The second round began quickly.
"Shino Aburame versus Zaku Abumi!" Hayate Gekkō announced in his hoarse voice.
…
"Winner: Shino Aburame!"
Gasps rippled across the arena. Zaku lay crumpled on the ground, his body crawling with a carpet of insects. Many of the girls watching shivered with goosebumps, their faces pale at the sight. Death would have been preferable to allowing swarms of bugs to crawl all over their skin.
Kurenai Yuhi couldn't help but let out a small smile. At least someone from her squad had advanced to the next round. Shino had proven himself and ensured that her team wouldn't be eliminated without honor.
Thank goodness he drew an opponent from the Sound Village, she thought with relief.
The third match was called.
"Misaki Ken versus Kankuro!"
…
"Winner: Kankuro!" Hayate declared after the brutal fight ended.
Ken's body was a bloody mess, his torso punctured with wounds. Hayate's expression darkened as he shook his head. Even as a referee, there was little he could do to save someone who had been cut down so severely.
Naruto, standing in the spectator seats, tilted his head and muttered, "That guy's body technique… it reminded me of Orochimaru."
Moments earlier, Ken had used his body like a snake, twisting and constricting around Kankuro, only to be countered and finished off.
Kakashi and Asuma exchanged a heavy glance. With all their experience, they knew Konoha held no such body-softening jutsu.
"That would mean…" Asuma thought grimly, "he might actually be one of Orochimaru's pawns."
And if Ken was connected to Orochimaru, then the earlier withdrawal of Kabuto Yakushi suddenly looked even more suspicious. Could it be that their entire squad was infiltrated by spies?
Without wasting time, Asuma made his way over to the Third Hokage to quietly report what he had observed.
The fourth match began.
"Sakura Haruno versus Ino Yamanaka!" Hayate announced.
…
The battle ended in a stalemate.
Both girls had pushed themselves beyond their limits and collapsed at the same time.
Kurenai's eyes softened. She was proud. At last, she saw Sakura's determination shining through. This girl wasn't destined for the research division or the backlines if she kept growing like this, she could stand tall as a shinobi in her own right.
Even more impressive was how Sakura managed to break free of Ino's Mind Transfer Technique. For a genin to resist that, her mental strength had to be exceptional. Perhaps she would be suited for genjutsu in the future.
Asuma, too, looked quietly pleased. Ino's carefree and lazy attitude had always made her a reluctant kunoichi. But now? Now she had found her fighting spirit.
Their clash had lasted over ten minutes, every exchange driven by raw willpower until both collapsed in exhaustion.
Kurenai and Asuma carefully carried their unconscious students back to the stands.
The fifth match followed.
"Tenten versus Temari!"
"Yosh! It's my turn!" Tenten exclaimed, eyes blazing with excitement as she leapt down into the arena.
"Good luck, Tenten!" Lee clapped furiously from the sidelines, his enthusiasm contagious.
Naruto, however, frowned. His gaze lingered on the giant fan strapped to Temari's back.
"What is it?" Hinata asked softly, noticing his expression.
"That fan… she specializes in Wind Release. Tenten-senpai's weapon mastery might not be enough if she doesn't have a hidden trump card."
Lee's eyes immediately welled with tears. "No way! Don't say that!"
And unfortunately, Naruto was right. Despite Tenten's relentless assault, Temari emerged victorious.
Yet what struck everyone wasn't her loss, but the terrifying storm of weapons covering the arena. Kunai, shuriken, chains, blades an endless rain of steel from every angle.
Anyone without an absolute defense would have been shredded. It was only because Temari's wind techniques countered them directly that she walked away unscathed.
"A three-hundred-and-sixty-degree assault… terrifying," someone whispered.
Naruto sighed. "Tenten-senpai is still too kind. If she had laced her weapons with explosive tags or poison, Temari wouldn't have stood a chance. A barrage of tags could've forced her to break."
The audience collectively shuddered, picturing the scene Naruto described. That would have been pure carnage.
Kiba scratched his head nervously. "But… do you know how expensive explosive tags are?"
Naruto smirked and gestured at the field littered with flawless weapons. "Tenten-senpai comes from a weapons family. Look at the craftsmanship those alone cost a fortune. Money isn't the issue."
The sixth match began.
"Shikamaru Nara versus Kin Tsuchi!"
…
As long as his opponent's strength wasn't overwhelmingly greater, Shikamaru almost never lost. This time was no exception. His shadow-binding jutsu ensured his victory.
The seventh match came next.
"Naruto Uzumaki versus Kiba Inuzuka!"
Kurenai covered her face. "Kiba's luck is… just awful."
Asuma and Kakashi exchanged sympathetic looks. It didn't matter who faced Naruto now drawing him as an opponent was practically a curse.
They had only hoped he would be matched against someone from another village.
"Finally, my turn!" Kiba declared with excitement, jumping into the arena alongside Akamaru.
But when he looked across the field, his smile faltered. Naruto was already standing there, grinning at him.
"Naruto, I don't care about your status. I'm going all out! Let me show you how much I've grown!" Kiba declared proudly.
He had always been frustrated. Back at the academy, he could never beat Naruto or Sasuke, despite having Akamaru's support. This was his chance.
"Come at me, Kiba." Naruto's smile widened. He respected this kind of fiery spirit it reminded him of his own determination to keep training no matter the odds.
…
"Winner: Naruto Uzumaki."
The outcome was clear.
Naruto helped Kiba back to his feet, scooped up the exhausted Akamaru into his arms, and carried both back to the stands with care.
Breathing heavily, Kiba looked at Naruto's face calm, unscathed, not a single drop of sweat. And then he smiled.
"You've been hiding your strength all along, huh? I admit it. You've got me beat."
Naruto patted Akamaru and chuckled. "Don't let this discourage you. Keep training, Kiba. Don't let me leave you too far behind."
"Ha! Like I'd let that happen! I'll catch up, just you wait!" Kiba grinned, his fire reignited.
"Woof!" Akamaru barked in agreement, licking Naruto's hand.
Kurenai finally exhaled in relief. At least Kiba had taken his loss with the right mindset.
From the stands, Temari clenched her teeth. "That guy… you can't read his strength at all."
She glanced sideways. Her brother Gaara was watching Naruto intently, but his expression was strangely calm. He showed no killing intent, unlike when he looked at Sasuke.
How could Naruto get so close to Gaara and not be attacked by his sand? Just who is he?
The eighth match began.
"Hinata Hyuga versus Neji Hyuga!"
"Lady Hinata," Neji said formally, bowing before her.
"Neji, don't hold back. Give it everything you've got," Hinata replied softly. Without her words, Neji would have forfeited rather than strike at her.
"Then forgive me," Neji said, straightening and taking his stance.
Hinata mirrored him.
Twin glowing green Eight Trigrams patterns spread beneath their feet.
"Gentle Fist!" they shouted in unison.
Their hands blurred into motion, clashing again and again. Chakra burst from each strike, distorting the air around them.
"So fast! I can't follow their movements at all!" Kurenai gasped, narrowing her eyes.
Lee leaned over the railing, cheering with all his might. "Neji, hang in there! Even if you can't defeat Hinata, at least last a few more minutes this time!"
The crowd roared as cousins met in a storm of speed, chakra, and willpower.
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