章節 87: Hayate Gekkō

The room fell silent. Some participants, like Uzumaki Naruto and Tenten, appeared confused. In contrast, Rock Lee nodded thoughtfully, fully agreeing with the Hokage's words.

In any world, the law of the jungle prevailed: the strong thrive, and the weak perish. Without strength, dreams of peace and friendship were nothing more than empty fantasies. A famous saying echoed in Lee's mind: What cannot be won on the battlefield cannot be secured at the negotiating table.

"Enough talking! Just tell us how to fight," Gaara's cold, detached voice cut through the silence. His gaze remained emotionless, even in the presence of the Hokage, as though nothing in the world could stir compassion within him.

The Third Hokage was unfazed, his expression warm as he looked at Gaara. "Very well. I'll leave the instructions for the third exam to the chief examiner."

Suddenly, a figure darted into view, moving like lightning. The man knelt before the Hokage, his posture respectful. "Hayate Gekkō, at your service," he said in a quiet voice.

"Thank you," the Hokage replied, retreating to his earlier position.

Hayate stood, his expression weary, and addressed the group. Despite his soft tone and persistent coughing, the air around him was commanding. The candidates immediately recognized his status as a seasoned Jōnin.

"Before the third exam, there's one matter to settle," he began, pausing briefly to cough.

"What is it?" Nara Shikamaru asked, his irritation clear. "We passed the second exam—why not proceed directly to the third?"

"Yeah, what's the deal?" another voice called out, echoing the sentiment of many others in the room.

Hayate remained unperturbed. "The first two exams were too lenient, and too many of you passed," he explained. "To adhere to the Chūnin Exam regulations, we need to conduct a preliminary round to reduce the number of participants. The third exam, as Hokage-sama mentioned, will be attended by many distinguished guests, and we must work within time constraints."

He coughed again, the sound harsh and strained, prompting some participants to glance at each other, wondering if he was the one unfit to continue.

"Those of you who feel unwell or unable to proceed may withdraw now. The preliminary round will begin immediately."

"Immediately?" Inuzuka Kiba exclaimed. "We just got through the second exam! This is too much!"

"Yeah, give us a break!" another participant shouted.

"Silence!" Hayate's voice, though soft, was laced with authority. The pressure of a Jōnin's aura filled the room, silencing complaints instantly. Several participants paled and broke into a cold sweat, their earlier protests vanishing.

"From here on, the battles will be one-on-one," Hayate continued. "If you wish to withdraw, this is your last chance."

"Who would quit at this stage?" Uchiha Sasuke scoffed, his voice cold.

Just then, Yakushi Kabuto raised his hand. "I've decided to withdraw," he announced, smiling as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

The room fell into a hushed murmur.

Lee glanced at Kabuto, his expression thoughtful. He was aware of Kabuto's strength—possibly at the Jōnin level. However, participating in a one-on-one battle would risk exposing his secrets, especially under the watchful eyes of the Third Hokage. Kabuto had calculated the risks and chosen to play it safe.

"Are you Yakushi Kabuto of Konoha Village?" Hayate asked, flipping through the roster. "You may leave now."

"Thank you." Kabuto nodded and exited calmly, showing no trace of regret or hesitation.

"Kabuto-senpai! Why are you quitting?" Naruto shouted, visibly upset. He had grown fond of Kabuto and couldn't understand his decision.

Kabuto paused, offering Naruto a kind smile. "I'm sorry, Naruto. My body is too injured to continue. Besides, the next rounds are life-threatening battles, and I'm not ready to die yet."

Naruto frowned, his shoulders slumping as he fell silent.

Meanwhile, the Hokage watched Kabuto leave, his brows furrowing slightly. "That boy has withdrawn before during past exams. What is he thinking?" he murmured.

"Yakushi Kabuto has failed six times in a row," Mitarashi Anko noted.

"What's his background?" the Hokage asked.

"He was an average student at the Academy," Anko explained. "He barely passed after three attempts. Since then, he's completed 14 D-rank missions and two C-rank missions—nothing remarkable. However…"

"However?"

"Before entering the Academy, he was the sole survivor of the Kikyo Mountain battle. He was later adopted by a Jōnin from the medical corps," Anko revealed.

The Hokage nodded thoughtfully. "I see. Keep an eye on him."

"Yes, Hokage-sama," Morino Ibiki responded with a bow.

After Kabuto's withdrawal, no one else stepped forward. Each candidate had fought hard to reach this point, and giving up now would render their efforts meaningless.

"Very well," Hayate said. "The preliminary round will now begin. This will be a one-on-one combat round, with 20 participants fighting in 10 matches. The winners will advance to the third exam."

His gaze swept across the group as he continued. "There are no rules. A match ends when one participant is incapacitated, surrenders, or dies. If you value your life, consider withdrawing now."

The room was tense, but no one spoke.