Sasuke also knew that the power of the Cursed Seal couldn't be used too much, as Orochimaru's soul was still within it. So, after Sasuke recovered some of his mental energy and Chakra, he immediately forced the Cursed Seal back.
With his strength back, Sasuke decided to end the fight quickly and not delay any longer.
So, Sasuke used the Quick Strike technique Narutotaught him, kicking Might Guy into the air in just a few moves, and finally ending the battle with the Lion Combo.
After using the Lion Combo, Sasuke was also exhausted, lying on the ground, panting heavily.
Fortunately, Might Guy had already been knocked unconscious, otherwise, Sasuke would have lost.
Gekkō Hayate saw both of them lying on the ground. After confirming their status, he said to Sasuke, "If you can't stand up, it will be considered a draw, and both of you will be eliminated."
Upon hearing Gekkō Hayate's words, Sasukestaggered to his feet and said, "Don't worry! Although he hit me hard, I still have the strength to leave the arena."
Gekkō Hayate nodded and said, "Winner, Uchiha Sasuke, advances to the third preliminary round."
There wasn't much to say about the next few matches. With Naruto, the 'King of Scrolls,' Shinowas much stronger than in the original work. After going down, the battle ended in less than five minutes within one round.
Next was the match between Kankuro of the Hidden Sand Village and a minor character. Similarly, the battle ended in just a few rounds.
Then came the match between two women, Inoand Sakura.
There wasn't much to say about this match either; it was a fight between two best friends, pulling hair and grabbing ears, which could be described as an unsightly spectacle.
However, these were just some initial tactics. Due to Naruto's urging, Ino had grown a lot. After the two friends finished their initial 'catfight,' they began a real duel, combining taijutsu and shuriken, making for a quite spectacular match.
However, Ino kept going easy on Sakura until Sakura was exhausted.
Ino looked at Sakura and said, "We've known each other since kindergarten. Before we entered the Ninja Academy, you always competed with me for everything. But, ever since I entered the Ninja Academy, I realized my vision was a bit narrow. Everything you used to compete with me for is worthless in the face of true strength. When we graduated from the Ninja Academy, you held a ribbon and told me that when you tied your forehead protector on, you would become a true Ninja and challenge me. But today, the techniques you've shown me make me think you're still the Sakura from kindergarten, with no growth at all."
After Ino finished speaking, she pulled a blue ribbon from her clothes and threw it on the ground.
"You! Are not worthy of being a Ninja."
After saying that, Ino used the Body Flicker Technique and appeared behind Sakura.
Sakura didn't even have a chance to react before Ino knocked her out with a single chop.
After Sakura fell, Gekkō Hayate stepped forward, checked her, and then announced, "Ino Yamanakawins, advancing to the third preliminary round."
After Gekkō Hayate announced the results, Kakashi jumped down to the first floor, ready to carry Sakura back to the second floor.
Ino wiped the spot on her face where Sakura had hit her and said, "Leave her to me! She's been protected too well by you all, she's no longer suitable to be a Ninja."
Ino said this while carrying Sakura up to the second floor.
Kakashi followed Ino to the second floor and sighed. How could he not know that Sakura had been protected too well? But there was nothing he could do! With a monster like Naruto and a genius like Sasuke in the team, how could Sakura have any room to grow?
"Oh, my head hurts!"
Naruto also knew what was bothering Kakashi and even more so that Ino was blaming him. But what could he do? He couldn't possibly let Sakura go up and get beaten when he knew she wasn't her opponent's match!
Next was the match between Tenten and Temari, which was completely unwatchable! Tenten was completely suppressed by Temari and couldn't fight at all.
One Wind Release technique blew away all of her shuriken and Kunai. Even if Temari didn't use Wind Release, just opening her Three-Star Fan would make it impossible for Tenten's Kunai and other weapons to injure her.
The next match was between Shikamaru and Kin Tsuchi.
Shikamaru, as before, used his clever mind to defeat his opponent.
Actually, during their match, Naruto noticed that Shikamaru was hiding his strength.
Naruto glanced at Hiruzen and sighed softly in his heart.
"If the Third Hokage doesn't die, geniuses won't dare to stand out."
Just as Naruto was lost in thought, the names for the next match appeared.
Naruto's mouth twitched slightly as he looked at Kiba and said, "Do we... still need to fight?"
Inuzuka Kiba looked at Naruto with a bitter face and said, "I want to fight you too! But Akamaru is scared of you, so how can I fight you?"
"Then why don't you not let Akamaru participate, and we'll fight one-on-one!"
Kiba pouted and said, "I'm not an idiot. Without Akamaru's cooperation, fighting you would just be a beating. I'm not doing it!"
After saying that, Kiba said to Gekkō Hayate, "Referee, I forfeit!"
"Are you sure?"
"Of course! There's no way to fight, alright! Of course I'm sure."
Gekkō Hayate glanced at Naruto and said, "Winner, Uzumaki Naruto, advances to the third preliminary round."
As soon as Naruto returned to the second-floor stands, he saw the names of Hinata and Nejiappear on the electronic screen.
"Well! This is truly a fated battle!"
Naruto muttered softly, then looked at Hinata and said, "Beat him up! If you win, I'll personally grill fish for you."
Hinata shyly lowered her head and said, "Okay!"
The two arrived at the arena, and Gekkō Hayatehad just announced the start of the match.
Neji looked at Hinata and said, "Before we fight, I want to give Lady Hinata a piece of advice: forfeit! You are simply not suited to be a Ninja. You are too kind-hearted, you wish for peace, avoid conflict, and always cater to others' feelings. Furthermore, you lack confidence in yourself, always feeling inferior, which is why you thought being a Geninwas good enough. But three people are required to sign up, and you couldn't refuse your teammates, so you reluctantly came to participate in the Chunin Exams, didn't you?"
Hinata nervously and timidly said, "It's not like that, it's not like that! I just... I just want to rely on myself to change the 'me' you're talking about."
"Lady Hinata, truly the young lady of the Main House! People cannot change themselves. Someone like you, who holds others back, will never be able to change. It is precisely because people cannot change that there are differences, and that's why terms like 'elite' and 'one who holds others back' exist. Everyone judges others, and is judged by others, based on appearance, intelligence, ability, physique, and personality. People live burdened by these unchangeable factors. Just like I am from the Branch House and you are from the Main House; this is an unchangeable fact."