The next three preliminary matches, their process and results, were roughly similar to the "original" trajectory in Naruto's memory.
The first match was Akimichi Choji versus Dosu Kinuta.
Looking at the Otogakure Ninja wrapped in bandages on the field, Naruto's gaze lingered for a moment unconsciously. In another world, this man was called "Six Paths"... Hmm, that meme is a bit old.
Choji's body on the field swelled, and he used the Akimichi clan's secret Ninjutsu— "Human Bullet Tank!" The massive sphere rumbled as it rolled towards Dosu.
However, the current "Human Bullet Tank" was clearly far from mature; not only did it appear quite clumsy when rotating, but more importantly, its direction was difficult to control precisely.
In the original work, this move required Shikamaru to use Shadow Imitation Ninjutsu to guide it like a "yo-yo" to hit the target, but now, Choji himself crashed heavily into the wall at the edge of the field.
Dosu obviously wouldn't miss this opportunity. He raised his arm, embedded with a special device, and aimed it at Choji, who was a bit dizzy from the impact.
He launched a sound wave attack, and Choji immediately covered his ears tightly, trying to block this invisible attack. However, Dosu's sound wave attack could even be transmitted through bones!
The violent vibrations severely impacted Choji's inner ear and brain. Choji immediately saw stars, his body released the secret Ninjutsu, and he fell to the ground, losing consciousness.
The second match was Tenten versus Temari.
Perhaps having witnessed Naruto and Satsuki's intense duel, which far exceeded Genin level, Temari did not mock with a condescending attitude as in the original work.
Instead, there was a clear caution. She stood steadily in place, her large Three-Star Fan already half-unfurled from the beginning.
Tenten, as one of the best Konoha Genin, was particularly an expert in the application of Ninja tools. At the start of the battle, she summoned various Ninja tools from her scrolls—kunai, shuriken, senbon... which shot towards Temari like a torrential storm from various tricky angles.
However, she encountered an opponent who was the natural enemy of a "Ninja Tool Master." With her Three-Star Fan, Temari didn't need to form hand signs; she simply waved the huge fan, and her Wind Release Ninjutsu easily scattered all incoming Ninja tools.
All of Tenten's attacks seemed futile in front of Temari, who wielded this fan with an almost "no cooldown time" ability. Temari only needed to simply "fan the wind" to neutralize all of Tenten's elaborate offensives.
Finally, Temari fully unfurled her Three-Star Fan and used Summoning: Kamatari Slice and Dice Dance.
A weasel was summoned and merged with the Wind Release Chakra wielded by Temari, forming a small tornado! Tenten couldn't evade, and her figure was instantly swept up by the violent airflow, eventually falling to the ground and losing her fighting capability.
Perhaps because she maintained a cautious mindset, Temari did not end the battle in an insulting manner as in the original work, but won the victory in a relatively "decent" way.
The third match was Nara Shikamaru versus Kin Tsuchi.
This duel was filled with Nara Shikamaru's style from the very beginning. When his name appeared on the electronic screen, the "what a drag" expression on his face almost overflowed; it looked like he was planning to forfeit immediately.
However, the master knows his disciple best. Asuma Sarutobi, who was nearby, had already anticipated his reaction. The moment he was about to raise his hand and speak, he grabbed him by the collar and unceremoniously threw him from the spectator stands directly into the arena below, like throwing trash.
Compared to Dosu and Zaku, this Otogakure female Ninja named Kin seemed slightly weaker. Her attack method relied on bells, using their specific sounds to cast Genjutsu.
However, Naruto felt that the Genjutsu she cast was quite low-level, only capable of simulating some visual illusions and interferences, and couldn't even completely pull the opponent into her own constructed Genjutsu space.
This was a world apart from the powerful Genjutsu cast by Satsuki's Three-Tomoe Sharingan, which could even briefly trap Kakashi.
Although Shikamaru kept complaining, his brain had already started working at high speed. He utilized the characteristics of the venue and the opponent's attacks, first feigning clumsiness to dodge, but actually secretly laying out his plan.
Finally, when Kin's bells rang again and countless illusory threads rushed towards him, Shikamaru seized the opportunity to rapidly contract his black shadow, controlled by Chakra, condensing it into an extremely thin shadow line.
This shadow line blended into the shadows of the threads Kin was manipulating with her bells... "Thud!" With a dull thud, Kin didn't even understand what had happened before her vision went black, and she fainted.
Throughout the battle, Shikamaru barely engaged in any direct confrontation, relying entirely on his wit and precise timing to win.
Although his displayed absolute strength was far less shocking than Naruto's, Satsuki's, or Lee's, this high-IQ battle process, relying purely on intellect to defeat the strong with the weak, or rather, to win by strategy, astonished almost all the spectators present.
Watching his subordinate win, Asuma, with a tone mixed with helplessness and undisguised pride, explained in a "Versailles" manner to Kakashi and others beside him, saying that Shikamaru's IQ was 200, a true genius, but unfortunately, he was too lazy... ——————
"Ahem... So... all victorious contestants, please gather in the center of the arena."
After all the preliminary matches concluded, Gekkō Hayate stepped forward and announced.
Upon hearing this, the eight candidates who had emerged victorious from the series of fierce battles—Uzumaki Naruto, Gaara, Lee, Hyuga Neji, Dosu, Shino Aburame, Temari, and Nara Shikamaru—came out from the spectator stands or the edge of the arena as instructed, gathering in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Gekkō Hayate stepped back half a pace, returning the lead to the Hokage. Hiruzen Sarutobi scanned the young faces before him, representing the new generation of power in Konoha and its allied Ninja villages.
"The preliminary matches are hereby concluded. Congratulations, everyone, on successfully advancing. The third and final stage of the Chunin Exams, the main competition, will be held one month from now."
Noticing that some of the candidates had puzzled expressions on their faces, wondering "why wait so long," the Third Hokage further explained.
"The reason for the one-month interval is that the main competition will invite VIPs and important figures from the Land of Fire and other nations to observe. It will take them sufficient time to travel from their respective residences to Konoha, and at the same time, the venue also needs corresponding arrangements and preparations."
"Please make good use of this month, everyone, and train diligently to adjust your condition to the best before the main competition begins."
"The main competition will adopt a one-on-one public combat format. Next, your respective opponents will be decided by drawing lots."
While the Third Hokage was explaining the rules, Naruto stood quietly on the surface, but his heart was far from calm. This was because his "friend" in his mental world had already become restless.
Within the sealed space, Kurama's low, resentful voice echoed in Naruto's mind with irritation.
"Hey! Naruto! You brat! Didn't the match already end?! That Ichibi Jinchuriki! What if he takes the opportunity to slip away?!"
The more Kurama thought about it, the more annoyed he became, as if he saw Shukaku's mocking Civet cat face flickering before his eyes, and he continued to instigate.
"If you ask me, find an excuse now, go over and give that red-haired brat a good beating! Knock him down and beat that stupid Civet cat out of him!"
Feeling Kurama's almost tangible desire, Naruto had to split some of his attention, trying to appease his short-tempered partner. "Calm down, Kurama, calm down! There are so many people here right now, just bear with it a little longer, there will always be an opportunity..."
At the same time, Naruto himself pondered with some uncertainty. What if Orochimaru really got scared and canceled his plan, and Gaara left... Then wouldn't my promise to Kurama to beat Shukaku fall through?
If that guy throws a tantrum then, I'd probably have to coax him for a long time... Of course, from another perspective, if Orochimaru really gives up his plan, Satsuki would also be safe, and I wouldn't have to worry about her being targeted, which would be good news, but the cost of appeasing Kurama would probably be high... Just as Naruto was immersed in his own thoughts, a bit distracted, the Third Hokage's voice pulled him back to reality. "Uzumaki Naruto, what is your number?"
Naruto subconsciously, and a little confusedly, reported the number he had drawn earlier.
As all the candidates' numbers were confirmed, Morino Ibiki, who was nearby, unfolded the board he had already prepared, displaying the list of first-round matchups for the main competition to everyone.
The moment Naruto's gaze swept across that matchup list.
In his mind, Kurama, who had been constantly muttering, complaining, and instigating, was as if a mute button had been pressed, and all sounds ceased abruptly.
Immediately following, an uncontrollable surge of excitement, mixed with elation and a sense of "finally, I've been waiting for you," emanated from the sealed space, making Naruto almost "see" Kurama's wide grin, his lips unconsciously turning up into a smile.
Because on that matchup list, it was clearly written.
[Uzumaki Naruto VS Gaara]
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