Asuma said loudly and clearly.
Third Hokage also arrived at the competition arena, and his gaze swept over the eight faces that all had different expressions, and he was feeling somewhat secretly pleased and delighted in his heart: "All of the people who have entered the main round this time are ninjas from the five great nations, and the ninjas from my Leaf Village almost make up half of them, and this result can be considered to be considerably good."
"Lord Hokage, please announce the rules for the matches in the main round down below."
Asuma said those words, and then stepped back.
"Hmm." The Third Hokage nodded his head, and then walked up to before the eight Genin.
"First of all, the main round is different from the preliminary round, and the main round will be held in front of the daimyos of the various countries and the elite Jōnin, and the villagers will also be able to watch the battles, and therefore, there must be a certain amount of preparation, regardless of whether it's for all of you examinees, or for us Leaf Village who are holding this competition, and therefore I've decided that the real main round will be held one week from now!"
The Third Hokage announced in a solemn voice.
"What, it's actually going to take such a long amount of time?!"
All of the examinees who had entered the main round were all extremely surprised, and they had thought that the main round would begin right away according to this speed of the matches, and they hadn't expected that it would actually take an entire week, and that there would even be some messy and chaotic daimyos coming to watch the battles.
"One week, huh?" Kaoru frowned his eyebrows, and muttered to himself inwardly.
"How troublesome, I don't want to wait for so long!" Deidara said with a tone of displeasure.
"One week isn't bad at all, and I can properly tour around the Leaf Village during this time." Hozuki Mangetsu, however, had a relaxed expression on his face.
"All of you fellows, don't underestimate this one week of time, and during the preliminary round, you've all seen the strength of the other participants to a greater or lesser extent, and therefore you can use this one week to carry out ninjutsu practice that is specifically targeted." The Third Hokage said it like that.
"The rules for the matches in the main round are the same as the rules for the matches in the preliminary round, but the arena will be much larger, and the list of matchups will only be announced during the main round."
The Third Hokage took a puff of his pipe, and continued to say, "So everyone, you should all practice properly during the week that is to come, and I look forward to all of you displaying your brilliance and magnificence during the main round!"
As those words of the Third Hokage fell, the preliminary round officially came to an end, and everything had settled down.
Then, the Third Hokage and the group of Jōnin departed.
And Kaoru also directly turned around to leave, but he stopped his footsteps when he passed by the Hidden Cloud Village Genin Omoi.
"I'll properly settle this debt with you during the main round....." Kaoru said lightly beside Omoi, and then continued to walk forward.
And Shin also glared at Omoi with an angry gaze, and followed behind Kaoru.
Omoi, however, had a dark look on his face, and swallowed a mouthful of saliva lightly.
After Kaoru and Shin had walked out of the tower, they hurried to the Leaf Village hospital without stopping.
At this time, within a hospital room in the Leaf Village hospital.
Hina was lying on the hospital bed, and had already woken up, but her pale face was indicating that her body still wasn't very healthy.
And beside her, Kurenai Yuhi and Hina's cousin Yugao Uzuki were also guarding her.
Soon, Kaoru and Shin pushed open the door and entered.
"Hina, are you alright?" Kaoru asked as soon as he entered.
"I'm much better now." Hina nodded her head with a smile, and then looked at Kaoru, "Kaoru, thank you so much this time, and if it wasn't for you, then I probably would have....."
Although Hina couldn't clearly remember just how many times she had already said "Thank you" to Kaoru, she said it with extreme sincerity every single time.
"Also, congratulations to both of you, Kaoru and Shin, for entering the main round." Hina said with a smile, and that match of hers had been the last match, and therefore she knew that Kaoru and Shin had successfully advanced.
"Hina, you should also take good care of your body......you'll definitely be able to succeed in the next Chunin Selection Exams!" Shin said to Hina with a face that was full of concern.
"Yeah, I will!" A trace of a smile appeared on Hina's face.
"Kaoru, could you come out with me for a moment?" Yugao Uzuki said to Kaoru.
"What is it?" Kaoru asked, but even though he asked it like that, he actually knew what Yugao Uzuki wanted to say.
"You'll know once you come out." Yugao Uzuki said with a smile, and then walked out first.
"Alright then." Kaoru nodded his head, and then followed Yugao Uzuki out of the hospital room, and arrived in the hospital's corridor.
"First of all, I'm representing Hina's family in thanking you for saving Hina's life once again, and therefore if you have any requests, I will fulfill them on behalf of the Yuhi family." Yugao Uzuki said, and bowed towards Kaoru.
"Cousin Yugao, you're being too polite, Hina is my companion, and it's only right and proper for me to save her, and what need is there for any reward? These are all just minor matters." Kaoru answered with a smile.
"No." Yugao Uzuki, however, said in a serious and earnest tone, "This is already the....many times that you've saved Hina, and you can be considered to be the Yuhi family's benefactor, and Hina's parents are doing business outside all year round, and after hearing about this matter, they've also repeatedly wanted me to repay you on their behalf, so just consider it to be their heart's desire."
"This......alright then!" Kaoru nodded his head, seeing that it was impossible to decline.
"If that's the case, then please trouble Sister Yugao to give me a katana." Kaoru said after thinking about it.
"A katana? Are you also practicing swordsmanship right now?" Yugao Uzuki asked.
"You could say that." Kaoru nodded his head.
"Alright, I'll go and prepare it." Yugao Uzuki also nodded her head and said.
Right at this time, on the hospital's corridor, a person suddenly appeared beside Kaoru and Yugao Uzuki.
This person's entire body was wrapped in black clothing, and he was wearing a bizarre white human-faced mask on his face, and there was no way to see his appearance at all.
His appearance had been extremely abrupt, and his entire figure was like a sculpture, and it was as if he had already been standing there from the very start.
"When did you appear?" Yugao Uzuki looked at this masked person with a look of astonishment, and she hadn't noticed when this person had appeared at all.
"That mask.....is he an Anbu ninja?" Yugao Uzuki frowned her eyebrows after getting over her surprise, and she hadn't joined the Anbu yet at this time, and only had a smattering of knowledge about this organization.
And Kaoru, however, had a composed and indifferent expression on his face, and it was as if the appearance of this ninja who was wearing a human-faced mask had been within his expectations from the very start.
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