"We're almost there, I'm so tired!"
Several miles out at sea from Mikazuki Island, Team Seven was speeding across the water. All around them were shattered oars and rudders, indicating the team ahead of them had experienced a fierce battle here.
"It's close, that island up ahead must be our destination, right?" Sakura wiped the sweat from her brow, a faint outline of a small island visible in the distance.
"Great, I'm going to stuff myself at the island's restaurant!"
Naruto clutched his rumbling stomach. He'd been subsisting on ration pills for the past two days and felt like he'd wasted away!
"Idiot!"
Sasuke sneered slightly, then motioned for Naruto and Sakura to stop. He pulled out ration pills from his backpack and said, "The real fight begins once we get to the island. There won't be time for you to replenish your energy. Eat a few ration pills while we're still on the way."
"That's true!"
Although he craved a delicious feast, Naruto also knew Sasuke was right. They weren't here for a vacation; this was the final stage of the second phase of the Chunin Exams, and they couldn't afford to slack off for a moment!
Naruto pinched a black ration pill, closed his eyes, and swallowed it whole, not bothering to chew or savor its taste.
"Let's go, it's time for the final test!"
After swallowing the ration pill and regaining some chakra, the three of them continued towards Mikazuki Island. Compared to other teams, they had fallen far behind. Perhaps the fighting on the island had already begun...
At this very moment, on the prosperous and wealthy Mikazuki Island, the final stage had indeed begun. However, after a series of notification sounds, many teams stopped before the Nine Gates, their faces grim.
"Takigakure village team eliminated, Kusagakure village team eliminated, Yukigakure village eliminated..."
In just a few minutes, dozens of teams had been eliminated. More importantly, no one knew what lay beyond the Nine Gates, nor did anyone know if the teams that had entered were alive or dead.
Fear, trepidation, hesitation, and indecision flickered across their faces.
"Why have so many teams been eliminated all at once?"
Naruto, who had just landed on the island, was startled by the announcement coming from the microphone. Sakura and Sasuke, standing beside him, looked equally concerned, their faces turning grim.
They hadn't expected this second phase of the exam to be so perilous, with such a high elimination rate.
The three of them stopped talking and hurried towards the capital of the Moon Country. As they passed a restaurant, Naruto paused and called out to a pineapple-haired figure inside, "Shikamaru? What are you guys doing here, and Choji, Ino too."
"Oh, it's Naruto," Shikamaru said, taking a sip of his tea.
"Come on, Naruto, the grilled meat here is amazing! The flavor is unique, and the meat is so tender!"
Choji, his mouth full, still managed to invite Naruto to share the delicious grilled meat. However, Naruto, having eaten ration pills, had no appetite at all.
It's all Sasuke's fault!
Sasuke's face remained cold, and he didn't respond. Instead, he asked, "Do you have any information about the latter half of the exam..."
Just as Sasuke was about to ask, his miniature microphone crackled, and then Lin Yu's voice came through.
"Congratulations on arriving in the Moon Country. Without further ado, nine uninvited guests have occupied the Moon Country. To proceed to the third round of the exam, you must defeat them. The rules remain the same: all means are permitted."
"Friendly reminder: group assault is recommended."
Although it was Lin Yu's voice, it sounded a bit stiff, clearly recorded and played back.
Shikamaru shrugged his shoulders. "That's how it is. We haven't even entered the capital yet. Choji dragged us into this restaurant while we were passing by, and then we ran into you guys."
Naruto asked in confusion, "But if there are nine enemies, how will they determine which team is first after defeating them?"
Shikamaru looked at Naruto with a dumbfounded expression and explained, "It's so troublesome. That extra reward from before was clearly a false lead, meant to confuse us. Don't forget, we're ninjas. Judging the validity of information during a mission is a mandatory skill for ninjas."
"So, Shikamaru, were we tricked?" Choji asked.
"Clearly, yes!"
Shikamaru said, "The rules were clear from the beginning: all surviving teams would advance after helping Prince Moon reclaim the Moon Country. So, there's no such thing as first or second place. Everyone advances together."
"Damn it, so cunning!"
Naruto clenched his fist. He had originally planned to win first place and then challenge Sasuke in the third round of the exam. He hadn't expected it to be false information!
Sasuke gave Shikamaru's team a strange look and couldn't help but ask, "You guys aren't planning to wait for other teams to defeat the enemies and then automatically advance, are you?"
"Uh..."
His secret exposed, Shikamaru's face flushed. How could he admit to this? Was he that kind of troublesome person!
Choji asked curiously, "Shikamaru, is he telling the truth?"
"How could I be that kind of person!"
Shikamaru's face reddened. He had intended to do just that, otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to Choji's request to eat grilled meat at the restaurant. It was just bad luck to run into Team Seven!
"Let's go. I don't think the audience wants to see a team win without fighting."
Naruto slung an arm around Shikamaru's shoulder and dragged him towards the capital of the Moon Country.
"This is so troublesome!"
...
Nine gates stood around the walls of the Moon Country's capital, dividing the city into nine sections, which were nine battlefields. Between each battlefield, a purple barrier had been erected, separating the areas.
"Zero, Jade, South, Blue, North, Three, Vermillion, White, Black!"
Shikamaru frowned, staring at the characters carved in front of the gates. He had a feeling these symbols held some meaning, possibly representing individuals.
"Shikamaru, Naruto, you're here too."
Dozens of teams were resting in front of the capital. Team Three and Team Eight were also present, meaning Neji and Hinata's teams.
"Neji, Kiba, why haven't you gone in yet?"
Naruto sidled up to them slyly. "Are you guys scared? Yo yo, don't rush, let me, Naruto Uzumaki, be your vanguard."
*Bang!*
Naruto shot across the sky like a meteor, crashing into the wall. *Clang!*
"Sorry, I took care of it for you." Sasuke clapped his hands together, as if expecting no thanks.
Neji glanced at Sasuke indifferently. "Don't misunderstand. We were just gathering intelligence. Now that we have enough, it's time to move."
"Let's go, Lee, Tenten."
"Yes!" Rock Lee, who had been doing handstands, quickly jumped up and said to Naruto and the others, "Everyone, we'll be going ahead. Good luck!"
With that, Team Three entered the third gate, the one marked with the character "South."
*Rumble.*
As the gate closed, a complex seal appeared on it, locking it shut.
"Once someone enters, the gate automatically seals and won't reopen until the battle is over," Kiba explained to the newly arrived Naruto and the others.
Naruto jumped onto a rock and looked around. He noticed that the gates marked "Zero," "Blue," "Three," and "Jade" were sealed. Including Neji's "South," five teams were already attempting the trials.
Naruto eagerly said, "Sasuke, hurry, before someone else..."
Before he could finish, a familiar voice sounded from a distance.
"Quick! Quick! Let's go to the Ninth Gate. If we don't hurry, someone else will get there first!"
Suigetsu Hozuki, upon seeing these nine codenames, immediately felt a sense of familiarity. Then it dawned on him: weren't these the codenames of the members of their allied organization, the Akatsuki?
He didn't know which unlucky person chose "Zero," but Suigetsu wasn't stupid. He definitely wanted to choose "Black," as Zetsu was the weakest member of the Akatsuki. With Kimimaro, they were sure to pass!
Even if it was Zetsu and Tobi, their combination had a chance of winning. Choosing others was uncertain. Suigetsu didn't know much about the other members, so he wasn't willing to gamble.
"Another one is gone. Did that guy know something?"
Seeing Suigetsu and his two companions rush into the Ninth Gate, everyone else became anxious. Waiting here for results was not the way of a ninja.
"I'm not waiting anymore! If we're afraid of the Chunin Exams, what about the Jonin Exams later! What do you think, Akamaru!"
"Woof woof woof!"
At this moment, Shino Aburame, wearing sunglasses, asked, "Kiba, have you made your decision?"
"Uh... not yet!"
"How about, we choose 'White'?" Hinata, who had been silent, asked weakly. Her pure white eyes couldn't help but glance in the direction of the eighth gate. She felt that choosing this one wouldn't be wrong.
"The eighth gate? Alright! Akamaru, let's go!" Kiba hesitated for only a moment before choosing to trust Hinata's judgment.
Naruto clasped his head and shouted, "Even Kiba and the others have chosen. Sasuke, Sakura, haven't we decided yet?"
"Stop shouting!"
Sasuke stared at the remaining gates, his mind in a turmoil. Finally, he pointed to one.
"Since we are Team Seven, then the Seventh Gate."
"Vermillion?" Naruto did a somersault and jumped off the rock, shouting, "It's time to let the ninja world know my true strength, Naruto Uzumaki!"
"Idiot!" Sasuke walked alongside Naruto with his hands in his pockets. For some reason, the closer he got to the Seventh Gate, the faster the blood flowed in his body. Could it be someone he knew?
"This is so troublesome!"
Seeing that Naruto and the others had made their choices, Shikamaru's face was filled with helplessness.
"Shikamaru, since you're not confident, can't we team up with other squads and go in together? The rules did suggest it." Choji asked.
Shikamaru gave a wry smile. "Do you think Neji or Sasuke, with their pride, would choose to gang up on someone? Especially in front of an audience from all over the ninja world."
"Sigh, let's go. It's time for some brain-taxing work again."
Team Ten slowly walked towards the Fifth Gate, marked with the character "North."
...
*Swish swish swish!*
A commotion arose in the forest. Tobi jumped down from a large tree and, seeing the sealed Ninth Gate, fell into thought.
"Who was unlucky enough to end up there?"