Naruto: The New Sealmaster

"Everyone, gather at the hall on the bottom floor. Your exam proctor has some news for you."

As soon as that rang out through the speakers nearby, everyone stood up at once. Ninjas listen to orders instinctively, especially young ninjas who haven't been taught to think a lot for themselves yet. As they all moved in silence down the stairs, they encountered a welcomed sight. At the very last second it seemed, Naruto's team had passed. They acted celebratory for a few seconds before they joined in on the silent mood.

Each and every ninja lined up. 9 teams out of 29 made it through the second test. 27 ninjas stood lined up…actually, 28. But Karin soon got shown the way to a different area.

Aoshi looked around the room. Around him, the teams were standing in columns of three. Most likely each team's strongest profile stood at the front. His gaze went further forward, to see a bunch of jounin and even the Hokage standing a couple of metres in front. It seemed there would be some kind of show here, otherwise Aoshi couldn't understand why there had to be an audience for this bit. At that moment, a man at the centre of the room cleared his throat. It was the Hokage.

"Before we begin the third test, there is something I want to tell you. The true purpose of having these exams together."

He went on to explain that although one might think they are to form bonds and relationships between nations, in actuality it is just a substitute for war. Aoshi understood where the Hokage came from. It displays the next generation in a rather safe environment so that villages don't generally lose their largest talents needlessly. That said, it wasn't safe. Certainly not. But at least during the exams, the most promising youngsters weren't specifically targeted by much more experienced and stronger ninjas before they could bloom.

Naruto clearly didn't understand and yelled out something, but Aoshi didn't really listen at this time. He just stood there wondering how many talented and possibly world-changing ninjas had been killed before they had a chance to make a difference in the world.

When Aoshi was done thinking, the Hokage was just finishing up telling Naruto about how the prestige they gain from this exam helps display talent to the world. And talent/prestige gives the village more missions.

"Before we begin the third test I will tell you one more thing. This is not just a test..This is a life-risking battle. With your dreams and your country's prestige on the line."

Some snarky sand kid interrupted the Hokage, but at least it got him to start explaining the third test. Then some other guy interrupted. This one was a konoha jounin by the looks of it.

"Actually.. (cough)"

"I apologise, Hokage-sama. From here on, as the referee, will you please allow me, Gekkou Hayate, to explain."

This guy looked sickly. Like very much so. He coughed every now and then and looked like he had been poisoned so he couldn't sleep. Not a good look. That's when he threw a massive curveball.

"It's a preliminary for the third test. To decide who gets to participate in the main event."

A cacophony of sounds were heard of various people complaining. But he went straight to the point and claimed that since there were too many people, since the first two tests were too easy, they had to reduce the number of participants for the third test. This was because they didn't want to bore the well known guests who would be arriving to watch the big show of the final exam.

"Those who are not feeling well, those who feel like quitting, please come forward."

Three people came forward. Tetsuo's two teammates, despite looking completely uninjured, and that Kabuto guy. Apparently Naruto and his team didn't want Kabuto to quit, and he claimed something about being tired even though Aoshi could sense that was clearly not the case.

"Yakushi Kabuto, Sai, and Tera. You may all leave now."

They soon left, and after a small fight within team Naruto about whether Sasuke should give up, probably due to the mark Tenten told him about, it was about to start. 

They explained that the combatants for each battle would be randomised but nobody could face their own teammate just yet. At first, there would be 12 matches. Then later on there would be two more randomised fights between the victors so that they end up with 10 people. The first battle was decided to be Sasuke vs Yoroi, some sketchy guy in Kabuto's team. Everyone else left for a platform up above the makeshift arena. Every genin team gathered among themselves and their sensei. This would be the first time most of them truly showed off their skills to people who matter.

Aoshi looked around. Naruto was excited, he clearly wished he got to be first and not Sasuke. Hinata, surprisingly, was also looking rather excited. Though that could be for other reasons, she was looking at Naruto rather intensely after all. Tenten looked to be gathering herself. She didn't spend too much chakra during the last test so unless she got a very unfavourable match-up, Aoshi had high hopes for her. She looked in his direction and they shared a smile, before the fight began.

The first fight set the tone. It was intense, Yoroi seemed to have Sasuke countered for most of it. He used a technique that was doing something similar to what Aoshi's seals on his hands could do. Yoroi's technique was very lacking in comparison though, as Aoshi saw how little chakra he could absorb and how difficult it was to convert it into his own. Sasuke's mark was clearly bothering him throughout the fight, and for a bit there, Aoshi was certain he saw marks spreading all over Sasuke's body before he forced it back again. The fight ended abruptly due to a taijutsu move from Sasuke, it was clearly an unfinished move though. Aoshi was surprised that it was enough to get the victory.

Before Kakashi could jump down to his student, Aoshi interrupted him.

"Let me take a look at that seal later, will you? That looked very odd…"

He nodded before picking up his student and taking off. Hopefully Sasuke wouldn't get selected to have another fight, Aoshi highly doubted he was in any state for it.

Rokushō Aoshi vs Aburame Shino

The two looked at each other and nodded. There would be no hard feelings after this, and they both respected one another. Two of the people next to Shino were very hesitant. Who would they cheer for? While Aoshi and Shino jumped down from the platform, Hinata and Kurenai seemed to have decided to just silently cheer them both on. Four who were not silent, however, were Naruto, Tenten, Kazuto and last but certainly not least, Karin.

"YOU GOT THIS GREEN-SAN!"

"KICK HIS ASS AO-KUUUN!"

"DROWN THOSE BUGS AOSHI!"

"I WANT TO SEE THAT BUTT IN THE FINAL!"

Dead silence reigned through the area while all eyes moved over to Karin. She covered her mouth quickly and Aoshi could only just hear her say "Did I say that out loud?" before he felt his entire face cringe for a second.

The proctor, Hayate-san, cleared his throat and coughed.

"Alright then..Let's begin!"

Aoshi and Shino shared a look and bowed to each other in respect before starting. Both combatants jumped back to prepare themselves. Shino took out his selected bugs while Aoshi slapped his bag to release a seal which gave him a kunai to hold.

Neither party was impulsive but eventually, Aoshi made his first attempt. He threw a couple of kunai which Shino easily dodged. Then, with a smile he burst forward using his very own wind technique.

In the blink of an eye, he had stabbed Shino through the shoulder. Only, it wasn't Shino. Countless bugs, all sorts of creepy crawlers really, came running from the form that was Shino. A split second later, Aoshi sensed Shino coming from his back so he burst forward to create some room for himself.

"Impressive speed. Sensei is right to compliment you. But my bugs will easily stand up to what you've got. A wind affinity, correct?"

Aoshi simply smiled and nodded. This was his aunt's disciple. In a way, they had a relation to each other.

"The bugs you've seen, and even those you haven't, are all well equipped to handle any wind you throw their way."

Aoshi assumed this was a precaution against the sand shinobi, but it worked well against him as well. There was one thing he forgot though. Aoshi slapped his bag again and several kunai with explosive seals popped out. He threw them at Shino, who sighed.

"That won't be enough to-"

But then Aoshi added another element. The kunai flew through the air as Aoshi used his second wind technique of the day.

Wind style: breakthrough

It wasn't the very powerful version, but he managed to calculate just the intensity and speed needed to not just hit his target, Shino, at the same time as the kunai. But also, to do so in the most effective way to boost the intensity of the flames from the explosive tags.

Shino's eyes widened in shock as he realised his mistake. He substituted, regrettably, with his bugs again and could only watch as a massive explosion splattered them all.

"You have to think beyond the first step, Shino."

He looked behind him, only to see Aoshi standing there with a kunai to his throat. With that, he knew that it was over so he raised his hands.

"Winner, Rokushō Aoshi!"

Under a healthy amount of applause, Aoshi wrapped his arm over Shino's shoulder.

"Sorry about the bugs man. I know you raised them all by yourself."

Shino sighed once more.

"Yes, but that's the way it goes. I must be more powerful next time. Thank you, Rokushō-San. I believe I needed to be taught this lesson. I must ask though, how did you find the parasitic bugs I attached to you?"

Aoshi chuckled and brought them out from his pocket. They were still alive, and Shino was probably happy to have some of his more useful bugs back in his arsenal.

"Simple. I don't have much chakra, so I almost always know precisely what amount I have. Even such a small annoyance would get noticed by me. I'm also a decent sensor, so I could sense them trying to attach."

With that, they joined the others.

They joined a group of Konoha genins who all wore smiles, some wider than others. It was a decent fight, even if it ended quickly. One party outmatched the other quite plain and simple, but nobody thought less of Shino who was handled by his team rather quickly.

Tenten hugged Aoshi

"Congratulations! You're through! Not that I doubted you."

She let go of him and winked.

"Let's hope I'm next so I can join you there!"

But she wasn't. Coming up next was Kazu vs Kankuro. A sound shinobi vs a sand one. Honestly, Kazu never had even the slightest chance. He was trapped by Kankuro at the very start and was poisoned. The match wasn't very telling or interesting. Everyone knew he used puppetry since he got caught doing so during the first exam. The fact that he laced them with poison wasn't surprising.

The next fight had a lot more sentiment attached for Aoshi, however.

The screen lit up with big letters once more

Shimura Tetsuo vs Kazuto