Team Seven and Team Gai, along with their unexpected addition Karin, stepped into the dimly lit room within the tower. The door closed behind them with a soft thud, leaving them in an eerie silence. Naruto squinted, his eyes adjusting to the gloom.

"Hey, what gives?" he grumbled. "I thought there'd be someone here to greet us or something."

Tenten pointed to the far wall. "Look, there's writing up there."

The group moved closer, peering at the large characters inscribed on a hanging scroll. Neji read aloud:

"'If qualities of Heaven are your desire, acquire wisdom to take your mind higher. If Earthly qualities are what you lack, train your body and prepare to attack. When Heaven and Earth are opened together, the perilous path will become righteous forever.'"

Lee scratched his head. "What does that mean?"

Sakura's brow furrowed in concentration. "It's a riddle... and I think I know what we're supposed to do." She turned to Naruto. "Quick, get out the Heaven and Earth scrolls!"

Naruto fumbled in his pack, pulling out the two scrolls they'd acquired. "Okay, but what-"

"We need to open them together," Sakura explained. "That's what the riddle means by 'Heaven and Earth are opened together.'"

Sasuke nodded weakly, still leaning heavily on Sakura for support. "Makes sense. Do it, Naruto."

With a deep breath, Naruto unrolled both scrolls simultaneously. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a puff of smoke erupted from the parchment, forcing them to step back.

As the smoke cleared, two familiar figures stood before them.

"Iruka-sensei!" Naruto exclaimed. "And... Mizuki-sensei?"

Iruka smiled warmly at his former students. "Congratulations on passing the second exam! I'm proud of all of you for making it this far."

Mizuki nodded, his expression neutral. "Well done."

The two chunin's eyes fell on Karin, standing awkwardly to the side. Iruka's brow furrowed in confusion.

"I'm sorry, but who are you?" he asked. "You're not part of either of these teams."

Karin stepped forward, bowing slightly. "My name is Karin. I'm... I was part of a team from Kusagakure."

"Was?" Mizuki questioned, his eyes narrowing.

Naruto jumped in. "Her teammates were killed in the forest! I found her, and we helped each other out."

Iruka's expression softened with sympathy, but he shook his head. "I'm sorry, Karin, but the rules state that you have to pass with your team. Without them, you can't continue in the exam."

Karin's shoulders slumped, but she nodded in understanding. "I... I figured as much."

"Wait a second!" Naruto protested. "That's not fair! She worked just as hard as the rest of us to get here!"

"Naruto," Neji cut in, his voice stern. "Rules are rules. We can't make exceptions just because-"

"Actually," Tenten interrupted, "there might be more to this situation than we realized." She turned to the chunin. "Iruka-sensei, Mizuki-sensei, there's something you need to know. Team seven encountered Orochimaru in the forest."

The color drained from Iruka's face. "Orochimaru? Are you certain?"

Sasuke nodded grimly. "He attacked us. Did... something to me." He gestured to the mark on his neck.

Mizuki's eyes widened. "A curse mark," he whispered.

Iruka's expression hardened. "This is serious. I need to report this to the Hokage immediately." He turned to Sasuke. "You need to go to the infirmary right away. That seal needs to be examined."

"I'll escort him," Mizuki offered quickly.

Iruka nodded. "Good. The rest of you, stay here in the tower. Your jonin sensei will be here to meet with you soon. In two days, the next part of the exam will begin."

As Iruka rushed out of the room, Mizuki placed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder. "Come on, let's get you looked at."

Before they left, Mizuki turned back to the group. "I'm not supposed to tell you this yet, but a few other teams have already passed."

Naruto perked up. "Really? Who?"

Mizuki smirked. "Team 8 was the first to finish. They absolutely demolished the old record, though they looked pretty roughed up when they came in. Must have been pushing themselves to the limit."

"Hinata-chan's team made it!" Naruto cheered. "That's awesome!"

"The Sand team with that Gaara kid finished only a few minutes behind," Mizuki continued. "They seemed pretty annoyed at not being first. But get this - they looked like they'd just taken a leisurely stroll through the park. Not a scratch on them."

The genin exchanged uneasy glances, remembering the intensity of Gaara's killing intent during their brief encounter before the exam.

As Mizuki led Sasuke away, the remaining genin settled in to wait for their senseis. Naruto plopped down on the floor, stretching his arms above his head.

"Man, what a crazy exam this has been," he sighed. "I wonder what they've got in store for us next."

Sakura sat beside him, her brow furrowed in thought. "I'm more worried about Sasuke. That mark Orochimaru put on him... it can't be anything good."

"Orochimaru is an S-rank missing-nin," Neji said gravely. "Whatever his reasons for being here, they can't bode well for Konoha."

Lee clenched his fist. "We must remain vigilant and protect our comrades!"

Tenten nodded in agreement. "Lee's right. We should all watch each other's backs from here on out."

Karin, who had been quiet since learning she couldn't continue in the exam, spoke up softly. "I... I might be able to help with Sasuke's condition."

The others turned to her, surprised. Sakura leaned forward, her eyes hopeful. "Really? How?"

Karin adjusted her glasses nervously. "I have a special ability. My chakra has healing properties. If I could examine the seal, I might be able to do something about it."

Naruto grinned. "That's amazing, Karin! See? I told you guys she'd be helpful!"

"We should inform the medical ninja about this," Neji suggested. "They might want to work with you to treat Sasuke."

Karin nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. "I'd be happy to help in any way I can."

----------------------------------------

A few minutes later, the door burst open as Gai and Kakashi rushed into the room. Their eyes quickly scanned the assembled genin, relief washing over their faces as they saw their students safe and sound.

"My youthful students!" Gai exclaimed, flashing his signature thumbs-up. "I'm overjoyed to see you've all made it through the forest!"

Kakashi's visible eye crinkled in a smile, but his posture remained tense. "Good work, everyone. Now, we need to know exactly what happened out there. Particularly regarding Orochimaru."

The genin exchanged glances, their earlier lighthearted mood evaporating at the mention of the Sannin. Naruto stepped forward, his usual bravado subdued.

"Kakashi-sensei, is Sasuke going to be okay?" he asked, worry evident in his voice. "That creepy snake guy did something to him."

Sakura nodded, her brow furrowed with concern. "He put some kind of mark on Sasuke's neck. It looked... wrong."

Kakashi's eye narrowed. "Jiraiya is already on his way. He's our best expert on Orochimaru's techniques. For now, I need you to tell me everything that happened, down to the smallest detail."

Over the next several minutes, Team 7 recounted their encounter with Orochimaru in the Forest of Death. Kakashi and Gai listened intently, occasionally asking for clarification on specific points. When they finished, Kakashi let out a heavy sigh.

"You all did exceptionally well, considering the circumstances," he said. "Facing a Sannin and surviving is no small feat, even if he wasn't going all out."

Gai nodded emphatically. "Indeed! Your flames of youth burn brightly to have overcome such a challenge!"

Before anyone could respond to Gai's enthusiastic praise, the door opened once again. This time, a man wearing a Grass village flak jacket entered, his eyes scanning the room until they landed on Karin.

"Karin?" he asked, confusion evident in his voice. "Where's the rest of your team?"

The red-haired girl tensed, her eyes dropping to the floor. "Yuuchi-sensei, I... they're..."

"Dead," Naruto finished quietly, placing a comforting hand on Karin's shoulder.

The Grass jonin's eyes widened in shock. "What? How? What happened?"

Karin's voice trembled as she explained, "It was Orochimaru. He... he killed them before I could do anything. It happened so fast, I couldn't-"

"Orochimaru?" the jonin interrupted, his face contorting with rage. He lunged forward, grabbing Karin by the shoulders and shaking her roughly. "Why didn't you heal them? That's your job! You were supposed to keep them safe!"

"I-I'm sorry!" Karin cried, tears streaming down her face. "They were already dead before I could blink! There was nothing I could do!"

The man's hand lashed out, striking Karin across the face with a resounding crack. "Useless! You're absolutely useless!"

In a flash, Kakashi appeared between them, firmly gripping the Grass jonin's wrist. "That's enough," he said, his voice cold and sharp as steel.

The man wrenched his arm free, rounding on Kakashi with fury in his eyes. "How could you let this happen? An S-rank missing-nin infiltrating your village during the Chunin Exams? What kind of security do you have here?"

Gai stepped forward, his usual exuberance replaced by a calm, authoritative demeanor. "We understand your anger, but I assure you, we are thoroughly investigating the situation."

"Investigating?" the jonin spat, his voice rising to a hysterical pitch. "My son is dead, and you're 'investigating'? What good does that do him now?"

Kakashi's eye widened slightly as he glanced at Karin, who nodded sadly.

"Takeo was Yuuchi-sensei's son," she confirmed quietly.

The Copy Ninja winced, understanding the depth of the man's grief. But before he could offer any words of comfort, Yuuchi snapped.

"Wind Style: Vacuum Sphere!" he shouted, sending a barrage of compressed air bullets hurtling towards the genin.

Kakashi's hands flew through a series of signs. "Water Style: Water Wall!" A barrier of swirling liquid rose up, intercepting the wind attack and dissipating it harmlessly.

In the blink of an eye, Gai was behind Yuuchi, pinning the man's arms behind his back. "That's quite enough," the Green Beast said firmly. "We cannot allow you to attack our students, no matter how great your pain."

Yuuchi struggled for a moment before going limp, his anger giving way to anguished sobs. Kakashi approached cautiously, his voice gentle but firm.

"We understand your loss, and we're truly sorry for what happened. If you'd like, we can arrange for you to speak with the Hokage directly about this matter. But we cannot permit any further violence here."

The Grass jonin nodded weakly, and Gai released his hold. Yuuchi stumbled to his feet, his eyes red and puffy as they landed on Karin once more. The girl flinched, expecting another outburst, but the man's voice was hollow when he spoke.

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"Never return to Grass," he said. "You're no longer welcome there."

With that, he turned and walked towards the door. Gai placed a hand on his shoulder, guiding him out of the room. "Come, I'll escort you to speak with the Hokage."

As the door closed behind them, a heavy silence fell over the room. Karin stood frozen, tears still rolling down her cheeks as she stared at the spot where her sensei had been.

Kakashi sighed, running a hand through his silver hair. "Karin, I'm sorry about that. Grief can make people lash out in ways they later regret. Try not to take his words to heart."

The girl nodded numbly, wiping at her eyes. "I... I understand. I hadn't known them very long, to be honest. I was a late addition to the team, meant to support Takeo's chances in the exam. He was considered a rising star in our village."

Naruto stepped closer to Karin, his blue eyes filled with determination. "Hey, if you can't go back to Grass, why don't you join Konoha? We'd be lucky to have you!"

Karin's eyes widened in surprise, a flicker of hope crossing her face. "Do... do you think that would be possible?"

Kakashi's visible eye crinkled slightly. "That's not a decision to be made lightly. It's a delicate situation, given the circumstances. We'd need to discuss it with the Hokage and go through proper channels."

"I understand," Karin said quickly. "But please, I have healing abilities that could be useful. I could help Sasuke with that seal, and any other injured Konoha shinobi. If you'll let me stay, I promise I'll do whatever I can to prove myself."

Kakashi studied the girl for a long moment before letting out another sigh. "Alright, for now, you can stay with Team 7. We'll sort out the details later. This is going to be very complicated, but we'll figure something out."

Relief washed over Karin's face. "Thank you, Kakashi-san. I won't let you down."

As the tension in the room began to dissipate, Naruto threw an arm around Karin's shoulders. "Welcome to the team, Karin! Don't worry, we'll make sure you feel right at home in Konoha!"

Sakura nodded in agreement, offering the red-haired girl a warm smile. "That's right. And maybe you can teach me some of those healing techniques. They sound incredibly useful."

"I'd be happy to," Karin replied, a small smile finally breaking through her tears.

Kakashi clapped his hands together, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, now that we've settled that for the moment, we need to focus on preparing for the next stage of the exams. You've all been through a lot, so get some rest. We'll reconvene in the morning to discuss strategy."

As the genin began to disperse, finding places to rest within the tower, Kakashi's mind raced. Between Orochimaru's appearance, Sasuke's curse mark, and now the potential defection of a Grass kunoichi, the situation had become far more complicated than anyone had anticipated. He could only hope that Jiraiya would arrive soon to shed some light on the situation.

For now, all they could do was wait and prepare for whatever challenges the next stage of the exam might bring.

----------------------------------------

As the genin settled into the tower, exhaustion from their ordeal in the Forest of Death began to set in. Team 7, along with Karin, found a quiet corner to rest and recuperate. Naruto's stomach growled loudly, breaking the silence.

"Man, I'm starving! Do you think they have any ramen around here?" he asked, looking around hopefully.

Sakura rolled her eyes. "Naruto, we just survived being hunted by Orochimaru, and you're thinking about ramen?"

"Hey, fighting for your life works up an appetite!" Naruto defended.

Their banter was interrupted by the arrival of Team 8. Hinata's eyes lit up as she spotted Naruto, a soft blush coloring her cheeks.

"N-Naruto-kun! I'm so glad you're safe," she said, her voice filled with relief.

Kiba grinned, slapping Naruto on the back. "Yeah, we heard some crazy rumors about what went down in the forest. Sounds like you guys had quite the adventure!"

As the two teams began exchanging stories, Karin watched from the sidelines, feeling a bit out of place. She couldn't help but notice the way Hinata looked at Naruto, and it stirred a mix of emotions within her.

Hinata, ever observant, noticed Karin's discomfort and approached her with a gentle smile. "Hello, I don't believe we've met. I'm Hinata Hyuga. Are you alright? You look a bit shaken."

Karin was taken aback by the girl's kindness. "Oh, um, I'm Karin. I... I lost my team in the forest. Naruto and the others were kind enough to help me."

Hinata's eyes widened with sympathy. "I'm so sorry to hear that. That must have been terrible for you." She placed a comforting hand on Karin's arm. "Please, if there's anything you need, don't hesitate to ask. We're all here to support each other."

Karin felt a twinge of annoyance at how genuinely nice Hinata was being. It was hard to dislike someone so kind and considerate. "Thank you, that's very kind of you," she managed to reply.

As they continued talking, Karin learned more about Hinata's position as the Hyuga heiress and her abilities. It was becoming increasingly clear that Hinata wasn't just some pushover girlfriend for Naruto – she was a skilled kunoichi from an important clan.

Karin's plans to potentially win Naruto's affections were looking more complicated by the minute. She had hoped to find some flaw in Hinata that would justify pursuing Naruto, but the Hyuga girl was frustratingly likable and impressive.

As the day wore on, the genin took turns resting and keeping watch. They all knew that even though they had made it to the tower, they couldn't let their guard down completely. The Sand team, in particular, had them on edge.

"Has anyone seen Gaara's team?" Sakura asked, her ears twitching as she tried to pick up any unusual sounds.

Shino shook his head. "My insects haven't detected their presence nearby. It seems they're keeping to themselves for now."

"Good," Kiba muttered. "That Gaara guy gives me the creeps. Did you see what he did to those Rain ninja in the forest?"

A collective shudder ran through the group. They had all heard whispers of Gaara's brutality during the exam.

As night fell, the genin settled in for some much-needed sleep. Kakashi and Kurenai took turns standing guard, their vigilant presence allowing the young ninja to rest more easily.

The next morning, a commotion near the tower's entrance drew everyone's attention. Team 10 had finally arrived, looking worse for wear but triumphant.

"Ino-pig!" Sakura called out, a mix of relief and competitiveness in her voice. "Took you long enough to get here!"

Ino stuck out her tongue at her rival. "Oh please, Bun-butt. We were just taking our time, making sure to eliminate some of the competition along the way."

As Shikamaru and Choji collapsed dramatically onto the floor, Ino's eyes scanned the room, landing on Rock Lee. A bright smile lit up her face as she made her way over to him.

"Lee-kun! I'm so glad to see you made it," she said, her voice taking on a sweeter tone. "Your training must have really paid off in the forest."

Lee's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm. "Ino-san! Your youthful spirit shines brightly! I'm certain you faced the challenges of the forest with great courage and skill!"

Ino preened under the praise, tossing her long blonde hair over her shoulder. "Oh, it was nothing we couldn't handle. But I'm sure you were amazing out there. I'd love to hear about your experiences sometime."

As Ino continued to shower Lee with compliments, Tenten rolled her eyes and muttered to Neji, "I can't believe she's still keeping this up."

Neji shrugged, his face impassive. "As long as it keeps Lee's attention off some of his more outlandish training regimes, I don't particularly care."

The arrival of Team 10 brought a renewed energy to the group. As they shared stories and compared notes on their experiences in the forest, a sense of camaraderie began to grow among the Konoha rookies.

Later that afternoon, Sasuke finally rejoined the group. His face was pale, and dark circles under his eyes hinted at the ordeal he had been through, but there was a determined set to his jaw.

"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura exclaimed, relief evident in her voice. "Are you alright? What happened?"

Sasuke nodded curtly. "I'm fine. Jiraiya-sama arrived and placed a containment seal over Orochimaru's curse mark. It should keep it under control for now."

Naruto's eyes widened. "Pervy Sage is here? What did he say about Orochimaru?"

Sasuke's expression darkened. "He's still at large. Jiraiya couldn't find any trace of him after he left the forest. We need to stay on our guard."

The news sent a ripple of unease through the group. The idea that Orochimaru could still be lurking somewhere in the village was unsettling, to say the least.

"But why would he go through all this trouble just to place a curse mark on Sasuke?" Shikamaru mused, his brow furrowed in thought. "There has to be more to his plan."

"Whatever it is, we'll face it together," Naruto declared, his fist clenched in determination. "That snake bastard won't know what hit him!"

As the day drew to a close, another team made their way into the tower. The Mist trio – Haku, Suigetsu, and Hotaru – strode in with an air of confidence.

Suigetsu, in particular, seemed to be in high spirits. He swaggered over to the Konoha genin, a sharp-toothed grin on his face.

"Well, well, look who made it," he drawled. "I was starting to wonder if we'd see any Leaf ninja here at all. We had to rough up quite a few of your comrades on our way in."

His attempt to provoke a reaction fell flat as the Konoha genin simply stared at him, unimpressed.

Naruto shrugged. "Hey, that's what the exam is all about, right? As long as everyone's still alive, no hard feelings."

Suigetsu's grin faltered slightly at the lack of response. "Tch, you Leaf ninja are no fun. Don't you have any pride in your village?"

"Our pride isn't so fragile that it needs to be defended against every boast," Neji replied coolly. "Actions speak louder than words."

Haku placed a hand on Suigetsu's shoulder, a look of exasperation on his face. "That's enough, Suigetsu. We're all here as representatives of our villages. There's no need for pointless antagonism."

Hotaru nodded in agreement. "Besides, we should be conserving our energy for the next stage of the exam. Who knows what challenges await us?"

Suigetsu grumbled but backed down, shooting one last glare at the Konoha genin before following his teammates to find a place to rest.

As the final day of the exam dawned, tension filled the air. The genin knew that soon they would face whatever test came next, and the competition would only get fiercer from here on out.

Just hours before the deadline, two more teams stumbled into the tower. The first was Kabuto's team, looking surprisingly fresh considering the ordeals of the forest.

"Kabuto-san!" Naruto called out. "You guys made it!"

Kabuto adjusted his glasses, a friendly smile on his face. "Ah, Naruto-kun. Yes, we cut it a bit close, but we managed to secure the scrolls we needed. I'm glad to see you all made it as well."

As Kabuto's team settled in, the final group to arrive was the two Sound teams. Dosu, Zaku, and Kin entered the tower, their eyes immediately scanning the room and landing on Team 7, Kotohime, Kamikiri, and the Mysterious third member on their hells.

Sakura tensed, remembering their encounter in the forest. Sasuke placed a hand on her shoulder, his eyes never leaving the Sound ninja.

"Well, isn't this cozy," Zaku sneered. "All the little Leaf ninja gathered together. Makes me want to blow you all away right now."

"Save it for the next round," Dosu warned, his single visible eye fixed on Sasuke. "We'll have our chance soon enough."

As the Sound teams moved to the opposite side of the room, the atmosphere grew thick with anticipation. With all the teams now gathered, it was only a matter of time before the next stage of the Chunin Exams would begin.

----------------------------------------

The genin teams were led into a large indoor arena, its high ceilings and spacious floor designed to accommodate the various ninja techniques that might be on display. As they entered, they noticed several important figures already present.

The Hokage stood at the center, his weathered face betraying a mix of pride and concern as he gazed upon the young shinobi. Beside him, Jiraiya lounged against a wall, his casual posture belying the sharp attention in his eyes as he scanned the group.

Along the edges of the arena, the jonin sensei of each team had taken up positions. Kakashi, Asuma, Kurenai, and Gai stood together, quietly discussing something among themselves.

As the Mist team entered, a tall, slender man with long, dark hair approached them. He held a curious pipe-like object, from which he occasionally blew shimmering bubbles that floated lazily through the air.

"Utakata-sensei!" Hotaru exclaimed, her face lighting up at the sight of her teacher.

Utakata patted Hotaru's head affectionately, a small smile playing on his lips. "You've done well to make it this far," he said softly.

Kakashi's visible eye widened slightly in recognition. "Utakata? I was under the impression you had gone missing-nin."

The Mist jonin turned to face Kakashi, his expression neutral. "Ah, Kakashi of the Sharingan. Yes, I did leave the village for a time. However, the new Mizukage has been... surprisingly accommodating."

He paused to blow another bubble before continuing. "Many of us who left during the previous Mizukage's reign have been offered amnesty and the chance to return. It seems Mei-sama is quite determined to rebuild Kirigakure's strength."

Kakashi nodded thoughtfully. "I see. It's an interesting approach. I hope it works out for your village."

As the jonin conversed, the Hokage stepped forward, clearing his throat to gain everyone's attention. The room fell silent as all eyes turned to the village leader.

"Welcome, young shinobi," Hiruzen began, his voice carrying easily through the arena. "You have all shown great skill and determination in making it this far. Before we proceed, I'd like to explain the true purpose of these exams."

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the assembled genin. "While it may seem that these tests are simply to determine who is worthy of becoming a chunin, they serve a far greater purpose. These exams are, in fact, a substitute for war between our villages."

A murmur of surprise rippled through the group. The Hokage continued, "In the past, neighboring countries would often hire shinobi from our villages to fight their battles. This led to frequent conflicts between ninja villages, as each sought to prove their superior strength and secure more clients."

Jiraiya stepped forward, adding his own perspective. "The Chunin Exams allow us to showcase the strength of our villages without resorting to all-out war. It's a way for us to compete, to push our limits, and to grow stronger together."

The Hokage nodded in agreement. "Exactly. By participating in these exams, you are not only representing yourselves but your entire village. The strength you display here will be a reflection of your village's power and influence."

As the Hokage's speech continued, detailing the history and significance of the exams, the genin listened with varying degrees of interest. Some, like Naruto, seemed to be barely containing their excitement for the upcoming challenges. Others, like Shikamaru, wore expressions of resigned acceptance.

After what seemed like an eternity to the more impatient genin, a new figure entered the arena. Hayate Gekkō, a sickly-looking jonin with dark circles under his eyes, approached the Hokage and whispered something in his ear.

The Hokage nodded, then addressed the group once more. "It seems we have a slight change of plans. Hayate here will explain."

Hayate stepped forward, coughing lightly into his hand before speaking. "Thank you, Hokage-sama. cough As it turns out, we have more participants than expected who have made it this far. Therefore, we will need to hold a preliminary round before the main tournament of the third exam."

A collective groan rose from the genin. They had already been through two grueling tests, and now they were being told there was yet another hurdle to overcome.

"The preliminary round will consist of one-on-one matches," Hayate continued, unfazed by the genin's reaction. "The winners will move on to the main event of the third exam. These matches will be decided randomly, and they will begin immediately."

As the news sank in, one hand rose from the crowd. It was Kabuto, his expression apologetic.

"Excuse me," he said, adjusting his glasses. "But I'm afraid I'll have to withdraw from the exam at this point."

His announcement was met with surprise from the other Konoha genin. Naruto, in particular, looked shocked.

"What? But why, Kabuto?" Naruto asked. "You've made it this far!"

Kabuto shook his head, a rueful smile on his face. "I'm afraid my chakra is nearly depleted from the second exam. I don't think I'd be able to put up much of a fight in this condition. It's better for me to bow out now than to risk serious injury."

His sensei, a man with graying hair who stood near Anko, looked disappointed but nodded in understanding.

Anko, however, was less sympathetic. She turned to Kabuto's sensei with a smirk. "Tch, looks like your student doesn't have much stamina, eh, Tadashi? Maybe you should've trained him better."

Tadashi, who had apparently been Anko's genin teammate, shot her an irritated look. "Not everyone can be a stamina freak like you, Anko. Some of us actually know our limits."

As Kabuto made his way out of the arena, Hayate cleared his throat. "If there are no other withdrawals, we'll begin the selection for the first match."

A large screen on the wall flickered to life, names scrolling rapidly across its surface. The genin watched with bated breath as the names slowed, finally settling on two:

UZUMAKI NARUTO

VS

HYUGA HINATA