By the end of the fifth day, the central hall of the tower was no longer quiet. Team 11 and 7 had since taken their rest and were already back to training. Seeing the overwhelming gap between themselves and a Kage-level shinobi, everyone was determined to get stronger.
One by one, the remaining teams arrived by the end of the second exam's time frame.
Team 8 entered together, Kiba grinning confidently while Akamaru barked at the echoing chamber. Shino walked silently behind him, and Hinata glanced around nervously.
Soon after, Team 10 arrived, Ino stretching her arms while Choji immediately looked for somewhere to sit. Shikamaru muttered, "What a drag…" as he leaned against a wall.
Team 9 followed—Neji calm and composed, Tenten alert, and Rock Lee burning with energy even after five days in the Forest of Death.
Sukuna was surprised that everyone from Konoha's side made it. Now this was either the plot correcting itself, the genuine quality of Konoha's genin, or just outright unseen underhanded methods of Konoha's higher-ups.
The Hidden Mist team stepped in next—Haku quiet and observant, Suigetsu smirking lazily, and Kimimaro standing with eerie stillness.
Even the Hidden Sound team made it, though Dosu's group looked far less confident than before. The massive beatdown Sakura gave them could be a reason. Sukuna was even surprised they made it after what happened back in the forest.
By the time the massive doors shut with a heavy thud, every surviving team had assembled.
Everyone from Konoha's side—at least everyone who mattered—except Kabuto's team. Then teams from outside Konoha, like the Hidden Sand Team, Hidden Mist Team, and Hidden Sound Team.
Eight teams.
Meaning twenty-four participants.
A loud cough echoed through the hall as the proctor stepped forward.
"Congratulations," he began flatly. "All remaining teams have passed the second stage."
A few relieved sighs escaped.
"Finally," Sakura seemed to be the most excited, outside Naruto and Karin of course.
"However," the proctor continued, "there are too many of you."
Murmurs spread across the room.
"The final round of the Chunin Exams is conducted in tournament format before the feudal lords and village leaders. Only eight participants may advance to the official finals."
Naruto blinked. "Eight? But there's twenty-four of us!"
"Correct," the proctor replied without emotion. "Therefore, we will conduct preliminary semi-final matches."
The room grew tense.
"To reduce twenty-four to eight, there will be two elimination phases."
"Wait, but some of us just arrived recently. We didn't have any rest yet." Someone from behind shouted.
"That's the privilege given to the teams who arrived early. If you wished for rest, you should have come early as well," the proctor shrugged, not caring in the slightest.
More groans were heard from behind, but the proctor didn't care.
A board behind him lit up with names.
"In the first phase, only sixteen participants will be paired. Winners advance and face the remaining eight participants who didn't fight before. As for which eight participants will get a bye, it will be from the teams who arrived before everyone else—the first, second, and third teams, effectively."
That immediately stunned everyone. If the earlier announcement felt like partiality, then this one was outright favoritism.
"This is not right. How come those guys who arrived before us get a pass? This isn't right."
More complaints rose, but a look from a Jonin-level shinobi—the proctor himself—shut all of them up.
"If you feel it is wrong, then you can always give up on the exam and try next time. Arrive before everyone else, and you'll also get the pass."
Silence. That sentence sounded so annoying, but they knew he was right.
"Wait, meaning one of us has to fight twice," Sakura whispered.
"Yes," Sasuke answered quietly.
'As for who, I have no idea. Gaara's team arrived first, so they were completely out of the selection. Then both Team 11 and 7 arrived together. It depends on the higher-ups to determine which team came third and which member of that team will participate twice.' Sukuna sighed.
Excitement and nervous energy filled the hall. Some shinobi stretched. Others analyzed potential opponents.
Rock Lee clenched his fists eagerly. "This is youth!"
Shikamaru sighed louder. 'If only I knew, I would have hurried. Such a drag…'
The board behind the proctor flickered to life.
Names began to shuffle rapidly across the screen.
The hall fell into tense silence.
Then the first match appeared.
Kiba Inuzuka vs Kimimaro.
Kiba grinned instantly. "Heh. Some pale guy? Easy."
Across the room, Kimimaro simply looked at him with empty, detached eyes.
Akamaru growled softly.
Sukuna just glanced at it once and knew who was passing to the next round.
Shino adjusted his glasses. "Be careful. That one does not move like an ordinary shinobi."
The next names appeared.
Ino Yamanaka vs Tenten.
Ino blinked. "Seriously? Weapons girl?"
Tenten crossed her arms confidently. "Hope you're ready."
Team 10 exchanged looks.
"Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered. "This won't be simple."
"Really, Shikamaru? Even you don't believe in me?" Ino huffed.
Shikamaru could have said that this wasn't about trust at all. It was about the experience and time they had to train. Tenten was a year their senior after all. Not to mention, Ino wasn't the best of the kunoichi right now.
But in typical Nara fashion, he kept his mouth shut.
The board shifted again.
Choji Akimichi vs Dosu Kinuta.
Choji swallowed nervously. "That sound guy…?"
Dosu's visible eye narrowed calmly. "That fatso…"
Choji clenched his fists. "What did he just call me?"
"Nothing, nothing. You heard it wrong. He said fast, so… he wishes to fight you fast. He can't wait." Both Shikamaru and Ino quickly covered it up.
Next.
Kin Tsuchi vs Shikamaru Nara.
Kin smirked. "The lazy one?"
Shikamaru sighed. "Why me…"
Sukuna also wished to know why this guy was always fighting a girl.
Ino smirked at him. "Don't lose."
Zaku Abumi vs Shino Aburame.
Zaku cracked his knuckles. "Bug freak, huh?"
Shino tilted his head slightly. "Your arms are loud."
Zaku scowled. "What's that supposed to mean?!"
The hall buzzed louder as the board continued.
Rock Lee vs Suigetsu Hozuki.
'Oh shit…' Sukuna frowned. That was the definition of a bad matchup.
Lee's eyes lit up with blazing intensity.
Sukuna felt bad for the boy. If only he knew.
Suigetsu grinned lazily, resting his massive blade on his shoulder. "Hope you can keep up, bushy brows."
Might Guy, watching from the side, gave Lee a dramatic thumbs up, tears in his eyes—until Kakashi, standing on the side, muttered something in his ear and his face stiffened like a rotten egg.
Next pairing.
Karin Uzumaki vs Haku.
Karin raised a brow. "So, I'm the one going out."
"Hmm, that fight will be hard, Karin. Be careful," Sukuna said. He had a feeling that after the last defeat, those Mist guys wouldn't have just been sitting around doing nothing.
Haku offered a small, polite smile. "I will do my best."
Sukuna's gaze sharpened slightly. He knew Haku was not someone to underestimate.
Finally, the last names appeared.
Hinata Hyuga vs Neji Hyuga.
The hall froze.
Sukuna's brows twitched. 'Again…'
Hinata's breath caught in her throat.
Neji's expression did not change.
"A Hyuga match…" Kiba muttered.
Hinata swallowed. "Neji-nii-san…"
Neji's pale eyes met hers, just for a second before he averted his gaze.
'Seems like a few things never change… huh!' Sukuna sighed.
xXx
A/N: I won't be writing about all the fights. That would take forever, and it would be really boring. There are a lot of fights, and I would rather not make the next ten chapters just kids waving hand signs and shouting jutsu names.
As for if you liked the chapter, please tell me. If you find any mistakes, then tell me that too, I'll fix them ASAP.
Finally, consider donating some stones, guys. That would help me a lot. Thank you.
Finally, thank you for everything and all the support you guys have given me until now.
Please Consider Donating Power Stones if you like the Chapter.
"Thank you Very Much for All Your Support"
If you want to read up to 20+ Chapters in advance, check my Patreon on
Patreon.com/Kamidemond