Match Two: Aburame Shino vs. Dosu Kinuta.
Winner: Aburame Shino.
Match Three: Kankurō vs. Misumi Tsurugi.
Winner: Kankurō.
The electronic screen scrolled once more.
Match Four:
Haruno Sakura vs. Yamanaka Ino
"Eh?!" Both Sakura and Ino froze in shock.
"Of all people… it had to be you," Ino said through clenched teeth.
"Ino…" Sakura's expression was complicated.
They had once been best friends. Later, they became rivals over Sasuke—but deep down, they still understood each other better than anyone.
"Cough, cough… Are you ready?" Gekkō Hayate asked.
"Ready," both replied at the same time.
Kakashi looked at Sakura.
"Sakura, give it everything you've got."
"Yes!" Sakura nodded firmly.
"Then—begin!"
The instant the match started, both of them jumped back to create distance.
Ino made the first move.
Several kunai flew toward Sakura. Sakura dodged swiftly and countered by throwing a volley of shuriken.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The ninja tools collided midair, sparks scattering.
Ino rushed in, and the two clashed in close combat—punches and kicks exchanged at high speed.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Ino launched a side kick. Sakura blocked it and countered with an elbow strike. Ino ducked and retaliated with a knee, which Sakura avoided by jumping back.
"Huff… huff…" Both of them were breathing heavily.
After the brief exchange, Ino's expression grew serious.
"Sakura… your taijutsu has improved a lot."
"Kakashi-sensei taught me well," Sakura replied calmly.
"Hmph! Then I won't lose either!"
Ino formed hand seals.
"Transformation Jutsu!"
Poof!
Smoke cleared, revealing Sasuke's appearance.
"Sakura~"
"Ino! You—!" Sakura's face instantly turned red.
"Hehe, still that easy to fluster!"
Ino seized the opening and leapt forward with a flying kick. Sakura reacted too late and was struck in the shoulder, stumbling backward.
"Tch… using such a cheap trick…!"
"In a real fight, there's no such thing as cheap!" Ino shot back.
But the next moment—poof!
The Transformation Jutsu dispelled.
"My chakra… it's running low…"
Sakura took a deep breath.
"My turn."
She quickly formed hand seals.
"Genjutsu: Sly Mind Affect!"
The surroundings warped, and Ino's vision blurred.
"Genjutsu?!"
"Genjutsu Release!"
Ino tried to break it, but Sakura's chakra control was far superior, making the illusion extremely stable.
"Damn it… I can't break free…"
"It's not over yet!"
Sakura rushed forward.
"Cherry Blossom Impact!"
A chakra-enhanced punch flew toward Ino. Ino barely perceived the trajectory and twisted aside, the fist grazing her cheek.
"That was close—!"
But Sakura followed up instantly with a spinning kick.
Bam!
The kick slammed into Ino's side, sending her flying and rolling across the ground.
"Cough… damn it…"
Ino struggled to her feet.
"I haven't lost… not yet…!"
Grinding her teeth, she formed hand seals.
"So it's coming…"
Sakura tensed.
"Mind Transfer Jutsu!"
Ino's body collapsed as her consciousness shot toward Sakura.
"I was waiting for that!"
Sakura dodged instantly, the spirit barely missing her.
"What?!" Ino was stunned.
Her consciousness was forced to return—but at that exact moment, Sakura rushed toward Ino's defenseless body.
"Sorry, Ino…!"
Just as Ino regained control, Sakura's hand strike came down.
Smack!
It struck the back of Ino's neck. Her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed unconscious.
"Cough, cough… Incapacitated," Gekkō Hayate announced.
"Winner—Haruno Sakura!"
"Sakura! That was amazing!" Naruto cheered.
Sasuke nodded slightly. "Not bad. She exploited the weakness of the Mind Transfer Jutsu."
In the stands, Kakashi smiled faintly.
"Excellent execution."
"She used genjutsu to drain chakra and focus."
"Then baited the Mind Transfer Jutsu and exploited the defenseless body."
Kurenai looked impressed. "Kakashi, you're a great teacher."
"Sakura's combat sense is already at chūnin level."
Asuma sighed. "Ino didn't lose unfairly."
"Sakura really is a step ahead now."
Sakura returned to the stands, a little shy.
"Sensei… did I do okay?"
"Very well," Kakashi said, patting her head. "You've surpassed your old self."
Sakura's eyes reddened as she nodded repeatedly.
On the field, medical ninja carried Ino away. Before losing consciousness, a tear slipped from the corner of her eye.
"Sakura… you've become… so strong…"
---
Match Five: Temari vs. Tenten.
Winner: Temari.
Match Six: Nara Shikamaru vs. Kin Tsuchi.
Winner: Nara Shikamaru.
The screen scrolled again.
Match Seven:
Uzumaki Naruto vs. Inuzuka Kiba
"Finally, it's my turn!" Naruto shouted, jumping up.
"Go, Naruto!" Sakura called out.
"Just watch me!"
Naruto leapt into the arena. Across from him, Kiba stepped forward with Akamaru at his side.
"Woof! Woof!" Akamaru barked.
"Hmph, dead last," Kiba sneered. "I'll show you the power of our teamwork!"
"Who are you calling dead last?!" Naruto exploded.
"Cough, cough… Begin!" Hayate announced.
"Fang Over Fang!"
Kiba and Akamaru spun together, charging like twin drills.
"Hmph!"
Naruto formed hand seals.
"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Poof! Poof! Poof! Poof!
Hundreds of Narutos filled the arena.
"What?!" Kiba's eyes widened.
"So many?!"
"Everyone—attack!"
The shadow clones surged forward all at once. Fang Over Fang tore through a few, but there were simply too many.
Punches and kicks rained down from every direction.
"Damn it!"
Kiba and Akamaru were completely overwhelmed.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
When the clones dispersed, Kiba lay battered and bruised on the ground, while Akamaru had already fainted.
"Cough, cough… Incapacitated," Hayate announced.
"Winner—Uzumaki Naruto!"
"Yeah!" Naruto pumped his fist. "I won!"
In the stands, Kakashi shook his head with a smile.
"He made full use of his massive chakra reserves."
"Simple and crude—but undeniably effective."
Naruto returned proudly.
"So? Pretty awesome, right?!"
Sasuke replied coldly, "Your opponent was just weak."
"What did you say?!" Naruto snapped.
---
Match Eight:
Hyūga Neji vs. Hyūga Hinata
"Neji-niisan…" Hinata whispered, her face pale.
Neji looked at her coldly.
"Lady Hinata, surrender."
"You are no match for me."
"I… I won't surrender…" Hinata clenched her fists.
"Cough, cough… Begin!"
Hinata assumed the Gentle Fist stance.
"Byakugan!"
Veins bulged around her eyes. Neji activated his Byakugan as well.
"In that case… I'll show you reality."
They clashed—Gentle Fist against Gentle Fist—but the difference was clear. Neji's strikes were precise and merciless, sealing Hinata's chakra points one by one.
"Too slow."
"Too weak."
"So this is the Main House's strength?"
His attacks grew heavier.
"Stop!" Naruto shouted, but Neji didn't relent.
"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"
A barrage of strikes sent Hinata flying, blood spraying from her mouth.
"Hinata!"
"Cough, cough… Stop!" Hayate shouted.
But Hinata forced herself upright.
"I… haven't… surrendered…"
She swayed but raised her stance again.
"Neji-niisan… I won't… give up…"
Shock flickered across Neji's face—then turned even colder.
"You still want to continue?"
"Then I'll shatter your illusions completely!"
He charged forward, chakra condensing in his palm—killing intent radiating.
"Not good!" Kurenai cried.
"He's trying to kill her!"
Four figures moved at once.
Kakashi, Guy, Kurenai, and Asuma appeared between Neji and Hinata.
"That's enough," Kakashi said coldly.
"The match is decided."
"Another strike would violate the rules."
Guy frowned. "Neji, you've gone too far."
Neji stopped and looked at Hinata with icy eyes.
"The Main House… is still the Main House."
"No matter how weak, someone always protects them."
"And the Branch House…"
He touched the Caged Bird Seal on his forehead.
"…will always be tools."
Medical ninja rushed in and carried Hinata away.
"Cough, cough… Winner—Hyūga Neji," Hayate announced.
Neji turned to leave.
"Wait!"
Naruto jumped down into the arena.
"You bastard!"
He pointed at Neji, shouting:
"Hinata worked so hard, and you call her weak?!"
Neji turned back, expression cold.
"Weak is weak."
"That is reality."
"What did you say?!" Naruto roared.
"To hell with destiny! To hell with Main and Branch Houses!"
"I, Uzumaki Naruto, don't believe in that garbage!"
"In the third exam, I'll face you!"
"And when I do, I'll beat you!"
"I'll prove destiny can be changed!"
Neji sneered.
"I'll be waiting."
"But the dead last is still the dead last."
"That is your destiny—and it cannot be changed."
"I'll show you reality in the third round."
Naruto clenched his fists, shaking with anger.
Kakashi walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Calm down."
"But sensei—!"
"I know," Kakashi said calmly. "That's why, for the next month, I'll give you special training."
"I'll give you the strength to defeat him."
Naruto's eyes lit up.
"Really?!"
"Yes," Kakashi nodded. "Prove it with your power."
---
Match Nine:
Gaara vs. Rock Lee