32 Kunoichi stands tall...

Hayate turned towards the genins and spoke.

"There's something...I'd like you all to do..."

"Before the third exam."

"And that is a preliminary to the third exam, with participation in the main battle on the line."

"Because... This time around, perhaps the first and second exams were easy. There are a few too many people left you see..."

"Thus, in accordance with the rules of the Chuunin Exams..."

"A preliminary will be held in order to reduce the number advancing."

"As Hokage-sama had said before, many guests will be coming to the third exam."

"So, we can't have long pointless matches and our time is limited as well."

"Therefore, those of you not in top physical condition..."

(cough!)

(cough!)

(cough!)

(cough!)

("Hey is he okay?") some genins thought as they saw Hayate cough badly.

"Excuse Me!" Hayate apologized, after which he continued.

"Those of you who wish to drop out, please speak up now."

"The prelims will begin immediately, so..."

...

"I forgot to mention this, but it will be individual battles from now on."

"It is your decision, so feel free to raise your hands and drop out," Hayate concluded.

..

At this moment, a man in the group of genins raised his hand.

"Excuse me... I'll quit."

...

"Let's see... "

"You're Yakushi Kabuto of the Leaf Village, correct?"

"Then, you may step back."

"Yes!" Kabuto confirmed as he left the place.

("He must have been collecting information for Orochimaru again...") Naruto thought.

Meanwhile, Sasuke and Shikamaru also saw him leave the hall.

...

...

"I've seen that face quite a few times."

"As I recall, I think he dropped out of the main battle before, as well."

"What in the world is he thinking?" Hiruzen spoke his thoughts aloud.

"Anko..." Morino nudged her upon which Anko started flipping through her papers.

"Yakushi Kabuto!"

"According to the data, he has failed six straight times..."

Hiruzen looked at Anko and asked...

"What about his background?"

"From his time in the academy, he was a student who did not really stand out, and his grades were ordinary."

"He finally passed the graduation exam on his third try."

"After that, as for the missions he carried out, two C_ranks and fourteen D-ranks."

"It's not a battle record to write home about."

"However..." Anko paused as she looked at Hiruzen.

"However?..."

"It's about before the Academy."

"Hmm?"

"Do you remember the story..."

"About the one boy brought back from the Kikyo Pass battle?"

"I remember..."

"So he's that boy?..."

Hiruzen asked as he watched the departing back of Kabuto as he left the hall.

...

...

...

"Now then, we will begin the preliminaries."

"The preliminaries to come will be one on one individual battles."

"In other words, actual battle format."

"Since the one from before left..."

"There are now exactly twenty people, so we will conduct ten battles."

"The winners will be able to advance to the third exam."

"There are no rules at all."

"You will fight until someone dies, collapses... or admits defeat."

"And... please admit defeat right away if you don't want to die."

"However, in case I judge that a match is over..."

(cough!)

"Err... I don't want to needlessly increase the dead bodies,"

"So I will intervene and stop the match or something to that effect."

"What holds the key to your destinies is...." Hayate stopped as he turned towards Anko.

Anko nodded as she spoke into the radio...

"Open it!"

(Grrrr.....) A stone on the wall ascended, revealing a giant black screen...

"This."

"The names of two foes will be randomly selected and be displayed on this electronic signboard."

"Now then, let's get straight down to it."

"And announce the two names for the first battle."

...

The screen flashed as the names kept cycling...

All the genins felt nervous at the moment until...

the screen displayed

< Akado Yoroi Vs. Uchiha Sasuke >

"I couldn't ask for more...." Yoroi smirked.

The two separated themselves from the group of genins and walked forward, towards the stage.

"For the first battle, Akado Yoroi and Uchiha Sasuke have been selected."

"No objections right" Hayate tried to confirm.

"None!" both Yoroi and Sasuke answered at the same time.

"Now then, we will begin the first battle."

(cough!)

"Everyone other than the two foes, please move to the upper area." Hayate gestured towards the standing area above 5 metres from the floor.

..

"Now then, please begin."

<Sharingan>

Sasuke opened his eyes as he saw Yoroi gather a sizeable amount of chakra onto his hand.

"Hmph!" Sasuke snorted as he vanished.

"Huh?" Yoroi stared

"Go Sasuke-kun, let the power of youth EXPLODE!" Lee shouted upon which Sasuke appeared beneath Yoroi.

Sasuke smiled as he delivered a kick right to Yoroi's chin.

Yoroi's body lifted off the ground followed by Sasuke.

< Hidden Taijutsu - Lion's Barrage! >

Sasuke unleashed a torrent of kicks as he finally landed a huge kick which sent Yoroi almost into the floor.

"Sasuke-kun, WOOOOO!!!!" Ino shouted.

Orochimaru stared from the standing area with excitement written all across his face as he breathed in and out at a rapid rate.

Sasuke was able to defeat Yoroi due to his increased speed and agility which had improved quite a lot during the training with Naruto, Haku, and Lee.

Back in the forest, Sasuke could not defeat Dosu, as Dosu's jutsu countered his technique perfectly but that in no way meant that he was not strong.

..

Hayate bent down towards Yoroi.

("Looks like ther was no need to check...") Hayate thought.

"I'm stopping the match from going any further..."

"Therefore, the winner of the first battle, Uchiha Sasuke....."

"passes the preliminaries...." Hayate concluded.

..

Gai looked towards Sasuke.

("He finished it in two moves, what a genius...")

("Kakashi... this boy reminds me of when you were a kid...")

Gai thought as he watched Sasuke climbed the staircase.

The medics ran in and took Yoroi on a stretcher, leaving the stage clear for the next match.

Soon the matches went by...

Second round - Abumi Zaku Vs. Aburame Shino

Third round - Misumi Tsurugi Vs. Kankuro

until...

(beep)

< Haruno Sakura Vs. Yamanaka Ino >

Sakura and Ino were shocked to see their names.

Both of them turned their faces toward each other at the same time,

...

The scene changes to the battle stage where Sakura and Ino faced each other.

Naruto shouted towards Sakura.

"Sakura! Good LUck! Don't Lose!"

Hayate looked towards both of them and then announced...

>>BEGIN<<

Sakura reached into her pocket quickly as she sent two kunais flying straight towards Ino.

Ino reacted by taking her Kunai out and deflecting both, during which Sakura covered the ground between them both.

Ino realized that Sakura had shortened the distance between them both, dodged towards the back in response meanwhile Sakura followed her relentlessly.

They both got into close-range combat where they both used only their limbs to face each other off until Ino had managed to land a punch.

Sakura lost her footing as her face contorted in pain

"You..." she stared at Ino in anger causing Ino to retreat a step or two.

Sakura thought back to how Ino had stood up for her in the past, and how both of them were extremely close until Sasuke came into their lives.

"At this point in time..."

"I don't even plan to fight over Sasuke with you."

"You and Sasuke don't go together, and I am totally stronger than you!"

"You are beneath me to even notice!" Sakura declared loudly, with a strong intent to fight.

"Sakura! Do you know whom you're talking to?!"

"Don't press your luck, crybaby Sakura!" Ino shouted back.

At this point, Sakura once again thought back to how she started admiring Ino after she had given Sakura a ribbon to tie up her hair...

Slowly she remembered to the scene when they had both met again after getting their headbands the same evening.

"I won't lose to you anymore, Ino."

"No matter what happens, I won't lose to you either, Sakura!" Ino replied with a smile.

Sakura then presented a ribbon in her hand towards Ino.

"I'm giving back the ribbon."

"Besides, a headband is something you put on your head, right?" Ino asked.

"From here on, I'm no longer a girl who will run after you, Ino."

"The moment I wore this protector on my head..."

"It will be as a kunoichi who can't lose to you..." Sakura concluded.

"Me, too" Ino declared as she shook Sakura's hand with the ribbon in between both of them.

..

At this moment Sakura took off her protector and tied it towards her forehead.

Following which Ino performed the same actions.

("A fair fight once for all!") They both screamed in their minds as they took off.

(Bang!) Sakura and Ino had parried at the same time.

"Hmph!" Sakura snorted as she jumped back

< Ninja technique - Clone Jutsu >

(poof), (poof), (poof) Three Sakuras appeared as they rushed towards Ino.

Ino also performed the clone jutsu and ran towards Sakura.

(bang!) the clones clashed as they all disappeared.

< Genjutsu - Eternal Thousand Miles of Cherry-Blossom >

("hehe!") Sakura snickered.

..

After the smoke cleared, Ino stood in a daze, unaware of what was happening around her.

Hayate walked up to Ino and checked on her.

(cough!)

"The winner of the fourth battle... Haruno Sakura"