Three teams?
If Menma remembered correctly, there were originally five teams who reached the tower in the original manga, or at least six teams who passed the Forest of Death. Cutting the total down to only three was shocking—half eliminated beyond expectation. Only three teams left?
Still… with only three teams, it was understandable why there was no preliminary round. Three teams—even counting Team 7's special four-man formation—made exactly ten participants, one more than the number entering the finals in the original timeline. So the roster fit perfectly for the main stage.
"So few? Only three teams?"
Naruto said, eyes wide.
"It seems twenty-one teams entered the second round, but in the end only three passed."
Sakura added quietly, clearly shaken.
Only Sasuke remained calm, no visible reaction.
Then the remaining two teams should be those two… Menma thought as they walked toward the same grand hall they first arrived in.
As expected—
Inside the lobby, the figures he saw immediately were Gaara's team and Neji's team.
These two teams were indeed among the strongest overall this year. In the original story, Team Asuma, Team Kurenai, the Sound Four recruits, and Kabuto's team all passed the second stage—but this timeline had already diverged. Nearly all of them had fallen somewhere inside the Forest of Death.
Menma's arrival made Gaara, Neji, and the others turn to look.
The instant their eyes met, Gaara's sand-cold stare sharpened, while Neji's pale Byakugan-trained gaze scrutinized them silently.
Two Konoha teams, one Sand team.
Exactly as Menma had predicted the day the exam started.
With so few passing, there were no crowds, no jōnin waiting, and—unlike the original timeline—Hiruzen Sarutobi did not appear.
Only the main examiner stepped forward:
Moonlight Hayate, accompanied by several chūnin proctors.
"Ahem… first, congratulations… ahem… to you three teams… for passing the second round…"
Hayate coughed harshly, sounding moments from collapsing.
"…I am the main examiner… ahem… for the third round. If anyone… has objections to the rules… ahem… state them now…"
He paused, looked around, and seeing no one speak, continued:
"Then… ahem… let's begin the drawing of lots."
A subordinate stepped forward holding a wooden box. Inside were ten numbered sticks—paired numbers representing direct matchups for the main tournament. Because there was no preliminary round, this draw directly determined the order of battles in the stadium one month later.
Each genin stepped forward to draw.
When the results appeared—
Menma froze.
The second match read:
Gaara vs. Uzumaki Naruto
And the first match was:
Uchiha Sasuke vs. Hyūga Neji
A direct swap of opponents from the original story.
The others didn't notice anything odd, but Menma immediately recognized the strangeness.
Is this also fate playing tricks?
As for Menma's own match, he drew the fifth slot, making him the final fighter. His opponent—worryingly—was Rock Lee, the one person he never wanted to face without tapping into the Nine-Tails.
Even in the original timeline, Rock Lee opening the Eight Gates—even at just Four Gates—was enough to overwhelm most jōnin. Menma's current physical level couldn't match that.
Speed alone would be a disaster.
Still, in this exam, he didn't truly need to worry.
Their match was last.
And if Sunagakure followed their planned course—
Gaara would lose control in the second match.
Shukaku would erupt.
The Konoha Crush Plan would begin.
The entire tournament would collapse before Menma ever stepped onto the stage.
Tenten vs. Temari?
Sakura vs. Kankurō?
His own fight?
None of those matches would ever begin.
Menma knew that the second match—Gaara versus Naruto—was the critical fuse.
Moonlight Hayate continued:
"Ahem… these are… ahem… the matchups for the finals. You all have… ahem… one month to prepare. I expect… ahem… a strong display… from each of you…"
At the announcement, every genin locked eyes with their drawn opponent.
Gaara stared at Naruto with a murderous gleam, as if ready to attack immediately.
Temari and Kankurō tensed behind him.
Naruto, on the other hand, felt no threat—only excitement. To him, battling strong ninja from other villages sounded like a great opportunity, and Gaara was someone he respected as strong from the Forest of Death. His fighting spirit was already ignited.
Rock Lee, meanwhile, looked at Menma with pure enthusiasm.
Until recently, his biggest target was Neji.
But a genin who could keep pace with Sasuke and Naruto—and enter the Forest of Death alone—was now a new rival.
His youth burned so intensely it was practically visible.
Menma could feel Lee's blazing determination as clearly as a flame.
He sighed quietly.
This month was going to be complicated.