Chapter 33: The Sand's WrathThe Slash

Ryuzen's blade left its sheath at speeds the eye could not follow.

His swordsmanship mirrored Mihawk's philosophy—no flashy techniques, no wasted movement. Only the pure pursuit of "cutting."

A black light roared forward like a lightning bolt, transforming instantly into a dark crimson sword energy four to five meters high.

The slash tore through the earth like ancient tree roots suddenly rising from below. A wave of pressurized air and dust blasted outward like a truck striking at full speed.

Gaara's pupils contracted.

Sand rose instinctively, forming a hemispherical wall to block the attack.

It shattered like glass against a bulldozer.

For the second time, Gaara—who had never learned to dodge—took the hit directly.

CRASH—

The sword energy carved through the forest for over ten meters, flattening everything in its path. Flowers, grass, trees—all reduced to debris. When the energy dissipated, a straight, smooth ravine two meters deep scarred the earth.

Kankuro and Temari stared, mouths open, minds refusing to process what they'd witnessed.

"That's... sword skills? Are you kidding? Since when can sword skills do THAT?!"

Just like Kurenai and Zabuza before them, they confronted the impossible for the first time.

When the dust cleared, Gaara emerged.

But not as before.

His body resembled a ceramic plate smashed and crudely reassembled—cracks spiderwebbing across every surface. The sand armor that had protected him crumbled away in chunks, revealing the true form beneath.

Gaara's real face was terrifying.

Bloodshot eyes blazing with madness. Lips pulled back in a feral snarl. Blood trickling from a cut on his forehead—the first blood he had ever shed.

Kankuro's body began trembling. "No... Gaara's second personality is awakening."

"This is bad." Temari's face had gone pale. "This is really bad."

Hinata and Shino exchanged confused glances. They didn't understand the whispered warnings, but with their opponents clearly unwilling to fight and focused entirely on Gaara, they saw no reason to press the advantage.

As long as no one attacked Ryuzen, watching was fine.

The Assault Continues

Ryuzen didn't wait for Gaara to fully transform.

Chakra gathered at his feet. He blurred forward like wind.

"Blood... I see blood..." Gaara's sand armor was only half-repaired, his forehead still wet with red. His eyes held nothing but murderous intent. "Mother... I'm going to kill him now!"

He formed seals rapidly, hand shooting toward the approaching Ryuzen.

"Sand Hand!"

The earth beneath Ryuzen's feet liquefied into yellow sand, surging upward in a massive claw to crush him.

"Too slow."

Ryuzen twisted sideways, the claw passing harmlessly. His blade flashed silver-white. The claw split in two and collapsed into inert sand.

"Sand Coffin!"

Gaara's hands rose again. The sand on the ground erupted like a tsunami, flooding toward Ryuzen from all directions.

Ryuzen didn't slow. Didn't look back. His limbs blackened with Armament Haki as he plunged directly through the wave of sand.

BOOM—

He burst through the other side, appearing before Gaara in an instant.

But instead of slashing, he kicked.

His foot, coated in hardening, connected with Gaara's stomach.

WHOOSH—

For the third time, Gaara flew backward into the forest.

Ryuzen sheathed his sword and turned to his teammates. "Let's go. No need to continue this."

His Kenbunshoku Haki clearly sensed Gaara's emotions spiraling completely out of control. If they pressed further, the One-Tail Shukaku might emerge.

He wasn't afraid. If anything, he was confident he could win—even kill Gaara if necessary.

But the consequences...

The Third Hokage still lived. If Sunagakure attacked, Ryuzen could become a sacrifice—the second Hyūga Hizashi, handed over to appease political tensions.

With Hinata waiting for him, becoming a missing-nin held no appeal.

Better to withdraw while ahead.

Before Gaara could emerge from the forest, Ryuzen led Hinata and Shino away at full speed.

Kankuro and Temari watched them go. After witnessing that overwhelming display, they had no courage to stop them.

And they had bigger problems—calming a psychotic jinchūriki was never easy.

But that wasn't Ryuzen's concern.

First to the Tower

With both scrolls secured, Team 8 became the first team to reach the central tower.

Hinata's Byakugan made navigation through the Forest of Death trivial. They arrived in fifty-five minutes—far faster than Gaara's team in the original timeline.

When they opened both scrolls in the tower chamber, Iruka's image materialized before them.

His eyes went wide. Disbelief warred with pride on his features.

"You're... already here? The exam just started!" He stared at them for a long moment, then smiled with genuine warmth. "Well done. All of you."

He led them to a sealed room.

The sealing technique—or teleportation array—waited within.

This world possessed such things. Transportation via high-speed movement, a form of space-time ninjutsu. Kumogakure's Heavenly Transfer Technique and Konoha's Flying Thunder God were famous examples.

Though the Fourth Hokage had died, the three-man formation he left behind could still perform the technique. Village ninja retained certain privileges.

With five days remaining in the exam, Team 8 couldn't simply wait in the tower. The teleportation array would return them to the village.

Iruka reminded them of the third exam's timing, then activated the technique.

Space twisted.

The three genin materialized outside Training Ground 44, all looking slightly ill.

First-time teleportation was never comfortable—high-speed movement created friction with the air, leaving unprepared bodies aching and disoriented.

But they were through.

The Chunin Exam's second stage was complete.<｜end▁of▁thinking｜># Chapter 33: Clash in the Forest

The Slash

Ryuzen's blade cleared its sheath at speeds the eye could not follow.

His swordsmanship reflected Mihawk's philosophy—no wasted movement, no flashy techniques. Only the pure pursuit of "cutting."

A black light roared forward like a lightning bolt, transforming instantly into dark crimson sword energy four to five meters high.

The slash tore through the earth like ancient tree roots rising from below. A wave of pressurized air and dust blasted outward like a truck at full speed.