While Iruka was observing their growth, he allowed them to enter the main room where they met with other passing teams: Team 10, Team Guy, the Sand Siblings, Kabuto's Team, and Team Dosu.
"So only 7 out of the 27 teams passed," Temari thought, not caring at all as Baki stared at Gaara in displeasure.
"Gaara is unscathed... of course," he said.
"Akamaru is strange," Kurenai said worriedly.
"What's this all the leaf rookies are here?" Sakura observed them, looking around.
"It's like everyone is assembled," Naruto thought pleasantly.
"Heh... I can't say that I'm getting a good feeling," Sasuke said in mind, smirking quietly.
"For this many participants to make it... most of them are rookies," the 3rd Hokage said in mind, feeling proud of them, and began to explain the 3rd exam. "Before I could explain that, there is something I'd like you to know. It concerns the true reason for this exam..."
"True reason?" Sakura questioned as well as others.
"Why do we have all the alliance countries taking the exam together? Well, it is 'to promote friendship among the countries and raise the level of shinobi.' I don't want you to be confused about the true meaning. This exam is a replacement for war among the allied countries. If you go back in time, the current allies were enemies who fought each other who would rule. In order to prevent wasteful fighting, the stage that these countries chose for battle... that is the origins of this chunin selection exam."
"Why the hell do we have to do that crap?! Isn't this a thing for deciding who's a chunin?" Naruto questioned out loud.
"It is a fact that this exam decides which shinobis have what it takes to become a chunin. But on the other hand, this exam has another side where each country's shinobis risks their own life to protect their land's prestige. Watching this 3rd exam will be leaders and influential individuals from many countries who make up the clients of the shinobi. And the leaders of the countries will also be there to watch each of your battles. This will signal to potential enemy countries that 'our village has this much power.' So it will send a political message to the outsiders."
"Yeah, but why? Why do we have to risk our lives in battles?!" Kiba questioned.
The third Hokage sighed and explained again simply. "The strength of the country is the strength of the village. The strength of the village is the strength of the shinobi. And a shinobi's true strength is born only through life-risking battle. This exam is a place to see each country's strength and to show off your own strength. It only has meaning because lives are at risk. And that's why those that have come before you have fought in the chunin exam for this dream that is meaningful."
"But then why do you say stuff about it being for 'friendship?'" Tenten also questioned.
"I said it in the beginning. I don't want you to confuse the purpose of this. By losing life and establishing balance. This is the shape of friendship in the world of shinobi," the Hokage stated.
Sakura, on the other hand, was speechless and mostly, surprised by the words he'd spoken.
"Before we begin the third test, I will tell you one more thing... This is not just a test. This is a life-risking battle with your dreams and your country's prestige on the line."
"I get it," Naruto said, smirking in understanding while the others are still puzzled.
"I don't care what it is. Just hurry up and tell what this life-risking battle entails," Gaara said, almost cold as ice when the 3rd Hokage looked at him surprisingly with a calm expression.
YOU ARE READING
GaaSaku: Childhood & Chunin Exams
FanficCOMPLETED STORY Two souls but a single thought, Two hearts that beat as one. Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto series. All those credits belongs to Kishimoto, but my fanfiction story is based on it. Hope you enjoy it!
