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AFTER FIVE days, the teams had dwindled to less than half. Team 4 of the Mist completed the test within 3 days, while Team 7 of the Leaf took five days due to being personally attacked by a snake-like ninja.

When Team 4 arrived in the tower with their scrolls, they read the riddle on the board:

"If qualities of Heaven is what you desire,

Acquire wisdom to take your mind higher.

If Earth qualities are what you lack,

Train your body and prepare to attack.

When Heaven and Earth are opened together,

The perilous path will become righteous forever. 

This is the secret way

that guides us from this place today."

"I think we must open the scrolls together," Yaragi suggested. Then we'll be guided out of the forest, right?"

"That lady at the beginning of the exam said we can't open these until we reach the tower so it makes sense." Sezaki nodded wearily. "Doremi?"

Doremi bounced up and down excitedly to finally open the scrolls. "Yes! Let's rip these bad boys open!" She took ahold of one as did Yaragi. Inside was a symbol meaning 'person'. 

"It's a... summoning jutsu! Throw the scrolls!" Yaragi exclaimed and threw the scroll urging Dormei to do the same which she did in a panic.

In the cloud appeared a figure. "Yuri Sensei?"

She smiled. "I'm very lucky I was chosen to welcome you back. I am very proud of you three. You passed the second exam! " She smiled. The three genin broke down at her feet, crying. 

"Yuri Sensei! Please tell me there's a break after this test." Doremi begged. 

"You will have a short break soon," She giggled. "Now stand up and stop crying you lot. I will treat you for your hard work once we're done." 

The squad stood and gave their sensei a determined expression each. "We won't let you down, sensei!"

She smiled. "You'll never let me down. But for the next exam... don't push it to far unless you have to. The last thing I want is for any of you to wind up dead from overworking yourself."

They all nodded. "Yes, Sensei!"

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ALL OF the remaining squads gathered in large unground arena. Yuri stood beside Might Guy and Kakashi was on his other side. The genin were stood before the Hokage and the other jonin, lined in their teams. Out of the 26 teams that participated, only 7 teams remained - five from the Leaf, one from the Sand, and one from the Mist. 

"First of all, congrations of completing the second exam." Anko announced.

"I see your team didn't do to bad, Kakashi." Guy spoke to Kakashi. "They must've gotten real lucky."

Yuri scoffed. "More like coddled the entire exam. My squad told me they helped yours in a fight. And they were helped by two other Leaf Squads... that doesn't show skill at all."

Kakashi frowned under his mask. "Your team is weak for helping a rival team."

Yuri scowled. "We will see who's squad is better in this elimination battle." 

"We will." Kakashi spoke coldly. "Don't be too heartbroken if your team dies."

Yuri froze at his word before her expression darkened. "You'll regret that, Hatake." She seethed. 

Team 4 was stood between the Sand genin and the older Leaf genin. Doremi looked around the teams. "As expected, the best survived." She spoke nonchalantly and threw her hands behind her head to relax. "But we've got this in the bag."

Yaragi looked around too. "I don't know Doremi... these guys are good."

Sezaki turned around to face him. "It's okay, Yaragi. No matter what, we'll make Yuri proud. As long as you try your best." 

"Lord Hokage, they're all yours." Anko bowed.

"First, before I tell you what the third exam entails, I want to explain something about the text itself..." Lord Hokage spoke with a stern expression. "Why do you think we conduct these exams in conjunction with our allies? To build your abilities as shinobi and build stronger friendships with allied nations. The exams are, so to speak..." He trailed off taking a puff of his pipe. "They are a presentation of a battle between allied nations. Out history shows that the allied nations were once at war with each other. This exam is to pick those who are worthy to become Chunin and eventually Jonin, but also a chance for shinobi to express their best abilities to their village leaders. The country's strength is the village's strength, the village's strength is the shinobi's strength. You represent your village and it's strength to prove to our allies that we cannot be betrayed."

"Tell us the details of the exam, already." A red-headed boy with a low voice spoke. He was from the Sand Village and carried a large gourd over his back. Sezaki looked over at him as she stood beside him. Her eyes widened a small fraction as she took in his appearance. 

A man, who was constantly coughing, stood forward and spoke. "Before the third exam, there is something we'd like to do first... we have to have a preliminary exam before we can move onto the real one."

"Huh?!" Yuri exclaimed quietly.

"We did not expect this many people to pass this far. We cannot avoid to waste their time so we need to move the final exam along quickly. So if any of you think you are not in top physical condition-" he cut himself off with a coughing fit. "Sorry, please back out now. The preliminary exams will start immediately."

"How is that fair?" Yuri muttered. The genin hadn't rested or eaten yet since finishing their last exam. 

"The winners will be determined from one-on-one battles, sudden death. Anyone willing to quit, do so now."

As the genin spoke amongst each other, Anko began arguing with Kakashi about Sasuke's condition. Yuri did not care to listen it, instead she approached the Hokage. "Lord Hokage, may I have a word with my genin or is that prohibited?"

"Hmm.. you may."

"Thank you." She bowed. Yuri walked over to Team 4. "Squad, listen up. None of you will back out of this fight, is that understood?"

"But Sensei, we haven't-"

"I know this will be tough in your state, but remember everyone else is feeling the same way as you are. No one is at an advantage here. I will not let that silver-haired bastard best me, so please do your best." The squad nodded. Yuri smiled. "Very good. You will be double treated for your efforts today." Yuri made it back to her place beside Might Guy and the two Leaf jonin were still arguing about Sasuke. 

One hand was raised amongst the genin - an older boy with grey hair and round glasses - a Leaf Ninja. "Okay. You got me, I'm out."

A coughing man looked through his paper. "Kabuto Yakushi of the Leaf Village, right? Okay then, you can go ahead and step back."

That left 20 ninja - making 10 matches. The exams would now begin. The screen above them showed and revealed the first two names.

SASUKE UCHIHA 

VS

DOREMI ARASHIKIRI

"Those whose names have been drawn, step forward." The man announced.

Sasuke and Doremi stepped forward and faced each other. Sasuke had a determined stern look on his face while Doremi had a cocky grin. 

"Any objections?"

"None at all." The both said. 

"Alright then, let's begin our first match. Those not currently fighting, ascend to the upper level to spectate."

Yuri and Kakashi walked over to their squads. "Good luck, Kakashi... by the looks of it, Sasuke won't be on his feet for much longer." Yuri chuckled. Before he could retort, she had wandered back to her team.

"Evil woman." He muttered under his breath.