Naruto: If I ask you to kill Sasuke, you will become a succubus?

Temari and Kankuro-sama were also there, and both were visibly relieved when they saw Gaara.

They feared Gaara and were worried about him.

Love is real, and so is disgust and fear.

Such completely opposite feelings can actually coexist. If no one takes the initiative to untie the knot in the end, it will probably be very difficult for all three of them.

In this situation, can it be resolved by just speaking out?

Kakashi-sensei's face suddenly flashed through my mind, and I quickly stopped thinking about it.

I ran to Naruto and Sasuke and checked their injuries carefully. Naruto had almost recovered. Apart from the dust and dirt on his clothes, there was no visible scar at all.

Sasuke was a little weak. I saw many scratches and bruises on his arms, but fortunately they were not serious flesh wounds.

"Are you guys okay? I met Brother Dou and heard him say you guys had a fight?"

Sasuke turned his face away and lowered his eyes: "Nothing... I was just not conscious at the time, so I did something stupid in the excitement."

Naruto also rarely agreed: "Yeah... me too."

Their attitude was very abnormal. When I was about to continue asking, Sasuke asked back, "You, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Gaara...we already know each other, he's been very kind to me, we're already friends!"

"Really..." Sasuke glanced into my eyes, "Did you use that?"

“Although I used it, but…”

"No need to explain." Sasuke interrupted me: "I know."

I hesitated: "What did you know?"

"Okay, don't stand here," Dou Ge reminded, "It would be too unfair if you didn't submit the test paper within the prescribed time because of chatting. If you have anything to say, let's talk about it after this test is over."

Time was indeed pressing and no one objected to his proposal.

We entered the tower in groups of three, opened the scrolls, and passed the second test without any incidents.

The person who emerged from the scroll to guide us was Teacher Iruka. He smiled and congratulated us, encouraged us to keep going, and then took us to another hall.

All the candidates who had passed the exam gathered here, and soon, Kabuto, Shikamaru and others, and Gaara and others also came in.

"Wait a moment," the examiners arranged us to stand in order, "Soon the Hokage will come to personally explain the matters concerning the third exam."

The one who arrived before the Hokage was the leading jonin of all the candidates who passed the exam.

When I saw Kakashi-sensei, I stiffened uncontrollably.

Fortunately, Naruto and Sasuke did not call him excitedly. He glanced at us, gave Naruto and Sasuke an encouraging smile, and then stood with the other leading ninjas.

At this moment, something was rubbing my fingers gently. I came to my senses and looked down, only to see a stream of fine sand flowing into my palm from the other side through the gap between people, condensing into a small rose.

I was slightly stunned and looked up in Gaara's direction. He was looking at me. Although his face was expressionless, I could understand the meaning of his expression.

He asked me, “Are you okay?”

Yes, he knows everything between Kakashi-sensei and I.

He's worried about me.

I smiled at him and shook my head gently to indicate that I was fine.

Gaara's team leader, the jonin, was also present. He glanced at me and frowned.

I heard Kankuro-sama cough dryly, and then he tried to persuade Gaara in a low voice, "Um... Gaara, for the time being, how about you hold back a little...?"

Sasuke suddenly held my hand, his palm pressed against mine, the gravel rose was crushed by him and retreated as Gaara wished.

Sasuke held me tightly and looked at Gaara coldly.

Gaara folded his arms, stared at him for a moment, and then was the first to calmly look away.

"Quiet!" The examiner of the second exam, Mitarashi Anko, stepped forward and said seriously, "Now, the Hokage will explain the relevant matters of the [third exam]. Listen carefully!"

As soon as she finished speaking, the Hokage, wearing a robe, slowly walked from the side door to the center.

Compared with the examiners beside him who were in their prime, the Hokage looked thin and short, but his temperament was like a mountain.

Whenever people see him, they feel protected and safe, and there will be no problems as long as he is around.

Maybe this is the temperament of Ying.

"Before explaining the third exam, I have to explain why this exam is being held." The Hokage looked at everyone and said, "The allied nations jointly held this exam, saying things like 'deepening the friendly relationship between each other' and 'enhancing the strength of ninjas'... But in fact, this exam is a microcosm of the war between the allied nations. So, you must never think that this is just an exam. It is also a battlefield where ninjas shoulder the prestige of the country and fight for their lives. You must be prepared to fight for your lives!"

Fighting for life?

As soon as this sentence came out, it caused a slight commotion among the candidates.

To prove... whose country is more powerful?

It's not that I cannot understand what Hokage said, but in the future, there will be no allies, or in other words, all ninjas will be allies.

In order to defeat Uchiha Sasuke, everyone gathered together regardless of their country or village and fought side by side.

As long as I have seen them protecting and supporting each other like brothers, if I imagine Shikamaru-sama and Kankuro-sama fighting for their lives to prove who is stronger, Konoha or the Sand Village...

...I always feel something is wrong.

I couldn't help but glance at Lord Kankuro and Shikamaru. Lord Kankuro's expression didn't change much, but Shikamaru frowned, as if saying, "I have objections, but it doesn't matter. You're the Hokage anyway, so just listen to it."

Seeing me turn around and look at him, Shikamaru subconsciously adjusted his originally "troublesome" expression and asked me with his mouth: "What's wrong?"

I smiled at him and turned away.

After the Hokage finished his speech, another examiner named Gekko Hayate came out and announced that since there were too many people left from the previous two exams, a preliminary selection would be conducted according to the regulations before the third exam.

We just spent five days in the Forest of Death, and now we have no time to rest and are starting the preliminaries right away?

Thinking back to how the first and second exams were seamlessly connected, the arrangement of the Chunin Exams... was really strict.

"Well then," Moonlight Gale spoke more politely than all the examiners before him, "If anyone is ready to give up, please raise your hand as soon as possible, otherwise we will start the preliminary selection. This battle will be conducted on an individual basis, and you don't have to consider the wishes of your companions."

Sasuke held my hand and stood there motionless, and Naruto didn't say a word.

Of course, having come this far, how could I give up?

But Brother Dou raised his hand.

I looked at him and he gave me an apologetic smile.

"Brother Dou..."

"I'm sorry, Chaolu, I've reached my limit."

I know this is definitely not Dou-ge's limit, but I can only say: "Dou-ge... you've worked hard. Will you go to see Brother Urusi?"

Brother Dou didn't answer me. He just smiled and turned away.

After him, Moonlight Gale confirmed again and again, and no one gave up.

"Then, the preliminaries will officially begin. One-on-one combat will be carried out until one side dies, falls or surrenders. The winner will be able to participate in the third test." A display screen slowly appeared on the wall, and he introduced: "The names of the players who will fight will appear on this screen. Now the two sides of the first round will be announced. When the time comes, please go to the second floor and make room for the two sides to compete."

The display lights up, revealing two names.

Everyone was stunned.

Moonlight Gale read: "First round... Uchiha Sasuke and Asaka. Anyone have any objections?"

Naruto immediately shouted: "Of course! Why are we fighting against each other? "

"I've said before, this is an individual battle now." Moonlight Gale said calmly, "The list is completely random. This situation is rare, but it does happen. If you can't accept it, I'm sorry, but luck is also a part of strength, and this result will not change."

He looked at us and said, "Uchiha Sasuke and Chaolu, if you have no objection, please line up in front of me. If you refuse to participate, it will be regarded as your forfeit."

Naruto said angrily: "Why--!"

I broke free from Sasuke's hand and walked out.

Naruto: "! Morning Dew!!"

I looked up at the Hokage and Kakashi-sensei.

Even though Moonlight Gale said the list was drawn at random, the third exam was the final test.

If I was destined to go to the Anbu, entering the third exam would only take up a spot that belonged to someone else, and I could understand why they wanted me to stop there.

But why Sasuke...?

Has Konoha already noticed Orochimaru's whereabouts? Did they know that Sasuke had been cursed by Orochimaru?

Maybe both of us are not suitable to continue taking the exam, so if we put them together, will it be okay for whoever is eliminated?

If I were more sensible, should I take the initiative to give up and withdraw at this time?

but……

I turned to look at Sasuke in the crowd, but I only felt extremely excited.

"I... have long wanted to compete with you, Sasuke!"