After all, compared to exceptional teammates like Obito and Kakashi, she really feels she's much too far behind.
"I told you, Rin, you can definitely do it." As soon as Rin walked up to the second floor, Obito was the first to congratulate her.
"Thank you for believing in me. Now our whole team has passed." Nohara Rin said with a radiant smile, her hands clasped together.
Kakashi nodded without speaking. He understood better than Rin how strong she was among the Genin. Rin's lack of confidence was purely because the few people she was always with were too strong, leading to her misconception.
As the preliminary exams proceeded, more successful candidates appeared, many of whom were familiar to Obito and Kakashi.
Asuma, Nara Shiomizu, Inuzuka Midori—some were friends they knew from the academy, others had fought together in the Forest of Death.
Kakashi also noticed that besides their entire team passing, the Hidden Mist Squad formed by Hoshigaki Kisame also successfully entered the third exam, and from Terumi Mei's squad, everyone except the Ninja who forfeited made it to the third exam.
Aside from them, Nara Shiomizu's squad with Aburame Naoya lost. From Asuma's squad, only Asuma succeeded while Namiashi Raido and Yuhi Kurenai lost, with Namiashi Raido being the unluckiest for encountering Might Guy.
In Might Guy's squad, only Might Guy succeeded; Ebisu lost to Yamashiro Aoba.
"The preliminaries have ended, and a total of sixteen people have advanced to the third exam. They are Uchiha Obito, Terumi Mei..." said Hiruko, announcing the final results after all the battles ended.
After announcing the list of those advancing, Hiruko immediately explained the arrangements for the third exam.
"The rules for the third exam are basically the same as the preliminaries you just completed. It's a one-on-one battle based on a draw, with the winner advancing and the loser being eliminated, until the final victor is determined.
In the third exam battles, you need to use all your abilities without holding back. Specially appointed Jonin will grade the exams; if you perform well, losing doesn't necessarily mean you won't become a Chunin. Conversely, even if you win to the end, if your performance is poor, you might still not be able to graduate to Chunin."
The rules for the third exam are the same as the practical exams in the Ninja Academy; each round is scored by examiners on a Ninja's overall qualities.
"Next, I will call up names to draw lots. The battle order for the third exam will be determined by this draw," Hiruko continued as he took out a box.
The draw order is based on the results of the recent battles. Obito was the first to be called up to draw lots.
Obito didn't hesitate, reaching in and immediately drawing one out, then showing it to Hiruko.
"Uchiha Obito, number nine," Hiruko announced.
Each time a draw was made, Hiruko would announce it until everyone had finished. The previously blacked-out large screen lit up again, showing the match-ups for the third exam in sequence: number one versus number two, number three versus number four, and so on.
Obito wasn't in a hurry to check his own opponent; instead, he looked at the name matching number four, because Nohara Rin was number three.
"It's that Nara Shiomizu, huh. Doesn't seem easy to deal with," Obito said, a bit worried for Nohara Rin.
He'd seen Nara Shiomizu's performance in the Forest of Death. This was a person as cunning and devious as Kakashi.
"Yeah, seems like a very calm and shrewd person," Nohara Rin nodded. Despite nearly being immobilized, she almost helped Obito take down a Jonin, leaving a deep impression on her.
"But I'll give it my all in battle. After all, the examiner also said that you might still become a Chunin even if you lose."