25 Did Not See That Coming

We are called for our next round and a look around tells me same teams as in canon passed.

Old fart (Hokage) comes forward and starts his speech.

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"I won't take much of your time but before i explain the Third test, There is something I'd like you to know, It concerns the true reason for the exam. -"

He went on and on about the exam but the conclusion is This exam is a replacement for war, Show other countries your prowess and shit, based on which Village gets more missions from nobles and Daimyo.

"-Before we begin I will tell one last thing, This is not just a test.. its a Life and Death battle with your dream and country's prestige on the line."

As he finished I couldn't help but... yawn. It was loud enough to get other's attention and now all eyes are on me.

"Well the true reason was certainly... boring, So can we get on with this thing I'm hungry already." Gaara and Choji nodded at my statement and everyone else was just surprised at the balant disrespect.

Hayate Gekko appeared out of nowhere bowing to Old fart and asked his permission to explain third stage as it's instructor.

Gekko sensei then explained what third stage is but before that we have a preliminary due to more students passing then expected.

'He looks more sick than before.' I think Internally, after all he was my Kenjutsu teacher and unlike Kakashi he taught me something.

This is the reason I call him and Gai, Sensei, but not Kakashi.

"Hmm So anyway... now that you know what its really about... anyone who doesn't feel up to the challenge either physically or mentally can walk away, just take one step forward. Because the preliminary starts now"

Murmurs begin as he say this. Kabuto raises his hand to declare he quit.

"Does anyone else want to quit?"

Sakura becomes restless and keeps insisting Sasuke to quit since He is not well. They bicker for sometime as Sasuke declares he is an Avenger. I had enough

"Oi shut up, If he wants to continue you have no right to interfere. He can handle himself."

This was not enough to calm her down

"Bu-" She begin but is interrupted by sensei

"Since no one else wants to quit Let's move on with *cough cough* move on with the preliminaries." Gekko announced pausing time to time.

The big TV screen started glowing and the first match up was shown

(UCHIHA SASUKE VS AKADO YOROI)

Sasuke and the other guy stepped forward upon seeing their name.

"Everyone other than the two combatants should move to the upper gallery now."

As all of us was moving towards upper gallery i went near Sasuke.

"Don't use your Sharingan, it will make that mark spread and you will be suspended." He was surprised to hear about suspension but i continued "Don't let him touch you".

Saying my part i moved on. Was that necessary? No but He is a friend and i want this to be over Quickly I wasn't lying about being hungry.

(3rd POV)

Sasuke and Akado stand a few metres away from each other. Just as Gekko signal the start Akado's left hand start glowing with bluish-green chakra.

Akado throws 3 shurikens at Sasuke, who was constantly in pain because of the cursed mark. Sasuke took out a kunai and deflected shurikens and sent them back but tripped in the process and fell.

Akado dodge the shurikens which Sasuke deflected back and appears near him in a burst of speed, without wasting any time he stomp on Sasuke's head.

Sasuke sees Akado's foot approaching his head, He rolls back to dodge. He stands up but before he could do anything Akado is already upon him not giving him any chance to take a proper footing.

Akado throws a jab at Sasuke and suddenly opens his fist and tries to grab Sasuke. Sasuke remembering Naruto's warning deflects Akado's arm by hitting his forearm.

Sasuke jumps back to make some distance between them. Seeing how Akado was trying to grab him, He knew something was up. He remembers Naruto's warning again 'Don't let him touch you'. Sasuke subconsciously looks up where Naruto is standing, Naruto is looking at him with calm look on his face.

Naruto notice Sasuke looking at him and points at Lee beside him.

Sasuke smirks and turns his attention back to Akado and start running towards him, He crouches down, Then he kicks Akado's chin hard enough to send him flying, Sasuke doesn't waste any more time and follows with appearing behind Akado.

Sasuke spins mid air and kick Akado in his stomach which Akado blocks but he did not expect Sasuke to spin again and kick on his back. Sasuke does this a couple of times, kicking Akado back to back until they reach ground and finally Knocks Akado out.

Sasuke is declared winner and Kakashi comes beside him and takes him away to seal the cursed mark. From then on matches progress same as canon... almost.

Zaku Abumi (Air tube hands guy) V/s Aburame Shino (Bug guy).... Shino wins by literally tearing his opponent apart with his Bugs.

Tsurugi Misumi (Kabuto team member) V/s Kankuro (Puppet guy)... Kankuro wins

Haruno Sakura V/s Yamanaka Ino... No winner.

Temari V/s Ten Ten... Temari wins

Nara Shikamaru V/s Kin Tsuchi... Shikamaru wins

Hyuga Neji V/s Inuzuka Kiba... Neji wins

(Naruto POV)

Well Neji vs kiba was certainly a surprise, everything was happening same as canon, so much so that I thought Universe was correcting itself but i guess that's not the case or at least not entirely. Sasuke returned after getting his mark sealed he was not as exhausted as in anime so maybe he could spare some time before passing out.

Anyways Neji really clapped Kiba, he wasn't able to fight back at all, but this makes things interesting, this means I can match up against Gaara or Lee.

Lee and Gaara are the only one against whom I'm not sure if I'll win without going all out. Sasuke's chidori was able to go through Gaara's defence in their match, i think, so my Rasengan can too. If Lee opens his gate... This is exhilarating, I can't wait for my match.

As i was thinking this and getting fired up, the screen changed and showed names again

"Did not see that coming..." I mutter because the next match was..

Hyuga Hinata V/s Uzumaki Naruto...

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Well I recently got an amazing idea for a new fanfic which I will release for sure but unlike this fic I'll make advance chapters for that.

And also semester exams are starting from 15 so might not be able to upload for quite some time and I'm not dropping this fic obviously so there's that.

Thank you and remember

LAZINESS_IS_THE_KEY