Half a day later, all teams were led to an indoor martial arts arena. They would conduct the preliminary matches here before the finals. High on the walls was a spectator gallery, which was currently packed with people. This included the 19 Genin candidates who passed the second exam, the Jonin instructors of each Konoha team, and the lead Jonin from other villages.
And of course, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi—the Shadow of Konoha.
The Third Hokage walked to the edge of the gallery, dressed in his Hokage robes and holding his pipe. He surveyed the candidates. "First, congratulations to all of you for successfully passing the first two trials... However, a Chunin is not merely a strong individual; they must be capable of independent judgment and mission completion! They must demonstrate strength and capacity that earn the trust of clients and allies alike. Therefore! Before the main matches of the third exam, a preliminary round is necessary to decide who is ultimately qualified to perform in a public match before the Daimyo and dignitaries of various nations! The rules for the preliminaries are simple: one-on-one combat! Winners advance! Losers are eliminated!"
The Third's words were concise. "Now, if there are no other questions, let's begin the drawing to determine the matchups—"
"Lord Hokage!" A gentle voice suddenly interrupted.
Kabuto Yakushi raised his hand, a harmless smile on his face. "I am very sorry to disturb you at such an important moment! After the battles in the Forest of Death, my chakra consumption has been too great, and I have sustained injuries myself. After careful consideration, I believe that in my current state, I cannot perform at the level I should. Therefore, I voluntarily apply to withdraw from the upcoming matches!"
As Kabuto spoke, a wave of whispers broke out in the arena. Withdrawing voluntarily? Just as the Chunin Exams were reaching their most critical stage?
The Third Hokage gave Kabuto a deep look and slowly nodded. "Since it is your personal decision, I shall respect it."
"Thank you for your understanding!" Kabuto bowed again and retreated to the spectator area. The original 19 Genin had now become 18. Perfect for pairs.
"Well then..." The Third's voice rang out again. "Starting now, we will determine the match order for the eighteen candidates."
The electronic screen scrolled rapidly before displaying the first matchup: Sasuke Uchiha vs. Misumi Tsurugi
Misumi Tsurugi entered the arena first. He wore a Konoha headband, but his face was gloomy and his eyes hollow, like a puppet without a soul. Sasuke stepped forward with an icy expression, his Sharingan already active. His two tomoe spun, tracking every movement of his opponent.
"Begin!" Hayate Gekko gestured.
Misumi struck first. Without forming any hand seals, his entire body acted like a boneless mollusk, suddenly "flowing" forward. His speed was incredible, and his movement trajectory was as unpredictable as a snake. At the same time, his right arm suddenly elongated several meters like a rubber band, his fingers pressed together like a blade as he lunged straight for Sasuke's throat.
What a bizarre fighting style! The crowd gasped.
Sasuke's pupils constricted. His Sharingan captured the trajectory, and with a burst of chakra in his feet, he lunged to the side to dodge. However, Misumi's arm seemed to have a life of its own, snapping sharply mid-air and swinging horizontally like a whip.
Snap! Sasuke parried in time with his kunai, but the tricky force still sent him sliding back several steps, his arm going numb.
"His body... can deform at will?" Naruto's eyes widened in disbelief.
"It's not just deformation," Yao said. "He can also change the density of his muscles and bones locally. The force behind that strike just now was very strange."
Misumi was no ordinary ninja; he was one of Orochimaru's test subjects, capable of stretching and softening his body. It was similar to the powers of a "Rubber Fruit," though not quite as exaggerated.
In the arena, Misumi's attacks were relentless. His limbs and torso sometimes stretched like whips, sometimes softened like mud, and sometimes hardened like iron. The angles of attack were preposterous, completely violating human physiology. It was almost impossible to defend against.
Sasuke pushed his Sharingan's insight to the limit, moving at high speed across the floor, dodging and weaving. Kunai clashed with limbs, producing dull thuds. Sasuke tried to counter with Fire Style, but Misumi could soften or displace his vital organs at will, causing the jutsu's effectiveness to drop significantly.
"Brat of the Uchiha, your speed is decent, but that's it!" Misumi's voice was raspy and dry. "The... Master's evaluation of you seems to have been a bit too high!"
Before his voice faded, Misumi inflated like a balloon and then violently spat out a viscous black liquid from his mouth.
Sasuke quickly formed seals: "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!" The flames collided with the black liquid, but failed to incinerate it completely. The residual liquid splashed onto the floor, eating small pits into the ground.
"How troublesome!" Sasuke's breathing grew slightly labored. Continuous high-intensity dodging and clashing had taken a toll on his stamina. While his two-tomoe Sharingan could see the movements, his opponent's illogical attacks and physical properties made his predictions and counters far less effective.
"What's wrong, Uchiha brat? Reached your limit already?" Misumi closed in rapidly, his body deforming irregularly again. "Your Sharingan doesn't seem as legendary as they say!"
Fury rose in Sasuke's eyes. As one of the last survivors of the Uchiha, he held the clan's honor sacred. This guy mocking the Sharingan repeatedly made him livid.
Sasuke raised his right hand, driving his chakra into a frenzy as he focused it entirely into his palm.
Zzt!
A piercing screech, like the cry of a thousand birds chirping in unison, suddenly erupted.
"That's..."
Guy's eyes went wide.
Kurenai and Asuma also wore expressions of sheer astonishment.
Kakashi, however, remained as unflappable as ever, watching silently without a word.
Facing Tsurugi Misumi's attack, Sasuke suddenly threw his upper body backward, dipping almost parallel to the ground to barely graze past the assault.
In the same motion, using the momentum of his backward lean, his right foot stomped violently against the ground, launching his body forward like a coiled spring released.
His right palm thrust forward. Inside it, a sphere of blinding blue lightning screamed and roared.
"Chidori!"
Squelch!!!
The dazzling spear of lightning pierced Tsurugi Misumi's chest with surgical precision, exiting clean through his back.
"Urgh... ah!"
Misumi let out a miserable shriek as his body went rigid.
The violent Lightning Release chakra rampaged through his system, destroying everything in its path. Misumi's contortion technique instantly unraveled; his body snapped back to its original shape before he collapsed limply forward.
Sasuke withdrew his hand, panting as he took two steps back. The lightning in his palm slowly faded, his gaze cold and piercing.
Yao was able to defeat Orochimaru, one of the Sannin. How could I possibly lose to small fry like this?
"Winner: Uchiha Sasuke!" Hayate Gekko announced.
The arena fell into a stunned silence, followed immediately by a wave of murmurs.
That single, decisive strike—Sasuke's speed, power, and timing—had been nothing short of breathtaking.
"Kakashi!!"
Guy was the first to jump up. His trademark thick eyebrows shot up high as he pointed down at Sasuke, shouting, "Chidori! That's your Chidori! You actually taught your signature ninjutsu to a disciple?!"
"That is way too reckless! That isn't a technique a young boy should be using!"
Kurenai also covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes filled with shock. "It's true. The difficulty and danger involved in mastering the Chidori are incredibly high. Kakashi, you really have some nerve!"
Asuma exhaled a puff of cigarette smoke. "The results look pretty good, though."
"The kid's got a fierce look in his eyes, and he strikes decisively. Kakashi, you've raised quite a terrifying student."
Kakashi maintained his usual lethargic demeanor, one hand stuffed in his pocket.
"Ma... he wanted to learn it himself, and he had the talent and chakra control for it, so I taught him..."
Kakashi glanced sideways at Yao. Anyway, with Yao in Team 7, it doesn't seem like Sasuke is the only reckless one.
Guy instantly got emotional. "Kakashi, this is Youth!"
"For the sake of Youth... we must work even harder!"
Match 2:Uzumaki Naruto vs. Inuzuka Kiba
Originally, Naruto couldn't beat Kiba, but in the end, a fart knocked Kiba out. An accidental victory! Leaving everyone torn between laughing and crying.