Yakushi Kabuto is very familiar with the process of the Chunin Examination.
Once as Orochimaru's undercover agent, he participated in the Chunin Exams for three consecutive years, seeking suitable vessel candidates for Orochimaru, and could practically recite the rules backward.
No matter how many Genin pass the second stage's Heaven and Earth Scroll battle, Konoha will streamline the candidates in the third exam, selecting strong Genin and striving to make the fights exceptionally brilliant.
After all, many prestigious Daimyo and nobles will watch the final matches of the third exam.
If the matches are dragged out with scenes of hair-pulling, face-pinching, and cheek-twisting, audiences might develop prejudices against the profession of ninja.
"Cough, cough, cough, cough..."
A pale-faced, slightly dazed-looking Konoha ninja held a notebook, coughing a few times before speaking: "Let me announce the rules of the preliminary round... cough, cough, cough... Everyone will be divided into one-on-one groups for actual combat."
After saying this, the guy coughed a few more times, looking like he was on his last leg.
This Konoha ninja was none other than the proctor of the third exam, Gekkou Hayate.
After catching his breath, Gekkou Hayate continued, "You won't be prohibited from using any means in battle, and a match ends only when one side collapses, dies, or surrenders; however, I will intervene if I think it's necessary to prevent unnecessary casualties."
However, the Genin below couldn't help but distrust Gekkou Hayate.
This proctor, who looked like he could collapse at any moment, seemed more likely to die before them!
Haku glanced at Uehara Naraku's playful gaze and softly asked, "Uehara, you seem very interested in him. Is this proctor strong?"
"Perhaps."
Uehara Naraku chuckled and shook his head.
No one could tell if Gekkou Hayate was powerful, but everyone agreed on one thing: his girlfriend Uzuki Yuugao was stunning.
What Uehara Naraku cared about wasn't Uzuki Yuugao's looks.
What Uehara cared more about was that Gekkou Hayate's girlfriend, Uzuki Yuugao, knew the truth about Uchiha Obito, though she hadn't revealed any secrets.
Like how Uchiha Obito caused the deaths of the Fourth Hokage couple.
Back then, Uehara Naraku impersonated Uchiha Obito and blew himself up, but this critical crime was never exposed.
This secret was concealed by Konoha or Kakashi.
Uehara Naraku's gaze swept across everyone, a new plan quietly forming in his mind.
But before Uehara Naraku could sneakily plan how to set up Konoha, a Konoha ninja played a dirty trick on him first!
Gekkou Hayate glanced at the battle screen, and in a loud voice announced the first match of the Chunin Examination: "First match, Kaguya Kimimaro versus Uehara Naraku!"
"..."
All eyes involuntarily focused on Kaguya Kimimaro and Uehara Naraku. These two Rain Village Ninjas were undoubtedly the strongest contenders among all the candidates in this Chunin Examination!
Were they really going to have them slaughter each other right off the bat?
The Jonin from The Hidden Sound Village overseeing this cast a scornful smile: "Hmph, I haven't even made a move, and you're already one step ahead!"
The other Jonin were also slightly surprised.
The strongest two fighting in the preliminaries, to say this was a coincidence, would be incredibly unlikely, wouldn't it?
"I surrender!"
Kaguya Kimimaro calmly declared his surrender.
When facing Uehara Naraku, whether in terms of identity or strength, Kimimaro couldn't participate in the fight.
As for Uehara Naraku himself.
Since Gekkou Hayate announced the opponents, Uehara hadn't moved an inch, clearly knowing in advance about Kaguya Kimimaro's decision.
Only Haku spoke regretfully, trying to comfort his teammates: "What a pity, if Kimimaro hadn't faced Uehara, he definitely could have advanced."
"It doesn't matter."
Kaguya Kimimaro was indifferent.
The Chunin Exam preliminaries proceeded methodically, and aside from the first bout, the other matchups seemed to be more normal.
"Second match, Temari versus Tenten."
This battle had little suspense; all of Tenten's ninja tools, accumulated as one of the wealthiest figures in the Ninja World, were blown away by Temari's Wind Release Jutsu, leaving her with almost no chance to fight back. Temari won easily and even had the leisure to tease Konoha a bit.
Unfortunately, the next battle made Temari's face change dramatically.
"Third match, Kankuro versus Uchiha Sasuke!"
This fight was much more spectacular, but unfortunately, after Uchiha Sasuke used Fire Release Ninjutsu to burn off the Puppet Strings, he fought Kankuro with no contest.
"Fourth match, Aburame Shino versus Yamanaka Ino."
In this match, Aburame Shino didn't even need to do much; just a swarm of bugs forced Yamanaka Ino to forfeit.
"Match five, Akimichi Choji versus Nara Shikamaru!"
Before Nara Shikamaru could even raise his hand to forfeit, Akimichi Choji sacrificed himself by loudly declaring, "I forfeit!"
"Match six, Uzumaki Naruto versus Inuzuka Kiba."
This was a battle with a unique aroma.
Inuzuka Kiba had the advantage, but because of his overly sensitive sense of smell, he caught a whiff of an unpleasant odor and was easily defeated by Uzumaki Naruto.
"Match seven, Hyuga Neji versus Hyuga Hinata."
Perhaps because they had teamed up in the Forest of Death, Hyuga Neji didn't go too harshly on Hyuga Hinata, but he still mercilessly defeated his little cousin.
Uehara Naraku watched as Hyuga Hinata was carried off and then looked at Hyuga Neji with a sigh of regret, thinking, "How many have survived after defeating Hinata?"
Uehara suddenly remembered what he had done in the Forest of Death.
Defeating any of the Konoha Twelve was undeniably a richly rewarding achievement, yet the system only gave a hundred gold coins for defeating Hinata.
"No worries, he won't die."
"Even if he does, there's always the reviving skill."
"Match eight, Haruno Sakura versus Haku!"
Gekkou Hayate's voice interrupted Uehara Naraku's thoughts. He glanced at Haku beside him and meaningfully nodded, saying, "Don't waste time, finish it quickly; I want to see the next match."
"Understood."
Haku flipped onto the field.
Just the agility of his taijutsu showed his prowess, and combined with Haku's lovely, endearing appearance and Ice Release Bloodline, someone in the corner couldn't stop licking their lips.
Disguised as a Hidden Sound Jonin, Orochimaru licked his lips, gazing enviously at the young ninja below: "Whether it's this boy named Haku or the little kid named Kaguya Kimimaro, they're both excellent vessels!"
Both the Ice Release Bloodline and Dead Bone Pulse Bloodline have the potential to become his vessel.
It's a pity that seizing the bodies of Kaguya Kimimaro and Haku is even more challenging than taking Uchiha Sasuke's.
After going on stage, Haruno Sakura lacked confidence; even though her teammates fiercely encouraged her, she still sadly lost to Haku.
This Chunin Examination pre-selection tournament finally reached its climax!
Uehara Naraku's gaze slowly shifted, looking at the two ninjas he had beaten before, Gaara and Rock Lee, with a grin he couldn't hide.
The final match was the most exciting!
Perhaps only the battles Uehara Naraku and Kaguya Kimimaro couldn't conduct normally had a chance to compare with this one.
Rock Lee, having opened the Limit Gate, fiercely penetrated Gaara's Sand Armor, but ultimately faltered due to insufficient physical stamina.
From now on, Rock Lee would likely earn a title.
No one expected that just as Uehara Naraku was returning to the inn with Kaguya Kimimaro and Haku, planning how to spend the month before the Chunin Examination finals, two people came knocking.
Hatake Kakashi knocked on the door, leaning at the entrance looking at Uehara Naraku: "Uehara, just now I heard from those kids and Anko that your medical ninjutsu is superb. Can you help treat that kid from our village?"
If it weren't for having no other option and hearing praise from Mitarashi Anko and the Seventh Class kids about Uehara's medical ninjutsu, Kakashi wouldn't have come.
"Please!"
Might Guy swiftly emerged from behind Hatake Kakashi, deeply bowing to Uehara Naraku, pleading sincerely with tears streaming, "Please save that kid Lee; we'll be eternally grateful!"
"But…"
Uehara Naraku hesitated.
He wasn't sure if his treatment would be effective.
After all, Rock Lee's injury involved bones—something even that woman Tsunade couldn't handle. What could he do?
Although Uehara did have a side quest to help with treatment.
Moreover, the biggest problem was that Uehara Naraku worried about healing Rock Lee here, only to have a powered-up Lee kick him one day in the future.
Luckily, he still had several reviving and invincible skills…
Anyway, as long as he kept his level high enough.
Hatake Kakashi looked at Uehara Naraku and sighed, rubbing his forehead, and said quietly, "If you agree to try helping, I'll give you a signed collector's edition of Make-Out Paradise and the latest series of Make-Out Violence, limited release in the Ninja World…"
"What do you take me for?"
Uehara Naraku looked at Hatake Kakashi, furrowing his brow: "Alright, take me to check on him first; I can't promise I can heal him…"