Kaze No Kokoro (Naruto fanfic)

Battle

The second test had ended and Midori was glad to see all the rookies had passed. They stood lined up in a hall, the hokage standing before them.

"First off, congratulations on passing the second exam." Anko said.

Guy was talking to Kakashi and Midori listened in. "Your team is pretty good. Perhaps they were lucky. But as long as my team is here, they can't go any further. Since, in the next stage, personal abilities will be critical. Youth is sweet and sour, and sometimes strict, Kakashi."

"Did you say something?"
Midori wanted to burst out laughing right then and there when Anko continued.
"We will now have an explanation of the third exam from Hokage-sama. Everyone listen well."

"The third exam will begin. But before the explanation, there's on thing I want to make clear to all of you. It's about the true purpose of this exam. Why we do a joint exam with the allied nations.
'To maintain good relations with the allied nations' and 'heighten the level of ninja'...
Do not let those reasons deceive you. This 'exam', so to speak, is...
The epitome of a war between the allied nations."

"What do you mean?" Tenten asked

"If we go back through history, the allied nations right now were neighboring countries that have fought each other over and over again. To avoid wasting military power, those counties decided to choose a place to fight...
That is the beginning of the Chuunin Selection Exam."

"Why do we have to do that? We're not doing this to select Chuunins?" Naruto asked.

"Yes, this exam does examine those who are worthy of the Chuunin title. But, on the other hand, it's also a place where ninja fight and carry their country's dignity. In this third exam, feudal lords and famous people from various countries who may be potential clients, are invited here as guests. And feudal lords, from countries with hidden villages, and ninja leaders will see your battles. I lf there is a significant difference in power, the strong country will be flooded with jobs. If a country is seen as weak, their jobs will decrease. And at the same time, countries are able to show how their village has grown and posesses excellent military power, to the adjacent countries. In other words, they can put foreign pressure on them."

"So why do we have to fight with the risk of losing our lives?" Kiba asked.

"A country's power is a village's power. A village's power is the ninja's power. And a ninja's true power is only born in life-or-death battle. This exam is also a place to show off the ninja power of one's country. Since this is an exam where you fight with your life on the line, it has meaning and your predecessors have thought and dreamed of being in the Chuunin Exam because of it."

"But why do you say it is to promote good relations?" Tenten asked.

"I told you at the beginning to not get confused with that. The custom of shaving one's life and fighting to maintain balance...
That is the good relation in the world of ninja. This is a life-or-death battle for your dream and the village's dignity."

"I don't care. Tell us the details of this life-or-death exam."

Before the Hokage could explain a ninja appeared before him.
"Excuse me, Hokage-sama...
I Gekkou Hayate, the judge, will explain.
Everyone, it's nice to meet you.
*cough cough*
Everyone, before the third exam...
*cough cough*
There's something I want you to do...
*coughing fit*
Fight in some preliminary matches to see who gets to advance to the third exam's main battle."

"Preliminary matches? What do you mean?" Shikamaru asked
"Sensei, I don't understand what you mean by preliminary matches. Why can't we just start the third exam with the remaining examinees?" Sakura asked.