The Strongest Naruto

Chapter 39 - Chuunin Exam(10)

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Chuunin Exam Arena(Preliminaries)...

"First off, for the second test, congratulations on passing."

Gai, who was beside Kakashi, commented with a smirk "Your team isn't too bad, maybe they were lucky. But as far as my team is around, getting any further is impossible. From now on, it's all about reality. Well, with youth there are sweet times and sour times, eh Kakashi…"

Kakashi who heard Gai replied with a chuckle "You're too confident, Gai. You should be praying you don't encounter any of my students instead of bragging."

"What did you just say?" Gai was offended

Kakashi just answered by raising his palms.

'Tsk! Not bad, Kakashi! You're cool in that way and it really gets on my nerves…' Gai thought with youth energy.

Hiruzen smiled as they observed them, and Anko announced "Hokage-sama will now explain the third test. Listen carefully."

"..."

"For the coming third test, but before that I have to explain that there is something I'd like you to know. It concerns the true reason for the exam."

"???" The genins wondered in confusion

Hiruzen continued "Why do we have all the alliance countries taking the exam together?"

"To promote friendship among countries"

"To raise shinobi level."

"I don't want you to be confused about the true meaning…"

"This exam is a replacement for war among the allied countries."

"?!"

"What does that mean?" Lee among the genins confused asked

Hiruzen continued "If you go back in time, the current allies were enemies who fought each other over who would rule. In order to prevent wasteful fighting, the stage that these countries choose for battle, that is the origin of this chuunin exam."

The genins were quietly listening as Hiruzen continued "It is a fact that this exam decides which Shinobis have what it takes to become chuunin. But on the other hand, this exam has another side where each country's shinobis risks their own life to protect their land's prestige."

"Prestige?" Ino asked

Hiruzen nodded "Watching this third exam will be leaders and influential individuals from many countries who make up the clients of the shinobi. And the leaders of the countries will also be there to watch each of your battles."

"If the strength of a country is clear, that country will receive more clients and conversely, if seen as weak, they will lose clients. And this will signal to potential enemy countries that 'Our village has this much power.' so it will send a political message to the outsiders."

Kiba agitated and asked "Yeah, but why?! Why do we have to risk our life in battle?!!"

Naruto yawned and said "It's obviously implied that the genins will display their full strength, how can one display it if one doesn't put their life on the line?"

Hiruzen smirked and nodded "The strength of the country is the strength of the village, the strength of the village is the strength of the shinobi."

"A shinobi's true strength is born only through life-risking battle."

"This exam is a place to see a country's strength and to show off your own strength. It only has meaning because lives are at risk. And that's why those that have come before you have fought in the chuunin exam for this dream that is meaningful."

Tenten asks in confusion "But then why? Why do you say stuff about it being for 'friendship'?"

Hiruzen looked down and replied "I said it in the beginning, I don't want you to confuse the purpose of this. By losing life and establishing balance. This is the shape of friendship in the world of shinobi. Without strength as foundation to your friendship, you risk being vulnerable and shinobis will take advantage of that."

"..." The genins sweated as they listened

Hiruzen continued "Before we begin the third test I will tell you one more thing. This is not just a test but a life risking battle with your dreams and your country's prestige on the line."

Shikamaru yawned as if what Hiruzen just asked was an obvious thing.

Gaara commented rudely "I don't care what it is, just hurry up and tell us what this life risking battle entails."

"Yes… I'd like to explain the third test but actually…"

Cough! A ninja interrupted him with a cough and kneeled down "I aplogize, Hokage-sama… From here on, as the referee, will you please allow me, Gekkou Hayate…"

Hiruzen turned his gaze on him and nodded "by all means…"

Hayate stood up and turned his attention to the genins "Hello everyone, I'm Hayate. Before the third test, there's something I'd like to tell you to do."

'What?' The genins looked in confusion

"It's a preliminary for the third test to decide who gets to participate in the main event."

Sakura in confusion inquired "Sensei… I don't understand this preliminary but… why aren't all the people here allowed to participate in the next test?"

"Um… because the first and second test may have been too easy this year… we have too many people remaining… According to the chuunin exam rules, we must have a preliminary and reduce the number of participants for the third test."

"No way…"

"As Hokage-sama indicated earlier, there will be many guests at the third test… So the fight could take a long, we are limited in time."

"So… Anyway, those who feel like quitting after these explanations, please come forward now since we will be starting the preliminaries."

Kabuto stepped forward and with a smile said "Umm… I'm going to quit…"

"!!!" They were surprised to see him surrender.

"Um… You're Yakushi Kabuto-kun from the leaf, right? You may leave now."

Kabuto nodded in reply and proceeded to go out.

Anko commented "I've seen him before, didn't he quit during the final test last year? What's he thinking? Yakushi, Kabuto's data… he's failed 6 straight times."

Hiruzen asked, glancing at Anko, "What kind of data is that?"

"Since his academy days he was a student who didn't stand out much, his grades were average. He finally graduated on his third try. His completed missions are, C-rank twice, D-rank 14 times. No spectacular battle history here but…"

"But?"

"It's about before he entered the academy. Do you remember? That young boy was brought back from the battle at the bell-flower pass."

Hiruzen nodded "I do. As I remember, a jounin member of the medical team brought back a child of the enemy who had survived the battle. So he is that child…"

Cough! Hayate explained "Since we now have 20 entrants, we will conduct 10 matches and the winners will advance to the third test."

"There are basically no rules. The fight continues until one of you dies or is knocked out or admits your defeat. If you don't want to die then quickly acknowledge your defeat. But when I decide that the winner has clearly been established, I'll jump in and stop the fight so we don't pointlessly increase the amount of corpses."

[First Match, Uchiha Sasuke vs Akado Yoroi]

"These two please come to the arena and the rest up the stage."

"Fight Start!"

As soon as the fight was signalled to start, Akado Yoroi reached out for a kunai to prepare attacking Sasuke

But Sasuke used [Body Flicker] to appear beside Yoroi and discharged a wave of lightning his way coming out from his arms he said "[Lightning Style: Electric Current]"

This caught Yoroi off guard and was electrocuted "GHhhhhhhh!!!!!!"

Yoroi screamed in pain as he tried to struggle, while Sasuke simply discharged more lightning "Ghhhhhh! I!!!" He struggled to give up but he couldn't in a few more second he finally collapsed to the ground

Thud!

Hayate who was watching the match, surprised but then coughed "*Cough* The winner of the first match, Uchiha Sasuke."

Naruto, on the second floor watching, chuckled, "Well, that was easy." then heard a voice from his side "It was indeed."

Naruto smiled as he heard the voice "Haku! I missed you!"

Haku blushed seeing everyone looking their way as Naruto said that "I-I… missed you too…"

"I love you."

Haku turned more red than usual and nodded. Meanwhile, Ino, Karin, and Hinata watching their sweet interaction were having their hearts broken.

"What are you doing here?"

Haku got a hold of herself and replied "We're here as examiners too."

"I see… There's quite a few people I think will be enjoyable to watch."

Haku nodded and smiled as she saw the girls on his side. "Who are these girls?"

"Hm?" Naruto turned her back to Haku and introduced them one by one "These are my friends. Yamanaka Ino, Uzumaki Karin, and Hyuuga Hinata."

Haku's next action caused Naruto to be dumbfounded a bit as she wrapped her arms around Naruo's neck behind him and laid her chin on top of Naruto's shoulder as she smiled "I basically know what's going on based on their gazes at you."

"This…" Naruto panicking didn't know what to say and turned his head in Haku's direction with their faces close to each other.

Haku, staring at his eyes, smiled and said "You're mine, I'm not allowing you to have another one."

"Hak… mp!" and kissed him in front of everyone that shocked them.

Naruto fought back and brought his face forward to get the advantage which forced Haku to back away as she covered her mouth.

Naruto licked his lips and said as he smirked "Alright. I'm sorry for thinking about it."

Haku turned her face away in embarrassment and acted like a tsundere "Hm… A-Alright… G-Good that you know. I-I have to go to the comfort room."

Naruto laughed at Haku who was running away. "I didn't know Haku could react that way. So cute."

The girls who like Naruto got their heart broken by the kiss, and knew that their chances dropped just now.

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(A/N: So? Where do you guys think this is going? *Wink* Leave a power stone if you like the story. Thanks!)