I promote boxing in the world of Konoha

Pre-selection ends in the evening.

The nine people who advanced to the third exam are: Uchiha Sasuke, Hyuga Neji, Tenten, Rock Lee, Uzumaki Naruto, Nara Shikamaru, Aburame Shino, Sasuke Sasuke, and Terunomaru.

There are nine people in total, the first seven are Konoha Shinobi, the last one is a Sound Ninja, and the other is a Sand Shinobi.

When the list came out, Neji was not surprised.

Without the participation of the Gaara trio, the strength of other villages would still not be comparable to Konoha.

"Congratulations to everyone for successfully advancing to the third exam."

After the preliminaries, those who advanced gathered again, and after Moonlight Hayate expressed his congratulations, Third Hokage announced the official rules of the competition.

"The official competition will be held in one month. This period of time will be left for you to prepare."

The so-called preparation is naturally to check and fill in the gaps based on the pre-selected battle situation.

Try to make up for your shortcomings and prepare more moves. Because in the official competition, no one will hide their tricks anymore, and the battle will be more dangerous than now.

"For the sake of fairness, please work hard this month." Third Generation said, "Of course, you can also choose to take a break, it's all up to you."

That being said, no one would use this precious time to rest.

Not even Neji.

Then, the examiner for the second exam, Mitarashi Anko, pulled out a cardboard box.

Draw lots.

The nine people drew in turn. After Neji finished drawing, he looked and saw "9" on the note.

"The number determines your matchup in the official game."

The examiner of the first exam, Ibiki, will take out the battle map.

No. 1 Aburame ShinoVS No. 2 Terunomaru

No. 3 Tiantian VS No. 4 Sack Stirrup

No. 5 Uzumaki NarutoVS No. 6 Nara Shikamaru

No. 7 Uchiha SasukeVS No. 8 Rock Lee

No. 9 has a bye and goes directly to the next round to face off against the winner between No. 7 and No. 8.

As soon as the matchup diagram came out, several people looked at their opponents.

Neji looked at the "No. 9 card" in his hand with some amusement. Why did he get the bye? This looked like a behind-the-scenes operation.

Could it be that he felt that no one had a chance of winning against him, so he was simply kept out of the first round? This way you can also see more about the performance of other candidates...

never mind.

It didn't matter if he had to fight less, but Neji found it easier.

What surprised him the most was the duel between Naruto and Shikamaru. The most "stupid" one faced the most "smart" one, which was really interesting.

In addition, the duel between Xiao Li and Sasuke also made him very concerned, as well as the Sasuke stirrup between Tiantian and Oto Nin...

It's all fun, but only if the exam goes well.

The question is, can it?

…

In the Hokage office, many Jōnin gathered.

Besides the Third Generation and Jōnin, there was the only Genin in the room, none other than Neji.

As the person who provided information about the tailed beasts, he was granted exception by Third Generation to attend this Jōnin meeting.

"It is now basically confirmed that Sand Shinobi has a plan that is detrimental to Konoha." The atmosphere in the room became tense as soon as the Third Generation spoke.

Sarutobi Asuma, like his father, is also a heavy smoker, holding the pipe in his mouth: "So, do you want to prepare for war?"

At this time, Anbu reported: "Sir Hokage, we have not yet found that Sand Shinobi has assembled ninja troops at the border."

"Yeah." Third Generation nodded, "It's still unclear what the enemy's plan is. But... Kakashi, tell me."

"yes."

Kakashi stood up at this time and surprised everyone when he opened his mouth.

"I suspect that Orochimaru may be related to this operation at Sand Shinobi."

"Orochimaru?!"

"He is back……"

"How come Orochimaru and Sand Shinobi are related?"

Kakashi continued: "According to the information currently available, Orochimaru killed the Kusanagi candidates who came to take the exam and pretended to be candidates to take the exam. In the second exam, he purposefully found Sasuke and planted a seed on him. Curse seal."

"And it was also in the second exam." Kakashi glanced at Neji, "Neji discovered Sand Shinobi's Jinchūriki. Jinchūriki seemed to have fled for fear of being hunted after transforming into a tailed beast. After that, Sand Shinobi led Jōnin Baki, It was said that the three candidates were unwell, quit the exam and went back to the village. But this is obviously an excuse."

After Kakashi said this, the Jōnin all fell into thinking.

"However, from this information, there is no connection between Sand Shinobi and Orochimaru." Yuhi Kurenai said.

"Yes, but that's a bit too coincidental."

"There are very few true coincidences in the world. Most of them are premeditated." Third Generation took a puff of smoke. Suddenly he asked Neji cheerfully: "Neji, what do you think?"

The Jōnin all looked at the boy.

Now Neji has grown a lot taller, over 1.75 meters tall, and has a completely adult figure. Coupled with his strong strength and thoughtful thinking, no one will treat him like a child anymore.

Neji raised his eyes: "I don't think it's a coincidence either."

"Oh? Can you give us a reason?"

"My reason is simple. If there is no strong foreign aid, why would Sand Shinobi attack Konoha now?"

"…………"

The Jōnin looked at each other. Don't tell me. Although this reason is simple, it does make sense.

From the perspective of national strength, there is a gap between the Kingdom of Earth and the Kingdom of Fire. From the perspective of the Hidden Village, Konoha's strength has been increasing in recent years, but Sand Shinobi has been declining.

Kakashi knows this best. Because back then, his father, Hatake Sakumo, known as "Konoha's White Fang", personally killed a couple of Sand Shinobi's Jōnin masters, causing Sand Shinobi to suffer a lot. Of course, this killing made Hatake Sakumo famous and gave birth to a monster.

With the current strength of Sand Shinobi, as Neji said, without foreign aid, why can they start a war with Konoha? Why do you believe there is a possibility of victory?

"Well, Neji is right. I don't think Sand Shinobi will attack Konoha without foreign aid." Third Generation was very satisfied with the reasons Neji gave and nodded frequently.

Kurenai and Asuma looked at each other, they were lovers and they had the same feelings. Both of them could sense that Third Generation seemed to have a special preference for Neji.

"It seems that Orochimaru is probably the powerful foreign aid!" Guy said solemnly, "It's just that Orochimaru is very powerful. We don't know where he is hiding now. It's not easy to find him."

"It's not difficult either." Kakashi suddenly took over.

"Why?"

"Because regardless of whether he is Sand Shinobi's foreign aid or not, Sasuke is among his targets. As long as you keep an eye on Sasuke, you don't have to worry about Orochimaru not showing up."

"Hmm..." Third Generation nodded again, "Kakashi is right too."

"However, what we need to be vigilant about is that there may be more Orochimaru people in the village." Kakashi said seriously, "It has been discovered that Yakushi Kabuto is his spy before."

“Yakushi Kabuto…”

"That kid from the enemy country who was picked up?"

"After the second exam, he didn't show up. Later in Sasuke's ward, he wanted to kidnap Sasuke, but I stopped him." Kakashi said, "But his strength should not be underestimated. Several Anbu died in killed his men."

"..."

Death is a very depressing thing, especially when it is caused by a spy, which makes people even more angry.

There was silence in the room for a moment before Third Generation made its decision.

"I will send more people to monitor the border with Sand Shinobi. In addition, I will also write a letter and send it to Sand Shinobi. If Kazekage knows the benefits and gives up the plan, then we will be fine. If he persists... then we Konoha will definitely fight to the end!" A glimmer of edge flashed in the Third Generation's cloudy eyes.

The Jōnin listened and nodded in unison.

Only Neji was not happy with the decision.

If I were Hokage...

Neji couldn't help but think: If I were Hokage, I would simply use the trick, open the border, set up an ambush inside the country, wait until Sand Shinobi's ninjas come in, and catch them all...and then make Sand Shinobi pay more, and even counterattack Sand Shinobi is not impossible. possible……

But he also understands that the Third Generation's approach is to avoid war.

However, if war could be avoided, would the world still be what it is now...

.