New Soul (Naruto Various! x Reader)

Ch. 43: Narrowing the Field: Sudden Death Elimination!

Your POV

"We have to have a preliminary exam before we can move on to the real one." Hayate revealed.

Everyone mumbles amongst themselves questionably.

I hear PB asking, "A what?"

"Preliminary?!" Shika shouted out, making me jump a little. "Just what do you mean by that?!"

PB moves a little to see the proctor. "I'm sorry. Sensei, excuse me, but I really don't see the point. What's this preliminary all about? Why can't we just move on to the third exam?"

"Uuhh, well, you see, the first and second exams might have been too easy."

'Easy?! Are you kidding me? The first one yeah I understand but the second, nu uh.' I shake my head.

He continues, "The fact is, we never expected so many of you to still be here. According to the rules of the Chunin Exams, a preliminary round can be held at any stage in order to reduce the number of candidates remaining."

"But is that fair?"

"It's just that at this stage, we have to speed things up a bit. As Lord Hokage said, a lot of important guests will be watching. We can't afford to waste their time. They've come to see only the best. So if there are any of you who feel you're not in top physical condition, now's your chance to—" He abruptly coughs some more. "Sorry about that. As I was saying, any of you who don't feel up to this, now's the time for you to bow out. The preliminaries will be starting immediately."

Kiba starts shouting out, "Come on, you mean right now?!"

"We just finished barely surviving the last exam. Don't we get a break?" Ino added on.

Shika complains, "Man, what a drag."

"When do we eat?" Cho groaned out.

'Ya know, I'm feeling hungry myself.' I can feel my tummy rumbling.

"Oh yeah, uh, the winners will be determined by one on one combat sudden death. So like I said, if there's anyone who doesn't feel up to it, now's the time to raise your hand."

Suddenly, I hear Duckie grunting out in pain quietly as he grips onto his neck.

"Sasuke?" PB looks at him in concern.

Naru turns to them in confusion. "Hm?"

I can see him gritting his teeth as he stares down to his curse mark.

"Sasuke, listen to me. You have to quit." PB whispered to him.

Naru gasps while I raise my eyebrow at her.

She pushes more, "You've been like this ever since you tangled with Orochimaru, and it's getting worse. It's that mark he put on you, isn't it?" Snowy and I look at each other then turn back to them. "You can't deny it, Sasuke." Her body starts to tremble. "Please. Please, Sasuke, quit now before—" Shy wipes her tears away. "I don't know what. I'm scared." I can tell Duckie is starting to get mad. "Come on, you know as well as I do. We are in no condition to keep on fighting."

Having enough of this, he cuts her off. "Shut up, Sakura."

That didn't stop there. "You think I'm blind or something?"

"Will you please be quiet?"

"You think I don't see the suffering you're going through?"

"That's enough Sakura."

"I'm sorry, I can't let you do it to yourself. I'm going to tell them about that mark."

'Oh boy...' I look down, biting my lip with my brows furrowed down.