The second round came to an end very quickly. With the exception of Sasuke and Naruto, Kitazawa did not do anything behind the scenes.
Because there was no need.
The practical exam wasn't like the Chunin Exams, where losing meant elimination; instead, students with higher scores advanced to the next round.
As long as the strength was sufficient, regardless of winning or losing, they would advance to the third round. In fact, this was exactly the case.
The list of the third round was basically the same as the last monthly exam.
Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, Aburame Shino, Kurama Yakumo, Hyuga Hinata, Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, and Inuzuka Kiba.
Among them, Ino and Kiba were new additions.
After a month of special training, although they did not learn any new ninjutsu, their strength improved a lot, so they received high scores.
Only Sakura and Choji did not enter the third round.
The former was because medical ninjas were not good at fighting. The latter was because they had not yet mastered the family secret technique.
"Students who have entered the third round, please come up and draw lots."
After the break, Kitazawa took out the lottery box again.
"I definitely won't be able to draw Sasuke in this round!" Kiba said, clenching his fists. He couldn't believe he was so unlucky as to draw Sasuke twice.
"Who do you want to draw then?" Aburame Shino asked calmly.
"I want to draw—" Kiba suddenly got stuck.
Of the eight students in the third round, he was the weakest. The ones he had the best chance of beating were Shikamaru and Ino. He couldn't beat any of the others.
"Making it to the third round is a victory," Kiba said, suddenly relieved. "It doesn't matter who you draw."
"It's okay, maybe you can draw me," Nara Shikamaru said soothingly.
To be honest, he also wanted to draw Kiba. There was no way. Except for Kiba and Ino, none of them were ordinary — they were all monsters with cheats.
Sasuke didn't participate in the discussion and walked forward.
He wanted to draw Naruto. Although he had lost to him before, he was unwilling to accept it.
Because in his opinion, if Naruto hadn't inexplicably broken the illusion, he should have been the winner.
"Number one?" Sasuke glanced at the number on the slip of paper and thought to himself, there was hope.
Naruto was number one in the first and second rounds, and maybe in the third as well.
That way, they could have another fight. He wanted to see if Naruto could break his genjutsu again.
"Sasuke, what's your number?" Naruto asked as he stepped forward and held out his hand to draw a lot.
"Number one," Sasuke replied.
"Huh? I'm number two," Naruto said with a hint of regret, looking at the small slip of paper in his hand.
Sasuke suddenly felt a little bored.
"I'm number one," Kurama Yakumo suddenly said.
Sasuke instinctively raised his head. While Naruto was his formidable opponent, Kurama Yakumo was no less powerful, perhaps even more formidable.
He couldn't gain an advantage in genjutsu.
Sasuke instinctively tightened his grip on the slip of paper.
Was he going to lose again? No. If Naruto could defeat Kurama Yakumo, so could he.
Yakumo only had illusions, but in addition to illusions, Sasuke also had taijutsu and Fire Release techniques.
"Hahaha! I'm number three!"
Kiba burst into laughter. He had managed to dodge three powerful foes at once: Sasuke, Yakumo, and Naruto. It was truly a cause for celebration.
"Who's number three?" Kiba asked eagerly after his laughter faded.
"It's—it's me," Hinata's soft voice echoed.
"Alright..." Kiba's mouth twitched, feeling his laughter was in vain; his luck hadn't changed.
"I'm fighting Naruto? Seriously?" Shikamaru looked at the number two in his hand, bewildered.
"Then my opponent is Shino?" Ino said decisively. "I'll concede then."
Even if her Mind Body Switch Technique controlled Aburame Shino, it wouldn't have helped, as he still had a large number of parasites.
"The drawing is over," Kitazawa said, putting away the lottery box. "The two students who drew number one, please take the stage!"
Sasuke and Kurama Yakumo slowly entered the arena.
"A competition between the two great genjutsu Kekkei Genkai?" Aburame Shino said with anticipation in his eyes. "It's sure to be exciting."
"It's exciting, but the battles between illusion ninjas aren't very spectator-friendly," Kiba said, shaking his head.
"That's true," Ino agreed.
Illusions mostly worked on the senses—most notably, the eyes.
As spectators, they were not drawn into the illusion and naturally could not see the fierce battles occurring within it.
"Sasuke-kun… will he win?" Sakura asked with a worried look on her face.
Although she had great confidence in Sasuke, the battle between Yakumo and Naruto during the last monthly exam had been truly terrifying.
"There's hope of winning," Shikamaru said after a moment's thought. "Only Sasuke can break Yakumo's illusions like Naruto did."
"Naruto," Kiba asked curiously, "how did you break Yakumo's illusions?"
"I don't know," Naruto admitted, scratching his head.
Although he remembered the tail that had whipped him, he had no idea what it really was. He had been waiting for Sarutobi Hiruzen's answer, but a month had passed and he still hadn't received one.
"You're really lucky," Kiba sighed.
Naruto never lied. If he said he didn't know, then he really didn't know. The only explanation was good fortune.
"The battle begins!"
Kitazawa's voice cut through their discussion, and everyone's attention immediately shifted to Yakumo and Sasuke on the field.
"You're strong, so I'll go all out," Yakumo said seriously.
Having been classmates for almost two semesters, she knew Sasuke's strength well. He was proficient in genjutsu, Fire Release techniques, and taijutsu—far more well-rounded than Naruto or Hinata.
After her battle with Naruto, Yakumo had realized her own weakness: her physical condition. While her genjutsu Creation was impressive, throwing the painting still required time. Against Sasuke's Sharingan, which could easily predict her movements, hesitation meant defeat.
The best strategy was to unleash her full power from the very start.
"That's how it should be," Sasuke said calmly. His heart trembled, but his face remained expressionless. Yet his next move betrayed his true intent.
"Genjutsu: Ephemeral!" Sasuke's Sharingan flared open as his hands flashed through seals.
If it had been Naruto or Hinata, he might have waited for an opening to weave another illusion. But this was Yakumo. She lacked taijutsu, was not particularly fast, and had little chance of dodging.
Yakumo's body stiffened, her eyes unfocused, and in that instant, Sasuke split into a sky filled with crows.
A heartbeat later, the crows transformed into countless shuriken that rained down, engulfing her completely.
Yakumo instinctively tried to dodge, but it was too late. Two shuriken slashed across her legs, sending her stumbling and collapsing to the ground.
"I win! Hahaha!"
Sasuke strode forward, shuriken poised, his lips curling into a triumphant smile.
"Sasuke-kun, what are you laughing at?"
From the sidelines, Sakura's voice rang out in confusion. From her perspective, Sasuke and Yakumo had been standing motionless since the start. Now, Sasuke was suddenly laughing.
"Because he's the one caught in an illusion," Shikamaru sighed. "Yakumo's genjutsu really is terrifying."
"No way! When did Sasuke-kun fall into the illusion? How come I didn't notice?" Sakura widened her eyes in disbelief.
"It must have been when Sasuke spoke his first words," Shino said thoughtfully.
"It seems Naruto's approach was the most correct," Kiba muttered, "using the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique right from the beginning."
He then added with a grumble, "But none of us can do that. Naruto's Shadow Clone Technique is beyond even most jōnin… It's impossible for us to replicate."
"If we're facing Yakumo, just admit defeat," Shikamaru said bluntly. "At least that saves time and chakra."
Yakumo's illusions came from her Kekkei Genkai. They required no hand seals at all—making them practically impossible to guard against.
"But… what about Sasuke?" Sakura's heart sank.
"If he can still realize he's inside an illusion, then there's still hope for a comeback," Shikamaru answered after a pause.
On the field—or more accurately, within the illusion—
"You win, Sasuke," Yakumo said, clutching the wound on his leg.
"The winner is Sasuke," Kitazawa announced from a distance.
"Congratulations, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura and the others gathered around him.
Sasuke couldn't help but smile at the admiring gazes. But he had already laughed once, and he couldn't laugh again.
Besides, simply defeating Yakumo wasn't enough; he wanted a resounding victory.
"Kitazawa-sensei, I challenge Naruto!" Sasuke declared without hesitation.
"Naruto, do you accept his challenge?" Kitazawa asked, turning toward Naruto.
"I do!" Naruto answered excitedly, stepping into the arena. "Come on, Sasuke!"
"I was just careless before. You won't win this time!" Sasuke's face brimmed with confidence.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto's response was immediate.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A multitude of shadow clones appeared, surrounding Sasuke.
The clash between Sasuke and the countless Narutos began.
Although overwhelmed and at a disadvantage, a smile lingered on Sasuke's face. Because this battle felt no different from the last.
Naruto truly was an idiot in combat. He hadn't progressed at all.
But at that moment, Sasuke's brow furrowed. A strange feeling gnawed at him; something felt off.
Dodging Naruto's whirlwind kick, Sasuke simultaneously formed seals.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" A massive fireball erupted, consuming and dispersing many shadow clones in an instant.
Sasuke exhaled deeply in relief.
Two consecutive battles, each dragging on endlessly, had left his chakra dangerously low.
"Only one chance left!" His gaze locked onto Naruto with deadly seriousness.
He needed to find the real one and seize control with genjutsu as before.
Wait! Realization struck him like lightning.
Something was wrong. This Naruto… had never shouted those two words—youth.
Sasuke's expression froze. For Naruto not to say "youth" could mean only one thing: This was a fake.
Which meant he was still trapped in the illusion. Sasuke's face flushed crimson with embarrassment.
An Uchiha, ensnared in genjutsu for so long, only realizing it now. If his father or brother ever found out, the shame would be unbearable.
Breaking away from the fake Naruto, Sasuke charged directly toward Yakumo.
"Did I reveal a flaw somewhere?" Yakumo asked curiously, rising to her feet. Her legs, once injured, were now fully healed.
Sasuke hesitated, unable to answer.
"It's fine if you don't say," Yakumo smiled. "But you should admit defeat, Sasuke-kun."
"Uchiha never admit defeat," Sasuke growled through clenched teeth.
"Then tell me," Yakumo raised her hand. Dark clouds swirled overhead, thunder rumbling ominously, "How much chakra do you even have left?"
Sasuke's eyes widened. He lunged forward without hesitation.
"Konoha Great Whirlwind!" But from both sides, countless Narutos charged, surging at him like a green tide.
"No!" Sasuke was swallowed up completely.
With a flicker of thought, Yakumo dispelled the illusion. The Narutos and their clones vanished.
Sasuke collapsed to the ground, gasping for air.
"Sasuke-kun, are you alright?" Sakura rushed over immediately.
"You… are you real or fake?" Sasuke asked instinctively.
"Huh?" Sakura blinked, confused.
"Our battle is over. She's real," Yakumo said gently.
Sasuke froze. His heart sank. He had been overwhelmed by Naruto and his shadow clones within the illusion.
But his body bore no wounds. There was only one explanation—he had finally broken free and returned to reality.
Yes… It was over. The battle was over. But to Sasuke, his life felt over as well.
Failing the monthly exam twice in a row—how could he ever face his father and brother again?
I don't understand… I don't understand!
Sasuke clutched his forehead, emotions surging like a storm. His eyes widened, drowning in frustration and despair.
"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura felt her breath hitch.
Yakumo's face showed surprise. It seemed to her that Sasuke, whose chakra had almost been exhausted, now radiated a sudden surge of Yin Release power.
Kitazawa raised a brow. Was his Sharingan about to evolve? As expected of one of the original protagonists.
He pondered silently, standing aside and waiting. However, the surge of Yin Release was short-lived and quickly dissipated. Sasuke stood up, deactivated his One-Tomoe Sharingan, and left the stage expressionlessly.
Kitazawa thought to himself. It seemed he was still a step behind. Either his emotions weren't strong enough, or Sasuke was too young and his foundation too shallow.
"The winner is Kurama Yakumo," Kitazawa announced after a pause.
"The two students who drew number two, please prepare for the exam."
"I surrender," Shikamaru said nonchalantly, raising his hand.
His goal from the very beginning had always been to reach the third round. Besides, his opponent was Naruto. How could he fight?
The outcome was destined to be a loss, so he might as well concede early.
"Ah?" Naruto said with regret. "I wanted to fight Shikamaru."
Shikamaru's mouth twitched. Was that just a one-on-one fight? That was a gang beatdown!
"I surrender too," Kiba said after a moment's thought, raising his hand.
He was number three, and his opponent was Hinata Hyuga. Everyone knew the Gentle Fist was the nemesis of pure taijutsu users.
He had no dog now, just a pure taijutsu style. Going against Hinata would be torture.
"Me too!" Ino quickly added.
"Today's practical exam ends here," Kitazawa announced. "Everyone, take a break. The rankings will be announced soon."
"Kitazawa-senpai," Iruka asked with a subtle expression, "isn't it a little inappropriate to just surrender?"
"No, it's good to be self-aware," Kitazawa said with a smile.
"Then how will the students who surrendered be scored?" Iruka asked again.
"Just score them based on their performance in the first two rounds," Kitazawa replied casually.
"Okay." Iruka didn't ask further. He took Kitazawa's roster and began working out the overall rankings.
"Sasuke, come here," Kitazawa called, looking at the dazed boy.
"Sasuke-kun, Kitazawa-sensei is calling you," Sakura quickly reminded.
She had just tried to comfort Sasuke, but it had no effect. If it were Kitazawa-sensei, maybe it would work.
Sasuke came back to his senses. He stood up and walked toward Kitazawa.
"Congratulations, Sasuke," Kitazawa said, patting his shoulder.
"Congratulations?" Sasuke was surprised.
What was there to congratulate after losing two matches in a row?
"Don't you realize you've become much stronger?" Kitazawa countered.
"Me?" Sasuke clenched his fists subconsciously.
After Kitazawa's reminder, he indeed felt something different in his body.
Especially in his Sharingan. It seemed at least one-fifth stronger than before. What was going on?
"Intense battles make people stronger. You're not far from awakening a two-Tomoe Sharingan," Kitazawa said with a smile.
A two-Tomoe Sharingan? Sasuke's eyes lit up.
With each additional Tomoe, the Sharingan's power increased in leaps.
They could roughly be divided into one-Tomoe Genin, two-Tomoe Chunin, and three-Tomoe Jonin.
He couldn't defeat Naruto or Kurama Yakumo with one Tomoe, but with two… could he?
"Kitazawa-sensei," Sasuke said, taking a deep breath, "I want to become stronger. Please give me more rigorous special training."
His current training was focused on Fire Release chakra nature transformation. It seemed his progress was too slow.
[Current Task: Help Uchiha Sasuke awaken his Two-Tomoe Sharingan.]
[Task Reward: Two-Tomoe Sharingan.]
[Accept?]
Kitazawa raised a brow. He had expected Sasuke's task to be defeating Yakumo or Naruto, but it turned out to be unlocking the two-Tomoe Sharingan.
The reward was good, though.
Naturally, Kitazawa chose to accept.