Preliminaries begin

As Team 7 made their way towards the tower, their eyes fell upon a door adorned with an intricate seal. Intrigued, they approached it, their curiosity piqued. Moments later, to their surprise, the seal glowed with a faint light, revealing a single word: "Open."

Intrigued yet cautious, they pushed open the door and stepped into the building, their senses on high alert. Naruto, Sakura, and Sasuke scanned their surroundings, taking in the empty space. It was devoid of any signs of life, save for a massive sign hanging above them, catching Naruto's attention.

"Look up there!" Naruto exclaimed, pointing towards the imposing sign. Its message loomed above eye level, sparking their curiosity further.

Sakura contemplated its meaning, her mind racing to find an explanation. "I think it refers to the scrolls. Maybe it's telling us to open both scrolls."

Without wasting another moment, Sasuke and Sakura swiftly unsealed their scrolls, unveiling their contents. As their eyes scanned the intricate markings on the scrolls, realisation dawned upon Sasuke. It was a summoning spell, a powerful technique capable of calling forth beings from another realm.

"Sakura, drop the scroll quickly!" Sasuke's voice rang out, urgency dripping from his words. Reacting with swift reflexes, he threw his own scroll onto the ground, taking a step back. Naruto, catching on to their distress, followed suit, his hand instinctively reaching for a kunai.

A massive cloud of smoke erupted from the scrolls, engulfing the area around Team 7. Naruto's heart raced with anticipation, his grip on the kunai tightening. Within the veil of smoke, their faces etched with shock, the three members of Team 7 awaited the revelation that awaited them. And then, from the depths of the smoke, a voice resonated—a voice that they all knew very well.

"Hey kids," a familiar voice greeted them as the dissipating smoke revealed their former academy teacher, Iruka. The sight of him brought a mix of surprise and nostalgia to Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto.

"I don't understand," Sakura couldn't help but voice her confusion, her eyebrows furrowing.

Iruka's smile widened as he approached Team 7. "The spell was designed so that chunin could greet the applicants at the end of the second exam," he explained, his voice warm with familiarity. "It was just good luck that I got to be the messenger for the three of you."

Naruto took a few steps closer to Iruka, his curiosity piqued. "A messenger? For what?" Naruto's voice held a hint of confusion, showcasing the growth and maturity he had undergone since their academy days.

Iruka could sense the change in Naruto, not only in his voice but also in his demeanour. He pulled out a pocket watch and looked at it briefly. "You three barely made it. Congratulations, you've all passed the second exam," he announced, a sense of pride evident in his tone.

Feeling the weight of their journey, Sakura and Sasuke found themselves taking a seat on the floor, their bodies exhausted from the trials they had faced.

Naruto, however, laughed at Iruka's words, his fatigue momentarily forgotten. "Finally. That felt like the longest five days of my life. We did it," he proclaimed, a genuine smile gracing his face. Turning to Iruka, Naruto's mischievous grin emerged. "Iruka sensei, we should get some ramen as a celebration," he suggested playfully. "Of course, you're treating me, right?"

Iruka chuckled, his laughter filled with fondness. "Okay, Naruto. My treat," he agreed, embracing the lighthearted banter. "You really haven't slowed down one bit, but..." Iruka's smile softened as he continued, his gaze filled with warmth. "You've grown up."

Naruto looked up at Iruka and simply smiled, a glimmer of maturity shining in his eyes. "Well, I guess so."

Before their conversation could continue, Sasuke interrupted with a question, his curiosity getting the better of him. "What would have happened if we opened the scroll, Iruka sensei?"

Iruka's smile widened, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You're as sharp as ever, Sasuke," he commended. "Our orders were very specific. Anyone caught standing around an open scroll was to be knocked out until after the second exam was over."

Sasuke nodded in understanding, silently appreciating the precautions taken during the exam. Iruka then turned around, addressing the three of them. "You all passed with flying colours. I'm proud of each and every one of you," he expressed, his voice filled with genuine pride. "Now, don't overdo it in the third exam." With a wave of his hand, Iruka pointed towards a nearby door. "Through this door, you will find the rest area." As he finished speaking, Iruka disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving Team 7 to proceed.

As they entered the designated rest area, the atmosphere shifted. They were immediately called to the centre of what appeared to be a battle arena. On an elevated stage stood all the jōnin sensei, but more importantly, the third Hokage himself.

The 21 passing shinobi lined up in their respective teams of three, anticipation filling the air. They patiently awaited the Hokage's address. Stepping forward with deliberate steps, the Hokage cleared his throat, capturing the attention of everyone present.

"Congratulations to all of you on passing the second exam," the Hokage's voice resonated with authority, its weight recognized by all despite the kind message it carried.

Standing next to Kakashi, Guy couldn't resist teasing his rival a bit. "Your students made an impressive showing. I wonder how much of it was dumb luck," he remarked, a playful smile gracing his face. "Not that it matters, my team is bound to knock them out in the next round. At the next level, it will be all about their abilities or lack thereof, in the case of your team."

Kakashi, known for his laid-back demeanour, turned to Guy, his expression deadpan. "Huh? I'm sorry, did you say something?" Kakashi replied, his voice laced with boredom, effortlessly deflecting Guy's attempt to provoke him.

Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, cleared his throat once more, commanding everyone's attention. "The third examination is about to commence, but before I explain the specifics, I will elucidate the underlying purpose of the exam." The atmosphere grew heavier, and the Hokage's eyes darkened, reflecting the gravity of his words. "In short, it is a miniature war between all of our allied lands. It serves as an arena where young shinobi may fight, even to the death if necessary, for the honour of their respective homelands. This third examination will be conducted under the watchful eyes of a number of distinguished guests, including the rulers and nobility of various lands you all aspire to serve. It is within these exams that young shinobi forge their greatest strength, emerging amidst desperate life-and-death battles."

Before the Hokage could delve into further details about the exam, a ninja suddenly jumped down in front of him. Bowing on one knee, the ninja spoke with reverence. "If you don't mind, Hokage-sama, I will take over the rest of the proceedings. I am Hayate Gekko, the proctor of the third exam."

After a few seconds of contemplation, Hiruzen gave a nod. "Very well, go ahead."

The sickly-looking ninja, Hayate, stood up and turned to face the assembled Genin. "Good to meet you all. I am Hayate Gekko, a Jōnin of the Hidden Leaf Village."

Everyone couldn't help but notice Hayate's frail appearance. His sunken eyes and gaunt face made him look like someone who could succumb to illness at any moment. Amidst a fit of coughs, Hayate continued speaking. "Ummm... You see, there are some preliminaries to the proper exam, and whether you proceed through the main exam is contingent on how well you manage them."

The group of Genin voiced various complaints, but each one was swiftly rejected by the proctor. Hayate offered an option for anyone to leave the exam, and Kabuto took this opportunity to drop out.

Sasuke, his chakra replenished and the curse mark's effects temporarily suppressed, stood resolute and unwavering, prepared for the preliminaries.

Hayate spoke again, his voice still punctuated by coughs. "As there are a total of 20 combatants remaining, we will hold a total of 10 bouts, and the victors of these bouts will advance to the third exam. If you would please look at the screen, the first bout will now be announced."

The twenty ninjas directed their attention to the screen, anticipation building within them. Moments later, the names of the two contestants were revealed.

Sasuke Uchiha vs. Akado Yoroi.

Sasuke couldn't contain his excitement as he smirked, relishing the prospect of a challenging fight right from the start. Hayate called forth the two competitors, while the remaining Genin made their way up to the watching arena. Eighteen of them settled in the stands, eagerly anticipating the imminent battle. Sakura and Ino, with their unbridled enthusiasm, cheered loudly for Sasuke, their voices standing out amidst the sea of shinobi.

Meanwhile, Naruto approached the railing, leaning on his elbows as he focused his attention on the fight. He was genuinely interested in observing the battle, knowing that he needed to become stronger and that there was always something to learn from every shinobi, at any given time.

Kakashi, keeping a watchful eye on Naruto, couldn't help but notice the changes in his student's demeanour and growth. In just a few days, Naruto seemed taller, his muscles more developed, and his chakra stronger and more composed. Kakashi recognized the signs of progress and improvement in both Naruto's personality and strength.

Suddenly, a voice from below interrupted Kakashi's thoughts, snapping him back to the present. "All right, please begin."

Without wasting a moment, Yoroi swiftly hurled several shuriken towards Sasuke. However, Sasuke deftly pulled out a kunai and skillfully deflected each projectile, demonstrating his precise timing and agility.

Seizing the opportunity, Yoroi charged at Sasuke, launching a powerful punch towards him. Sasuke reacted swiftly, using his hands to propel himself to the side, sliding gracefully along the ground. In one swift motion, he executed a sweeping kick, knocking Yoroi's ankle out from under him and sending him tumbling to the ground. Sasuke capitalised on this opening, reaching up and snatching Yoroi's falling arm, expertly locking him into an armbar.

However, Yoroi, determined to turn the tide, grabbed hold of Sasuke's shirt, his hand glowing with a blue aura. Sasuke quickly realised that his strength was draining away as Yoroi absorbed his chakra. Reacting with agility and instinct, Sasuke delivered a forceful kick to Yoroi's stomach, creating enough distance to free himself and retreat.

Sasuke's Sharingan blazed to life as he readied himself for the next round. Yoroi charged towards him once again, proclaiming, "Now I'll absorb all of your chakra!" Extending his hand to seize Sasuke's face, Yoroi left himself vulnerable. Seizing the opportunity, Sasuke dropped to the ground and launched a powerful kick straight to Yoroi's chin, the impact lifting him off the ground.

From the stands, a wave of astonishment rippled through the spectators, but it was evident that Might Guy, Rock Lee, Tenten, and Neji Hyuuga were particularly taken aback. Rock Lee clenched his teeth and stared at Sasuke with a mix of surprise and determination. "That's my taijutsu," he muttered, recognizing the familiar technique.

Sasuke pursued Yoroi into the air, executing an axe kick with precision, striking him squarely in the abdomen. As they descended, Sasuke twisted his body, increasing his momentum and speed. With even greater force, he delivered a swift and powerful kick, propelling Yoroi down into the ground. Sasuke gracefully rolled upon landing, cushioning the impact, while Yoroi's collision with the earth created a sizable crater.

Hayate, the proctor, wasted no time in halting the match before it escalated any further. "I'm halting this match before it goes any further. In other words, Sasuke Uchiha is the winner of the first bout and advances past the preliminaries."

Standing tall, Sasuke deactivated his Sharingan, turning his head to acknowledge Naruto and Sakura, who were enthusiastically cheering for him from the stands. "Good job, Sasuke!" they shouted in unison.

Meanwhile, the other Genin had their own reactions to the intense display.

Tenten glanced at Neji, then at Sasuke, contemplating their potential match-up. In her mind, she pondered, "Last year's rookie was Neji, and now it looks like it will be Sasuke Uchiha. If they fought, I wonder who would win?"

Zaku, with a sly grin on his face, glanced down at Sasuke as he walked towards the stairs, making an off-handed comment. "If it happened any other way, it wouldn't be any fun."

Ino expressed her amazement at Sasuke's abilities, while Hinata, astonished by his strength, recognized the incredible one-sided display she had just witnessed.

Kiba, clearly irritated by the show of power, couldn't help but voice his annoyance. "Come on, it wasn't that great," he groaned, feeling a tinge of frustration and competitiveness.

Before Sasuke could reach the top of the stairs, Kakashi suddenly appeared in front of him, blocking his path. "Come on, we need to seal that curse mark," Kakashi urged, his voice firm and resolute.

Sasuke looked at Kakashi, a hint of reluctance in his eyes, as he replied, "Can't this wait? I want to watch everyone else compete."

Kakashi's response was stern and unwavering as he emphasised the urgency of the situation, explaining why they needed to seal the curse mark immediately.