The match between Megumi and Haruno left the audience baffled.
Fortunately, the second match, Uzumaki Naruto versus Hyuga Neji, finally brought the energy back.
Brutal, face-to-face combat that got the blood pumping.
This was the kind of Chunin Exams people wanted to see.
But when Neji stood in the arena and recounted what Kumogakure had done years ago, the players in the stands started looking uneasy.
"That's just shameless!" Yumiko couldn't help but curse.
Signing a ceasefire agreement, then breaking it, kidnapping the main family's young lady, and when that failed, turning around and blaming the victim, forcing the branch family head to his death.
Pfft! Disgusting!
Beside her, Yui's face was pale.
'So this was... politics?'
Haruno, who had just returned to the stands after winning her match, and Yukino, sitting beside her parents, both had grim expressions.
As children of a conglomerate family, they had seen plenty of political scandals… their mother was in that circle, after all.
But Kumogakure's move still disgusted them.
Utterly shameless.
In comparison, adults like Eri and Sayuri, who had been navigating society for one or two decades, seemed much calmer.
While the children were indignant, their attention was more focused on Konoha itself.
Eri, now working in Konoha's legal department, couldn't help but look up at Hiruzen in the highest seats.
She really wanted to ask that old man—
What was he thinking back then? Agreeing to those terms?
Was Konoha really that weak?
During this time, her colleagues had often praised him in her ear: he was the strongest Hokage in history.
But this style of action... didn't seem to match the word 'strongest' at all, did it?
Unless enduring the most also counted as being the strongest?
Makoto observed everyone's reactions, smiling slightly without a word.
The Konoha's elder council had done plenty of disgraceful things, but the Hyuga Hizashi incident was definitely one of the worst.
Sometimes he genuinely wondered if Hiruzen and his ilk were spies planted by Kumogakure. Why were they so good to outsiders and so ruthless to their own people?
"That blond boy..."
Suddenly, the Fourth Mizukage, Karatachi Yagura, spoke.
"The power he just released feels strangely familiar."
Hiruzen's expression shifted slightly.
He suddenly remembered, Yagura was the Jinchuriki of the Three-Tails, and like Killer B and Nii Yugito, he was a [Perfect Jinchuriki] who could fully control his Tailed Beast.
Clearly, he had sensed something from the Nine-Tails' power Naruto had just unleashed.
"Heh, how could that be?"
Hiruzen forced a laugh, "That boy Naruto is just an orphan. Mizukage-dono must be mistaken."
Naruto's identity as the Jinchuriki was the village's highest secret, absolutely not to be known by outsiders.
Although, for some reason, the whole village keeps calling him the Demon Fox.
"Is that so? Then I must have been mistaken."
Yagura smiled and didn't press further.
Hiruzen breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
Third match: Aizono Airi versus Aizono Marina… a sibling showdown.
The two sisters put on a high-level display for the audience.
With Makoto frequently giving them extra training, both had reached Elite Genin-level.
Airi had Fire and Water Natures, while Marina had Water and Lightning. Their fight was spectacular.
Unfortunately, as commoners with limited Chakra Reserves, they couldn't sustain a prolonged battle.
In the end, the more assertive younger sister, Airi, narrowly defeated her older sister.
The audience applauded generously… the sister duo had indeed put on a beautiful performance.
People in any world tended to favor those with good looks.
"Makoto! I beat Nee-san!"
Instead of returning to the contestant seats, Airi bounded up to the stands and threw herself into Makoto's arms.
"Mm, well fought."
Makoto ruffled her hair and looked up at Marina, who had followed, making a gesture… just in time.
Marina blushed slightly but obediently moved over to occupy the other side of Makoto's chest.
Everyone around: "..."
'Too strong.'
In the contestant seats, Utaha's face darkened.
She had long known about Makoto's relationship with these two sisters, but seeing it in person... was still irritating.
Beside her, Megumi's expression remained unchanged, but her pupils seemed slightly out of focus, radiating a chilling aura.
The next match was supposed to be Shikamaru versus Temari.
Genma was about to call them down when a whirlwind swept up the fallen leaves in the arena—
Kakashi and Sasuke, making a grand entrance.
The players were dumbfounded.
'Wow, so much swagger.'
Not far away, Obito's gaze behind his mask trembled slightly.
Originally, Hiruzen had scheduled Sasuke's match with Gaara as the final bout of the first round, but since Sasuke had arrived and the audience wanted to see the last Uchiha in action, he didn't keep them waiting and immediately announced:
"Uchiha Sasuke versus Gaara, begin now."
Makoto watched with interest.
'Shikamaru and Temari hadn't fought. Would they still get together later?'
Like in the original work, Sasuke demonstrated speed comparable to Lee's from the previous round, keeping Gaara's sand on the defensive.
When Gaara was forced to activate his absolute defense, Sasuke leaped up a high wall, lightning flickering in his left hand—
Chidori.
The sharp sound of a thousand birds chirping simultaneously filled the arena. With the enhancement of his Two-Tomoe Sharingan, the lightning transformed into a sharp spear, piercing Gaara's sand barrier.
Blood splattered.
For the first time since his birth, Gaara was injured. For the first time, he saw his own blood.
His mind instantly collapsed.
Shukaku stirred, waiting to emerge.
Baki, the Sunagakure's Jonin Instructor, changed color drastically.
'Damn! The plan has changed! Now is not the time for Shukaku to appear!'
He quickly signaled Temari and Kankuro with his eyes… take Gaara away, Shukaku can't come out yet.
Temari and Kankuro understood immediately. They jumped into the arena, flanked the injured Gaara, and prepared to leave.
Sasuke was stunned.
'What were these two doing?'
Just then, a figure entered the arena.
Makoto.
He came to Sasuke's side and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Sasuke."
"What?" Sasuke instinctively turned to look at him.
And then he saw Makoto's other hand reaching toward his eyes.
From the perspective of onlookers, it looked like Makoto was about to take Sasuke's Two-Tomoe Sharingan.
Boom—!!!
An astonishing surge of Chakra erupted.
It's Obito!
Nearby spectators staggered back from the force of this power.
Makoto looked at the erupting Obito with some surprise.
'Huh? Why is Obito so agitated?'
Sasuke's expression changed drastically.
This Chakra... he would never forget it!
Just then, behind Obito's mask, his Three-Tomoe Sharingan spun wildly, finally forming the shape of a three-bladed shuriken—
"Amaterasu!"
'No...'
Makoto's pupils contracted.
'He wasn't Obito!'