After defeating the two pairs who were fighting each other for scrolls, three of my clones arrived with information about other teams who were heading toward the tower after having obtained the two scrolls.
On the other hand, two of my other clones had been destroyed while trying to return to with information about teams that were too dangerous to fight at that mont — so we focused on those we could face without much trouble.
The fights were generally very smooth, and our team had extrely good coordination and almost never found ourselves at a disadvantage in battle — when we did, I dealt with it using more powerful techniques — and so we continued to pursue opponents whenever one of my remaining clones returned with new information.
We considerably reduced the number of teams in the tournant by doing this, so as soon as we thought our results were good, we headed towards the main tower.
The trial, up to that point, had lasted four days.
When we got there, we saw the remaining teams in the tournant — the one that caught our attention the most was the team ford by the Hyuuga guy — everyone was sitting or talking to each other while waiting for the test to be resolved.
Most of them stared at us as soon as we entered.
"Four teams left, including us... I think we did a good job after all."
I stared at the ninjas there, and then I rembered the end of the test.
"They're probably waiting for a teacher to co and tell them that the test is over, so they don't know that we should open the scrolls now."
"Sora, could you give one scroll each?"
She stared at , trying to understand what I was going to do, but she didn't refuse.
"Sure, take it." She tried to hand the scrolls of heaven and earth, but I stopped her.
"Keep one of them... as soon as I count to three, we'll open them, okay?"
"Riku, wasn't part of the test to keep the scrolls sealed? If we open them now, we could be disqualified," Renji warned with concern.
"We weren't supposed to open them until we got to the tower. From here, this is the only way we can complete this phase of the exam," I tried to sound confident as I said that.
Renji looked a little apprehensive, but he trusted , as he almost always did.
"Okay then... 1... 2... 3!"
Sora and I opened the scrolls at the sa ti.
"Look, it's a summoning jutsu!... Wait, a summoning jutsu?! Riku, drop that now!" Sora shouted, worried about what might be summoned there.
I smiled as I dropped the scroll on the floor, since I was expecting that to happen. And then, as soon as smoke began to rise from the scrolls, it was only a matter of ti before a ninja appeared in front of us.
Kakashi was the one chosen.
Sora and Renji were worried that we would be expelled for opening the scroll, but they cald down a little after seeing that Kakashi had a stopwatch in his hand.
"Well, the ti was reasonable... but that must be because you made sure to finish off most of your opponents, right, Riku?" he said.
"Hehe... I'm just making it easy for you guys. Imagine having to take another test because of all the genin who passed through here? I an, that wouldn't be cool at all." I scratched my head.
"I don't think that's ever happened before, and it never will... but congratulations. You did well," Kakashi comnted.
'If only he knew...'
"Thanks, Kakashi. What do we do now?" Renji asked.
"Co with ." Kakashi looked around, seeing that the other ninjas had started doing the sa thing as us.
***
Kakashi took us to the sa hall where Asuma and the rest of the jounin had talked to us before the second phase of the exam, but unlike last ti, the Hokage was now among them.
"Congratulations to all of you who made it to this stage... I imagine it wasn't easy to get here in good shape. But your determination and teamwork have led to a great result! With that in mind, I will announce the next — and final — stage..."
Everyone present paid close attention to everything the Hokage said, eager for the next step—myself included.
"...You will fight in a tournant..."
'I knew it,' I thought with a confident smile.
"In teams," he concluded.
"Wait, what?!" I blurted out, causing everyone to stare at in confusion.
Hiruzen chuckled softly, followed by Tetsu, who looked at with a hint of embarrassnt.
"That's right, Riku. As I was saying... the final stage of the chunin exam will be a team battle. Since there are only four teams left, we will hold a two-stage tournant — we will have two battles with two teams in each — you will face each other, and the winners of each battle will beco finalists in the tournant, facing each other to decide the champions."
Hayato, the Yamanaka, raised his hand.
"Hokage, but if the tournant is in teams, that ans the three winners will beco chunin, right?" he asked as soon as Hiruzen allowed him to speak.
"Actually, that may not be the case. I, and the other evaluators, will evaluate each team mber individually, as well as the team as a whole. If you show good results and great teamwork, you may all beco chunin... but it will depend heavily."
Hayato nodded, remaining silent after the Hokage's words.
'Interesting... well, my group and I have synergy, but that also ans that if I show too much of my strength, one of them may end up not becoming a chunin. Tough decision...' I mused.
"You will have a week to improve your communication, jutsu, and whatever else you need to properly prepare for the tournant, which will consist of two days of battles. Be ready. Now we will draw your opponents."
The tension rose now that the Hokage was going to draw the battles.
"And the first draw is... Team 11, led by Hyuuga Tetsu."
'Great, at least I'm not so anxious to find out who we're going to face.'
"Against... Team 5, led by Yuuhi Kurenai. Be prepared."
'Kurenai's team... who are they?' I started looking around and saw the three ninjas who seed to make up her team.
I had never seen any of them before, and I bet my teammates hadn't either... we would only know who they were for sure when Tetsu confird it. But it was a bit tense not knowing their true abilities.
"And the second match will be between Aoba Yamashiro's team and Choza Akimichi's team."
The team of genin who went to the forest of death at the sa ti as us was Aoba's, and I was rooting for them to win, but I was still anxious about the battle.
'Wow, so big nas there... I hope it's an interesting fight.'
"We'll et again in a week, and after that day, we'll know the new chunin of Konoha," said the Hokage, bidding us farewell.
'One of those chunin will definitely be .'
I was confident, and nothing would take that title away from .
....
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