Sasuke remained expressionless as the hurricane of wind howled around him. His hands moved in a blur, weaving through the seals with practiced precision.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"[1][4]
*Whoosh!*
A massive sphere of flame erupted from his mouth, roaring into the teeth of the gale.
Fire Release counters Wind Release.
Temari's *Wind Scythe Jutsu*, intended to blow Sasuke away, ironically became fuel for the fire. The oxygen-rich gale fed the flames, expanding the fireball into a raging inferno that swept across the arena, trapping Temari in a sea of fire.
"Damn it! He's using my wind to amplify his jutsu!" Temari cursed, shielding her face from the searing heat. "Fire Release is a terrible matchup for me..."
Sasuke watched calmly, his Sharingan spinning slowly. He had anticipated this.
He inhaled deeply, molding more chakra into his lungs.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"[5]
The flames surged higher, coalescing into the shape of a massive, serpentine dragon. With a roar that sounded almost alive, the fire dragon lunged at Temari, its jaws snapping to consume her.
In the spectator box, Baki frowned. "We're being completely suppressed."
"Temari is at a disadvantage. Her wind only makes his fire stronger."
Kankuro shook his head, sweating but confident. "No. Temari won't go down that easily."
"Hn."
Indeed, just as the dragon was about to swallow her whole, Temari slammed her fan shut and bit her thumb.
"Summoning: Blade Dance!"
*POOF!*
A white weasel, wielding a scythe as tall as a man, materialized out of thin air. It swung its weapon in a blur of motion, creating a vacuum blade of compressed air that slashed forward with devastating force.
The power of the strike was enough to level a small forest.
But more importantly...
The technique created a vacuum, instantly suffocating the flames. Without oxygen, Sasuke's fire dragon flickered and died in seconds.
It was Temari's trump card—a high-cost jutsu that could turn the tide of battle instantly.
With the fire gone, the vacuum blade continued its path, slashing straight toward Sasuke with lethal intent.
"Die!" Temari screamed, adrenaline flooding her veins.
Sasuke tried to dodge, but the wind blade was too wide. It sliced through his torso cleanly.
"Sasuke!"
Naruto shouted, gripping the railing.
But a split second later, Sasuke's body dissolved into a puff of smoke, replaced by a log that fell to the ground in two pieces.
"What?! A substitution?!"
"Where is he?"
Temari gasped, spinning around frantically. She remembered how he had tricked Shino and scanned her blind spots.
But it was too late.
Sasuke was already there. His Sharingan glowed crimson in the dim light, and the sound of a thousand birds chirping filled the air.
Lightning crackled in his hand, concentrated into a blade of pure, destructive energy.
"Chidori!"
The strike was faster than sound.
Temari froze, paralyzed by the sheer intensity of the chakra.
The lightning blade stopped millimeters from her throat, the static electricity singing her skin.
Sasuke let the lightning dissipate, shoving his hand into his pocket as he turned his back on her.
"You lose."
Temari sank to her knees, utterly defeated.
"Winner: Sasuke Uchiha!"
The stadium erupted in cheers.
"Nice one, Sasuke!" Naruto yelled.
Sasuke walked past him, smirking. "You're next, Naruto."
"I'll be waiting in the finals."
"Don't let that monster kill you before I get the chance to beat you."
Naruto grinned, pumping a fist. "Don't worry! I'll take down Gaara, and then I'm coming for you!"
"I'm going to win this whole thing!"
Genma stepped forward, raising his hand to quiet the crowd.
"The final match of the semi-finals..."
"Naruto Uzumaki versus Gaara!"
The roar of the crowd was deafening. This was effectively the championship match—Konoha's strongest rising star against the monster of the Sand.
The tension in the air was palpable. Everyone leaned forward, sensing that they were about to witness something legendary.
* * *
In the center of the arena, a cold autumn wind blew, kicking up dust.
Gaara stood with his arms crossed, his expression vacant and cruel. The dark rings around his eyes made him look less like a boy and more like a corpse.
He stared at Naruto, seeing a reflection he hated.
*That guy...*
Naruto stood opposite him, also with his arms crossed, but his posture was relaxed, his smile bright and confident. He radiated life, a stark contrast to Gaara's aura of death.
Gaara clenched his fists until his knuckles cracked.
He hated Naruto's existence.
It was proof that someone like him could exist in the light—which meant Gaara's darkness was a choice, not a destiny. Or perhaps... it was just pure jealousy.
"Naruto Uzumaki... you are strong," Gaara rasped. "That is why you deserve to die by my hand."
"I will kill you to prove my own existence."
Naruto scoffed. "It's just a Chunin Exam, you creep. Why is it always 'kill, kill, kill' with you?"
"Don't you have any friends in the Sand Village?"
The question hit a nerve. Gaara's face twisted into a snarl.
"Shut up!"
*I will tear you apart!*
Before the proctor could even signal the start, a wave of killing intent exploded from Gaara. It was a physical pressure, heavy and suffocating, washing over the audience like freezing water.
Even the Jonin in the stands stiffened.
Baki cursed under his breath. "Damn it. Gaara is losing control of Shukaku's influence."
"If he goes berserk before the invasion starts, the whole plan is ruined."
Temari and Kankuro exchanged terrified glances. "What do we do?"
"We stick to the plan," Baki hissed. "But be ready to move early if he snaps completely."
Genma felt the blood drain from his face, but he held his ground.
"Begin!"
Normally, Gaara would wait for his opponent to attack, letting his sand do the work. But his patience had evaporated.
He moved first.
"Sand Shuriken!"
*Whoosh!*
Gaara threw his arms forward. The sand at his feet hardened instantly into razor-sharp projectiles, firing at Naruto like a machine gun.
Naruto laughed, dodging nimbly. "Impatient, aren't you?"
He weaved through the barrage, returning fire with his own shuriken.
*Clang! Clang!*
Gaara didn't move. His sand rose automatically, blocking the metal stars without effort.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
*Poof!*
Seven Narutos appeared in a puff of smoke. He didn't summon hundreds—against an AOE specialist like Gaara, a swarm was just a waste of chakra.
Naruto wasn't just a brawler anymore. He was fighting smart.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
Half of the Narutos clapped their hands together, channeling wind chakra.
*BOOM!*
A violent gust of wind erupted from their palms.
Simultaneously, the other Narutos threw a second wave of shuriken into the gale.
The wind accelerated the weapons, turning them into supersonic projectiles that screamed through the air with terrifying velocity.
It was a simple combo, but deadly. The sheer kinetic energy was enough to punch through solid rock.
Gaara's eyes widened slightly.
His sand rose to intercept, but for the first time, it struggled to keep up with the speed.
Some of the shuriken slipped through.