"Follow me," Anko instructed, casting an evaluative glance over the twenty-four remaining candidates. Her typical brashness had given way to a more businesslike demeanor now that her portion of the exam was complete.
She led them deeper into the tower, through a long corridor that opened into a cavernous chamber. Naruto and the others looked around with undisguised curiosity as they entered what appeared to be a massive indoor arena.
At the center of the space stood a raised fighting platform, surrounded by stone statues displaying various hand seals. Along the perimeter, several familiar figures awaited their arrival—the jōnin instructors from both Konoha and Sunagakure.
"Shisui-sensei!" Naruto called out excitedly, waving to his mentor.
"Kakashi-sensei!" Sakura greeted her own instructor with equal enthusiasm.
Shisui responded with a warm smile and acknowledging nod, while Kakashi barely glanced up from the book in his hands. After a perfunctory wave toward Sasuke and his teammates, the Copy Ninja immediately returned to his reading.
"Seriously?" Sakura muttered, lips pursed in disappointment. "It's like he doesn't even care whether we passed or not." Sasuke, predictably, showed no reaction to their teacher's indifference, his attention already focused on surveying the arena.
"Congratulations, everyone! You've successfully completed the second examination."
A cheerful, resonant voice drew everyone's attention upward.
"Dad?" Naruto and Chiharu exclaimed in unison, their heads snapping toward the source of the familiar voice.
Standing on a balcony overlooking the arena floor was a blond man in the distinctive white robes of the Hokage. Minato Namikaze looked down at the assembled genin with evident pride, his smile widening as he caught sight of his children among the candidates.
"The Fourth Hokage!" Several participants whispered in awe, particularly those from Sunagakure.
Minato's reputation throughout the shinobi world was legendary. The Yellow Flash of Konoha—the man whose speed and battlefield prowess had single-handedly turned the tide of the previous war. Many had heard stories of his exploits, but few outside the Hidden Leaf had actually seen him in person.
What struck many observers was the disconnect between his fearsome reputation and his actual appearance. Despite being in his thirties, Minato retained a youthful visage, with little evidence of aging—a side effect of the Nine-Tails' chakra that had been sealed within him. His gentle smile and kind eyes seemed at odds with the stories of the man who had inspired terror in enemy forces throughout the ninja world.
Among those staring in assessment was Gaara. The young Sand ninja's gaze inadvertently met Minato's, and something unexpected happened.
Thump!
A violent tremor ran through Gaara's body, his expression shifting from indifference to momentary shock. Within him, he felt Shukaku—the One-Tailed Beast—recoil in what could only be described as fear.
It's... afraid? The realization stunned Gaara. Nothing in the Hokage's demeanor suggested threat or killing intent. The man had merely looked at him, yet the demon sealed inside him had responded with unmistakable terror.
Gaara couldn't know that during the Third Shinobi World War, Minato had directly confronted and defeated Shukaku. The One-Tailed Beast retained the memory of that humiliating defeat, even if its current jinchūriki remained unaware.
Minato, for his part, immediately sensed the flutter of Shukaku's chakra within the boy. His eyebrows rose slightly in acknowledgment before he continued his assessment of the remaining candidates.
The roster of genin who had survived the Forest of Death aligned closely with his expectations. Shikamaru, Kiba, Sasuke, and Naruto—though classified as rookies, most were heirs to Konoha's prestigious clans, beneficiaries of specialized training and genetic advantages that civilians simply couldn't match. Throughout Konoha's history, only a handful of shinobi from non-clan backgrounds had risen to exceptional heights. Minato himself was among this rare group, but the village's backbone still consisted primarily of its established clans.
"Hokage-sama, if you would please explain the purpose of the third examination," Anko prompted, adjusting her headset microphone.
All attention focused on Minato as he straightened his posture, his expression becoming more formal.
"The Chunin Examinations," he began, "while ostensibly a promotion system for our young shinobi, serve a much broader purpose. They are, in essence, a controlled substitute for warfare between nations."
His voice carried throughout the arena without effort, commanding respect through tone rather than volume.
"Through these trials, we assess the quality and capabilities of each village's rising generation. The results influence mission allocations, diplomatic standings, and political leverage across the shinobi world."
Minato paused, allowing the gravity of his words to settle among the candidates.
"While Konoha currently maintains its position as the foremost of the Five Great Nations, our reputation depends on the consistent excellence of our shinobi at all levels. The missions our village receives—and the fees we can command—are determined not only by legendary figures, but by the demonstrated competence of our standard forces."
He gestured toward the assembled genin. "Your performance in these examinations directly impacts how potential clients perceive our village's capabilities. Remember this as you proceed."
As Minato concluded his address, a Konoha shinobi descended to the arena floor, landing with deliberate grace before the candidates. The newcomer carried a sword on his back and bore the pallid complexion of someone recovering from prolonged illness.
"I am Hayate Gekkō," he introduced himself, voice slightly raspy. "From this point forward, I will serve as your proctor and referee."
"Referee?" Several candidates echoed in confusion.
Hayate nodded, suppressing a slight cough before continuing. "The number of candidates who passed the second examination exceeds our expectations. Therefore, before proceeding to the final round, we must hold a preliminary elimination tournament."
This announcement sent murmurs rippling through the group.
"Only by winning in these preliminaries can you qualify for the third examination," he explained.
"Why is this happening?" Sakura asked, her expression betraying her concern. The Chunin Exams were proving far more demanding than anyone had anticipated.
"Everyone will now draw lots to determine your opponents for the preliminary matches," Hayate continued without addressing her question directly.
A chunin assistant approached carrying a white box. "With twenty-four candidates remaining, we will have twelve one-on-one matches. Inside this box are numbered balls, two of each number from one through twelve. Those who draw matching numbers will face each other."
"The numbers also determine the order of matches, proceeding from lowest to highest," Hayate added.
One by one, the candidates approached and drew their assignments. Naruto reached in first, withdrawing a small sphere marked with the number "1."
"I'm going first?" he remarked with surprise, immediately turning to check Chiharu's number.
She displayed a ball marked "7," while Shin had drawn "11."
"That's fortunate—we won't have to fight each other," Chiharu observed with evident relief.
Sasuke was next, drawing "2." Sakura received "6," and Sai's number matched Shin's—"11."
"So Shin and Sai will face each other," Naruto noted, his expression troubled. The two had a positive relationship, and forcing them into combat seemed particularly cruel.
"Sai, give it your best effort. I won't hold back," Shin stated with a surprisingly genuine smile.
"Of course, Senior Shin. I'll do my utmost as well!" Sai replied, returning the smile with his characteristic expression.
"Those two are strange," Naruto muttered, baffled by their cheerful acceptance of having to fight one another.
Once all lots had been drawn, a chunin presented Minato with the complete bracket.
Group 1: Namikaze Naruto vs. Yamakawa Kaze
Group 2: Uchiha Sasuke vs. Inuzuka Kiba
Group 3: Gaara vs. Nishimajo
Group 6: Haruno Sakura vs. Yamanaka Ino
Group 7: Namikaze Chiharu vs. Kankuro
Group 11: Shin vs. Sai
"First match," Minato announced, glancing at his son with a subtle smile. Naruto's opponent, Yamakawa Kaze, was a Konoha genin several years his senior.
After reviewing the complete bracket, Minato handed back the list and disappeared in a flash of yellow light. He had complete confidence in both Naruto and Chiharu's abilities—having personally overseen much of their training alongside Kushina, Jiraiya, and Tsunade. He knew they would advance without difficulty.
With the preliminary matches officially beginning, all non-participants moved to the viewing balconies, leaving the arena clear for the first competitors.
Naruto stood opposite his taller opponent, adrenaline already coursing through his system as he assessed the older genin.
"Brother, show them what you can do!" Chiharu called out encouragingly from the sidelines.
"Yeah!" Naruto nodded firmly, focusing his complete attention on his adversary.
"First match: begin!" Hayate announced, jumping clear of the combat area.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Technique!"
Naruto launched into his signature jutsu without hesitation, filling the arena with hundreds of identical copies. His shadow clones crowded the floor and scaled the walls, creating a sea of orange and blond that surrounded Kaze from all directions.
The older genin's eyes widened in alarm—he had never encountered anything like this before. Even jōnin typically created only a handful of shadow clones due to the technique's enormous chakra requirements. The sheer number Naruto had produced was unprecedented for a genin.
Despite his initial shock, Kaze fought valiantly, but Naruto's overwhelming numbers and surprisingly coordinated assault eventually wore him down. As predicted, Naruto emerged victorious from the first match.
Landing beside Chiharu on the observation platform, Naruto cast a smug sideways glance toward Sasuke. The Uchiha pointedly ignored the provocation, calmly leaping down to the arena floor for his own match.
Sasuke regarded Kiba with cool detachment as they faced off. The Inuzuka's fighting style revolved around his clan's Beast Mimicry techniques and his partnership with Akamaru. When man and ninken fought in tandem, their effectiveness multiplied significantly.
Despite respecting the potential threat, Sasuke maintained his composure throughout the match. His combination of precise taijutsu, fire-style ninjutsu, and strategic use of his Sharingan progressively neutralized Kiba's advantages. Eventually, Akamaru was rendered unable to continue fighting, and Kiba himself fell to a well-placed combination attack.
"That boy's approach differs markedly from traditional Uchiha methods," Kurenai Yuhi commented, watching her student's defeat with a thoughtful frown.
"Indeed," Shisui replied with a knowing smile. Sasuke's fighting style bore a striking resemblance to his brother Itachi's—emphasizing efficiency and precision over the flashier techniques typically favored by their clan.
The third match featured Gaara against another Konoha genin named Nishimajo. From the outset, the disparity in their abilities was apparent. No matter what techniques or weapons Nishimajo employed, nothing penetrated the automatic sand shield that protected Gaara without him even moving.
As his opponent's stamina flagged, Gaara finally went on the offensive. Sand poured from his gourd, forming a massive hand that seized the exhausted Nishimajo in its grip.
While maintaining the sand jutsu, Gaara deliberately turned toward the observation balcony, his eyes finding Sasuke, Naruto, and Neji in turn. A cruel smile played across his lips—a clear message that this would be their fate when they faced him.
Then, with deliberate slowness, he began to clench his fist.
"AAAAHH!" Nishimajo's scream of agony echoed throughout the arena as the sand constricted around him.
"That bastard!" Naruto snarled, his face contorted with rage. Similarly grim expressions appeared on the faces of Sasuke, Neji, and the other Konoha genin.
Blood seeped through the gaps in the sand hand. Just before reaching a fatal level of pressure, Gaara released his technique, allowing his opponent's unconscious form to collapse to the ground.
"The winner of the third match: Gaara!" Hayate announced grimly, as medical ninja rushed to the fallen contestant.
"Don't worry," Gaara remarked casually as he returned to the balcony. "I didn't kill him." The smile never left his face.
The matches continued through the bracket. In the sixth match, longtime rivals Sakura and Ino faced off in a contest that, while lacking the spectacular jutsu of other fights, showcased impressive tactical thinking and determination. After exhausting their chakra and pushing themselves to their absolute limits, both girls collapsed simultaneously, resulting in a rare double elimination.
"Seventh match: Namikaze Chiharu versus Kankuro!"
Chiharu's typically gentle expression hardened as she took her position opposite the Sand puppeteer. After witnessing Kankuro's underhanded interference during the written exam and Gaara's cruelty toward a fellow Konoha ninja, her usual courtesy had given way to righteous indignation.
"Begin!" Hayate called out.
In a flash of golden light reminiscent of her father's signature technique, Chiharu launched herself toward Kankuro with startling speed. The Sand ninja immediately deployed his puppet, recognizing the danger of allowing her to close the distance.
Despite his annoying personality, Kankuro's combat abilities were considerable. His puppet created an effective barrier that prevented Chiharu from landing a direct hit, and their battle extended through multiple exchanges, neither gaining a decisive advantage.
After several minutes of combat, Chiharu withdrew slightly, producing a distinctive three-pronged kunai from her equipment pouch. As she channeled chakra into the weapon, a faint blue glow enveloped the blade, gradually transitioning to a sharp, wind-like aura.
"Is that the Hokage's special kunai?" someone whispered from the observation deck.
"She's actually infusing wind-nature chakra into the blade," Asuma Sarutobi observed with amazement. The daughter of the Fourth Hokage had clearly inherited more than just his appearance.
Chiharu's mastery of Tsunade's chakra-enhanced strength technique had already demonstrated her exceptional chakra control. This new application—manipulating elemental chakra with such precision—further showcased her prodigious talent.
With renewed focus, she darted forward once more, this time targeting not Kankuro himself but the nearly invisible chakra threads connecting him to his puppet. Her wind-enhanced kunai sliced cleanly through the energy strands, severing the puppeteer's control mechanism in a single stroke.
Before Kankuro could establish new connections, Chiharu closed the distance between them, pressing the kunai's edge against his throat. The anger in her blue eyes had not diminished, but her control remained absolute.
Rather than cutting him, she withdrew the blade and instead delivered a chakra-enhanced punch to his chest.
"Gah!" Kankuro coughed blood as the impact launched him backward, embedding his body into the arena wall with enough force to crack the stone.
"Winner: Namikaze Chiharu!" Hayate declared as medical ninja rushed to extract the Sand ninja from the wall.
Chiharu returned to the observation platform where her tense expression gradually relaxed. Those who knew her well stared in disbelief—from childhood, she had been known for her gentle temperament. Even Naruto had never seen his sister truly angered to the point of inflicting such damage.
Yet had he been in her position, facing an opponent who had deliberately interfered with his success and whose teammate had shown such cruelty toward a comrade, Naruto knew he would have shown even less restraint.
Chiharu's uncharacteristic fierceness seemed to boost morale among the Konoha genin. Many glanced toward Gaara, wondering how he would react to his brother's decisive defeat.
The red-haired ninja merely observed Kankuro being carried away on a stretcher, his arms folded across his chest. With evident disdain, he muttered just loudly enough to be heard:
"What a pathetic waste."