The roar of the crowd shook the arena as Sasuke advanced. His silhouette blended into the shadows, and the air seemed to vibrate with each movement. The Uchiha's body sliced through the space like a living blade, too fast for ordinary eyes to follow.
Every step, every blow, every thrust—nothing resembled the impetuous boy from months ago. He moved with pinpoint precision, the chakra condensing around his body forming a nearly invisible trail.
From the top of the stands, Rock Lee watched wide-eyed, his heart racing.
"He... copied my taijutsu?"
The words escaped in a disbelieving whisper. The movements, the jumps, the posture… were identical to his own.
Li Shang, sitting next to Gai, bowed slightly.
"Is this the power of the Uchiha dōjutsu?"
Kakashi crossed his arms, his eyes intent on the battle.
"Yes. The Sharingan allows you to copy techniques and movements perfectly. Sasuke watched Lee fight and learned his style... but his body wasn't ready to keep up. That's why the last month was dedicated to strengthening every muscle, every tendon."
A small smile curved his lips beneath the mask.
"And, of course, I prepared a surprise."
Gai narrowed his gaze suspiciously.
"Even so, Kakashi, Lee opened five of the Eight Gates and still didn't defeat Gaara. Why make Sasuke follow the same path?"
Kakashi sighed, still not looking away from the arena.
"Because this isn't a rehash, Gai. It's the evolution of the method. Just watch."
On the field, Sasuke landed a direct blow to Gaara's chest, but the impact was absorbed by his sand armor. The Uchiha recoiled, his red eyes blazing.
"So that's it? You're going to stay hidden in there?" he murmured, raising his right hand. "In that case... I'll use something not even your sand can resist."
His fingers formed swift seals. Chakra gathered, and a blue light began to glow around his palm. Sound followed—a crack, a buzz, and then the high-pitched roar of a thousand birds calling in unison.
Gai stood up, alarmed.
"Chidori?! That jutsu is too dangerous to teach to a gennin!"
Kakashi smiled under his mask, with that carefree air that only he possessed.
"Look who's talking... right, Lee?"
Gai's face immediately flushed. He looked away, coughing awkwardly. After all, the Eight Inner Gates he had taught his pupil were also a forbidden technique—and far more lethal than the Chidori.
In the arena, Sasuke's chakra exploded with power. Sparks split the air, his black hair swaying in the wind created by pure energy. The audience leaned forward, mesmerized.
Gaara reacted too late.
With a guttural scream, Sasuke launched himself forward, the sound of lightning echoing across the field. The impact was brutal—a line of blood sliced through the air as the Chidori pierced the sand armor and pierced Gaara's shoulder.
The jinchūriki screamed in agony, red chakra beginning to pulse violently around his body.
Li Shang leaned on the stands, his blue eyes shining brightly.
'His energy... is getting out of control.'
That power was not strange.
'This energy... reminds me of the demon fox.'
His expanded Byakugan revealed the chaotic flow of chakra spreading through Gaara's body, devouring him from the inside out. It was unlike human chakra—what coursed through him was something ancient, evil, and insane.
In the arena, Gaara looked at his trembling hand. Blood seeped between his fingers, and a disturbing smile formed on his face.
"My blood... that's my blood!"
His gaze changed. There was no longer any humanity there, only pleasure and despair fused into a single expression.
The sand around him rose in swirling eddies, swirling until it completely enveloped him. Within seconds, the boy disappeared within an immense sphere of compact sand, a living fortress that pulsed as if breathing.
Sasuke stood watching, his arm still covered in electrical sparks. Despite the tension in the air, his expression held confidence.
'He's stuck... he can't swerve.'
The young Uchiha pushed off again, the sound of a thousand birds resounding louder than ever. Sparks split the air as he advanced at breakneck speed.
The impact was devastating.
"CHIDORI!"
The lightning pierced the dome, and the sound of something being ripped was mixed with a deafening scream of pain. The crowd erupted in cheers—but Sasuke's face showed no sign of victory.
His hand was trapped.
The sand held him tightly, as if it had a life of its own.
"Tsk..." he gritted his teeth, his body trembling. "I'm not... going to lose here!"
In a desperate rush, Sasuke channeled another Chidori, the energy bursting into more intense bolts of lightning. With a scream, he managed to break the hold and launch himself backward, his arm smoking.
But before he could catch his breath, the ground shook.
A colossal arm made of sand, grotesque and covered in claws, violently burst from the dome, chasing him with terrifying speed.
"What is that?!"
The voices of the audience mingled in panic.
The giant arm slammed into the ground, creating a crater and sending up a cloud of dust. Sasuke narrowly dodged it, zigzagging back.
Then the sphere began to crack.
Each crack released a reddish glow, like magma about to explode. And when it finally broke apart, the image that emerged left everyone frozen.
In the center of the arena, Gaara was no longer human.
His skin was covered in layers of hardened sand, forming scales and claws. His face had become distorted, half human, half beastly. His tail, made of living sand, waved behind him, spreading chakra throughout the arena.
The audience screamed in horror.
In the upper cabins, the Sand Village jounin turned pale.
"Damn it... he's going to ruin our plans!"
Turning to his team he cried out in despair:
"Get him out of here, now! Get the Jinchūriki to safety!"
The words echoed through the arena—and in that instant, the Konoha ninjas understood. Something was wrong.
Li Shang stood up, his eyes shining an ethereal blue.
'So that's it… the attack begins now.'
Before he could react, an explosion shook the air.
"BOOM!"
The ceiling of the Hokage's box was engulfed in flames. Black smoke billowed, and a translucent purple barrier rose around it like a giant dome, trapping everything within its reach.
An ANBU's voice sounded in despair:
"Konoha is under attack! Protect the Hokage!"
[Author's Note:This story was originally written in Portuguese, so there may be some translation errors. If you notice any, please let me know so I can fix them. Thank you for reading!]