Press down hard on the gas
That's right, there's no compromise
We'll slip through the night
At the final moment push hard
That's right, all the way to zero,
Until we wipe away the days
Gently open your heart
If you pull it close to you
It will reach you, without a doubt
It will come, closer
Now
We're speeding through life, squeezing it for all of its worth
Our feet are tied
But we still keep going farther
Even if I take it back, and grasp it
If you're not the one
There will be no meaning
And so we'll go far off into the distance.
It's a custom where balance is preserved by fighting and removing life.
This is the friendship of the Shinobi world.
This is a fight for life with the pride of the village and
one's own dream on the line.
Heh, I'm convinced.
Anything is fine.
Just tell us the content of that fight for life test.
Very well.
Now then, this is where I'd like to explain the third exam.
But actually...
Please allow me, Hayate Gekko who was given the task of judge, to speak first.
I leave it to you...
There's something... I'd like you all to do...
before the third exam.
And that is a preliminary to the third exam,
with participation in the main battle on the line.
Preliminary?
What do you mean... preliminary?!
Sensei, I don't understand the point of that preliminary.
Why aren't we doing the next exam with the remaining test takers?
This time around,
perhaps because the first and second exams were easy,
there are a few too many people left, you see.
In accordance with the rules of the Chunin Exams,
a preliminary will be held in order to reduce the number advancing.
N No way!
As Lord Hokage said before,
many guests will be coming to the third exam.
So we can't have long pointless matches and our time is limited as well.
Therefore, those of you not in top physical condition...
Hey, is he okay...?!
The teacher doesn't look well himself?!
Excuse me.
Those of you who wish to drop out, please speak up now.
The preliminary will begin immediately, so...
Immediately, you say...?!
But we finally made it through the second exam.
This is a pain...
Huh? What about our meal?
Narrowing the Field. Sudden Death Elimination!
Okay!
I'm going to do my best, no matter what!
I promised Kabuto, too...
And oh...
I forgot to mention this, but it will be individual battles from now on.
It is your decision, so feel free to raise your hands and drop out.
Who's going to quit?!
Sasuke?!
The waves of pain are coming faster...
Sasuke... I knew it.
Sasuke, you should quit these preliminaries!
Huh?!
L Look, you haven't been yourself
ever since you got worked over by that Orochimaru guy!
That bruise hurts even now, right...?
Bruise...?
At this rate...!
I gave him a parting gift.
Sasuke will definitely seek me... in search of power.
You're the only one left.
Please...
Please, quit!
I'm... scared.
Sakura...
I knew it.
What shall we do?
We should remove him from the exams
and isolate him with Anbu bodyguards on him.
We should recommend that he retire immediately.
He's not the kind of type to just obey like that...?!
After all, he's of the Uchiha clan.
What're you talking nonsense for?!
I'll make him stop, by force if needed!
The Curse Mark responds even when one's just building up Chakra
and attempts to forcibly extract his strength!
It's a prohibited Jutsu that eats into the body of the one who uses a Jutsu!
It's a wonder that kid is even enduring it.
He should really already be dead!
Lord Hokage!
You're in no condition to fight properly, Sasuke...!
Shut up.
I understand!
Be quiet!
But you've been enduring the pain this whole time, right?!
Please be quiet!
No matter what you say, Sasuke...
I'm going to tell the teachers about the bruise!
If I do that...
Well...
Oh...?!
What...?
Excuse me... I'll quit.
K Kabuto...?
Let's see...
Kabuto Yakushi of the Leaf Village, correct?
Then, you may step back.
Okay.
Kabuto!
Why're you quitting?!
Tell me! Why?!
This guy...
I'm sorry, Naruto...
But my body is worn out.
Actually before the first exam...
when I wrangled with the guys from Sound Village
I've had no hearing at all in my left ear.
To fight right away...
and to be told that my life would also be on the line, I can't go on.
I've seen that face a few times.
As I recall, I think he dropped out of the main battle before, as well.
What in the world is he thinking?
Anko.
Uh... yes.
Kabuto Yakushi.
According to the data, he has failed six straight times.
What about his background?
From his time at the Academy,
he was a student who did not really stand out,
and his grades were ordinary.
He finally passed the graduation exam on his third try.
After that, as for the missions he carried out,
two C -ranks and fourteen D-ranks.
It's not a battle record to write home about.
However...
However?
It's about before the Academy.
Hmm?
Do you remember the story...
about the one boy brought back from the Kikyo Pass battle?
I remember.
As I recall, I heard an enemy boy survivor at the battlefield
was taken back by a Jonin from the medical unit.
So he's that boy...?
Don't take arbitrary actions.
Have you forgotten Orochimaru's orders?
I leave it to you guys.
You in particular, Yoroi.
There should be no problems here with your ability.
This is where you can show your strength.
Those of you who are irritated that I'm ahead of you.
So you're Orochimaru's favorite, huh?
Don't get all high and mighty, kid.
I understand, Yoroi sir.
Oh.
Naruto... Sasuke...
I wanted to play with you guys a little more.
But if I do more than this...
The old me might get stirred up.
I am a spy so far as it goes.
I cannot expose myself, here.
Also...if you are going to watch.
My role of information collecting has served its purpose...
Master Orochimaru.
I'll save the fun, for some other time...
Sasuke...
And Naruto...
You too.
Now then, there are no others who will quit?
I must tell the teachers, about Sasuke's bruise!
Huh?!
Be quiet about this bruise.
Why're you acting tough like that?!
I don't want to watch you suffer all the time anymore!
For me you are!
This has nothing to do with you!
It's none of your business.
I said it once before...
I'm an avenger.
This is not just a mere exam to me.
The Chunin business has nothing to do with me.
"Am I strong?" All I want is the answer to that.
By fighting with those who are strong
And...
I'm Gaara of the desert.
Hey, you there... Identify yourself.
I declare.
You are absolutely no match for me.
If I have the opportunity to fight you in the next exam,
we won't run or hide.
And they're... here!
I will not allow even you to take my path away from me!
Sasuke...
You!
What're you doing putting up a front, you idiot?!
Here Sakura is this worried about you...!
Naruto!
I want to fight you, too.
Huh?!
What Orochimaru said is sitting on my mind.
I will let Sasuke do the test...
- and see how things go. - Wha?!
L-Lord Hokage...!
However, if the Curse Mark opens
and the power gets even a little bit out of control,
get in there and stop it.
All right.
But!
I understand.
Now then, we will begin the preliminaries.
The preliminaries to come will be one on one individual battles.
In other words, actual battle format.
There are now exactly twenty people, so we will conduct ten battles.
The winners will be able to advance to the third exam.
There are no rules at all.
You will fight until someone dies, collapses... or admits defeat.
And... please admit defeat right away if you don't want to die.
However, in case I judg that a match is over...
err... I don't want to needlessly increase dead bodies,
so I will intervene and stop the match or something to that effect.
What holds the key to your destinies is...
Open it.
This.
The names of two foes will be randomly selected and
displayed on this electronic signboard.
Now then, let's get right down to it
and announce the two names for the first battle.
Yoroi Akado vs. Sasuke Uchiha
To think it'd be so soon...?!
I couldn't ask for more.
No way!
Why Sasuke?!
Now then, the two displayed on the signboard, come forward.
For the 1st battle, Yoroi Akado and Sasuke Uchiha have been selected.
No objections, right?
- Right. - No!
All I can do now is watch...
Sasuke...
Sasuke!
If you want to fight me, don't lose!
Sasuke... You're acting strange...
Is it because of the Curse Mark...?
Sasuke, do your best!
I guess I'll wait and see...
The pain won't go away!
It appears the Curse Mark hurts.
Now then, we will begin the first battle.
Everyone other than the two foes, please move to the upper area.
Hey! Kakashi Sensei!
Sasuke!
Huh?
Don't use the Sharingan.
So you knew?
If that Curse Mark on your neck gets out of control,
it could endanger your life.
I believe it.
Well, the match will be called off at that time.
I'll be coming in to stop it, so good luck.
Called off, you say?!
It seems this Curse Mark thing is responding to my Chakra.
This is my final Chakra...
Sharingan!
Sasuke, stop using the Sharingan!
If I carelessly build up Chakra,
it would extract my spirit energy,
and bring out the Chakra inside my body to no end.
In other words, in this match,
I can hardly use even my regular Jutsu, not to mention the Sharingan!
However... Yoroi's ability is the worst for you, Sasuke.
Now then... How will I go...?
Don't act rashly...Sasuke.
Now then, please begin.
Let's g
Yeah!
Oh no!
He did it!
My strength...?!
W What is this?
My body strength has suddenly...!
Sasuke!
Sasuke...!
You... my Chakra...
You just noticed now...?
Hey, can you hear it?
The clear, blue sky goes on and on
The ocean spans limitlessly
Please keep that smile on your face forever
Or else I'll cry
You won't have to search around you
It's all ok now.
Everyone is inside this hand
when you want to cry, and you want to run away
When you forget what happiness is
Just sing.
Light is born, and darkness was born
The two are one
Harmonia, feel the telepathy
Hey, can you hear it?
Dang it! The pain won't go away!
This darned Curse Mark is responding all the time!
But I won't let this exam get called off!
How will I do? How should I fight?
Am I strong?
All I want is the answer to that.
I won't let this thing swallow me up in a place like this!
Next episode: "Bushy-Brow's Jealousy... Lions Barrage Unleashed!"