Matchup names appeared on the board.
Western seats—immediate stir.
"Toneri Uzumaki? Hey, that name—could it be..."
Toneri walked from contestant seating. People exclaimed. "He has horns! That monster's kid—no mistake!"
"And Sarada Uchiha?"
"Surviving Uchiha—only a handful... wait. Red hair!"
"Red hair?? Isn't that the Uzumaki clan symbol?!"
In the stands.
Equally unable to remain calm: Sasuke Uchiha.
His hand gripped the railing. White-knuckled. "What's going on... Why is that girl called Sarada?"
He'd seen Naruto's past life memories. Knew full well he had such a daughter. Crystallization of his and Sakura's love.
"Sasuke-kun."
Sakura approached from behind.
"Let me tell you about that child's origins."
On the field.
Two former comrades. Now facing each other as opponents.
Toneri's heart—turbulent.
"If tomorrow you face your comrades as opponents, and your opponent desperately wants to win—what would you do?"
Naruto's question last night. Prophetic.
Whether the matchup affected her mental state or not—Sarada's breathing was abnormally labored.
Ability gap—already obvious. Worse: she was running a high fever.
Each harboring concerns. They formed the Seal of Confrontation.
Whoosh.
Sarada struck first. Shuriken—forward.
Clang.
Toneri knocked it down with kunai.
Sarada advanced. Weaving signs.
—Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!
Whooom.
Fireball at his face. Toneri instinctively started forming seals. But hesitation—he interrupted them. Rolled aside hastily. Barely dodged.
Whoosh. Sarada pursued. Toneri met her. Fists and feet colliding. Kunai pressed together.
Sarada's single-tomoe Sharingan stared. "Why aren't you attacking?!"
Toneri—Sharingan inactive. "I can't strike at you like this!"
"In the last match, you didn't hesitate against that auntie who hugged you!"
"That was then. This is now."
Sarada bit her lip. Hard. "Hey. Deep down—you don't see me as a ninja, do you?"
Toneri's pupils contracted.
Swish.
Close combat ended. They separated.
"That's it! What you feel for me is tolerance and pity!"
Sarada leaped. Another Fireball descending.
Provoked by her words—Toneri steeled himself.
—Wind Release: Gale Palm!
BOOM.
He used Wind Release—disadvantageous elemental matchup—to scatter her flames.
Breaking through Fire Release. Wind Release momentum—still fierce.
"Ah!"
Sarada blown back. Tumbled awkwardly. Rolled several times. Lay motionless.
Stands—questioning voices.
"Hey, while kids this small using jutsu is surprising, this clearly doesn't meet Exhibition standards, right?"
"Special treatment because they're insiders' children?"
"Even Naruto Uzumaki can't avoid favoritism!"
Some Leaf ninja—still viewing Naruto unfavorably—gossiped. "Hmph. Talks about promoting ninja strength. But in the end? Backdoor access for his own kid."
Someone perceptive: "Though... Toneri has ability. Wind Release beating Fire Release—that's impressive."
"Hmph. Tallest midget in a crowd of dwarves."
Sasuke—having heard the truth from Sakura—looked shaken.
"What you're saying... all true?"
Sakura—calm. "Absolutely. Honestly, when Karin came to me pregnant, even I couldn't believe she'd go that far for you. But I made peace with it. Just like how I once adored you—that girl loved you the same way. Only difference: she never received your favor."
"This time, I delivered her baby. Just like in the past life she delivered mine."
Shocking reality. Chaotic thoughts. Sasuke retreated. Leaned against the wall. Expression—dejected. "This kind of thing... I..."
Sakura's voice—low. "Sasuke-kun. You were my husband in a past life. But you're not my lover in this one. Through fate's twist, we can't mend our broken mirror. We can cherish past life beauty in our hearts. But if we're bound by it—we're putting the cart before the horse."
"Just like how I once chose love regardless of everything—this time, it's my turn to let go."
She raised her hand. Pointing to the field.
"Right now, your daughter fights with a high fever to earn your recognition. A girl who loves you deeply prays anxiously in a corner. Sasuke—this is reality already set in stone."
Sasuke followed her finger. Eyes raised. Looking at the field.
Sarada struggled to her feet.
Toneri clenched his small hands. "Why go this far? For a scumbag who can't even fulfill his duties as father and husband?"
"Don't you dare talk about Dad like that." Head down. Shoulders trembling. "Mom said Dad's an excellent ninja. He made mistakes. But he turned over a new leaf. Became a role model. Facing such a role model—how can I not give my all!"
Crackle.
Sarada's raised eyes. Two tomoe manifested.
Toneri's expression jolted.
Perhaps only now did he truly acknowledge Sarada as a ninja.
"Sarada. I apologize for how I viewed you before. From now on—I'll face you properly."
Words falling. Toneri clasped his hands together.
—Wood Release: Advent of a World of Trees!
BOOM BOOM BOOM.
Trees burst from the ground.
Entire venue—stunned. "WHAT AM I SEEING?!"
Sarada focused completely. Entering a wondrous state.
In this state—Uzumaki clan's Mind's Eye of the Kagura sensing became her normal mode. Combined with Sharingan perception—she predicted in an instant where trees would emerge. Dodged with swift movements.
But action exceeding reflex came with side effects. Just after dodging the last tree—her calf cramped. She crouched. Face pained. Yet she smiled. "Good thing this field's big enough."
Toneri lowered his hands. "I just wanted those noisy people to shut up. How about one move to decide the match?"
Sarada's cramped leg stood. Difficult. But determined.
"That suits me perfectly."
After weaving signs gracefully—she gripped her right wrist with her left hand.
Crackle crackle.
Dazzling lightning gathered in her right hand. Emitting the shriek of a thousand birds.
Toneri smiled. "Chidori. You learned it."
Sarada smiled. "Showing off in front of you, I guess. Look—you haven't even activated your Sharingan."
"No. I've been practicing lately. Fighting without relying on the Sharingan."
Whoosh. Toneri extended his left hand. Chakra released. Rotated. Compressed. All in one fluid motion.
"This is Rasengan. My father's signature move. Want to learn? After the Exhibition ends, I can teach you."
"I'll pass. I'm not an all-rounder like you. Better to specialize in one thing."
"Can't be helped. But maybe that's the right way."
Whoosh.
The two charged at each other.
Chidori!
Rasengan!
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