Preliminaries Begin

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Previous night...

Clone, after leaving Horyu's side, dashed deep into the forest. Horyu had one more objective in this stage, and he wasn't sure if he could pull it off. As the clone moved, he soon found what he was looking for in the depths of the forest. A smirk crossed his face as he started to tail a Genin Team of three - two boys and a girl - who had just arrived where the scroll Horyu threw earlier had landed.

"You!" one of the boys spat out in disgust, pointing at the girl, "How many teams are around?" The girl, sensing the surroundings, gasped, "16! I sense 48 people." The boy clicked his tongue in frustration. "We can't take them on." The other boy smirked, a malicious gleam in his eyes, "We don't have to. Let's wait for them all to fight to death, then we can swoop in and finish off whoever's left." The girl bit her lip in worry, sensing the strength and auras of the surrounding teams and knowing their plan was fraught with danger.

As teams converged and the fight for the scroll began, the girl and the boys watched from the shadows, their eyes widening in shock at the level of the Genins. One even wielded a rare Sand Release technique. Despite their plan to wait, the girl felt a growing sense of unease, knowing their strategy was risky.

Their observations were cut short as suddenly, the teams turned and attacked those hiding in the shadows. Caught off guard, the two boys were swiftly killed by the sands. The girl, staring at the approaching deadly swirl, felt a sense of imminent death, but abruptly found herself being lifted and carried away. Her eyes flew open to see a Genin with pitch-black hair and eyes - so dark it seemed they absorbed all light around them. Her face flushed as she realized she was in his arms.

"I'm getting you to safety," the clone said, his voice calm and devoid of emotion. "When all the teams enter the tower, follow them and tell the Chunin your teammates were killed. Don't mention me, please." The girl, still in his embrace, nodded silently.

The clone's next words caught her off guard. "After you leave the village with your Jonin-sensei, I recommend you don't return to your village." The girl looked at him, confusion etched on her face. "Where else can I go?" she asked, a hint of despair in her voice.

The clone handed her a scroll. "Use this outside the village. Two people will come for you. Stay with them. They won't mistreat you," he assured her. The girl's eyes widened, a mix of surprise and gratitude in her gaze. "Why are you helping me?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Clone smiled, making the girl blush even further. "I can understand your loneliness." His words, simple yet profound, resonated within her. For a moment, she was taken aback; previously, she couldn't sense any emotions from this clone, but now, a wave of loneliness washed over her, so intense that it felt as though their souls were momentarily intertwined.

The girl, caught in the whirlwind of emotions, struggled to find her voice. "How... how do you know?" she stammered, her eyes locked onto his.

The clone's expression remained unchanged, his eyes reflecting a deep understanding. "I've seen many faces, heard many stories. Loneliness has a unique echo, and it resonates loudly in this forest tonight." His voice was soft yet carried a weight that seemed to transcend their current situation.

She nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. The chaos of the forest seemed distant now, overshadowed by the strange connection she felt with this mysterious Genin.

As they neared the outskirts of the forest, the clone slowed down, setting her gently on the ground. "This is as far as I go. Remember, follow the others into the tower, and then leave the village with your Jonin-sensei. Stay away from your village, at least for now."

The girl clutched the scroll he had given her. "I don't even know your name," she said, a sense of loss creeping into her voice.

He turned away, ready to leave. "Names in our world are both a bond and a burden. Right now, you need neither from me." With those final words, he vanished into the shadows, leaving her alone with the scroll and a multitude of questions.

Back in the tower, Horyu shook his head as he remembered the events of the previous night. He focused on objectives ahead for the time being. Just then, a Chunin arrived, ushering the Genin teams into a larger room. They lined up in eight rows, three members from each team forming a row. Horyu, Hinata, and Shino took their place, observing the room. It was an expansive indoor arena, the floor marked with large rectangular stones and two giant stone hands forming a Ram seal at one end. The walls, in muted colors, were accentuated by three large screens above the statues. An upper balcony, likely for the higher-ups, overlooked the arena.

As Horyu scanned the room, recognized it to be the same in the anime, he noticed the room's strategic design, suitable for both combat and observation. The arrangement of the room allowed for clear visibility, ensuring that every action in the arena could be monitored closely.

The Five Kage soon arrived, taking their positions on the balcony above the statue. Hokage Shisui stepped forward, addressing the Genin who had passed the exam. The Jonin Sensei of various teams positioned themselves on the side balconies, their eyes surveying their students.

Shisui Uchiha, the Hokage of Konoha, stepped forward on the balcony, his presence commanding the attention of all the Genin gathered below. His eyes, reflecting both wisdom and authority, scanned the young shinobi as he began to speak in a formal, official tone.

"The Chunin Exam has always been a platform to gauge the strength of the neighboring villages," Shisui announced, his voice resonating throughout the room. "Typically, villages send only their more talented Genin, opting not to send their top teams to ensure their safety from potential ambushes by other villages. However, this year is exceptional. The Five Kage Summit, along with my request to witness a competition between the top teams from the five villages, was accepted by the respected Kages and Daimyos. I am grateful for this."

A murmur ran through the crowd of Genin as Shisui continued, "The next, third stage of the Chunin Exam carries another significant purpose: to demonstrate our might." His statement caused a stir among the Genin, some exchanging glances of excitement, others nodding in understanding.

"In one month, five Daimyos, the wealthiest lords and merchants from around the world, will visit Konoha to attend the third stage," Shisui explained. "There, they will observe the level of our Genin, a microcosm representing the five villages. Through the third stage, they will assess which village could most benefit them and will request missions accordingly. This is one of the main purposes of the exam. The first and second stages were merely for culling the grass."

Shisui's gaze swept over the Genin, noting their varied reactions. Some looked determined, others apprehensive, but all listened intently.

"The exam also serves as a platform to observe talented Genin and evaluate their various skills – be it combat, decision making, information gathering, leadership, or adaptability. A council will then make a decision to promote the Genin to Chunin or not," he concluded.

The Genin's reactions varied. Some, like Sasuke, wore expressions of determined ambition, while others, like Hinata, looked thoughtful, understanding the broader implications of their roles as shinobi. Shikamaru appeared nonchalant, but the gears were turning in his head, calculating the potential outcomes.

At that moment, Hayate Gekko arrived, his demeanor calm yet authoritative. "I will be the proctor of the Third Exam. Good to meet you, everyone," he announced. His presence brought a sense of reality to the situation.

"The number of participants that passed the second exam is too much for the third stage." Hayate Gekko's announcement about the preliminary exam to halve the number of contenders instantly shifted the atmosphere in the room. The Genin, who had just taken a collective breath of relief after the tumultuous second stage, now found themselves on the edge once again.

Kurotsuchi, her expression a mix of curiosity and annoyance, was the first to voice her question. "What do you mean by that?" she asked, her eyes narrowing slightly.

Hayate, his demeanor calm yet firm, explained, "24 participants mean 12 matchups for the third stage. Considering the esteemed guests attending, we cannot prolong the event excessively. Thus, we will conduct a preliminary round right now to halve the number."

The news was met with mixed reactions. Some Genin, like Gaara, seemed undeterred, perhaps even eager for another opportunity to showcase their skills. Others, like Hinata, appeared more contemplative, understanding the added pressure this unexpected round brought.

"The matches will be one-on-one," Hayate announced. "Win, and you proceed to the third stage. Lose, and you're out of the exams. The matchups will be determined by a random draw."

The Genin collectively shifted, the tension palpable. The prospect of one-on-one combat was both an opportunity and a daunting challenge. It meant relying solely on personal skills and strategies without the support of teammates.

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