"Lee… Rock Lee, I knew you would pass the exam," a soft voice called from the corner. A slender girl emerged, her long hair flowing over her shoulders and her bright, expressive eyes shining with warmth.
It was Aiko, the girl Lee had saved in the Forest of Death.
"How long have you been waiting?" Lee asked with a kind smile.
"Just a few hours," Aiko replied softly. Her demeanor was calm and gentle, almost too delicate to belong to a ninja.
"Let's go. The assembly point should be ahead, and I imagine the examiners are waiting there." Lee stepped forward and instinctively took her hand. Her hands were soft and smooth, and the touch made Lee's heart flutter.
"Okay," Aiko murmured, her cheeks turning pink as she shyly allowed him to lead her. Her heart raced, her hand warm in his, and though she was flustered, a sweet happiness bloomed inside her.
The two walked hand in hand through the long corridor of the tower, the silence between them comfortable. The hallway stretched on endlessly, and they strolled for nearly five minutes before reaching its end.
"This place is enormous!" Aiko exclaimed in awe as they stepped into a massive arena.
Lee nodded, taking in the sight.
The room was immense—over 300 meters long and 100 meters wide—a standard rectangular battlefield. In the center stood a towering 30-meter sculpture of a ninja forming a hand seal, symbolizing the essence of the ninja way.
Beneath the statue, seven powerful individuals stood in a neat line. Each exuded a commanding presence, and among them were Might Guy and Hatake Kakashi.
At the forefront was an elderly man with a kind, weathered face. He stood with a pipe in his hand, wearing robes that signified his position. The hat on his head bore the symbol for "fire," marking him as the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen—the leader of Konoha Village and one of its most formidable shinobi.
"Is that Sarutobi Hiruzen?" Lee thought, staring at the Hokage. "His strength is incredible—I can't sense even the faintest trace of his aura."
It reminded Lee of his earlier encounter with Orochimaru. The ability of Kage-level shinobi to suppress their presence was a skill beyond his current level.
The Third Hokage, known throughout the ninja world as the "Professor of Ninjutsu," had mastered every mainstream technique in Konoha. Even at the age of sixty-nine, well past his prime, his reputation as one of the strongest Hokage in history remained unshaken.
"Rock Lee! Move faster! Stop dawdling!" Mitarashi Anko's sharp voice cut through the air. She stood near the Third Hokage, glaring at Lee.
"Yes, Examiner!" Lee replied, snapping to attention.
He turned to Aiko and squeezed her hand gently. "Wait for me here," he said with a reassuring smile.
"Okay," she replied obediently, her face flushing as she stood still, watching him go.
"Tenten, you're late," came Tenten's familiar voice as Lee joined the others. She looked past him at Aiko and raised an eyebrow. "Who's that girl?"
"She's Aiko. I saved her in the Forest of Death," Lee explained casually.
Tenten scrutinized Aiko for a moment, her expression turning curious. "Is she the one from before? Lee, don't tell me you like her," she teased.
"Quiet!" Anko snapped.
Tenten stuck out her tongue playfully but fell silent. Despite this, she continued sneaking glances at Aiko, her expression unreadable.
The Announcement
"Now that everyone is here, I will announce the results of the exam," Anko began, her voice loud and authoritative. "First, congratulations to all of you for passing the second exam."
"Next, the Third Hokage will explain the details of the third exam. Please listen carefully," she added before stepping back and bowing respectfully to the Hokage.
The Third Hokage stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over the assembled Genin. His dim eyes held a spark of approval, and he nodded slightly.
"Cough…" He cleared his throat before addressing the group. "The third exam will begin shortly. But before we proceed, I want to explain the true purpose of this exam."
The room grew silent as every Genin focused intently on his words.
"Why do the five great nations hold this selection exam together?" the Hokage began. "While it's true that this exam promotes friendly relations and helps evaluate ninja strength, the real purpose is often misunderstood."
He paused, his voice growing heavier. "This exam is a microcosm of war between nations."
"What does that mean?" Tenten asked, her voice breaking the silence.
"In the past, the five great nations were often at war," the Hokage explained. "To avoid unnecessary destruction, a neutral battlefield was chosen where conflicts could be resolved without large-scale casualties. This is the origin of the Chūnin Exam."
"Wait, isn't this exam just to select Chūnin?" Naruto asked, confused.
"That's one purpose," the Hokage replied. "But it's also a stage where ninja represent their villages and fight to prove their strength. The leaders and influential figures from many nations will observe the third exam. Their judgment determines not only your future but the reputation and strength of your village."
He continued, "If a village demonstrates superior power, it will attract more missions, strengthening its economy and resources. Weak villages, however, will lose prestige and fall behind. This makes the third exam a crucial event."
"But does that mean we have to fight to the death?" Kiba asked loudly, his tone defiant.
"Yes," the Hokage answered bluntly. "The strength of a nation depends on its ninja. Only through desperate, life-or-death battles can a ninja's true strength be revealed. This is a stage for you to show your worth and secure your village's future."
"Then why emphasize friendship?" Tenten questioned.
"Because in the ninja world, friendship exists to maintain balance—achieved through strength and, if necessary, conflict," the Hokage said, his voice grave. "Remember this: in this exam, every battle matters. Fight as if your life and the honor of your village depend on it. Because they do."