Hayate tells the genin they will have to have a preliminary exam before the real one. All the genin wonder why and Hayate explains that they never expected so many genin to remain. Sakura wonders if that is fair and Hayate says they must speed things up because they can waste the prominent visitor’s time. Hayate continues coughing and says now is the time to drop out if you’re not up for it because the preliminaries are starting immediately. All the genin are shocked because they just finished the second part of the exam. Naruto thinks to himself that he won’t drop out and he will keep going. Hayate says the winners of the preliminaries will be chosen by one on one fights. Sasuke’s curse mark starts hurting and Sakura tells him he should quit because of the mark causing him trouble. Naruto wonders what Sakura is talking about because he was never told about Sasuke’s mark. Sakura starts crying and begs Sasuke to quit. Sasuke’s mark continues hurting.

The hokage, Anko, and Ibiki watch Sasuke. Ibiki asks what they should do and Anko says they should take Sasuke out and have him watched by ANBU. Kakashi tells Anko Sasuke won’t quietly do that because he is an Uchiha. Anko tells Kakashi that Sasuke is a danger to everyone and that as he gets stronger the mark will as well. Anko tells us that the curse mark is a forbidden jutsu that devours the person who has it. She also says she is surprised Sasuke is still alive and asks the hokage to side with her.

Sasuke tells Sakura to shut up about his curse mark so Sakura tells him if he won’t drop out and tell everybody then she will. As she is about to raise her hand, Kabuto raises his. Kabuto says he is dropping out because his body is too beat up from his encounter with the sound village team which left him with no hearing in one ear. Naruto is disappointed. The hokage tells Ibiki and Anko that he has seen Kabuto drop out many times before and wonders what kind of game he is playing. Anko tells the hokage he has failed six times in a row. The hokage asks her about his background and Anko tells him it is nothing impressive. Average grades while in the academy, took him three tries to pass the graduation exam, two c-rank missions, and fourteen d-ranks. Anko then brings up an interesting part of Kabuto’s history. She asks the hokage if he remembers the story of the boy brought back from the battle of Kikyo Pass as the only survivor. The hokage says he remembers and recounts the story. A small boy was found barely among the enemy dead and was brought back by a jounin on the medical team.

One of Kabuto’s teammates (Yoroi) asks him what he thinks he is doing because of Orochimaru’s orders. Kabuto says he is leaving all that to him and that it should be no trouble for someone with his (Yoroi’s abilities). Kabuto also tells Yoroi now is the time to show Orochimaru his skills if he wishes to take his (Kabuto’s) place. Yoroi tells Kabuto he may be Orochimaru’s favorite but he can’t push it too far. Kabuto waves good bye to Naruto and then walks off thinking that he wishes he could stay around and play a little bit more but if he did then he could blow his cover because his old self could get stirred up. Kabuto then thinks that with Orochimaru watching everything there is no point in staying (we see that the sound ninja sensei is Orochimaru in disguise).

Hayate asks if anyone else would like to quit. Sakura begins to raise her hand to get Sasuke out but Sasuke hits her hand down and tells her not to even think about it. Sakura tells him she can’t bear to watch him go through this. Sasuke tells her to stay out of it and that it has nothing to do with her. Sasuke goes on to say that he is an avenger and that becoming a chunin is meaningless to him. Sasuke says he just wants to see how strong he is against the best. We see flashbacks of Lee, Neji, Gaara, and Dosu. Sasuke tells Sakura this is his path and no one will change it. Naruto calls him an idiot and tells Sasuke she just cares. Sasuke tells Naruto he is one of the ones he wants to fight the most.

The hokage decides to allow Sasuke to continue with the exam. Anko objects. The hokage also says if the curse mark grows in power then they will have to step in to stop Sasuke.

Hayate says they will now begin the preliminaries with one on one fights at full battle intensity. Hayate explains with twenty ninja left there will be ten battles. The winners of the ten battles will go on to the third exam. The fights end when someone has died, admits defeat, or is physically unable to continue. Hayate says as proctor he can judge matches and may intervene if a match is hopeless to save lives. Hayate motions to Anko and Anko orders a panel to open. We see a giant screen where the names will randomly be displayed for each match. Hayate says it is time to begin and in a moment the first two names will appear. We see Yoroi Akado vs. Sasuke Uchiha. Sasuke is pleased but his curse mark starts hurting. Hayate tells Yoroi and Sasuke to step forward. Sakura thinks to herself all she can do is watch. Naruto hopes Sasuke wins so they can fight. Ino notices Sasuke is acting strangely. Sasuke’s curse mark continues hurting. Yoroi notices Sasuke’s mark is bothering him. Hayate orders everyone to clear the arena and to watch from the second floor so Yoroi and Sasuke can fight. Kakashi passes by Sasuke and tells him not to use sharingan. He goes on to say that if his curse mark gets out of control then his live will be in danger and he will be forced to stop the fight. Sasuke notices the curse mark is responding to his chakra so he decides he will have to fight Yoroi by not using his chakra. Orochimaru watches on thinking Sasuke’s skills will be disastrous for him.

Hayate allows the fight to begin. Yoroi’s hands begin glowing and the two throw kunai and throwing stars at each other. Sasuke falls to the ground from the curse mark’s pain. Yoroi punches at Sasuke but Sasuke dodges. Sasuke kicks Yoroi to the ground and holds his arm against his chest. Yoroi touches Sasuke’s chest and his hand begins glowing. Sasuke lets go of Yoroi and is unable to move. Yoroi hits Sasuke and leaps away. Sasuke notices all his strength is gone. Yoroi rushes Sasuke and hits him in the head with his hand glowing once more. Sasuke asks Yoroi what he is doing to his chakra.