Obanai: It's hard to keep my cool. One of the bitches tryna get with my girl.

No One POV:

Haku helped Y/n go downstairs to where the arena is. The others are gathered, waiting for someone to explain the next challenge.

Y/n would almost wince a little from the steps he was taking. His body was sore, even with most of the injuries being healed his body muscle isn't with his breath style.

Haku couldn't take his eyes from Y/n. Looking at the neck he was relieved that the mark was gone.

But his feelings haven't changed. 

He still has anger rising in his body, wanting to revenge on Y/n. With Y/n standing, it showed that he's a survivor since he was poisoned for a long period.

He still couldn't understand why Orochimaru went after Y/n. Let alone wanting to eliminate Y/n.

With Y/n being capable of mastering poison, his strength, his speed. He would be a good candidate to have him join. Though now it's a miracle, given what happened to him.

Y/n turns to see the rest of the teammates, gathering in a corner. Sakura was crying on Naruto's shoulder while he was rubbing her back.

Y/n looked sadly while having a soft smile. He notices something, on Sasuke's face.

His hair was covering his face, tilting so that no one can see his expression.

His heartfelt a little cold. He didn't want any of them to worry. He turn to Haku and he nodded, he turn back as he brought his hand up and smiled brightly.

"Moshi Moshi!" Y/n called, catching their attention.

Sakura was the first to turn as she gasp, tears were rolling down her face. Even more, as she saw Y/n, a little bruised, but alive.

She broke from Naruto as she come toward them. She ran and hug Y/n while crying.

"Y/N! You're alive!" She sobbed.

Y/n smiled while rubbing the back of her shoulder. "Aw, come on Sakura. You look ugly crying like that." He giggled, pushing Sakura. Using his sleeved wiping her tears

Sakura laughed as she let go. Y/n didn't have time to react as something rammed into him. Wrapping around him tightly.

"N-Naruto!" His face blushed to see Naruto's face on his chest. "I-I'm okay! P-Please, let go!"

"I-I...I was scared." Naruto suddenly said making Y/n freeze. "Back then when you fall. I thought I lost you."

"Oh, that snake huh? He caught me off guard, but..." Y/n's hair was covering his face. 

Naruto looks up and sees Y/n smiling at him. "All the more reason to get back at him!"

It took a while but Naruto realize that he wasn't seeing anything. But then he blush from recalling that his face was at Y/n's chest.

'I-It was soft! Like a cloud!'

Y/n moves to see Sasuke who like usual decided to stand far from everyone. The raven hair boy's eyes widen.

His hands were shaking a little from looking up. "Are...Are you real?" Sasuke questioned.

His voice was rough, almost like he was screaming...he was probably screaming at Naruto.

"Now now, why are you standing there all by yourself. No one is gonna like you if keep on doing this." Y/n smiled patting Sasuke's shoulder.

His voice seemed to trigger some realization in him. His arms quickly but softly wrapped around him.

It was stiffed at first but soon relax from seeing how Y/n didn't try anything to break free. Rather he returned, "Now I'm confused, the great Sasuke Uchiha giving me a hug?"

"But don't worry. I'm not leaving any time soon."

His calm voice gave what Sasuke needed before letting go as Y/n turned to see Anko staring at him. He can see some shock in her eyes. She cleared her voice, before speaking.

"First off, congratulations on finishing the second exam!" Anko said loudly while looking but stop at Y/n.

'I'm glad that you're a safe kid. Now, who am I gonna teach some special technique to? Plus I'm gonna be the favorite parent figure once I get to hang out with him!'

"I'm hungry!" Choji complained.

"What a drag. There are still many remaining?" Shikamaru said.

Ino's face opens when seeing Y/n. "Y/n and his team have passed too. And so has Sasuke's team."

Shikamaru and Choji looked and see Y/n and Haku. "Yeah, I wonder why we couldn't find them," Choji said.

"Well of course Y/n and that new guy Haku would pass. Besides for the others, they better be, after the trouble we been through to keep him safe. They better have passed." Shikamaru said.

To the sensei side, they notice that their team has come.

"Your team didn't do too bad Kakashi. I guess they were lucky. But as long as my team is around, your team is doomed to failure. After all, whether you like it or not, ability talks at the next barrier." Guy sensei said as Kakashi wasn't paying attention. 

"Did you say something?" Kakashi asked.

"Oh, my god!" Guy exclaimed.

"I suggest you choose your words wisely, weirdo." They turn to see Zabuza with his arms crossed. "After all none of you guy's kids wouldn't stand a chance against Haku or the brat."

"Oh, so the mass murderer decided to make his appearance?" One of the sensei remarked. 

Zabuza froze, "Come again?"

"I mean with you being a sensei you would ruin that pink hair kid. I can tell the other one has already been killed but I can see the innocent in one's eyes. So I guess you want them to kill for fun, criminal?"

Zabuza put his hands on his chin. "Well I don't know who your team is and I don't give a rat ass. But given that you know me and what I can teach them..." He turn to the sensei he gave him a death glare. "Are you sure to make an enemy out of me?"

The sensei backed away as Zabuza clicked his tongue. If you're gonna talk trash then have the balls to do it.

"Now then, we will now have the explanation of the third exam from Lord Hokage. Listen carefully, everybody!" Anko said.

Lord third stood out as he start his speech. "First, before I tell you what the third exam entails, I want to explain something about the test itself. I have one thing I want to tell everyone flat out."

Everyone was now focused on what he was going to say.

"About the true purpose of these exams. Why do allies nations conduct the exams on a conjoint basis?" Lord third asks.

Y/n looked around to see if anyone other than him would know the answer. Scratch that rather guesses what the answer is.

He's not all the way known but he has a thought. None of them looked like they know. 

He shyly raise his hand as the Hokage turned and nodded at him.

Everyone turn to Y/n as his face was turning pink. "It's about raising ability levels of shinobi and increasing the bond with a different nation. Also, it represents the battles between them."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Ten-Ten questioned.

"Umm...the allied nations before and up to today. They were once neighboring nations that we currently were allies fighting for power. To avoid breaking their military strength, those nations selected in combat. Just like the Chunin Exam." Y/n answered.

"Why do we have to do such a thing? We're not doing this to select Chunins?!" Naruto asked.

Y/n has nothing to say, he's a stump. Lord Third notice and decided to finish what he started.

"There is no question that these exams are to select Shinobi worthy of becoming Chunin. But on the other hand, these exams also provide a venue for Shinobi who carry their nation's pride on their back to fight for their lives!" Lord Third answered.

"Nation's pride?" Sakura questioned.

"Many leaders and people from different nations are invited to attend the exams as guests, also to possibly seek shinobi to work for them. This exam could determine the course of your ninja work from here on out. And more importantly, those leaders will watch your battles and take notes of the strengths that each ninja and each nation are developing. If the gap in national power becomes unbridgeable, the strong nations are inundated with job requests. The requests of nations deemed weak, on the other hand, decline. Therefore, we can exert pressure upon each neighboring nation."

"Even so, why is it necessary for us to fight for our lives?!" Kiba questioned.

"The nation's strength is the village's strength. The village's strength is the shinobi's strength. And the true strength of the Shinobi is created only in a fight for one's life!" Lord Third answered.

"Anything is fine." Y/n heard a new voice and he recognize it.

Turning he see that it was Gaara. "Just tell us the content of that fight-for-life test." 

Sasuke's eyes narrowed at him, 'He's confident.'

'EH! Garra's calm personality and his look show much like a panda! KAWAI!' Y/n thought looking at Gaara. 

He quickly look back to Hokage when he saw Gaara was about to turn his head. His face was a little pink.

'Don't notice! Don't notice! Don't notice!'

Suddenly a new guy came and took everyone by surprise. "Lord Hokage, please allow me, Hayate Gekko, who was given the task of the judge, to speak first." He said as Lord Hokage nodded.

"Nice to meet you, everyone." He started to cough before he turn and look at them. "There's something I'd like you all to do before the third exam."

He started to cough harder as Y/n winced a little from listening to him. It sounds horrible, someone should give him some medicine for that. "Uh, we have to have a preliminary exam before we can move on to the real one."

Everyone was confused as to what he was talking about.

"Preliminary? What do you mean preliminary?!" Shikamaru was not having it.

"Sensei if I may," Haku raised his hand. "I don't see the purpose of it. What would be the purpose of it?"

Hayate was deciding on what to answer. "Well you see the first and the second exam might be easy. The fact is, we never expected to have many of you still being here. According to the rules of the Chunin Exams, a preliminary will be held to reduce the number advancing."

"So there's supposed to be a limit to how many people can be here?" Y/n questioned.

The question ran to so many candidates' heads.

"As Lord Hokage said before, many guests will be coming to the third exam. So we can't have long pointless matches and our tome is limited as well." Hayate stated.

'So they're reducing us because they also have a time limit. I wonder who the guests could be if they make them do this?' Y/n thought but then another thought came in, 'Oh! I hope they're cool!'

"Therefore, those of you not in top physical condition now is your chance to" He stopped as he started to cough again.

Y/n deadpanned on him, 'Says the guy who can't finish a sentence without coughing.'

"Excuse me." Hayate apologized before he continue what he was gonna say. "Those of you who wish to drop out, please speak up now. The preliminary will begin immediately."

"Immediately, you say?!" Kiba yelled.

"But we finally made it through the second exam," Ino said. 

"Man, what a drag," Shikamaru said.

"Huh? What about our meal?" Choji complains. 

Y/n noticed that Choji's mouth had some small stuff on his lips. 'Did he eat something while being in the forest? AND HE DOESN'T HAS ANYTHING LEFT?!'

"Oh yeah I forgot to mention this, the winner will be determined by one-on-one combat, sudden, death. So like I said before if there's anyone who doesn't feel up for it, now is the time to raise your hand." Hayate said.

Y/n stood where he is. His muscles are a little sore and stiff, but he felt worse.

Y/n turn and see that Haku isn't gonna quit. Turning he now see Sakura was starting to cry, Y/n was a little caught off.

Why is she crying? 

And why is Sasuke holding on to his neck like that?

He caught something and see that Kabuto raised his hand. Everyone was surprised, "Excuse me, I'll quit."

Hayate goes through the paper and looks for something. "Kabuto Yakushi of the Leaf Village, correct? Then, you may step back."

Kabuto and his team were about to leave when Naruto yelled, "Kabuto! Why're you quitting?! Tell me! Why?!" Naruto demanded.

"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'd 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." Kabuto explained.

Y/n was a little skeptical. He saw him smiling at him as Y/n gave a smile back and wave at him.

"Now then, there are no others who will quit?" Hayate said.

He sees Sakura and Sasuke arguing again. He caught Sasuke gripping Sakura's hand with such grip.

It looks like it's hurting her. Y/n narrows his eyes while smiling at Sasuke. He caught as he let go.

What's with him?

He's suddenly acting different, not entirely but some noticeable things.

"Now then, we will begin the preliminaries. The preliminary to come will be one-on-one individual battles. In other words, actual battle format. There are now enough and even numbers for 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. Also, I judge that a match is over."

The side of the wall opens as it shows a black screen. "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