"What's going on?" A team asked.
"I don't know." Someone else said.
"They told us that the exam's requirements changed and we need to be at the center tower today." Ino said.
"Shikamaru, what do you think is going on?" Choji asked.
Shikamaru is sitting on the floor in a thinking pose with his eyes closed in deep concentration. He then opened his eyes and said.
"Someone infiltrated the exam. If I had to guess, it's the team from the village hidden in grass. One of their ninja was fast enough to get behind a Jonin before they noticed and had an unnaturally long tongue that they could control with ease it seems. The other has long arms and fingers with sharp nails that look like claws and he had a mask on. The last one was hiding his arms. I assume they all have strange and unique abilities that have something to do with body control. The other ninja from other villages from what I have seen don't scream overly strong as those three. Except him." Shikamaru said and pointed with his head at a red haired kid with a big gourd on his back.
"The sand guy?" Ino asked.
"Yeah, notice how none of them seem tired and he doesn't have a single mark on him. Not even a speck of dirt." Shikamaru continued.
"Yeah, good job noticing that, Shikamaru. He is indeed suspicious." Naruto said, silently appearing next to them.
"Naruto." Shikamaru said calmly.
"His teammate, the guy with the makeup, tried to beat up Konohamaru for bumping into him a couple of days ago. He was ready to fight when the guy with red hair showed up and made them back down. They both seem to be scared of him." Naruto said.
"I'm guessing whatever makes them scared of him is the same thing that prevented him from so much as getting dirt on his clothes." Shikamaru said.
"Right again, I noticed when I was in front of him at the time that he's just like me. I'm sure you can figure out what that means." Naruto said.
Shikamaru's eyes widened in surprise for a second before he pondered on what Naruto said. "I see, this is a serious matter. They can't possibly be planning anything good." Shikamaru said.
"What the hell are you guys yapping about?!" Ino exclaimed.
"Nothing you should concern yourself with right now. If they're planning what I think they are, everyone will find out soon enough. During an event where they can do the most damage." Naruto said.
"You don't mean…" Shikamaru said in surprise.
"Preciscly." Naruto said.
"What?!" Ino yelled, getting tired of hearing the two speaking vaguely.
""War"" They both said in unison.
__________
"Lord Hokage, Orochimaru has infiltrated the village. I have no doubt he's planning a coup on the village. I urge you to cancel the exam until we've dealt with the threat." Seishin said.
"That won't be necessary, the exams will go on as planned. The first part of the exams are done. After we hold the preliminaries, there will be a one month remission until all the important figures show up to witness the tournament. You can conduct your investigations during that time." The Hokage said.
"With all due respect, lord Hokage. But we need to deal with the threat at once, Orochimaru truly embodies the essence of what it means to be a shinobi. He is a master of stealth, espionage, sabotage, and assassination. We wouldn't even know he's there even if he's standing in the same room as us." Seishin said.
"I think I know my own student well enough to figure out where he is. The exam will proceed as scheduled, but you can guard me as I attend the preliminaries if that puts you at ease." The Hokage said.
"As you command, lord Hokage." Seishin said and disappeared from view but never left the room.
__________
"Congratulations to you all on passing the second exam." Anko said, her voice reverberating throughout the massive hall they were in through the speakers.
"Now, lord Hokage himself will explain about the third exam! Listen up and take every word to heart!" Anko finished.
Anko turned toward the Hokage, removed the mic and said. "They're all yours, Lord Hokage."
"Very well."
The Hokage went on to explain that the Chunin Exams are like a miniature war between nations. The exams are like a showcase of the village's capabilities and a good showing will boost the number of missions and money going to that village and conversely a poor showing will cause a dwindling missions and money to the village. And just as he was about to explain the third exam. A shinobi appeared in front of him on one knee and said.
"Forgive my interruption lord Hokage. But if you don't mind handing the proceedings over to me? The proctor of the third exam."
"Go ahead." The Hokage said.
"Good to meet you everyone, I'm Hayate. Uhh, before we start the exam I mist ask you all to do something for me." Hayate said.
'What the?' A sound ninja thought.
'This guy looks sick, I wonder if he's alright…' Ino thought.
"Umm, you see, there are some preliminaries to the exam. And your performance on those dictates whether you proceed to the main exam." Hayate said.
"Preliminaries? Like what!?" Shikamaru asked.
"Mr, Hayate, I don't why all of the remaining applicants can't just proceed directly to the next exam?" Sakura asked.
"Well, I don't want to say that the first two exams were too easy, but we still have too many applicants. According to the rules of the exam, a preliminary round must be held to reduce the number of applicants moving on to the final round." Hayate said.
"B-but…" Sakura said, but was cut off.
"As lord Hokage mentioned. A number of honored guests will be observing you during the final exam, so we must make the exam intense, tight, and fast-moving. So anyway, now that you know what it's all about, anyone who doesn't feel up to the challenge either physically or mentally can walk away. Just let me know, because the preliminaries start right now!" Hayate announced.
Kabuto raised his hand and said. "Well, I'm outta here."
"Umm, you're Yakushi Kabuto of Konoha, right? Okay, you can go." Hayate said.
"Uhh, in case I forgot to mention, but from here on out you'll fight as individuals not as members of teams. So you can make the decision that's right for you without worrying about anyone else. So, anyone else want out? Show of hands?" Hayate asked again.
'Too bad, but if I stuck around, my old blood might start bubbling up. Fun's fun, but technically I'm a spy here, and now is hardly the time to blow my cover. Besides, this is perfect. If you're going to be a member of the audience, then I can hand off the intelligence gathering work to you, Lord Orochimaru.' Kabuto thought.
"See ya later, Naruto." Kabuto said with a smile and a wave and walked away.
'I look forward to the day of our next meeting with pleasure. Sasuke and Naruto.' Kabuto thought with a sinister smile on his face.
"As there are a total of 20 combatants remaining, we will hold 10 fights. The winners will advance to the final exam. This is no-holds-barred combat. Each pair of combatants will fight until one of them is dead, unconscious, or admits defeat. So if you think that you'll lose, immediately concede if you value your life. And, uh, since we don't want a total bloodbath on our hands, we may step in to end the match if we think there is an undisputed winner. But don't count on that. Anyway, fights will be announced on that screen up there."
Hayate pointed to the wall where a fake wall moved and revealed a screen underneath. The screen flickered on and revealed two names.
"Uchiha Sasuke vs Akado Yoroi. You both stay here, the rest of you get on the viewing platforms." Hayate said.
'... Right off the bat, eh?' Sasuke thought with a smirk on his face.
'Heh, I couldn't have planned it better!' Akado thought.
'Heh heh, too bad, Yoroi was a good servant. But his talents should at least push Sasuke to his limits. I can use that chance to implant the curse mark on him.'
"All right, please begin." Hayate said.
"Shall I start?" Akado asked.
"Go for it." Sasuke said.
Akado performed a tiger seal, his hand glowing red, then he reached back to his pouch, pulled out shuriken and threw them at Sasuke. Sasuke pulled out a Kunai and deflected them in a way that they flew back at Akado.
Akado dodged and charged at Sasuke and hit him with a one two. A jab and a heavy punch with his left hand. Sasuke dodged both attacks, tripped him, grabbed his left hand during his fall and performed an armlock where he had his right leg wrapped around his left hand and his right foot was positioned under his head. While his left leg went over his right foot and rested on Akado's face.
Sasuke grabbed his hand and leaned back trying to break the hand. Akado, thinking quickly, activated his jutsu, his hand glowing red once again and grabbed onto Sasuke's chest.
'My strength… It's fading?!' Sasuke thought in alarm.
Akado managed to release his arm from Sasuke's grip and landed a hammer fist attack right on his chest. Then he got out of the armlock and prepared for another attack.
'Wh-why…? Where did all my strength go?' Sasuke thought.
Akado ran up to Sasuke and reached out with his left glowing hand and grabbed Sasuke's head.
Sasuke tried to squeeze his arm but eventually he felt so weak his arm fell to his sides."You're feeding on my chakra." Sasuke said.
"Heh, heh, you finally figured it out, eh?" Akado said.
'Akado's mother managed to figure out a method to do the opposite of the mystical palm technique before that technique was created in the first place. An amazing technique that consumes the opponents physical and mental energies. Too bad she was dead when I found her, Akado was the only one to inherit her ability. If she was still alive she would have made a great research subject, such a shame.' Orochimaru thought.
"Oh, you son of a bitch!" Sasuke said and kicked Akado away.
"Heh, heh, imagine a little vermin like you having any strength left to oppose me." Akado said.
'That was too close, I was too cocky. I need to activate my Sharingan and end this.' Sasuke thought.
"Uchiha Sasuke, is this all he can do?" Gaara said.
"Oi, Sasuke. Where did all your confidence go? You'rea disgrace to yourself and your clan. How are you gonna beat your brother when you're such a loser in front of everyone?!" Naruto yelled out.
Sasuke looked up and saw Lee standing next to Naruto which reminded him of the technique that Lee tried to use on him.
"Alright, time to get serious." Sasuke whispered as he activated his three tomoe Sharingan, he kept his head low to avoid anyone seeing it.
Akado, thinking he won, charged to absorb more of his chakra but just as he got close Sasuke moved much faster than before and kicked Akado in the chin and sent him flying vertically. Then he jumped up right behind him.
Everyone was surprised at this move, especially Lee and Gai.
Sasuke went for a kick on Akado's side that was blocked, using that momentum he spun the other way and landed a hammer fist right Akado's face. Then he punched him in the liver. Finally he spun and landed another kick this time on his face. His head jerked down from the force and hit the floor causing a small crater.
'Lions Barrage!' Sasuke thought and he landed on his feet after completing the attack. But then he stumbled and fell down on his knees due to not having any strength left.
Hayate went to Akado and put a hand on his head to sense his condition, feeling his skull moving he got alarmed and yelled, "Medics!"
The medical ninja ran onto the scene and immediately started to perform healing ninjutsu. They put him on a stretcher and ran off to give him emergency surgery.
Sasuke sat down and was about to fall onto his back but Kakashi appeared behind him and put his knee up to prevent him from lying down.
"Well done." Kakashi said while reading his book.
'It looks like he copied Lee's moves.' Kakashi thought.
Naruto appeared next to Sasuke and said, "Hey Sasuke, that was super lame. How do you look like you're the one who lost."
"Shut the hell up, clown." Sasuke replied.
Lee looked on at Sasuke with a conflicted expression.
'In just one encounter, he managed to acquire and master a move that took me months to master. That Sharingan is something else, and he'll only get stronger as time goes on. I feel… a little afraid.' Lee thought.
'The moves of the lotus series require a body that's been gradually trained and honed over a long period. It's not something that can be mastered in a single day. Even through the use of the Sharingan. But that final move… Like student, like teacher, eh, Kakashi? Are all your kids the same kind of punk you were?' Gai thought.
'He's quite the kid, bringing out the full potential of his Sharingan at such a young age. No wonder people say, "Beware the fearsome power of the blood of the Uchiha!"'
Gaara tilted his head a tiny bit but his face stayed expressionless.
Kankuro saw his younger brother's movement and nervously thought, "Not this again."
"OOH! Sasuke! You're the best!" Ino screamed.
"I'm starving! My stomach could not be any more empty!" Choji said.
'... That's it. We're screwed.' Shikamaru thought.
"W-wow…" Hinata said, still fidgeting.
"Come one! It wasn't that great!" Kiba said.
"..." Shino just stood to the side of his teammates, almost invisible.
'Brilliant…' Orochimaru thought as he licked his lips.
A pair of glowing green eyes locked onto him when he did that.
As they were taking Akado away, the medical-nin in charge said, "Uchiha Sasuke, we need to take you in for treatment as well."
"Can't this wait? I want to watch everyone else compete." Sasuke said.
"Sure, unless you want to spend the next two weeks in a hospital bed instead of training." The medical-nin said.
"Don't worry Sasuke, I'll give you my observations on the fights when I come and visit you while you're recovering." Naruto said with a smile and a thumbs up.
"Stop doing that, you look like an idiot." Sasuke said as he got up and limped away after the medical-nin.
"Do you need a hand, grandpa?!" Naruto said as he grabbed his arm and walked with him.
Sasuke quickly moved his arm away and said, "Get off me, you piece of shit."
"Hahaha!!" Naruto laughed at his reaction.
"Got back before they disqualify you, don't you dare lose before our fight." Sasuke said.
"You got it!" Naruto said with a smile on his face.
Once the area was cleared and everyone was back in their places, the screen revealed two more names.
"Zaku Abumi vs Aburame Shino"
"Who the hell is that?"
__________
Well, I wanted to finish the preliminaries this chapter but I forgot how much stuff happens. Next chapter I definitely want to finish all the preliminary fights and then skip to the tournament. Technically that would be part of the Chunin exams but I might call the Chapter Konoha Crush or something. The next chapter might be really long, because a major fight will be happening outside of the preliminaries. But I don't know if I'm gonna drag it out or have it finish quickly, who knows.
Here's what I want to happen, let me know if you have any suggestions.
The preliminaries will happen the same as the original. Seishin will fight Orochimaru and Kakashi will fight Kabuto.
I want Orochimaru to run away, but I can't think of a non-bullshit way to have him escape. Seishin will be using his spirit mode so it would be really hard to have him run away. Maybe he'll reverse summon to the Ryuchi cave. Actually, that's a good idea, I might do that unless someone gives me a better idea.
After that will be a small montage of them training and the chapter after that will be the tournament arc.