*Tsurugi Misumi. The first sacrifice? Recycling trash by throwing him to Gaara to let off some steam...*
Daigan cast a mocking glance at Yakushi Kabuto and his companion.
"Kabuto, what's with that Sand Ninja? His killing intent is so strong. Didn't we already..." the Otogakure spy grumbled under his breath, sensing something was wrong.
"Misumi-senpai," Yakushi Kabuto interrupted his temporary "teammate," adjusting his glasses and smiling. "Please don't say things unrelated to the Chunin Exam. It's your turn. If you perform well, you might even surpass me in Lord Orochimaru's eyes."
"Don't get ahead of yourself, you lucky bastard. You're just in favor for now. I'll make you realize that your seniors deserve respect!"
With that, Tsurugi Misumi leaped down into the arena without a second thought.
A man with limited knowledge, who understood neither himself nor his enemy, nor even the value of his own teammates. He would go to his death without ever knowing why he was abandoned.
***
Team Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara had shocked the Konoha proctors by passing the Forest of Death exam in only ninety-seven minutes, beating the previous record by more than four hours.
Gaara, in particular, who emerged completely unscathed, put everyone on edge.
It was a feat that even some of the Chunin proctors present couldn't accomplish, yet a Genin had done it with ease. It was truly astonishing.
Gekko Hayate looked at the ominous Gaara and frowned. "Because you've all signed liability waivers, no one will say anything if a contestant dies in battle. However, malicious injury is still not permitted. I hope you will remember that."
Gaara remained impassive, staring at Tsurugi Misumi. His opponent's face was covered, making it impossible to read his thoughts.
"If there are no objections from either side, then... begin!"
Misumi quickly took several steps back, warily guarding against the murderous Gaara.
Gaara stood his ground, arms crossed, and motionless, as if unaware of his opponent's hostility. "It doesn't matter who you are," he said to himself. "Let me offer your blood to the sand."
The cork on the gourd behind him popped open, and clumps of yellow sand flowed out, circling around him. "Come on. I've waited long enough."
"Arrogant brat. You think you're so tough just because you beat a few weaklings?"
Tsurugi Misumi, whose body was his weapon, with every part modified for free extension and contraction, was not weak. He possessed the resolve to sacrifice himself without hesitation if necessary.
He lowered his upper body and charged at Gaara in a wide arc. As soon as he got close, his foot landed on a patch of soft sand, nearly causing him to slip and fall.
Misumi leaped nimbly to avoid it, but before he could breathe a sigh of relief, a whip of sand wrapped around his ankle and slammed him hard onto the ground.
"Is that all you've got? How boring."
Disappointed, Gaara waved his hand, giving the blood-spitting Misumi no chance to recover. The sand crawled up from his ankle, and in a few seconds, it had completely enveloped the struggling Misumi.
"Sand Waterfall Imperial Funeral!"
As Gaara clenched his fist, the pressure of the sand increased exponentially, crushing Tsurugi Misumi, who was trapped in the Sand Coffin, into a bloody pulp.
"That was gruesome," Daigan muttered with a frown. Though he had known about this technique, seeing it in person for the first time was truly memorable.
Hopefully, by easily killing Misumi, Gaara would vent some of his uncontrollable killing intent and not come looking for trouble with anyone else.
"The winner is Gaara!"
Gekko Hayate, standing nearby, wiped a few splatters of blood off himself and announced the result with displeasure.
It wasn't that the proctors didn't want to stop the senseless killing; Misumi was defeated so quickly that he was dead before anyone could react. There was no time to intervene.
The medical team probably wouldn't be needed. Even collecting the body would be a hassle.
Deaths had occurred in previous joint Chunin Exams, but one this gruesome was a first.
Gaara, having just killed a man, acted as if nothing had happened. He didn't even wait for Gekko Hayate's announcement before silently walking toward the stairs.
Konoha's Team 8, who had already witnessed Gaara's cruelty, felt a pang of pity. The other Konoha candidates were genuinely terrified.
"That senior who ran into him was really unlucky," remarked Nara Shikamaru, who knew a little about the Sand Ninja's ways but had still underestimated Gaara's power. The seemingly strong Misumi had been defeated even faster than Yamanaka Ino. "Why is this year's Chunin Exam full of monsters?"
Akimichi Choji, who had even forgotten to eat his snacks, asked nervously, "Shikamaru, should I just forfeit later? Better to be embarrassed than to die, right?"
"What are you talking about?" Sarutobi Asuma took a deep drag from his cigarette and exhaled a puff of smoke. "Don't worry. If your life is in real danger, I'll step in and save you."
"Like with that thick-eyebrowed kid?"
"Yeah. So just go and compete with peace of mind."
"I still have a bad feeling about this. And being all injured sucks. I can't even eat snacks!"
"One barbecue meal. My treat."
"Really? It's a deal!"
The promise of a free meal was the best reassurance there was.
Having finally placated his subordinate, the Jonin sighed in relief and looked toward the Sand Ninja.
The only Sand candidates who hadn't fought yet were two kunoichi, Chi and Sana. They probably weren't bloodthirsty monsters like Gaara.
Elsewhere, Haruno Sakura looked at the remaining opponents and felt a little relieved.
Uzumaki Naruto, who had just heard about a contestant dying in the exam, was now faced with the living reality and was too shocked to speak.
But the preliminary round of the third exam wasn't over. The matches had to continue. Soon, the lineup for the ninth match was announced:
Chi versus Inuzuka Kiba!
"Finally, it's my turn! Another Sand Ninja..."
Inuzuka Kiba calmed the frightened and somewhat listless Akamaru and looked at the tall female Sand Ninja.
"Do your best, Kiba!" Hyuga Hinata cheered for her teammate.
"Don't worry, she doesn't look that strong!" Kiba puffed out his chest and said with a grin. "By the way, Shino, did you say something just now?"
"You wouldn't miss a teammate's encouragement. The reason for that is..."
"I'm off!"
Without waiting for Aburame Shino to finish his long-winded explanation, the decisive Inuzuka Kiba had already leaped down the stairs, ready to fight.
"...don't underestimate your opponent!"
Unfortunately, Kiba could no longer hear his teammate's advice.
-----
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