"I concede." Hayate felt he could still salvage the situation.
"Winner, Kankuro."
The little partners on the platform had already started discussing, "What is that? A puppeteer?"
"So rare."
"They should be relatively common in Sand Village, right?"
Naruto didn't join in; he was thinking that if the relationship between the two countries improved in the future, could he ask Kankuro to perform a puppet show or something, or have him customize a good-looking puppet so he could practice a string puppet show himself?
Only Rock Lee didn't care much about puppeteers; he only cared about when it would be his turn to go on stage.
However, he didn't continue to pray like before, but suddenly understood some kind of pattern and wanted to try it out.
Watching the names on the screen start to jump, finally settling.
[Inuzuka Kiba vs Akimichi Choji]
"As expected!" Rock Lee hammered his right fist into his left hand, a look on his face as if he had seen through everything.
Guy's thought process was probably on the same channel as Rock Lee's, and he immediately chimed in, "Oh? What did you discover? Lee!"
"Yes, Guy Sensei, I've discovered that as long as I desperately pray that the next round will be my turn, the next round will definitely not be my turn.
Then if I pray that the next round will absolutely not be my turn?"
Rock Lee looked just like those non-European players who play gacha games and don't get the desired items, believing that desperately jinxing themselves is useful.
But Guy didn't understand these things, "Ah, to be able to discover this, as expected of you, Lee!"
"Guy Sensei!"
"Lee!"
The master and disciple inexplicably began to cry while embracing, "Oh, oh, oh, oh~ This is youth!"*2
Neji and Tenten slapped their foreheads, here they go again.
Kakashi chuckled dryly, Guy and Kushina are still like this. Well, whatever, as long as they don't bother me.
"Preliminary round match number 9, begin!"
Kiba and Choji were quite familiar with each other.
"Choji, Akamaru and I have become much stronger, don't be scared!"
"Woof!" Akamaru was fiercely cute.
Choji bumped his two fists together, two white streams of air spraying from his nostrils.
"Prepare yourself, Kiba, Asuma Sensei said that as long as I win, he'll treat me to barbecue! For the barbecue, for the barbecue, I will definitely not lose!"
"Stop talking big, Beast Mimicry Ninjutsu Four Legs Technique!"
Kiba got down on all fours, his fingernails lengthened into the shape of beast claws, and then he darted out, using his elbow to strike Choji.
Choji crossed his arms to receive this move, and Kiba jumped back.
"Not bad, let's try this move, Fang Over Fang!"
Not giving Choji a chance to breathe, Kiba spun like a tornado, crashing into Choji.
It's you! Cyclone, Charge, Tornado!
Naruto really wanted to ask if Kiba's family sold those toy four-wheel drive cars, the voice-controlled kind.
Choji, on the other hand, didn't fare so well. He was hit in the stomach by Kiba and flipped over several times before finally managing to get up.
"Give up, Choji, you can't win against me!"
"Betting on the Akimichi clan's honor. I must eat Asuma's barbecue!"
Choji's fighting spirit ignited, and he transformed into a large ball:
"Multi-Size Technique!"
"Akamaru, use Human Mimicry Ninjutsu!"
"Woof!"
Kiba prepared to confront him head-on:
"Fang Over Fang!"
"Human Bullet Tank!"
Bang! Bang!
Two white tornadoes and a rolling meatball collided. At this moment, countless mechanics experts in this unscientific ninja world opened their coffins and said: The law of conservation of momentum must take effect now!
As a result, the heavier Choji gained the advantage, and Kiba and Akamaru were sent flying, unable to continue.
"Winner, Akimichi Choji."
"Oh yeah!" Choji cheered, happy like a two-hundred-plus-pound fatty, trotting up the stairs to hug Asuma's leg, "Asuma Sensei, barbecue, barbecue!"
"Okay, okay." Asuma wiped a handful of cold sweat. He was about to bleed a lot. Is this the power of a foodie?
The names on the screen changed, now only Rock Lee, Tosu Kinuta, and Mayu were left. This time, the unselected person would get a bye.
Mayu was praying for a bye; he was truly sincere.
Rock Lee was also praying for a bye because he was trying to jinx himself.
He even begged his two teammates to help him pray to ensure the effect.
Neji said he didn't want to bother with this silly guy and remained unmoved.
Tenten couldn't resist Rock Lee's pleas and had to mutter along, "Please let Rock Lee get a bye, please let Rock Lee get a bye..."
So... Rock Lee miscalculated because Tenten was a lucky charm. Under her sincere prayers, Rock Lee really got a bye...
[Tosu Kinuta vs. Mayu]
As soon as the list came out, Rock Lee was in tears, his whole person turned gray, and he fell to the ground in an orz posture, pounding the floor: "Why! Why!"
"That..." Tenten reached out a hand but didn't know how to comfort Rock Lee. She knew Rock Lee really wanted to compete, and a bye was lucky for others, but it was the worst possible draw for Rock Lee.
Just as Tenten was at a loss, a fist landed on Rock Lee's face, sending Rock Lee flying sideways to stick to the wall, slowly sliding down.
Rock Lee covered his face and looked up with teary eyes: "Guy Sensei?"
Guy wrapped his arms around Rock Lee: "Lee! Youth is always accompanied by loss and sadness. You just need to believe in the path you're walking and stride forward, because hard work never betrays you!"
"What tenderness, Guy Sensei!"
"Lee, your youth has only just begun!"
"Guy Sensei!"
"Lee!"
...
Naruto wasn't sure if it was his imagination, but he felt like he heard the sound of waves crashing against the rocks when the two of them embraced, and he even saw the afterglow of the setting sun...
Hayate's voice interrupted Naruto's fantasy: "The winner is Tosu Kinuta."
Huh? What did I miss?
Naruto turned his head to look, and several senbon were scattered around Tosu, while Mayu was already lying on the ground.
I... actually missed a match without realizing it because I was watching Guy Sensei and his student clowning around?
Was I too engrossed, or is it because Mayu is too weak?
The word 'Youth' that Guy shouted must be a genjutsu, right!? It's simply poisonous!
Hayate continued, "Then, please have the advancing players and the bye-winning Rock Lee gather in the arena."
Only ten of the eleven people came; Zaku went to remove the needles and hasn't returned yet.
Hayate looked at the ten people in front of him and said:
"Well then, the preliminary round is over, you cough... will participate in the third exam, the main competition, in a month. Congratulations."
After a pause, Hayate continued to explain: "The reason for waiting a month is because important figures from various countries will be invited to visit at that time, and traveling and preparation also take time. This month can be used to improve yourselves and investigate your opponents' information.
Cough cough...
The main competition will continue to be conducted in a one-on-one format, using a lottery to determine opponents.
Come over and draw lots in order."
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