Aside from Shiranui Genma, Might Guy in the audience also used his high-speed movement to rush to Rock Lee, who was glowing red and emitting high-temperature steam, grabbing his iron-hot wrist to check Rock Lee's injuries.
Only after confirming that Rock Lee was truly fine did he allow the medical team to carry the unconscious Rock Lee onto a stretcher.
"Rock Lee!"
"I didn't expect that a month of devilish training would actually allow you to open the Eight Gates Formation to the Sixth Gate!"
Might Guy looked up, tears streaming down his face, moved by Rock Lee's youthful passion.
For Might Guy, although Rock Lee lost, he lost with honor.
After all, in the original work, Rock Lee had not reached the Sixth Gate of the Eight Gates Formation during the Chunin Exams.
However...
The next moment, Might Guy, who had just been shedding two lines of tears, looked serious and turned his head sharply towards Naruto, who stood in the arena with a normal expression.
"How did Naruto manage to so easily defeat Rock Lee, who had opened the Sixth Gate?"
"Is it the Nine-Tailed power sealed within his body?"
"Or—"
Naruto's victory was simply too easy; even strong figures like Might Guy and Kakashi, who had already lifted his eye patch and activated his Sharingan, couldn't discern any clues.
However, compared to the explosive atmosphere in the circular arena right now, there was no need to think too much for the time being.
"Heh heh, Konoha Village's Jinchuriki is indeed impressive."
The fake Kazekage, sitting in the VIP section of the arena, said to Hiruzen Sarutobi, either mockingly or with a sneer.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, who was puffing on his pipe, was slightly stunned.
He was equally shocked by Naruto's strength and only gave a perfunctory, official reply to the Kazekage's words.
Naruto returned to the audience seats, where Yuhi, Ino Yamanaka, and Hinata Hyuga awaited him.
"Well done, as expected of my student, hahahaha!"
Yuhi patted Naruto's shoulder with one hand while laughing heartily, looking smugly at Might Guy.
If Ino Yamanaka could defeat Uchiha Sasuke in the upcoming match, she would walk with her head held high in front of Might Guy and Kakashi.
"Naruto-kun, you're so amazing~"
Hinata looked at Naruto with adoration, then lowered her head, her cheeks slightly flushed, and her fingers poking each other, saying somewhat unconfidently, "I feel like if I had faced the power Rock Lee unleashed just now, I might have lost."
Ino Yamanaka shook her ponytail, smiling confidently, "If it were me, I could definitely defeat Rock Lee!"
Naruto almost couldn't resist grabbing Ino Yamanaka's ponytail to stop it from swaying, then said, "Your next match is against Uchiha Sasuke. Be careful, and if you can't win, just concede."
"Hmph, I won't lose! Just you wait!"
Ino Yamanaka stepped on the railing of the audience seats, looked back at Naruto, made a goofy face, and stuck out her tongue playfully, "Naruto, if I win, you have to go on a date with me, a date just the two of us, without Hinata!"
"Wh-What?"
The one who reacted the most wasn't Naruto, but Hinata beside him, who gripped the railing in surprise with both hands.
"No—why—not me—Ino..."
"Hehe, I won't tell you yet."
Before Hinata could finish her question, Ino Yamanaka leaped down onto the repaired arena.
Uchiha Sasuke, who was also in the second round of matches, likewise entered the arena.
"After a month of special training, Sasuke should have mastered Kakashi's Chidori."
"With the boost from his Sharingan, Sasuke's taijutsu is also excellent. Ino Yamanaka, this battle won't be easy for you to win."
Naruto watched the match from the audience seats.
Although he had also taught Ino Yamanaka, she ultimately wasn't a cheat. While the Yamanaka clan's secret techniques were powerful, fighting alone still put her at a significant disadvantage.
Aside from the Mind Body Switch Technique, Ino Yamanaka was just an ordinary Ninja in terms of throwing kunai, low-level Ninjutsu, and basic taijutsu. Her combat power wasn't high, and she couldn't possibly contend with Uchiha Sasuke, who possessed the Sharingan.
'Come on, let me see how far you can go.'
Naruto was quite looking forward to the outcome of this battle.
In the arena.
Uchiha Sasuke stood with his hands in his pockets, his expression stern. His dark eyes scanned his opponent with a habitual indifference.
Ino Yamanaka took a deep breath, her golden ponytail swaying in the sunlight. She was no longer the naive, innocent girl; her gaze was sharp as a drawn short sword.
"Begin!" As soon as Shiranui Genma's voice fell.
"Ninjutsu: Mind Body Switch Technique!"
Ino wasted no words, instantly forming hand seals. Her mental energy, like an invisible awl, pierced towards Sasuke!
Sasuke snorted coldly, his Sharingan activating instantly. The crimson tomoe spun, and his ocular power surged as he swiftly dodged to the side.
However, Ino's lips curved into a cunning smile.
The moment Sasuke dodged—
"Explode!"
With a soft cry, two curse seals hidden beneath pebbles on the ground next to Sasuke suddenly lit up!
"Boom!"
A violent explosion occurred without warning, and smoke and shattered stones instantly engulfed Sasuke's figure!
The audience was in an uproar!
"What just happened? Didn't the Yamanaka clan girl use the Mind Body Switch Technique? Why was there an explosion?"
"This power looks like an explosive tag, but I didn't see any explosive tags."
"No explosive tags? What kind of Ninjutsu is that?" Sakura exclaimed.
"It's a pure curse seal detonation. It must be an explosive tag modified into some kind of timed Ninjutsu. A troublesome Ninjutsu." Shikamaru Nara squinted, analyzing, "However, the person who modified this curse seal is truly a genius."
From the smoke, Sasuke's somewhat disheveled figure emerged, his clothes slightly scorched, but his Sharingan remained coldly locked on Ino Yamanaka.
"Petty tricks."
"But when did you leave curse seals under my feet—wait, no wonder you came to the arena so early and walked around."
Sasuke's cold face showed a slight change in expression.
He instinctively looked at the ground around him.
Could it be—that inconspicuous stones, bushes, and shadowy corners all concealed those curse seals?
"I need to end this quickly!!"
Sasuke moved with extreme speed, like a black lightning bolt, rushing towards Ino, a cold glint flashing from the kunai in his hand. He would not give Ino another chance to calmly cast Ninjutsu.
"Heh, too slow!"
Ino Yamanaka chuckled, her hands fluttering like dancing butterflies.
"Ninjutsu: Mind Disturbance Technique!"
Invisible mental interference waves spread, not forcibly controlling, but disrupting perception and balance!
Sasuke's charging figure subtly swayed, his movements momentarily delayed.
In this instant of delay!
Ino Yamanaka prepared to activate her true Mind Body Switch Technique.
"Is he going to lose?"
Sakura in the audience nervously gripped the railing, worrying about Sasuke.
She had personally experienced Ino Yamanaka's Mind Body Switch Technique.
If hit, the affected person would be unable to escape Ino Yamanaka's control.
At that point, they would be like fish on a cutting board, at Ino Yamanaka's mercy!