Soon it was Yakumo and Karin's turn to take the field.
Yakumo's opponent was Karui.
Their match could be considered one of the dullest in the entire Chunin Exam.
Karui leapt into the arena full of energy, ready to prove the strength of Kumogakure's shinobi.
Yet after stepping onto the field, the moment she charged up to Yakumo, she just froze in place without moving at all.
Only after Yakumo finished a painting did Karui shout out her surrender.
This made many in the audience think they had just witnessed a fixed match.
They started loudly shouting for a refund.
Even Samui suspected at first that Karui had chosen to surrender on purpose out of fear of punishment.
It was only after she heard the explanation that she understood the reason.
Then, recalling the intelligence reports on the Kurama clan, she said nothing more.
"Aoba, this painting's for you. What do you think of it?", Yakumo held the painting in front of Aoba.
It depicted none other than a scene of Aoba and her being all lovey-dovey.
This made Aoba tap her on the head.
"The Chunin Exam is an official event, don't do things like this next time."
"Oh," Yakumo covered her head, nodding gloomily.
"But the painting's pretty good. I'll take it," Aoba said that as he put the painting away.
A smile returned to Yakumo's face, and she quietly cast an illusion, leaning toward Aoba's ear to whisper, "Actually, I've got a lot more sexier paintings at home. If you like, you can come over to see them."
"And my illusions can even turn what's in the paintings into reality."
As she spoke, Yakumo mischievously poked Aoba's foot with her toe.
Aoba, looking at Tenten and the others who were acting as if they'd seen nothing, couldn't help thinking that Yakumo's skill in illusions was getting more and more impressive.
He didn't say much, instead simply moved in and blocked Yakumo's mouth.
After a wave of breathlessness, Yakumo felt a bit lightheaded, completely forgetting what she had just been saying.
"Hurry and refocus, and watch the match seriously," Aoba helped her wipe the corner of her mouth.
Because it was soon going to be Karin's match, and if Karin said something, it might expose things.
"Oh~", Yakumo answered dreamily.
Once she'd adjusted her state, she lifted the illusion.
"Aoba-nii, I'm up next, cheer me on!", Sure enough, just as the illusion was removed, Karin ran up to Aoba, leaning her head in close.
He didn't say much, simply reached out to pat her head, smiling as he said, "Go for it."
Karin then hopped into the arena, beaming with joy.
She didn't notice Yakumo's odd look at all.
Her opponent was an unknown genin from Kirigakure.
It seemed he'd passed the second exam mostly thanks to luck.
In Karin's hands, the match didn't even last ten rounds before he was bound up by her adamantine chains.
On the spectator stand, Terumi Mei could only grit her teeth and mutter under her breath, Karin really wasn't giving her any face at all.
This made things rather awkward for her, the acting Mizukage.
After several matches, the first round of the third exam finally came to an end.
"As expected of Konoha, truly brimming with talent," Chiyo couldn't help but sigh after watching the whole thing.
Even Terumi Mei didn't try to argue this time, it was an obvious fact.
Although Konoha had the home field advantage and the largest number of participants,
It was still a fact that Konoha's geniuses had defeated the geniuses from other villages.
The only one from Sunagakure to pass the first round was Temari, who could already be considered to have one foot into marriage with Konoha.
"Sunagakure's and Kirigakure's geniuses aren't bad either, they just had worse luck," Tsunade understood polite formalities, and here she was referring to Chojuro and Gaara.
Chiyo and Terumi Mei didn't say anything further.
"Tsunade-sama."
At this moment, Shizune walked over and whispered into Tsunade's ear, "Naruto and Sasuke still haven't woken up, so Kakashi and Guy have already withdrawn them from the later matches."
"Mm, let them rest well then."
Tsunade nodded.
Both of them had already proven their strength.
"Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke forfeit the rest of their matches."
"Hyuga Neji, Haruno Sakura, Temari, Akatsuchi, Omoi, Hyuga Hinata, Kurama Yakumo, Karin… advance to the next round," Receiving the news of Naruto and Sasuke's withdrawal, Shiranui Genma loudly announced it.
"Naruto and Sasuke are forfeiting?", Choji asked curiously while eating potato chips.
"They fought so hard earlier, they're probably still lying in the hospital now," Shikamaru replied lazily.
He was also feeling like going back to sleep.
———
After half an hour's rest, the second round of matches officially began.
"Rest time is over, now second round of matches begin."
This time, Shiranui Genma walked onto the arena holding a lottery box. Standing at the center, he explained to the audience and contestants, "In the second round, the matches will be determined by a live draw."
As he spoke, he casually pulled out a slip of paper and loudly read the name on it, "Temari."
Temari was slightly surprised. She hadn't expected to be the first one.
Among the people in this round, there were quite a few stronger than her.
"Haruno Sakura."
Genma drew the second slip of paper.
Temari was a little stunned.
Instinctively, she looked toward Sakura, who also looked back at her.
So it was going to be another friendly-fire match.
"Didn't see that coming."
Temari smiled slightly at Sakura.
Sakura smiled back just the same.
"Sakura, make sure to beat this one up good for me later!", Tenten leaned toward Sakura's ear and whispered.
But though the voice was low, everyone present could hear it.
Temari looked speechlessly at her, grumbling inwardly, 'So petty.'
"Haha…", Sakura could only give an awkward laugh.
She didn't refuse or object, instead seriously saying, "I'll give it my all."
"Me too," Temari's expression was serious. Sakura's fighting style was completely different from Tenten's.
That monstrous strength was terrifying.
And she was also a medical ninja.
This was likely to be a war of attrition.
"Don't get hurt. But even if you do, it's fine, I can heal you," Aoba said to the two of them.
This time he was smarter, not saying anything about going easy like before.
Otherwise it always felt like he was showing favoritism.
"Mm."
The two had no grudges, and nodded.
For Sakura, things like "fiancée" were already outdated.
She'd already held a wedding with Aoba and had almost consummated it.
Even if it was in a dream, they had still experienced it together.
The two of them dropped into the arena together.
"All right, both sides get ready!", Genma stood between them.
Temari and Sakura formed the seal of confrontation.
"Begin!"
As soon as Genma announced the start, he immediately retreated from the arena.
This time Temari opened her Tessen(Giant Fan) right away. Not underestimating the opponent like when she'd fought Tenten earlier.
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