The Finals of the Exam.
The previous rounds had been mere qualifiers. This was the main event, where a candidate could actually earn a promotion.
Naruto had beaten Neji in the original timeline and stayed a novice. Shikamaru had won by being smart. Noah didn't care about rank. He was planning to leave soon.
He stood in the arena, waiting for the plot to unfold.
He noticed the schedule had shifted. Since Sasuke wasn't fighting Gaara, Kakashi's tardiness no longer caused a "delay." Instead, Noah was facing the boy from the Sand.
If things went as he planned, he would push Gaara into such a frenzy that Orochimaru's "Village Crush" plan would trigger right on schedule.
"Sorry, Shikamaru. Your big moment might be gone," Noah thought, glancing at the lazy boy nearby.
Then again, if Shikamaru knew the alternative, he'd probably thank Noah for saving him the trouble of working.
The first match-Naruto versus Neji-began.
Thanks to Jiraiya's training and Noah's earlier influence, Naruto was far stronger than his original self. Watching him use clones to outmaneuver the Hyuga "genius" was entertaining. Noah wondered if Neji would even have a chance if Naruto already had the Spiral Sphere.
The fight ended as it should: Naruto beat some sense into Neji. The boy who preached about "fate" was silenced by the boy who refused to accept it.
"How was that, Noah!" Naruto shouted, leaping over as the crowd cheered.
"I was totally mimicking you!"
"Mimicking me?" Noah looked confused.
"Then shouldn't you have thrown a knife at his feet?"
"Uh... well..." Naruto stammered.
"The idiot was worried the other guy would accidentally kill himself," Sasuke remarked, arms crossed. "He doesn't have your speed. If someone tripped onto his blade, he'd never hear the end of it."
Noah shrugged.
Then it was time for his match against Gaara.
Curiously, it didn't draw as much attention as the original Sasuke match would have. With the Uchiha still alive, they weren't a "rare curiosity" anymore.
"Go get 'em, Noah!" Naruto cheered. "Flatten that panda-eyed freak!"
"Don't embarrass us," Sasuke added awkwardly. "You're the one I'm supposed to beat. Don't lose to anyone else."
"Thanks," Noah smiled. As he walked down, he added, "I'm glad I met you two."
The words felt final to Sasuke and Naruto, as if they were seeing him for the last time.
In the arena, Noah faced Gaara. The proctor, Genma, signaled the start and leaped back. Gaara's sand swirled, his expression half-mad.
"I told you I'd kill you..." Gaara hissed, clutching his head.
"Right. And you are?" Noah asked calmly.
"I don't seem to remember you."
Gaara's eyes turned murderous.
"You'll remember this! Die!"
He launched his sand immediately.
Noah didn't move. He performed a single sign, and the arena floor became a vast swamp. He didn't hold back, infusing the Holy Light's energy into the earth. In an instant, the arena was a bog.
Gaara nearly lost his footing, his madness replaced by momentary shock. His sand formed a disc, lifting him into the air. Noah tilted his head. Without that flight, the boy would have been buried alive.
But Noah wasn't done. Another sign, and a massive water dragon erupted from the swamp, surging toward the flying Gaara.
The crowd erupted. The sheer scale and speed of Noah's jutsu were breathtaking. Gaara's sand became wet and heavy, losing effectiveness.
Noah noticed one of Gaara's eyes changing.
"Quite the murderous energy," Noah smiled. "The One-Tail? Doesn't seem like much."
He began another sign-but then feathers drifted from the sky.
"An illusion?"
Noah sensed it instantly. On the balconies, elite ninjas broke the jutsu, but most of the audience fell into a deep sleep.
Simultaneously, the Fourth Wind Shadow grabbed the Third Hokage and leaped to the roof, revealing his true face.
"Orochimaru!"
The plan was in motion. Sound ninjas poured into the arena.
"Finally," Noah sighed, watching the chaos. "I was just getting started. Oh well, there's a much bigger fish waiting for me now."