"Tenth match, Choji Akimichi versus Kiba Inuzuka!" Hayate Gekko announced loudly. "Please, both contestants, enter the arena!"
"Hahahaha! I never thought my opponent would be Choji, that fat guy that only knows how to stuff his mouth!" Kiba roared with laughter. "I'll finish him off in three moves!"
After exchanging a quick greeting with Natsuki, and Hinata, he jumped down from the second floor.
"Hey, hey, you jerk! I'm not fat, I just a bit chubby!" Choji's eyes widened, his face transforming into literal depiction of anger.
"I'll definitely beat you black and blue today!" Akimichi clan considered it a compliment to be called chubby, but that didn't mean they wouldn't react when someone was so obviously calling them derogatory terms to make them react.
Immediately, he mimicked Kiba, jumping down from the second floor.
However, due to his haste, his right foot caught on the railing as he leaped over it, sending him plummeting headfirst.
THUD!!!
The entire ground trembled slightly.
The smooth arena floor, freshly cleaned by the gusts of wind from Neji and Hinata's earlier match, now had a sizable crater.
Choji lay motionless, having fainted from the impact.
Fortunately, as a ninja who utilized the Human Bullet Tank technique, his physique was exceptional, and he seemed unharmed otherwise.
"That idiot, Choji…" Ino facepalmed, looking utterly embarrassed. I don't even know this guy.
"Uh...so, what now?" Kiba was dumbfounded.
Before the match even started, Choji had knocked himself out.
Hayate was equally speechless.
This was the first time he had encountered such a situation. Considering that one contestant had fainted upon entering the arena and was incapacitated, he could only declare the other, still-mobile contestant as the victor.
He signaled for the medical team while announcing, "This match goes to Kiba Inuzuka!"
The audience erupted in a chorus of boos.
This was, by far, the most ridiculous match of the tournament. It was over before it began.
Many eliminated contestants envied Kiba for having such a loving opponent, who eliminated himself to let his opponet pass.
In the following eleventh match, Naruto easily secured victory against an unknown opponent.
With that, the elimination rounds officially concluded.
The list of victors was quickly displayed:
Natsuki Yuhi, Sasuke Uchiha, Kankuro, Temari, Shino Aburame, Rock Lee, Gaara, Hinata Hyuga, Kiba Inuzuka, Shikamaru and Naruto Uzumaki—eleven contestants in total.
Originally, Neji and Dosu should have advanced to the final rounds, but they were eliminated.
Rock Lee and Kiba, who should have been eliminated, ended up advancing due to the butterfly effect altering their opponents.
Furthermore, there was one extra contestant compared to the original ten, posing a dilemma for the examiners.
Setting the match schedule with an odd number was problematic.
After deliberation, they decided that luck was also a part of strength.
They would use a random draw and implement a bye system.
Only five matches would be held in the final rounds. The contestant who drew the bye would automatically advance to the next round.
"The elimination rounds have now concluded," Hayate announced, holding the list of names. "First, congratulations to all the victors who have qualified for the final rounds one month from now.
"During this month, you can rest well, study your potential opponents, make pre-match preparations, and continue to improve your skills.
"The third round will be a public event. There will be a large audience, including feudal lords, daimyos, and dignitaries from various countries. This is an opportunity for you to gain fame and potentially secure higher-paying missions in the future."
These words filled the contestants with excitement. The thought of competing before a massive crowd ignited their youthful passion for glory.
"Finally, all contestants who have qualified for the third round, please come forward to draw lots and determine your opponents for the final rounds."
As Hayate finished speaking, Ibiki Morino, the proctor of the first exam, walked out carrying a box.
"Come on, one by one, draw your lots. Don't try anything funny, or you'll be disqualified," Ibiki declared, his scarred face and gruff voice as intimidating as ever.
However, Natsuki wasn't fazed.
This big guy was just a softie at heart, not truly malicious.
He held a certain fondness for Naruto, who had submitted a blank paper in the first exam after using his Talk no Jutsu.
Natsuki was the first to approach Ibiki, reaching into the box and pulling out a numbered tag. A large number 1 was printed on it.
"I'm number one," Natsuki announced, showing the tag for the examiner to record. It seemed he would be the first to compete again.
The other contestants followed suit. Except for Gaara, everyone glanced at Natsuki's number tag, silently praying not to draw number 2 and become his opponent.
"Not number two, not number two, not number two…" When Temari reached the box, she clasped her hands together, eyes tightly shut, and began to pray. In the Forest of Death, she had been utterly crushed by Natsuki.
The terrifying fangs of his dinosaur still haunted her. She couldn't even defeat his summoned beast, let alone Natsuki himself.
Her actions caused Kankuro and the others to take several steps back, quickly distancing themselves from her, lest anyone think they were associated with her.
Temari reached into the box and pulled out a number 5 tag.
She instantly jumped for joy.
"Yes! Not number two! I don't have to face that monster!" Relieved, Temari breathed a sigh of relief and immediately reverted to her usual self.
Her lively eyes darted around. "Let me see who's number six."
She then spotted Shikamaru, with his perpetually bored expression and listless eyes, holding the number 6 tag.
She grinned. Haha, a lazy bitch. This round is going to be mine!
Following close behind, Kiba let out a shriek.
"How can I be number two?! Why do I have to battle my teammate? I know exactly how strong Natsuki is, that guy's a monster! Isn't this just asking me to eliminate myself?" The thought of being humiliated in front of a massive audience filled him with despair.
"It must be beacuse of that Choji! He sucked away all my luck!"
THWACK! Natsuki smacked Kiba on the head. "Idiot, get a grip! Just treat it as special training. Do you even want your Akamaru to evolve?"
Akamaru? Evolve?
Kiba's eyes lit up instantly at those words.
Was Natsuki, oh no, Director Natsuki, finally going to teach him the true, true secrets of evolution?
"Natsuki, you're my best friend!" Kiba cried, tackling Natsuki and hugging his leg with the enthusiasm of a puppy.
The surrounding contestants were dumbfounded.
How could Kiba be so shameless? He had fought his way to the finals, after all… or had he?
His teammates were the powerful Natsuki and Hinata, and his opponent in the elimination round had knocked himself out. Maybe he'd just lucked his way through.
And had Natsuki just secured a victory by making a promise outside the arena? They didn't understand what evolution meant but... it seemed effective in swaying Kiba.