The crimson chakra around Naruto slowly fades away.
He pants heavily, then breaks into a radiant smile.
"I… I won…"
Medical-nin hurry onto the battlefield and carry away the unconscious Neji.
Naruto walks back toward the contestants' waiting area.
Sakura rushes up to him excitedly. "Naruto! That was incredible!"
Sasuke turns his head and snorts coldly. "Hmph. Not bad."
"What do you mean 'not bad'?!" Naruto immediately bristles. "I beat the genius Neji!"
"That was only because of that strange chakra," Sasuke replies coolly.
"That's my power too!" Naruto snaps back, unconvinced.
In the stands, Kakashi nods with satisfaction.
"Naruto did very well."
"Even though he fell for the provocation midway, he still pulled off a win."
Kurenai smiles. "Kakashi, your students really are outstanding."
Guy laughs loudly. "Hahaha! The power of youth!"
Shiranui Genma announces, "Second match: Nara Shikamaru versus Temari!"
"Both contestants, please enter the field!"
Shikamaru walks onto the battlefield lazily.
"What a drag… and my opponent's a girl."
Temari opens her giant fan, smiling coldly. "Don't underestimate me, kid."
"I won't go easy on you just because you're young."
After a series of clever maneuvers, Shikamaru successfully restrains Temari—
And then, suddenly, he raises his hand.
"I forfeit."
The entire audience is stunned.
"What?!"
"He was clearly winning—why forfeit?!"
Even Genma is taken aback. "Are you… certain?"
"Yeah," Shikamaru says as he releases his shadow. "I'm almost out of chakra. Even if I keep going, I won't win."
"And besides… fighting women is such a pain."
Temari regains her freedom, gritting her teeth in anger.
"You little brat…!"
"Winner, Temari!"
Third match.
"Sakura Haruno versus Dosu!"
"Both contestants, please enter the field!"
Sakura steps down from the waiting area.
But after waiting for a long time…
Dosu never appears.
"Dosu… didn't show up?" Genma frowns.
After five minutes, he announces, "Dosu forfeits!"
"Winner, Sakura Haruno!"
Boos erupt from the stands.
"What's going on?"
"Did that Sound ninja run away?"
Back in the waiting area, Sakura returns, looking a little disappointed.
"I didn't even get to fight…"
Naruto tries to comfort her. "It's okay, Sakura. You still advanced!"
In the stands, Kakashi's expression turns solemn.
"Dosu didn't appear…"
"Has Orochimaru… already started making his move?"
His gaze shifts toward the 'Kazekage' on the high platform.
Fourth match.
"Shino Aburame versus Kankuro!"
"Both contestants, please enter the field!"
Shino walks onto the battlefield in silence.
Kankuro approaches with a cold smile, a puppet strapped to his back.
"Konoha brat… I'll show you the Puppet Technique of the Sand!"
"Begin!"
The battle starts.
Kankuro manipulates Karasu, unleashing a relentless barrage of hidden weapons and mechanisms.
But Shino's kikaichū seize every opening.
The insects crawl into the puppet's joints, severing the chakra threads that control it.
"What?!" Kankuro's expression changes drastically.
"My puppet…!"
More insects swarm toward Kankuro himself.
"Damn it…!"
He tries to counterattack, but it's already too late.
The insects rapidly drain his chakra.
Kankuro drops to one knee.
"Damn… my chakra's been sucked dry…"
"Winner, Shino Aburame!"
Shino walks back to the waiting area in silence.
"Mission accomplished."
Yet almost no one pays him any attention.
"…Ignored again." Shino lowers his head.
Shiranui Genma announces, "The final match!"
"Uchiha Sasuke versus Gaara of the Sand!"
"Both contestants, please enter the field!"
The stands erupt with excitement.
"It's finally happening!"
"The Uchiha versus the Sand's monster!"
"This is going to be the most intense fight yet!"
In the waiting area, Sasuke stands and heads toward the battlefield.
"Finally, my turn."
Naruto shouts, "Sasuke! Good luck!"
Sakura says nervously, "Sasuke-kun… be careful around Gaara…"
Sasuke doesn't respond, calmly walking forward.
Gaara approaches from the opposite side, a massive gourd on his back, his face expressionless.
The two face each other at the center of the arena.
On the high platform, the 'Kazekage' Orochimaru narrows his eyes and licks his lips.
"Sasuke-kun… let me see how much you've grown…"
Genma looks at both fighters.
"Are you ready?"
Sasuke nods.
Gaara remains silent.
"Then…"
Genma steps back.
"Fifth match—begin!"
The moment the words fall, Gaara lifts his head and stares at Sasuke.
His eyes are cold, unhinged.
"Your blood…"
"…will surely make Mother very happy."
Sand begins to spill from the gourd on his back.
Uneasy murmurs spread through the stands.
"That red-haired kid… what a terrifying look…"
Sasuke calmly draws a ninja sword from behind him.
It's a specially crafted blade given to him by Kakashi, capable of withstanding Lightning Release chakra.
The blade gleams coldly in the sunlight.
"Let me see your strength."
Sasuke lowers his stance and explodes forward.
His speed is astonishing.
The Sharingan spins, capturing every detail of Gaara's movements.
He slashes toward Gaara's neck—
Whoosh!
Sand surges up automatically, forming a shield.
Clang!
The blade strikes the sand with a metallic crash.
Gasps erupt from the stands.
"The sand blocked a sword?!"
Sasuke retreats, then attacks again—this time thrusting straight at Gaara's heart.
But the sand rises once more.
Clang!
Blocked again.
"As expected…"
Sasuke's eyes sharpen.
At the exact moment the sand shield intercepts the blade—
Zzzzt! Zzzzt!
Blue-white lightning erupts across Sasuke's entire body.
"Lightning Release: Cell Activation!"
Electricity stimulates every cell in his body.
His muscles ignite.
His speed skyrockets.
At point-blank range—
Sasuke vanishes like a bolt of lightning.
"What?!" Gaara's eyes widen.
The sand's automatic defense has only just begun to respond—
Too late.
Swish!
Sasuke reappears at Gaara's side.
The blade flashes past.
Squelch!
A cut opens across Gaara's cheek.
Blood flows.
Sasuke lands and instantly retreats.
"I hit him…"
The entire stadium falls silent.
"He broke through?!"
"Gaara's Absolute Defense was breached?!"
"That sudden acceleration at close range—the sand couldn't keep up!"
Kakashi nods in approval.
"Well done."
"Using the instant the sand shield formed to activate Lightning Release at zero distance."
"The speed surpassed even the automatic defense."
"Perfect execution."
Kurenai breathes in awe. "Kakashi, your student is incredible…"
"That timing was flawless."
Guy laughs loudly. "Hahaha! This is youth!"
"Making that decision in such an instant!"
Asuma exhales a cloud of smoke. "The Sharingan's dynamic vision combined with Lightning Release's explosive power…"
"It really is the perfect pairing."
Temari's face changes dramatically.
"Gaara's Absolute Defense… was broken?!"
Kankuro is just as stunned. "How is that possible… that Uchiha…"
Gaara freezes.
He raises his hand and touches the wound on his cheek.
Looking at the blood on his fingers.
Bright red.
"…Blood."
"My… blood…"
"Ha… haha… hahahaha!"
Gaara suddenly bursts into wild, twisted laughter.