#19 Preliminary Fights
Now that we were all present and the time for the final test was over, we were all gathered in one room.
The room had two gigantic stone hands that formed a jutsu and two side balconies that you could enter.
In the middle of the room stood the Hokage along with the examiners and our Jonin Sensei's.
We were lined up in front of them with our teams.
Hiruzen: It's great that so many young ninja have managed to get here.
And let me explain to you the real reason for these trials.
The trials serve to bring you closer to your dreams.
And also serve to assess the strength of the individual villages.
They arose to attract the attention of the nobles and therefore always took place in designated positions.
A strong village receives more mission orders, because they seem more worthwhile to the nobles.
And many young ninja gave their lives to bring honor to their villages in these exams.
And you also have to make sacrifices here and now, some of you may not survive the next test.
But some of you could also get a little closer to your dreams.
It is natural for a ninja, because Ninja's always had the urge to compete with each others in battle and to come back stronger from their fights.
Now it's up to you to decide what you are willing to sacrifice for your dream and your village.
I wish you all much success and may the Will of Fire be with you.
Hayate: Hello everyone, I'm Hayate Gecko and since there are still too many of you here for the next exam, I'm responsible for halving your number.
We will now hold a preliminary round in which you will fight against each other and the winners will advance to the final.
We will randomly select your opponents and call you one by one.
Anyone who can no longer fight, dies or gives up, loses the fight.
Anyone else want to get out?
Kabuto: Yes, I want to stop.
Sakura: Kabuto?
Kabuto: Yes Sakura, I was pretty beat up in the last round and couldn't hear anything in my left ear.
The sound ninja's attack in the hall took care of that.
I give up, because the risk from here on out is too big for me.
Sakura: I see.
Hayate: Anyone else want to get out?
No, then we'll draw the first opponents.
Our names and faces scrolled on a screen, stopping at Temari and Mara.
Temari: Oh, I get to fight the scarecrow.
Mara: I'm not a scarecrow, you're just jealous of my beauty.
Half of Mara's head had no hair left and her burns were spread all over her body, both of her ears were submerged by the snake's stomach acid.
She posed in sexy poses again, just like in the waiting room for the first exam.
At that moment, several others in the hall vomited.
I also struggled with myself.
Mara: What do you all suddenly have?
Am I so beautiful that you can't stand the pressure of being near me?
Temari: I can't stand the mummy, I'll end this quickly.
Hayate: Start.
Temari opened her fan and swung it with full force.
Blades of wind raced towards Mara, who was still posing.
Mara looked at the attack and was completely caught by it.
She was thrown back several meters and the blades sliced her entire body, rendering her unconscious.
Hayate: Winner Temari.
Sakura: No Mara, why did you do this?
Sakura jumped down to her and medical ninjas took Mara out of the room on a stretcher.
Naruto: I really feel sorry for poor Mara, but somehow I don't.
Hinata: Naruto would you like me too, if I looked like Mara?
Naruto: This will never happen to you Hinata, because I protect you.
Hinata blushed and lightly grabbed Naruto's sleeve.
Hinata: Thank you Naruto kun.
Hayate: The next fight is between Hinata Hyuga and Sakura Haruno.
Naruto: Hinata, it's your turn, do your best.
Hinata: Thank you, Naruto kun.
Sato: She's from Konoha, don't kill her.
Hinata: Sato, I wouldn't kill Sakura.
Sato: I'm just saying, if you get into trouble, you can just point the bow at her legs.
Hinata: Okay.
Sakura and Hinata both lined up and Hayate started the fight.
However, the fight was over after 10 seconds.
Hinata used her gentle fist and blocked about 20 chakra points in Sakura's body.
Sakura coughed up blood and lay on the ground with tears in her eyes.
Hayate: Winner Hinata Hyuga.
Sakura: I'm sorry Sasuke, that I'm so weak, I'll get stronger and train hard to be able to support you.
Sasuke: It's okay Sakura, I didn't expect you to win it.
Ino: Exactly, Sasuke would rather have me on his team.
Sasuke: Keep dreaming.
Naruto: Hinata, you did well!
Sasuke's fangirl had no chance against you!
Hinata blushed and Neji looked at her bitterly.
Hayate: The next fight: Tenten vs Gaara.
Tenten: I give up.
Lee: But Tenten.
Tenten: Lee, that guy is in the same league as you and Neji.
I am no opponent for him.
Guy: Good decision Tenten.
Hayate: Then onto the next fight.
Sasuke Uchiha and Ino Yamanaka, please come downstairs.
Ino: I give up, how could I possibly fight against Sasuke kun.
Sasuke looked at Ino angrily.
Sasuke: Pfht.
Hayate: Well then let's move on to the next fighters.
Choji Akimichi vs. Sato Senju.
Me and Choji went downstairs and stood in front of each other.
Hayate: Fight!
Sato: Choji, I don't want to fight you and that's why I'm making you an offer.
Choji: I hear, what's this about?
Sato: Catch!
I tossed a small plastic bag to Choji.
Choji: What is that?
Sato: Just open the packaging and try it.
Choji opened it and saw chocolate, but in an unusual shape.
He took a bite of the chocolate and realized that there were so many different ingredients in it and it all started to melt in his mouth like he was eating ice cream.
He got stars in his eyes.
But he wanted to get more out of it and so he said:
"Whatever that is, it has a nice flavor, but you'll need more of it to convince me."
Sato: How does a year's supply of 10 bars a day sound?
Choji: Deal.
I give up.
Sato: A pleasure doing business with you.
I threw Choji a fuinjutsu scroll that had the Snicker's in it.
Hayate: I imagined the fights differently? Whatever!
Winner Sato Senju.
Asuma: Choji, how could you accept this offer?
Choji looked at Asuma and threw him one of the bars.
Choji: Try one sensei and you'll know why.
Asuma tried the chocolate bar.
Asuma: This is crazy, where did he get these bars?
Sato: I made them myself.
I gave one to Naruto and Hinata too.
Naruto: Cool, thanks.
Hinata: Thank you, Sato.
"Mmmmmh" they both said and closed their eyes.
Sato: If you want some more, I made more of them, just let me know and i give you some.
Hayate: The next "fight".
Naruto Uzumaki vs Yoroi Akadou.
Naruto: Finally, it's my turn to fight.
Naruto and Yoroi started the fight, but after a few seconds it was clear that Yoroi had no chance against Naruto with his shadow clones and his gigantic chakra supply and Yoroi gave up.
Hayate: Winner Naruto Uzumaki.
Naruto: That was easy, he didn't have anything up his sleeve.
Hinata: Well done Naruto kun.
Sato: You see, the training in Taijutsu was worth it.
Naruto: It was totally clear, dattebayo.
Hayate: The next fight is Shino Aburame agains Misumi Tsurugi.
Shino won pretty quickly, his insects covered Misumi's entire body, until he couldn't breathe anymore and fell unconscious.
Hayate: Winner Shino Aburame
Now Neji Hyuga and Dozu Kinuta, please come downstairs.
This fight was very even and Neji only narrowly won as Dosu hit him hard with his arm sound amplifiers.
Hayate: Winner Neji Hyuga
Shikamaru then won against Kiba by threatening Akamaru with a kunai and Kiba gave up as he didn't want to endanger Akamaru.
Lee fought next against Zaku Abumi, who was injured in one arm and Rock Lee had an easy time with him, knocking him out with 3 punches.
Now Kin Tsuchi and Kankuro remained.
Kankuro quickly broke free from Kin's genjutsu and Kankuro poisoned her with a surprise attack and won.
Now only Oku remained and he was able to move on to the next round without a fight.
Shikamaru: Why didn't I have carte blanche, but had to blackmail Kiba first, that's annoying.
Hayate: So the preliminary rounds are over, the finals will take place in a month.
You should prepare yourself well, because the Daimyo's of the different countries will also come, just to watch your fights, so don't disappoint them.