章節 41: Chapter 41: The Third Exam Begins
The opening day of the third round of the Chunin Exams arrived.
Kirito reached the venue for the third exam early in the morning. By that time, the place was already packed with countless spectators seated in the towering auditorium, eagerly discussing the upcoming matches.
According to the instructions, Kirito and the other participants had to gather at the competition venue first. This was not only to reconfirm the matchups but also to introduce the competitors to the audience.
"Team Seven doesn't seem to be here..." Shikamaru observed the group of participants and noticed that Sasuke and Naruto were missing.
"My name is Shiranui Genma. Due to unforeseen circumstances with the previous referee, Gekko Hayate, I will be officiating for the third test."
A ninja with long brown hair, a blue ninja hat, and a senbon clenched between his teeth addressed the participants.
"There must be trouble again..." Shikamaru muttered. "You don't replace the referee unless something serious has happened. This doesn't bode well."
Genma scanned the contestants and continued, "You should already understand the rules. The third test is an elimination round, and the winner will advance to the next match. However, whether you qualify as a Chunin will depend on your overall performance throughout the test."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
As Genma explained the competition rules, several fireworks exploded in the sky, signaling the beginning of the third round.
"The third exam is about to begin. Let's face the audience," Genma announced, turning his back to the contestants.
Suddenly, a loud scream echoed through the venue as a black figure sprang out from the entrance, crashed onto the ground, and skidded to a stop in front of the group due to inertia.
"This guy... what kind of entrance is that?" Shikamaru muttered as he looked at the dazed Naruto sprawled on the ground.
Shikamaru, standing closest, helped Naruto up. But as soon as Naruto recovered, he pointed behind him in panic and yelled, "Everyone, run! The cows! The cows are coming!"
"Huh? What are you even talking about?" Shikamaru asked, puzzled by Naruto's behavior.
I forgot about this... Naruto must've been chased all the way here by a bull, Kirito thought, quickly piecing the situation together.
Naruto, still flustered, suddenly noticed the atmosphere had shifted. Turning his head, he realized the other participants were standing around him, staring at him silently.
"Huh? Huh? Where's Sasuke?" Naruto blurted out, looking around.
"Late, just like you. He hasn't shown up yet," Shikamaru replied.
"Alright, you two!" Genma interrupted, "Enough chatting! Stand straight and face the audience!"
Naruto finally noticed the towering stands surrounding the competition grounds. The spectators were cheering enthusiastically, their voices echoing across the venue.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, all the participants instinctively straightened up. Today's matches weren't just about advancing to the rank of Chunin—they would be remembered by everyone watching, for better or worse.
This could be total social destruction, Kirito thought, feeling the pressure of so many eyes on him.
"In this competition, you are the stars!" Genma declared, leading the participants toward the Hokage's viewing platform, where the Third Hokage and the Fourth Kazekage were seated.
At the highest point of the stands, the Kazekage of the Hidden Sand Village had arrived late. After a brief exchange of pleasantries with the Third Hokage, the latter stood up and announced the start of the third exam:
"Dear guests, thank you for coming to Konoha to witness the Chunin Selection Exam. Today, seven candidates who passed the pre-selection will compete in the official matches. Please enjoy the event!"
Genma held up a match list for everyone to see. "This is today's lineup. Please remember it."
"Wait... Sasuke still isn't here. What happens now?" Naruto asked anxiously.
"If he doesn't show up by the start of his match, it'll be a forfeit," Genma replied.
Naruto grew visibly worried. Sasuke wouldn't skip the competition unless something serious happened, he thought.
On the other side of the field, Gaara's team glanced at Kirito. They all knew that if Sasuke didn't show up, Gaara would face Kirito directly.
Despite a night of treatment, the frostbite from Kirito's earlier attack still lingered on Gaara's skin. He was seething with anger, but Kirito's strength and the presence of the Fourth Kazekage forced him to restrain himself.
Genma continued, "The rules are simple: there are no rules. The match ends when one side either dies or surrenders. If I determine the fight is over, you must stop immediately. Understood?"
With everyone's silent agreement, Genma announced the first match: "Naruto Uzumaki versus Kirito. The two of you, stay here. Everyone else, head to the lounge."
Naruto turned to Kirito with a determined look. He had trained hard under Jiraiya and learned to tap into the power of the Nine Tails. Confidently, he declared, "This time, I'll win! I'll fight Sasuke in the next round!"
"Naruto," Kirito said, smiling as he cracked his knuckles, "don't hold back. This is going to hurt."
"Don't underestimate me!" Naruto shot back. "I'm not the same as before!"
As the two squared off, Genma raised his hand and shouted: "Let the first round begin!"
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