"Well..." Hayate's eye corner saw the two proctors from the previous exams. "I don't want to say that the first two exams weren't demanding enough, but the truth is we still have too many applicants."
Almost every genius in the room had their eyes widen after hearing Hayate, but before they could even complain, Hayate ignored them and continued.
"Under the traditional rules of the exam, we have to have a preliminary test to reduce the number of applicants who'll proceed to the third exam."
"B-But..." a genin muttered, but its voice is being overlapped by Hayate's.
"As Lord Hokage previously mentioned, the number of honored guests will be observing you in the third exam, and this didn't include the fact that this year's Chunin Exam is far more special compared to previous years."
Hayate's eyes slightly shrink. "Surely your Jonin sensei mentioned this before they recommended you participate in this exam."
The genins turn quiet, as they were all previously informed by their sensei, but only this time did they fully comprehend their sensei's words.
"In order to not waste the honored guest's time, we must make the exam intense, tight, and fast-moving."
"So anyway... now that you know something of what it's really all about, anyone who doesn't feel up to the challenge, either physically or mentally, can walk away because the preliminaries will start now," Hayate said in a low but matter-of-fact tone.
"Now?!" exclaimed the genin teams who just arrived at the Central Tower before the time ran out and barely had any time to rest and recover from the intense battle they fought.
"Well..." Kabuto muttered as he raised his arm, attracting everyone's attention. "I'd like to forfeit."
The Leaf Genins were surprised, especially those who interacted with Kabuto before the first test started. They couldn't believe someone who failed the Chunin Exams multiple times would just forfeit like that, especially since he was close to passing the Chunin Exam.
Keimei, who secretly observes Kabuto, slightly narrowed her eyes but didn't comment, unlike her batchmates since she didn't have such interaction with Kabuto, and their relationship can be best described as strangers.
This also doesn't include the fact that she was greatly suspicious about Kabuto.
Hisateru glances at Kabuto, and like Keimei, he is also suspicious of Kabuto. Unlike Keimei, who gets her suspicious with the information of the records of other ninjas from the Leaf and other villages, Kabuto shares Hisateru's suspicion of Kabuto due to the fact that the vibe around him is greatly familiar.
Still, Hisateru didn't have time to make a move against Kabuto as he focused more on dealing with Orochimaru, especially after he saw his teammates' terrible situation a few days ago.
"Kabuto Yakushi of the Leaf...?" Hayate muttered while looking at the list in his hand.
Hayate's eyes then landed on Kabuto, staring at him for a moment before speaking, "Okay, you can go."
Kabuto gives a slight nod before walking far away from the participants. Ino and others try to question Kabuto, but the latter just responds with the fact that he was tired and didn't have energy to continue.
Keimei already knew Kabuto was lying but didn't understand the reason for it. She suspected him of being a spy but didn't have concrete evidence.
'I should ask others to keep an eye on this person,' Keimei thought to herself while taking her eyes off Kabuto to avoid the latter noticing.
"I almost forgot to mention," Hayate said, refocusing everyone's attention.
"From here onwards you fight as individuals, not as members of teams. So you can make decisions that are right for you without worrying about anyone else."
Hayate's eyes scan the crowd. "So... Anyone else who wants to forfeit? Just raise your arm."
No one raises their hands and instead focuses their eyes, staring at Hayate, waiting for the latter to continue.
Minato and people behind him also noticed the abnormality of Kabuto, but right now it wasn't time to take action, but with just one glance, he already commanded Anko to do a background investigation of Kabuto.
Minato didn't want to be paranoid, but when he looked at Kabuto, Minato felt that Kabuto was slippery like a snake, and the only person who gave such a feeling to him was Orochimaru.
Of course he could be wrong, but right now after learning Orochimaru has the guts to attack Fugaku and Mikoto's children in the middle of the Chunin Exam as well as inside the Leaf without anyone knowing.
Minato didn't dare to get careless and plan to be as thorough as possible.
"Let's not waste any more time. The Preliminaries Exam begins!"
Everyone's attention focuses on the screen at the wall where two genies' names show and which one is going to fight first.
"Sasuke Uchiha vs. Yoroi Akado!" Hayate calls out as the two genin names flash on the screen.
"You're up, jerk; make it quick," Hisateru jibes to an unresponsive Sasuke as he makes his way down.
He never would have refused to fight, but at least he knows he isn't going against Keimei or Naruto. As much as it annoys him to admit that they're probably the two participants in the room, he isn't ready to fight yet.
He already experienced a terrible defeat at the hands of Keimei, and while he didn't manage to fight Naruto yet, with the information he knows about him from his father and sister, Sasuke knows that Naruto isn't someone to look down on.
"Unless absolutely necessary, don't use your Sharingan in the next round." Kakashi's warning echoes in Sasuke's mind as he makes his way down the steps.
Minato watches on from his seat as Fugaku's son makes his way down to the arena floor.
'I just hope Kakashi's sure about this.' He'd applied a restrictive seal to the curse mark, and the boy had about three days to rest and replenish his strength. Hopefully it'll be enough to avoid any major problems.
"The two of you will be the first combatants of this round. Are there any objections?" Hayate asks calmly. He is met with silence as the two genin stare at one another.
"Very well then... Begin!" Hayate announces as he jumps back to avoid disturbing the two genin fighting.
Yoroi springs towards Sasuke swinging a kunai in his left hand. He slashes, swinging the weapon at Sasuke, who evades repeatedly.
Sasuke ducks as he dodges another chop and swings his fist into the older genin's stomach, sending him back, aiming a kick to the chest that sends him onto his back.
Sasuke dashes towards Yoroi, intending to finish the fight as soon as possible.
Yet before Sasuke could get closer, Yoroi, who manages to find his bearings, jumps straight towards Sasuke with one of his hands glowing with chakra.
Sasuke has a bad feeling about the hand and knows he has to avoid it at all costs or he will suffer from terrible consequences.
The seal that suppressed the Cursed Seal isn't really powerful and isn't the final product that Minato promised. It was just to prevent it from running amok until Minato finished creating the personalized seal he was creating.
Just as Yoroi's hands were about to touch Sasuke's face, the latter titled his head, dodging the hand before once again ducking and raising his leg to kick Yoroi's chin.
"Ughhh!"
Yoroi couldn't believe the fact that the teenager in front of him managed to dodge his hand and, not only that, kick his chin, sending him in the air.
As he twists helplessly, he gasps as he notices that Sasuke is behind him.
"Hey! That's..." Lee exclaims as he sees Sasuke behind his opponent in midair, Guy narrowing his eyes and glancing to Kakashi, who watches on.
Yoroi tries to swing an elbow, Sasuke evading this too and swinging a barrage of fists into the older genin's body before swinging a roundhouse kick into the boy's stomach, sending him crashing into the ground.
He lands on his feet, Hayate approaching his downed opponent and checking on him.
"The winner is Sasuke Uchiha," Hayate declares as the Yayori lies unconscious on the ground.
"Way to go, Sasuke!" Sakura exclaims loudly so that it resounds throughout the room.
The nearby genins rolled their eyes while those who came from the villages stared at Sakura with an annoyed expression on their faces.
"The dancing leaf Shadow, Kakashi," Guy said, turning his head to his old comrade, eyes narrowed.
"Don't look at me. I didn't teach him that," Kakashi responds plainly.
'He's gotten faster,' he observes.
"You've advanced to the finals then," Hayate congratulates him.
"Congratulations, Sasuke," Kaori said while her eyes hid deep worry, especially seeing the Cursed Seal on Sasuke's neck slightly glowing.
Elsewhere
"Ohhh yeah, that's the stuff. giggles"
The white-haired male adjusts his binoculars once more, attempting to get a better view of the sight below him, which he indulges himself with from a tree branch.
A screeching sound turns his head to the sight of a bird flying towards him, and as he catches the scroll it releases, he tries to keep hold of his binoculars but loses his balance as a result, tumbling into the fog and water below, emitting a loud splash. Feminine screams ring out as he lifts his head above the water, a fist meeting him square in the face.
Perfect...