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As the dust from the Sakura vs. Ino battle began to settle, the quiet murmur of anticipation filled the hall.
The screen above flickered softly, preparing for the next names.
The Genins whispered, recovering from the emotionally intense clash between the two proud kunoichi. But Naruto, standing with his arms crossed and a gentle grin on his face, wasn't watching the board anymore.
A shadow approached from the side. Without looking, Naruto already knew who it was.
"Hi, again."
The familiar voice rang with a teasing lilt.
Naruto turned, his eyes glowing softly.
"Karin." He nodded with a subtle smirk, already switching to sound transmission.
"Did you get through safely?"
"Mmhm," Karin replied silently, her voice echoing in his head. "No trouble on our end. The scroll plan went perfectly. You were right about the patrol routes."
"Of course I was," Naruto replied in a playful tone. "Everything's falling into placeā¦ just keep a low profile. Until the real battles begin, we'll keep the fire hidden under the ash."
Karin's smirk widened. Her glasses shimmered in the light as she leaned in slightly.
"You look hotter when you act like a mastermind, you know?" She teased.
"Don't tempt me, my little priestess~" Naruto quipped.
Sasuke, nearby, noticed the exchange from the corner of his eye. His gaze lingered briefly on Karin, recognizing her chakra, but uninterested. Instead, he turned back to the screen just as it blinked again.
Temari vs. Tenten!
Sakura's eyes followed Karin as she joined Naruto's side, and her expression softened. She nodded once, acknowledging the red-haired Uzumaki with silent approval.
Ino, still being tended to, also smiled faintly.
They were all connected now. Not just by love, but by purpose.
------
The Fifth Match ā Temari vs. Tenten
Tenten stepped out onto the battlefield, spinning a scroll in her fingers with lazy ease. But her eyes glanced up toward Naruto, who gave the tiniest of nods through the link.
"Understood. Hold back... show enough, but not all."
Temari raised her fan and smirked.
"Don't go easy on me just 'cause I'm a girl," She taunted, already sensing Tenten's reluctance.
Tenten smiled faintly. "I wasn't planning to."
Hayate gave the signal.
"Begin!"
Tenten's scroll opened mid-air as several weapons launched forth like arrows from a machine. There were Kunai, senbon, fuma shuriken...
Temari's eyes narrowed as her fan opened with a crack!
"First Moon!"
A powerful gust blew the weapons away effortlessly, scattering the steel storm.
Tenten leapt back with a smirk.
"That fan's dangerousā¦ No wonder she finished her match in one strike."
Temari didn't give her a moment.
"Second Moon!"
Another swing, another burst of chakra-laced wind that forced Tenten to shield her face and brace herself with chakra in her feet.
"Stop playing with your toys already," Temari said coldly.
But Tenten's smile deepened. "You're underestimating the wrong girl."
She performed a Substitution Jutsu just as another gust came, replacing herself with a log that shattered in the wind.
Tenten reappeared behind Temari mid-air.
"Hidden Technique ā Iron Dance!"
A trio of short spears launched down toward Temari, but with the Final Moon, her fan opened fully and released a devastating cyclone.
Tenten was caught mid-jump and thrown back.
"Guhā!" She grunted, slamming into the floor.
The clash had ended before it truly began.
Temari's massive iron fan slowly folded shut with a soft clack, the edges glinting under the faint light of the exam hall.
Across the ring, Tenten groaned as she lay amidst a scattered trail of her unused scrolls and unopened weapons, clearly holding back.
The crowd of genin and jÅnin watched with mixed reactions. Those who knew Tenten well, like Lee and Neji, knew this was not her limit, not even close. But she had followed the instruction Naruto had transmitted earlier, and for that, she had allowed herself to be flung with feigned helplessness.
But as Temari's fan lifted Tenten off her feet and hurled her toward the wall like a ragdoll, that charade almost ended.
A green blur shot across the arena.
Fwsh!
"Guuh!" Lee gasped as he caught Tenten mid-air, absorbing the brunt of her momentum. He stumbled slightly, bracing himself as he shielded her from the impact.
Tenten's eyes fluttered open, dazed but unharmed.
"Nice catch," Temari quipped, smugly dusting her hands, voice dripping with smugness and indifference.
Lee's brows twitched.
"What are you doing?!" He snapped, his voice tinged with righteous anger. "Is that something you do to an opponent who gave her all in battle?"
Temari simply flicked her hair and rolled her eyes. "She didn't even land a hit. If she was truly giving her all, maybe she wouldn't have ended up as air mail."
Her words stung, not just Lee, but Tenten too, who grit her teeth and tried to lift herself up in Lee's arms. But he gently placed her down and stood up.
"Take that trash away already!" Temari added, a cruel smirk spreading across her face.
Lee's teeth clenched.
"You're disrespectfulā¦" He muttered, eyes shadowed beneath his lashes.
The rage within him boiled and his clenched fists trembled.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!" Lee suddenly roared as he exploded forward.
"LEE!" Neji shouted from above.
"STOP IT, LEE!" Gai's voice bellowed behind him.
But it was too late.
Lee's chakra flared as he somersaulted, spinning mid-air, green vest flapping behind him. "Taijutsu ā Leaf HURRICANE!"
Temari's eyes widened for a split second, then narrowed.
Shhk!
Her fan snapped open midair with the practiced precision of a warrior.
Clang!
Lee's powerful kick smashed against the iron surface of Temari's fan, creating a shockwave that sent chakra rippling through the arena.
"Tch." Temari grunted, skidding slightly as she used her fan to absorb the blow.
Lee landed a few meters away, panting lightly. "You... you mock the spirit of the exam! Of the shinobi who fight with pride!"
Temari scoffed, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "You're just like you look... boring and overly emotional. Don't bark at me like some green chihuahua."
Lee's fists clenched again as he prepared for a second charge.
But then, a sudden pressure washed over the arena.
It was cold and suffocating and it made everyone froze.
From the opposite balcony, Gaara had stepped forward, his pale green eyes narrowed.
"Temari."
His voice was low, emotionless, and carried terrifying weight.
"Come up. You've already been declared the winner. Don't waste your time playing with garbage."
Gasps rose from the crowd.
Lee's eyes widened, fury rising in his chest. But before he could speak, a shadow blurred beside him.
Fwsh.
"That's enough, Lee."
Gai stood firm, a hand gently pressing against Lee's chest to hold him back.
"Gai-senseiā¦"
But Gai's gaze wasn't on Lee. It was locked onto Gaara.
"Temari, was it?" Gai asked as he turned to the sand kunoichi. "You may have won the match, but that does not mean you've earned the right to belittle your opponents."
Temari flinched slightly.
Gaara narrowed his eyes further.
"And you," Gai added, his voice firm but even, "Son of the Kazekage, correct?"
Gaara remained silent.
Gai stepped forward, placing his hand gently on Lee's shoulder, his voice soft but sharp. "This boy you mockā¦ He's the embodiment of perseverance, of growth. He might not have a flashy bloodlineā¦ but he has trained harder than any other. You should prepare yourself."
Lee lowered his head, blinking rapidly. His heart thudded in his chest.Ā
Temari turned, frustration in her eyes, her previous swagger dampened. She stalked up the stairs beside her brother, ignoring Lee's burning stare.
As she passed Gaara, he gave her a glance.
"You let emotions get the better of you," He said coldly.
Temari stiffened but didn't respond.
The arena was silent for a moment longer until Hayate finally stepped forward.
"...The fifth match has concluded. Temari is the winner."
--- ā¦ ā¦ ā¦ ---
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