Only two contestants remained on the field, the notice board had already fulfilled its purpose.
"Tenth match: Akimichi Choji versus Kinuta Dosu."
Hayate's voice rang across the empty arena, announcing the final preliminary bout.
No one had expected this fight to become the shortest of the entire preliminaries.
Ninja Art: Multi-Size Technique!
Without hesitation, Choji unleashed the Akimichi clan's secret jutsu the moment he stepped forward. His body ballooned rapidly, swelling into a huge sphere that tucked in arms, legs, and head, leaving only a round mass that howled through the air as it barreled straight at Sasu.
Up in the stands, Shikamaru slapped a hand to his forehead and sighed, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "This guy… in such a rush…"
Facing the avalanche-like assault, Dosu curled a cold smile beneath his bandages. Calmly, he leapt back and to the side. The giant ball adjusted mid-air and chased after him without pause.
Boom—
Lured by Dosu, the meat-ball Choji smashed head-first into the corner wall, embedding itself deep in stone and raising a cloud of dust. Rubble rained down, and Choji, stuck fast, struggled to free himself.
At that instant, Dosu moved in. He closed the distance and delivered a seemingly gentle right punch to the surface of the sphere.
The blow carried a sound-wave attack. Chakra, transmitted through the abundant water inside Choji's body, became invisible shockwaves that rippled outward. The enlarged Choji froze and his huge frame shrank at visible speed until he returned to normal size and collapsed limply, eyes vacant.
Hayate stepped up, knelt to check, then raised a hand. "Contestant Choji is incapacitated—winner, Dosu."
After the Medical Team lifted Choji onto a stretcher and carried him off, Hayate moved to the center of the field and looked around. "Then the preliminaries for the third exam are hereby concluded."
In the stands, the Genin who had passed wore varied expressions—some relieved, others grave—while a peculiar post-battle hush and fatigue hung in the air.
—
Mamoru ambled to the center and only then noticed the silent figure beside him. "Huh, you're here too?"
He had almost forgotten that another member of his squad had cleared the preliminaries—Shino, a teammate whose presence was easy to overlook.
"…"
Shino stood rigid, the eyes behind his shades trembling with suppressed grievance. "I… have been… here the whole time…"
"Oh, is that so?" Mamoru answered absently.
Shino's brow twitched, the feeling of being utterly ignored gnawing at him like ants.
By then, the successful Genin had gathered on the field, forming a line beside Mamoru and Shino. Hayate stood in front of them, flanked by the previous examiners Ibiki and Anko. Behind them, Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, the shadow of his hat hiding his expression.
Hayate cleared his throat and said, "This is the third stage of the Chunin Exams. Congratulations on earning the right to compete officially."
Hiruzen lifted his hat slightly, his steady voice rolling across the arena. "Now I shall explain the format. Your battles will be held before an audience. As representatives of your nations, show your full strength. Therefore, the final tournament will begin one month from today."
"We're not starting right now?" Tenten couldn't help asking.
"This interval is to allow each of you adequate preparation." Hiruzen replied.
"What do you mean?" Neji frowned.
Hiruzen coughed lightly, drawing everyone's attention. "We need time to notify the Daimyo and leaders of every nation of the preliminary results and to invite them to attend. At the same time, it is preparation time for you examinees."
Kankuro, dizzy from the roundabout explanation, blurted, "I still don't get it, what are you saying?"
"Idiot." A voice laced with ridicule cut in.
"What did you say?!" Kankuro glared, only to see Mamoru smirking.
"It means you're given plenty of time to analyze opponents, devise countermeasures, and train." Mamoru said, folding his arms.
Every gaze snapped toward him.
Mamoru didn't care, proclaiming confidently, "Anyway, no one can beat me. Hahaha…"
He burst into self-satisfied laughter.
"Tone it down." Tenten whispered, tugging his sleeve.
But the air had already turned heavy.
Among all the looming opponents, Mamoru was the most feared. No one had yet fathomed his abilities, though they seemed space–time Ninjutsu–related. Range, power, countermeasures—all unknown.
A faint smile flickered across Hiruzen's lips. "The final tournament demands your full strength. To ensure fairness, use this month well. I was about to dismiss you, but first—"
He nodded toward Anko. "Each of you draw one slip from the box she holds."
Anko carried the wooden box to the left end of the line, the first in line happened to be Mamoru.
Mamoru licked his lips, thinking, 'Give me someone interesting.'
He reached in and pulled out a slip, unfolding it to reveal a clear "1".
When every Genin had drawn, Ibiki called out, "State your numbers from left to right."
As the numbers were given, Ibiki jotted them on a board.
"Now the match-ups for the final tournament will be announced."
The Genin below could no longer stay calm.
"So that's what the draw was for." Shikamaru realized.
"Ibiki, show them the bracket." Hiruzen ordered.
"Yes, Hokage-sama." Ibiki flipped the board around.
Mamoru looked at the result and felt as if he had stolen Naruto's spot, his opponent was Neji.
Neji stared at the bracket, brows deeply furrowed. It was the very match-up he had hoped to avoid.
"I have a question." Shikamaru raised a hand.
Hiruzen motioned for him to speak.
Shikamaru asked, "If it's single-elimination, only one person can win in the end, right? Meaning only one of us becomes Chunin?"
Hiruzen shook his head. "That's not the case. This exam will be observed by proctors including myself, as well as the Kazekage, Daimyō from each nation, and the heads of the ninja villages. The review board will make a comprehensive evaluation based on your performance in the elimination rounds."
"As long as you're deemed to possess the qualities of a Chunin, you can be promoted even if you lose in the first round. Got it, Shikamaru?"
Shikamaru's face screamed, What a pain.
After listening to Hiruzen's explanation, Mamoru barely kept himself from voicing a retort.
Throughout the entire Chunin Exams, the promotion criteria had never been clearly stated. In the end, everything hinged on the final match.
Then what was the point of the first two tests of teamwork and strategy? In the Forest of Death, who devised the tactics? Who protected their teammates? Who defused the crises? Acts that far better demonstrated leadership seemed to have been ignored in the final review.
To Mamoru, the Chunin Exams were riddled with institutional and evaluative loopholes. On the surface, it was a selection exam, but in reality, it was nothing more than a political show of force.