Kabuto Yakushi was a nearly perfect spy.
After spending only a short time with Team 7, he had already managed to integrate himself. His social skills were so convincing that no one felt uncomfortable around him.
The reason he appeared by Team 7's side was, of course, because of a request from Orochimaru.
After Naruto Uzumaki had beaten Orochimaru to a pulp, the legendary ninja's interest had been greatly sparked. He sought out the spy he had planted in the village, Kabuto Yakushi.
Kabuto's purpose in getting close to Team 7 was to investigate Naruto's secrets. The problem was, this Naruto Uzumaki had quite a few secrets, didn't he?
Kabuto did his job well. He only needed to ask a few leading questions to get a piece of information: that overwhelming power came with a time limit.
However, the recent conversation had made Sasuke suspicious. Kabuto knew he couldn't ask any more questions.
The team gradually quieted down as they traveled. With two powerful fighters like Sasuke Uchiha and Naruto Uzumaki, any enemies they encountered were basically dealt with in a single move.
-----
Central Tower.
Kabuto saw his two teammates waiting for him. He turned and said, "Naruto, it looks like we'll have to part ways here. See you at the third exam."
"Yeah, Senior Kabuto, let's all do our best!" Naruto reached out and shook Kabuto's hand. He looked at the smile on the white-haired young man's face and nodded seriously.
Kabuto turned, waved, and walked toward his two teammates. Their team had also passed the second exam.
Inside the tower, besides Team 7, there were two other teams already present: Team 8, Hinata Hyuga's squad, and the Sand Village team, which included Gaara.
"They got to the tower even earlier than us..." Sasuke Uchiha clenched his fists, watching Gaara stand alone by the window, exuding a lonely yet imposing aura.
Sasuke snorted in dissatisfaction. "He's just posturing."
Naruto said nothing. You're one to talk, he thought.
Hinata Hyuga saw Team 7 enter the tower. She jogged up to them and slowly lowered her head. "Naruto-kun, con... congratulations on passing the second exam..."
"Hey, Hinata! You guys got here fast." Naruto reached out and gently tidied Hinata's hair. "Did anything happen on the way? This exam was pretty dangerous."
"N-no." The little Byakugan girl felt his touch and stammered her reply, "We... we... Kiba and Shino... we can avoid a lot of danger."
As the ninja team with the most outstanding sensory abilities, Team 8 had completed the mission with relative ease. The only exception was the moment that astonishingly powerful aura had erupted across the entire forest. They had a unique advantage in the Forest of Death.
Besides them, the other teams that had passed the exam arrived one after another. Team 3 and Team 10 had both collected the Heaven and Earth scrolls.
After Rock Lee arrived at the central tower, his gaze frequently drifted to Team 7, but Neji Hyuga and Tenten seemed to be blocking him, so he didn't manage to come over and talk.
Sensing Rock Lee's gaze, Naruto looked back in confusion. This caused the boy in the green jumpsuit to instantly turn his head away, not daring to meet his eyes. It was clear that Lee was under a lot of psychological pressure.
When Naruto saw Neji Hyuga, the Byakugan user just gave him a cautious nod.
"Naruto, what's wrong?" Sasuke glanced at Naruto, then over at Team 3, a contemptuous sneer on his lips. "Oh, it's that group of skulkers."
When Team 7 had encountered Orochimaru, Team 3 was hiding nearby and had witnessed Naruto beat Orochimaru up.
"Don't underestimate them," Naruto said, shaking his head with a cautious look in his eyes. "Sasuke, the commotion from our fight with Orochimaru wasn't small, but in the entire forest, they were the only ones who managed to sneak up on us. That means they're very confident in their own strength, too."
Sasuke retorted in a low voice, "Hey, I'm not underestimating anyone. I just look down on them."
"Is there a difference?" Naruto asked, helplessly patting Sasuke's shoulder. "Let's go, let's go. Since we passed the second exam so smoothly, we should make Kakashi-sensei treat us to a meal at Ichiraku Ramen!"
-----
Kakashi Hatake was very pleased that his students had passed the second exam, and he didn't hold back his praise for their defeat of Orochimaru.
The white-haired Jonin leader was still shocked by the news, but the probing questions he wanted to ask about Orochimaru came to a sudden halt when he saw Karin. Team 7's ability to get into trouble was also very strong.
Kakashi listened in detail as the three of them explained the situation with the Grass Village. He looked at Karin, who was following behind them, and felt a headache coming on. "Taking in a rogue ninja from an allied village... this is no small matter."
You say it like it's a big deal... Naruto thought, glancing at his Jonin leader. Even a genin like Kabuto had figured out the Grass Village wouldn't dare object. How could a Jonin like Kakashi not see that?
Kakashi tapped his finger on Naruto's forehead protector. "I really don't know what to do with you brats! I'll help you solve this, but your ramen treat will have to be put on hold for now."
Sakura Haruno: "..."
Naruto Uzumaki: "..."
Sasuke Uchiha: "..."
"What are you thinking?" The white-haired Jonin tapped each of them on the forehead. "Because so many of you passed the second exam, there will be a preliminary round held before the third exam."
The Third Exam Preliminary Round. This was a series of one-on-one matches. Based on an automatic matching system, the genin would fight each other. Only the winners would be allowed to participate in the third exam, the main event of the Chunin Exams.
Unexpectedly, Kabuto withdrew before the preliminary round began.
Kakashi wasn't surprised. He just explained in a low voice, "If I remember correctly, that guy named Kabuto also withdrew before the third exam during the last test, didn't he?"
"I don't get it..."
Team 7 didn't have time to be surprised, because the referee for the preliminary round, Hayate Gekko, announced the participants for the first match: Sasuke Uchiha and Kabuto's teammate, Akado Yoroi.
Sakura nervously clenched her fists. "Sasuke-kun, you have to do your best!"
Naruto glanced at Akado Yoroi and spread his hands. "That guy doesn't look like much. Sasuke, if you lose, it'll be really embarrassing."
"Shut up!" Sasuke impatiently interrupted his teammate and jumped down into the arena. Couldn't Naruto just keep his mouth shut if he didn't know how to talk?
Standing in the arena, Akado Yoroi looked up at his opponent, a sinister smile on his lips. The lord he served had ordered him to force out all of Sasuke's strength. Clearly, this was an order he was happy to follow.
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Bonus:
Ibiki Morino: Who's the proctor for the third exam?
Anko Mitarashi: I think it's Hayate Gekko...
Ibiki Morino: Have you told him yet?
Anko Mitarashi: Not yet...
Ibiki Morino: You should find a medical ninja for him first. I have a feeling he might be in mortal danger.
Anko Mitarashi: It can't be that bad, can it?
Ibiki Morino: Hard to say. That kid doesn't hold back. If Hayate thinks one of his jutsu is too dangerous and steps in front of his opponent...
Anko Mitarashi: ...