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The air above the Central Tower of the Forest of Death was thick with tension. Team 7 stumbled through the last of the underbrush, bodies battered, chakra nearly spent.
Naruto tripped over a root, coughing, eyes wide with exhaustion. Sasuke moved with precision, the cursed seal still glowing faintly on his shoulder. Sakura supported them, face smeared with dirt and streaked with blood.
Kirito, perched in the treetops, noted every falter and stumble. Barely making it, he thought. Yet they survived. That's the first step.
With a final push, Team 7 reached the tower. Guards recorded their survival points, confirming their narrow passage. Relief washed over the young genin—but Kirito remained distant, observing, cataloging, silent as ever.
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Hokage's Speech
The following morning, the Hokage addressed all candidates in the grand hall. His voice echoed through the arena:
"You have survived the Forest of Death. You have faced danger, made choices, and learned the weight of teamwork. But this is only the beginning. The preliminary exam will test your combat skills directly. Only those who demonstrate strategy, power, and adaptability will advance."
Kirito's eyes scanned the crowd. Every flicker of emotion, every spike of fear, every hint of confidence was noted. He had no intention of participating; his role was observation, collection, and analysis.
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Preliminary Exam Begins
Candidates were paired for one-on-one combat. Kirito shadowed the arena from vantage points, unseen by anyone. Every fight was a lesson:
Gaara's ferocity, the Sand Shield, and his ruthlessness.
Kankuro's puppets and precision.
Rock Lee's speed and taijutsu mastery.
Then came Hinata Hyuga vs Neji Hyuga.
Kirito's focus sharpened. He watched silently as Neji unleashed the Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation, overpowering Hinata at every turn. She faltered, her chakra control unable to match his sheer precision.
When Neji delivered the final blow, many jonins stopped him ,Hinata collapsed, bruised and bleeding. Kirito descended silently, hidden in the shadows. With careful precision, he collected a small sample of her blood, sealing it into a vial for later study.
Her chakra is refined, gentle… yet strong. There is potential here, and tragedy fuels it, he noted mentally.
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Remaining Matches
Kirito returned to the treetops, continuing to watch the remaining preliminary matches:
Shikamaru's clever traps and strategic mind.
Choji's combination of technique and brute force.
Lee's unmatched taijutsu and Rock Lee vs Gaara previewed the raw intensity of the next stage.
Every detail, every pattern, every hint of growth or weakness was meticulously recorded in Kirito's mind. He observed without interference, silent, unseen, always ahead of the crowd.
By the end of the day, the preliminary round concluded. Many candidates were eliminated, while others advanced—but Kirito's observations were far from complete. He had samples, data, and patterns to analyze.
By the time the Chūnin Exams truly begin, I will know them all… he thought, a faint glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes.
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