Mokgetsu didn't know what Sarutobi Hiruzen and the other party discussed in the end, but the result was more or less what he had expected.
The Hidden Mist candidates continued with the exam as usual, and those Hidden Mist Ninja who had been captured were released, as if nothing had happened.
Five days later, Mokgetsu looked at the clock and formally announced the conclusion of the second exam. Teams that did not manage to gather the Scrolls and reach the Central Tower were all eliminated.
"Can we finally go outside now?" Obito complained.
They had passed the exam in just a few hours and had been living in the Central Tower since then.
In the Central Tower, Obito felt somewhat uncomfortable even while cultivating, only managing to exercise in the large open spaces inside the Tower.
"Everyone, please be quiet. Now the chief examiner for the third exam, Hiruko, will explain the related matters for the third exam." Mokgetsu said with a smile.
Mokgetsu also had a position in the third exam, but the explanation had to be given by the chief examiner.
A ninja wearing a gray-yellow high-collared jacket with long white hair walked up next to Mokgetsu.
"I'll leave it to you, senior Hiruko." Mokgetsu said with a gentle smile.
Hiruko was considered friends with Tsunade and Jiraiya, so Mokgetsu and Hiruko were friends of friends and got along reasonably well during the Chunin Examination.
Hiruko responded with a slight smile to Mokgetsu: "Mm, leave it to me."
As Mokgetsu walked to the side, Hiruko faced the candidates and spoke with a smile: "First, I congratulate everyone for successfully passing the second exam."
"Unfortunately, you cannot leave the Central Tower for the time being. Before the start of the third exam, a preliminary exam is required, and only those who pass the preliminary exam can participate in the third exam."
"Why make it so complicated and add another preliminary?" Obito asked, puzzled.
"Yeah, we barely passed the second exam, and we're already exhausted." Some ninja felt this was very unreasonable.
"Because many high officials and nobility will come to watch the matches in the third exam. They can provide a large number of high-quality commissions, so the exam time is a major issue, meaning the spots for the third exam are limited." Hiruko explained calmly.
Keeping all passing candidates in the Central Tower was for the convenience of conducting preliminaries; otherwise, just explaining the rules of the third exam wouldn't require this.
Hiruko's expected number was around eighteen, but this exam had forty-four teams. Even eliminating more than half, there were still eleven teams who completed the exam, each with three members, which was far beyond Hiruko's expected numbers, necessitating an extra test.
"The preliminary battles will no longer be group battles but one-on-one fights, conducted in a single round. Any candidate not feeling well or lacking confidence can withdraw in advance." Hiruko continued to explain the preliminary rules.
To ensure the third exam is exciting enough, the preliminary rules are consistent with the third exam, testing single combat ability.
"Single combat..." Nohara Rin showed a worried expression after hearing this; she wasn't very confident in her solo combat abilities.
"Rin, you'll be fine. Just go easy if you're up against someone from the same village, so you don't accidentally knock them out with a punch." Obito chuckled encouragingly.
"I don't have that much strength!" Nohara Rin puffed her cheeks slightly, looking a little displeased.
"Obito is actually right this time. Rin, you've surpassed quite a few candidates; as long as you don't run into those particularly strong Hidden Mist, you shouldn't have any problem reaching the third exam." Kakashi nodded and said.
Despite Rin having a relatively low presence among them, Kakashi, having been a ninja since age five, had abundant experience. At Rin's level, she was already quite strong for a Genin, lacking only in long-range attack methods—though all Genin were like that.
"No matter who the opponent is, I'll do my best. Let's all enter the third exam together." Nohara Rin nodded, Kakashi's words reassured her.
After all, Kakashi was indeed much more reliable in this regard.
"An unexpected one-on-one fight makes me feel like I'm done for." Shiranui Genma looked at the surrounding Genin, feeling like a husky among wolves.
The Genin around his age, whom he recognized, were all monsters. The entire team of Obito was monstrous; those Hidden Mist were also formidable. Even the youngest Asuma's team was a year older, while more Genin were several years older than them.
"Losing cannot be helped since it's due to our own lack of strength." Ebisu said with a very calm expression.
By now, he had a rough idea of his level. Having participated in the exam because of Might Guy, becoming a Chunin would be a bonus; otherwise, it's just experience to accumulate.
"Indeed, we've gotten this far thanks to Guy." Shiranui Genma said, placing a hand on Might Guy's back with a smile.
"Everyone did their part, just give it your all in the next battle without any regrets." Might Guy said, giving a thumbs up to the two.
Shiranui Genma and Ebisu both nodded.
"If you encounter Kakashi or Obito, be sure to give them a big surprise." Asuma said, quite confident in himself.
He had learned a lot about Wind Attribute Chakra Nature Changes from Mokgetsu; now his best Ninjutsu was not Fire Release but Wind Release.
"Uh, I think you should forget about Kakashi." Namiashi Raido advised Asuma not to think too much about it, as Kakashi had already passed the Chunin Examination years ago.