The arena was silent. For a second, no one spoke a word.
But then…
CLAP CLAP CLAP
The sound of skin clapping against skin filled the air as the crowd applauded.
Not just for the amazing fight they had witnessed—but for the determination showed during said fight.
Truly, this was a match for the ages.
"I knew he was going to win," one boasted.
"Yeah right," another mocked. "Weren't you the one who said he had no chance?"
The man, feeling a rush of embarrassment, began to stutter.
"Well yeah, but…"
Within the crowd, many more conversations took place.
"So he won," Sasuke smirked. "Now I'll get to face him in the finals myself."
"That was a troublesome fight," Shikamaru yawned. "Interesting, but still troublesome."
"Yeah, that was really something," Choji munched on his chips. "We have a lot of catching up to do."
From the side, both Guy and Kakashi were having their own conversation.
"Did you really think it was wise to teach him the Gates?" Kakashi asked, voice full of nothing but seriousness.
"He needs it to protect his precious people," Guy responded, no traces of uncertainty in his voice.
Kakashi sighed.
"You really are hopeless, aren't you. But that Benimaru kid—he is really something."
Guy nodded in agreement.
"You're right about that."
The lone form of Benimaru stood in the center of the arena.
He had never been the center of praise like this before.
Honestly, it felt… good.
This isn't so bad.
From the corner of his eye, he could see medics carrying Lee's limp body away.
It seems like those Gates put a lot of strain on the body.
Perhaps he should learn it one day.
With all the energy he could muster, he dragged his body out of the arena.
His muscles ached seriously.
But as soon as he was out of the public gaze, his feet gave out.
His body tumbled to the ground—
but he was caught in the nick of time.
"Hold on there, sport," Chandler said, catching Benimaru's tired form.
Benimaru's gaze shifted to look at him.
"I thought you wouldn't catch me in time."
"Not a chance, kid," he said, a toothy smile on his face. "You look pretty beaten up."
"Tell me about it," sighed Benimaru. "I need a fucking nap."
....
And just like that, the preliminary matches of the Chuunin Exams had ended.
Hayate stood in the center of the ring, along with all the other contenders—bar Benimaru.
The ninja grabbed strips of paper to decide their opponents.
The matchups for the final matches were:
Shikamaru Nara vs. Sabaku no Temari
"Of course I have to fight another woman," sighed Shikamaru.
"How troublesome." Temari, on the other hand, had her lips curved into a sly sneer.
"With that attitude, you won't stand a chance against me," she mocked, but didn't get a response.
The second match would be:
Naruto Uzumaki vs. Neji Hyuga
The blond ninja's eyes were filled with determination.
After what happened with Hinata, he would definitely give his own version of payback to the bastard.
Neji snorted. This would be an easy win for him, no matter who it was—no one could defy fate.
The third match would be:
Sasuke Uchiha vs. Sabaku no Gaara. The two ninja locked eyes—Gaara's eyes were filled with nothing but bloodlust, while Sasuke's were composed of interest and mild intrigue.
He witnessed what Gaara had done to his opponent during their match—he was brutally efficient.
He had to get a lot stronger if he wished to beat him.
Gaara, however, had nothing on his mind other than the intense desire to lash out right then and there.
But he composed himself; this was neither the time nor the place.
The fourth match would be:
Benimaru Ryota vs. Shino Aburame
Shino muttered slightly under his breath, "Interesting. As it stands right now, I stand no chance," he said. "But maybe… just maybe, I could find a way to win."
He wasn't going to be delusional.
He knew that the level both Lee and Benimaru had shown was beyond him—at least, at his current capabilities.
That didn't mean he would just roll over and quit though—that wasn't the kind of person he was.
The fifth, and final round would be:
Sabaku no Kankuro vs. winner of the fourth match.
A smile appeared at the corner of Kankuro's lips.
Now he wouldn't need to reveal his technique.
With the finals matchups fully revealed—everyone left the arena.
The remaining fighters determined to use the one month to grow stronger.
Over the next month, Benimaru honed his senses to an almost impossible degree.
While Sasuke struggled to comprehend and utilize his movements, Naruto pushed himself under Jiraiya's tutelage and guidance.
By the end of the month, all three had seen miraculous leaps in power.
In the middle of the ring stood Genma Shiranui, the Proctor for the finals of the Chuunin Exams.
Due to the death of Hayate, he was assigned to as Proctor.
The previous Proctor's cause of death, however, was unknown.
Standing opposite to each other were Sabaku no Temari and Shikamaru Nara.
The battle began without delay, being more intellectual than physical.
Shikamaru successfully outsmarted Temari and trapped her in his Shadow Possession Jutsu.
Shikamaru raised his arm in the air.
"I hereby forfeit the match," he placed his hands on the back of his head.
Temari gasped.
"What…" Temari asked, startled. Shikamaru had caught her—why was he surrendering?
The Nara turned to look at her.
"I've used up all my chakra in the battle," he yawned. "I can't continue."
In that same moment, his Shadow Possession Jutsu was dispelled.
Temari could feel control returning to her body—she could move again.
Genma whistled slightly.
"When then…due to Shikamaru's forfeit. I hereby declare Sabaku no Temari the winner."
Genma had definitely underestimated Shikamaru.
The boy was a genius. He wasn't overly strong or powerful, but his ability to analyze his opponent and make tactical decisions were what really mattered in a chuunin.
Too bad he was just too lazy.
Temari grit her teeth. This was an embarrassment. She didn't win—she was turned into a clown.
The next match proceeded in a pretty similar direction.
Naruto Uzumaki was up against Neji Hyūga.
The fight would go mostly as it did in canon—aside from the fact that Naruto was relatively stronger since he would have even more drive to train after seeing Benimaru's power.
The match began, and to no one's surprise—it was a massacre.
Naruto rushed in, guns blazing, spamming his multi shadow clone jutsu.
If you can't beat them with finesse—then beat them with sheer numbers.
But in this case it didn't work.
Despite Naruto being a good deal stronger and faster physically—it still was no match for Neji's byakugan.
Especially since he too had been training harshly after his embarrassing defeat to Benimaru.
Pushing his byakugan and gentle fist to the limit—every single day.
But the match still wasn't in his favour.
By tapping into the first stage of the nine tails Chakra—Naruto dominated Neji
And eventually won the fight.
The next match would be
Sasuke Uchiha vs. Sabaku no Gaara
The fight played out almost exactly as it did in canon.
Even with his improved strength and speed—Sasuke was unable to break Gaara's sand.
Until…he did using the Chidori—a move taught to him by his sensei.
He was now the first person to ever injure Gaara.
But just as he thought he'd won…
Pink Sakura petals began falling from the sky in waves.
It filled the entire arena; both ninja's and civilian in the crowd went unconscious—hitting the floor with a loud thud.
Sasuke 'tch' in annoyance.
"Genjutsu," he muttered, easily dispelling it.
Tenten, Sakura, Ino, Kiba and Choji were unable to resist the Genjutsu and were knocked unconscious.
Naruto, Shino and Shikamaru were the only ones capable of resisting the illusion.
The other sand genin, Temari and Kankuro, took Gaara away and fled.
Sasuke wanted to chase after them but was stopped.
Ninja began flooding through the sky, jumping into the stadium—their aim was obvious:
To kill every single person there.
Sasuke was torn between the decision;
Should he chase the sand genin—
Or
Should he stay back and protect the leaf.
A protective hand was placed on Sasuke's shoulder.
"Why don't you let the big dogs handle these guys," Genma smiled at him. "You just go on and deal with them alright?"
Sasuke nodded slightly. This was no time to go against orders.
Dashing forward at full speed, he went after the sand genin.
The invaders, however, continued their assault.
They would be unsuccessful, however—due to the presence of two monsters.
"DYNAMIC ENTRY!" Guy kicked one of the ninja aside,
While Kakashi took a more stealthy approach—chopping the neck of one ninja to knock them out before slamming another two invaders' heads into each other.
Guy struck a pose to Kakashi.
"Oi Kakashi. How about we bet to see who can defeat more enemy ninja between the two of us?"
Kakashi pinched the bridge of his nose but wasn't surprised.
This was Maito Guy, the only man he knew who could find time to have fun even in an invasion.
He shook his head slightly.
"You know what? Why not," Kakashi smiled. "Let's see who can defeat more enemies between the two of us."
"I think you mean three of us."
A figure moved within the shadows, a crescent shaped demon mark piercing through.
His movements were sharp, quick, precise—ruthless.
Wielding a short sword which seemed to be entire composed of dark chakra—it oozed malevolent energy.
He cut down enemies with ruthless efficiency, one by one.
The air warped with every slash of his blade — each swing carrying enough chakra to split stone.
By the time he had killed ten, his body was soaked in blood.
Guy and Kakashi were only incapacitating the intruders—but this man…
He was ending them.
But what was scary was that his expression was unreadable.
The boy looked around 12 or 13 years old, yet he was slaughtering people without a care in the world.
Within his constant movements, Kakashi could only catch glimpses of pitch black hair with red streaks.
Gaze widening, he muttered,
"Benimaru?"
Benimaru stood in a puddle of blood, eyes completely blackened—not a hint of emotion in them.
"I don't enjoy killing," he muttered. "In fact, I detest it."
But then his eyes pulsed; a grave amount of killing intent radiated off him in waves.
"But pitiful fools who dare desecrate my home… deserve nothing but death."
Raising his finger forward, a concentrated beam of purple fire flew forward.
Penetrating its target, and the next and the next—until it had impaled a total of five people.
All of whom, were incinerated on contact with the fire.
This was the flame that could burn hell itself;
HELLBLAZE
The smell of scorched skin permeated the air where Benimaru stood.
Gaze unflinching, body unnervingly calm.
The other ninja backed away in fear—they didn't know such a monster would be here.
But Benimaru wouldn't let a single soul escape alive.