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A tense air filled the hall.
The towering chamber stood still, the shadows from the large Tiger seal statues stretching long under the hanging lanterns above. The twenty-one Genin stood at attention, their nerves pulled taut after Hiruzen's speech. Everyone could sense it: the calm before a storm.
Cough... Cough... Cough...
The silence was broken by the hoarse rasp of GekkÅ Hayate, the man appointed to proctor the next stage. His hand covered his mouth, his back slightly hunched as he stood before them.
Sakura raised an eyebrow. Is this guy even well enough to stand hereā¦?
Naruto crossed his arms but said nothing. His Observation Haki had already told him, this man was ill, but strong. A seasoned swordsman.
Hayate straightened himself with effort and raised his head, his dull eyes focusing on the Genin.
"There's somethingā¦ I'd like you all to doā¦"
His voice was soft, raspy, and calm, but it echoed eerily in the vast chamber.
"Before the third examā¦ and that is a preliminary, with participation in the main battle on the line."
Murmurs erupted in the crowd, and several Genin leaned toward one another, whispering.
Shikamaru narrowed his eyes. "Tch. I had a feeling it wasn't going to be that easyā¦"
Kiba whispered to Hinata, "Wait, a prelim now? Why didn't they say that before?"
Hinata didn't reply, but her eyes were on Naruto, steady and calm.
Hayate coughed again. "Becauseā¦ this time around, perhaps the first and second exams were too easy. There are a few too many people leftā¦ you seeā¦"
He paused, letting the words sink in before heĀ continued, his expression unchanging.
"Thus, in accordance with the rules of the Chuunin Examsā¦ a preliminary will be held to reduce the number advancing."
"As the Hokage-sama mentioned earlierā¦ many guests will be present during the final round of the third exam."
"So we can't afford to have long, pointless matches. Our time is limited. Thereforeā"
COUGH! COUGH! COUGH!
This time, he nearly doubled over, one hand bracing his side.
"Uhhā¦" Chouji blinked. "Is this guy gonna die before we start?"
"Geez, someone give him water or somethingā¦" Ino muttered.
"Excuse me," Hayate rasped as he recovered. "As I was saying... for those of you not in top condition, or those who wish to drop out, this is your chance."
He stood upright, a cold gaze sweeping over them.
"The prelims will begin immediately."
A ripple of energy shot through the crowd, and the genins' shoulders tensed up. The eyes of the young ninjas widened, and a few of them exhaled sharply.
Rock Lee clenched his fists, fire burning behind his eyes. "A preliminary battleā¦ right now?! This is perfect!! The flames of youth burn strongest in the morning!"
Neji didn't react, but his fingers twitched once.
Tenten sighed and muttered under her breath. "Well, so much for a warm-upā¦"
Hayate raised a hand slightly. "Also, I forgot to mentionā¦"
His voice remained dry and dispassionate.
"From here onā¦ they will be individual battles."
That hit like a thunderclap.
Ino flinched slightly. "W-What?! Individually?"
"It is your decision," Hayate added. "Feel free to raise your handsā¦ and drop out."
"There's no shame in it."
For a moment, no one moved.
Then, aĀ single hand rose from among the group.
Everyone turned to see a quiet figure with glasses glinting in the dim light, head bowed, standing with perfect composure.
"Excuse meā¦" The voice was polite. Calm. "I'll quit."
"...Huh?" Kiba blinked.
"Seriously?" Shikamaru muttered.
Naruto didn't react at all. His eyes were already on the man, watching him like a hawk.
Hayate checked his clipboard. "Let's seeā¦ You're Yakushi Kabuto of the Leaf Village, correct?"
"Then, you may step back."
"Yes." Kabuto bowed and walked calmly to the side.
His steps were smooth with no hesitation.
But Naruto's eyes narrowed. Heh. You're not even trying to hide it, huh? Perfect.
'Good,' Naruto thought. 'The plan's going smoothly. A few villagers might suffer, but the bigger picture mattersā¦'
Beside him, Sasuke watched Kabuto leave and shrugged.
"Guess he didn't want to risk it."
Shikamaru glanced over his shoulder lazily. "Didn't he already take the exams before?"
Sakura nodded. "I thinkā¦ this is his seventh time."
Ino frowned. "Seven?! That's just sadā¦"
Up near the balcony, the conversation among the JÅnin and officials had already begun.
Hiruzen's brows furrowed. "I've seen that face quite a few times."
He glanced down at the slowly departing Kabuto.
"As I recallā¦ I think he dropped out before the main battle last time as well."
He turned to the side. "What in the world is he thinking?"
Beside him, Morino Ibiki nudged Anko, who was already flipping through a file.
She found the page and read aloud.
"Yakushi Kabutoā¦"
"According to the data, he's failed six straight timesā¦"
Hiruzen turned toward her, his expression darkening.
"What about his background?"
Anko narrowed her eyes, her voice now serious. "From his time at the Academyā¦ he was average. He never stood out. His grades were ordinary. He finally passed the graduation exam on his third attempt."
Hiruzen folded his arms. "Doesn't sound promising."
Anko nodded. "After that, mission records show he completed two C-ranks and fourteen D-ranks."
"There was nothing impressiveā¦"
She paused. "Howeverā¦"
Hiruzen looked sideways at her. "However?"
Anko's tone dropped lower. "It's before the Academy. That's where it gets strange."
"Do you remember the storyā¦ from years agoā¦ about the KikyÅ Pass incident?"
Hiruzen's eyes suddenly flashed with memory.
"I rememberā¦"
"An enemy survivorā¦ a young boy, taken back from the battlefield by a medic-ninā¦"
Anko nodded solemnly. "That boyā¦ was him."
Hiruzen looked down again at Kabuto's back as he disappeared behind the large entry doors, swallowed by shadows.
"Soā¦ he's that boy..."
The room stood still for a moment.
No one in the Genin group suspected a thing, aside from Naruto. And Narutoā¦ already had plans of his own.
...
A long silence loomed as
Hayate placed a hand on the edge of the balcony, steadying himself. Then, his gravelly, tired voice rose to fill the air.
"Now thenā¦"
Another beat of silence. All eyes focused sharply on him.
"We will beginā¦ the preliminaries."
A ripple of whispered confusion passed through the ranks.Ā
Naruto's expression remained unreadable. But his sharp eyes scanned the reactions of the others around himāthose who stood tall, those who swallowed hard.
Hayate continued.
"The preliminaries to comeā¦ will be one-on-one individual battles."
The gasps of the genins broke the air.
"In other wordsā¦ actual battle format."
A wave of realization swept over the Genin. No more team formations. No more safety in numbers.
"Since the one from before leftā¦" Hayate glanced toward the door where Kabuto had exited. "There are now exactly twenty participants. We will conduct ten battles."
A clear and simple statement. But one that carried a heavy, hidden weight.
"The winnersā¦ will be able to advance to the third exam."
Sasuke's eyes gleamed. So only the strongest continue...
Rock Lee bounced slightly on the balls of his feet, his expression bursting with excitement.
Shikamaru sighed heavily, muttering under his breath. "Tchā¦ how troublesome."
Hinata's gaze remained focused and calm. 'I will not lose, not in front of him!'
Ino licked her lips, trying to stay relaxed, but a bead of sweat ran down her temple. 'Naruto-sama trained me for this. I won't disappoint himā¦'
--- ā¦ ā¦ ā¦ ---
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