimaru guy attacked you. That mark still hurts, right!? If you continue-" She trembled, and tears started to appear in her eyes. "Please. Please, quit. I'm afraid. You are in no condition to fight right now! I can see it! You've been hiding this pain all this time!"
"Be quiet." Sasuke hissed at her.
"Whatever you say, I'm going to tell sensei about this mark then-" Before Sakura could raise her hand up, Sasuke grabbed her wrist, stopping her.
"Shut up about this mark." Sasuke said.
"Why are you being so stubborn!? I don't want to see you suffering anymore! To me, you are-"
"This has nothing to do with you." Sasuke spoke, coldly. Sakura's eyes widen.
"Stay out of my business. Sakura, I have told you before. I am an avenger. This isn't just a test to me. I don't care about being a chunin or whatever."
"Then why the hell did you even take it then? I thought that we all wanted to. We could've just dropped this whole thing at the beginning." Yuri frowned.
"Am I strong?" I just want an answer to that. To just fight the strong guys here. And there are some here." Sasuke spoke then he looked back at Sakura. "I won't forgive you if you take this from me."
"That's a stupid reason." Yuri scoffed. Sasuke glared at her.
"You don't know anything, so butt out of it." He remarked.
"And getting yourself killed is the answer? That's very smart." Yuri retorted, sarcastically, back at him.
"You bastard! Stop acting all cool! Idiot! Sakura is all worried and-" Naruto shouted at Sasuke furiously before Sasuke cut him off.
"Naruto, I also want to fight you."
Naruto's eyes widen in shock. Then Sasuke suddenly bent down in pain, holding his neck.
"I still think we should at least tell Kakashi." Yuri spoke. "This curse mark is going to be problem."
"I'll handle it somehow. Just shut up about it." Sasuke hissed at her.
"Fine. But come crying to me when your curse mark starts acting up." Yuri spoke. Sasuke glared at her, silently.
"Now, let's begin the preliminary." Hayate spoke. "This preliminary will consist of one-on-one fighting. You will basically fight as if in a real-life confrontation. Since we have 22 entrants, we will conduct 11 matches and the winners will advance to the third test. There are no rules. The fight will continue until one of you dies or is knocked out or admits defeat. But when I decide that the winner has clearly been established, since we don't want any pointless increase of corpses. I'll jump in and stop the match. And the object that will control your destiny..."
A electric score board was revealed on the wall behind the hand sign statue. "This electric score board will show the match ups for each battle. Now, this is sudden, let's announce the two names for the first fight."
The score board began to scroll, flipping fast, revealing the names of the two fighters for the first match.
"Sasuke Uchiha vs. Yoroi Akado."
Yuri sighed. "Of course, had to be Sasuke."
"Will the two entrants come forward." Hayate spoke. Sasuke and Yoroi, who was from Kabuto's team, stepped forward and stood in front of each other while Hayate stood in between them. "The two participants in the first fight are Sasuke Uchiha and Yoroi Akado, are you ready?"
"Yeah." Sasuke spoke.
"Yes." Yoroi nodded.