"Damn it..."
Shukaku struggled against the golden chains, but it couldn't even muster the chakra in its body. It could only watch helplessly as the group leaped toward Gaara's position.
The Adamantine Sealing Chains, a unique sealing jutsu from the Uzumaki clan, could restrain even the Nine-Tails; this was only the One-Tail. Anyone in this world could lie, but its own chakra wouldn't. If it couldn't be used, it couldn't be used. If it couldn't break free, it was trapped.
As Baki woke Gaara, the massive Tailed Beast's body receded into him like a tide, revealing the young Sand ninja. Naruto Uzumaki retracted the chains into his body and walked slowly toward the Sand ninja. "Tsk. Looks like you lost."
Baki, Temari, and the others' faces tightened. "..."
Gaara looked up at Naruto, a flash of resentment in his eyes, but he said nothing. Making excuses after a loss is pointless.
"Don't be so down," the blond genin said, spreading his hands and looking at Gaara seriously. "At least you survived. Based on what your sister did to that Konoha ninja, I probably should have killed you."
Baki quickly stepped forward, putting himself between them. He had already humbled himself before Hiruzen Sarutobi to get permission for Gaara to stay in Konoha temporarily. If Gaara was provoked again...
Baki looked down at the blond genin and said in a low voice, "Kid, the match is over. You don't want to see the One-Tail go on a rampage again, do you?"
Just then, a golden chain shot out from Naruto's body and whipped the Sand jonin standing before him, sending him flying. The chain thrashed for a moment before retracting. The blond boy looked at Baki on the ground and frowned. "In that case, wouldn't I have a reason to kill it?"
Baki's face paled. "..."
Temari's expression was conflicted. The fight between Naruto and Gaara had been sparked by her match with Tenten. Kankuro's face was tense. He could only grip his puppet tightly and stand beside his sister, knowing he was just a bystander here.
Gaara slowly looked up, a hint of mockery on his face. "But you don't dare, Naruto Uzumaki. Do you think I can still be provoked like I was in the past?"
After experiencing defeat, Gaara had begun to sober up. The fact that Shukaku had been so completely powerless led him to a conclusion: the ninja of his own village were incredibly weak.
As a child, Gaara could act unscrupulously in the Sand Village. Besides his father, the Fourth Kazekage Rasa, no one could kill him. Ordinary people and ninja alike feared him—or rather, they feared the Shukaku inside him.
Naruto looked at the red-haired boy's mocking face and calmly shook his head. "No. It's just that I don't have to care whether you live or die, because you're just a guy I can kill whenever I want."
Gaara's face gradually darkened.
For some reason, others standing around covered their mouths and chuckled, seemingly happy to see the Sand ninja put in his place. Especially that arrogant Sand ninja boy.
Naruto looked at Gaara with pity and continued softly, "So what you should be doing is not provoking me. If I decide I don't like your face, I might just get rid of you."
"Naruto."
Hiruzen Sarutobi patted Naruto's shoulder, stopping him from provoking Gaara further.
After all, Konoha and the Sand Village were currently allies. The Third Hokage was quite pleased, not just because Naruto had defeated Gaara, but because he had personally witnessed Naruto use his clan's Adamantine Sealing Chains. With this little guy having mastered the Uzumaki sealing jutsu, Hiruzen could finally breathe a sigh of relief and stop worrying so much about the Nine-Tails rampaging.
The old man scanned the crowd and pointed at Kakashi Hatake. "Since Team 7's preliminary matches are all finished, Kakashi, you will now help preside over the rest of the preliminaries."
"..." Kakashi was stunned for a moment, then nodded. "Yes. The preliminary match arena has been destroyed, so let's just draw lots for free-for-all matches."
After the earth-shattering battle between Gaara and Naruto, the fights that followed were rather dull by comparison.
For example, Rock Lee versus Kiba Inuzuka was a bit brutal. Lee kicked Kiba and his dog away with a single blow, and they couldn't even get back up. Then there was Choji Akimichi versus Dosu... their fight couldn't be called exciting by any stretch. Even Sasuke couldn't watch anymore.
Sasuke Uchiha abruptly closed his notebook and tossed it to Naruto. "People like that are also in the Chunin Exams?"
"Maybe he got lucky and drew Choji," Naruto chuckled, looking at his teammate. "Just like someone else got lucky and drew a guy who can only absorb chakra."
Sasuke retorted stubbornly, "Naruto, that guy named Yoroi Akado isn't as weak as you think."
"He lost to you, isn't that weak enough?"
"You bastard!"
"Naruto, Sasuke, stop fighting!" Sakura pointed to the match below, her voice low. "The final fight is actually Hinata versus Neji!"
Hinata Hyuga versus Neji Hyuga.
This was the final main event of the preliminaries: a conflict between the Hyuga main and branch families, the Byakugan girl against the Byakugan boy. More and more spectators began to pay attention.
"Heh, that Neji Hyuga is going to win," Sasuke scoffed, looking at his worried teammate. "I doubt Hinata can even stand up and fight."
Every time Team 7 had encountered Hinata, she had almost never seemed normal. She always looked weak and easy to bully, unable to even speak a complete sentence.
The situation in the arena unfolded just as Sasuke expected. Hinata Hyuga was almost completely powerless, unable to organize an effective counterattack. The gap between her and her cousin was too large.
Finally, Neji Hyuga struck a heavy blow.
Fortunately, Kakashi kicked Neji away, saving Hinata's life. The white-haired jonin looked speechlessly at Hinata on the ground. "Get a medical ninja!"
The qualifiers for the final round were confirmed late that night.
Team 7: Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno
Team 3: Neji Hyuga, Rock Lee
Team 8: Shino Aburame
Team 10: Shikamaru Nara
Sound Village: Dosu
Sand Village: Kankuro, Temari
This group of genin soon learned who their opponents would be. Naruto glanced at the lot number in his hand, then looked at Neji Hyuga in the distance. "Interesting..."
"Yeah..." A grin spread across Sasuke's face. He looked at his own lot number, then turned his head to look at Rock Lee in the distance. "I also find it... very interesting."
-----
Bonus:
Shukaku: Nine-Tails, what's with your jinchuriki?
Nine-Tails: What about him?
Shukaku: Why does he love to run his mouth so much?
Nine-Tails: ...I can't explain that problem.
Shukaku: Why not?
Nine-Tails: Because I'd much rather he run his mouth this way than the other way.
Shukaku: ???