Chapter 229: "Power Scaling Logic"
"I forfeit this match!"
Without the slightest hesitation, Kankuro used all his strength to shout it out, his voice slightly distorted from extreme fear. His complexion was deathly pale, cold sweat pouring, his heart racing wildly.
He feared that if he was even a second slower, that terrifying younger brother would use sand to forcibly drag him into the arena, compelling him to engage in this hopeless "match" that could even cost him his life.
Absolutely cannot go down there! I'll die, I'll definitely die!
Naruto watched this scene from the spectator seats, his expression somewhat strange. This matchmaking system... is even more absurd than my match just now. Lee didn't face Gaara this time, but instead they ended up fighting their own people?
Naruto clearly knew that the current Gaara fundamentally didn't care whether Kankuro was his older brother or not. As long as it was battle, in Gaara's eyes it only held the meaning of "slaughter"—he would absolutely crush Kankuro to pieces in the arena without hesitation.
Kankuro could clearly feel the ice-cold gaze from Gaara's direction, substantial as reality itself. The shadow of death already loomed overhead, nearly suffocating him.
He prayed frantically in his heart, begging that this monster of a younger brother wouldn't forcibly compel him.
A few seconds later, that icy killing intent seemed to withdraw somewhat. Gaara said nothing, merely redirecting his emotionless gaze back toward the empty center of the arena.
As Gekko Hayate once again confirmed Kankuro's intent to forfeit and announced "Second match, winner: Gaara," Kankuro finally deflated like a punctured balloon, his legs going weak, nearly unable to stand. A tremendous sense of relief after surviving disaster surged through his heart.
The electronic screen began flickering again, heralding the arrival of the third match. This time, the matchup finally didn't exceed Naruto's expectations.
[Zaku Abumi VS Aburame Shino]
"Ahem... will the two contestants please come forward." Gekko Hayate indicated. The two complied and walked to the center of the arena. However, unlike in Naruto's memories of the original work, Zaku's arms were currently intact—because Team Seven had speedrun through the Forest of Death, he hadn't broken his arms as in the original plot.
Naruto's impression of Zaku was quite vivid, mainly thanks to his signature, confidence-filled declaration:
"This power can even destroy rocks!"
Hmm... following this logical reasoning...
Zaku can shatter rocks, rocks can smash Obito, Obito can intimidate Danzo, Danzo can steal Shisui's Sharingan, and Shisui was called the possessor of the strongest genjutsu by Itachi, Itachi can seal Nagato with one sword, Nagato is the one controlling the Paths of Pain, Pain can invade Konoha and pin the protagonist Naruto to the ground, and Naruto is the one who sealed the chakra progenitor, Kaguya Otsutsuki...
So rounding up, Zaku is stronger than Kaguya?
In the arena, Zaku—perhaps because his arms were intact—appeared extraordinarily arrogant. He looked askance at Aburame Shino across from him wearing sunglasses with no discernible expression, his eyes full of disdain, clearly regarding his opponent as a nobody he could dispatch casually.
"What a boring match," Zaku's tone was contemptuous. "Against trash like you, it won't take much time at all."
Shino remained silent, merely observing Zaku calmly through his sunglasses. This complete disregard made anger flare in Zaku's heart, a fury at being looked down upon surging up.
He stopped wasting words and charged forward fiercely, throwing a straight punch at Shino's face! Shino reacted swiftly, raising his arm to block steadily. The moment their bodies made contact, Zaku's other hand was already aimed at Shino, now within arm's reach.
"Slicing Sound Wave!"
The device on his arm suddenly emitted a violent humming, and an invisible powerful shockwave burst forth! Dust instantly billowed up, swallowing Shino's figure. The tremendous force slammed him hard into the ground.
Seeing Shino lying motionless, a smug arc curved at the corner of Zaku's mouth. Just as he was about to taunt again, he saw that figure in the dust slowly, steadily stand back up. Aside from some dust on his clothes, he seemed to have suffered no substantial damage.
"Tch, won't surrender obediently?" Zaku's brow furrowed tightly, impatience in his heart. "Then here's another one to make you stay down completely! Slicing Sound Wave!"
He activated the device again, however—
"Pssht..."
The expected shockwave didn't appear. Only a strange sound like air leaking came. Zaku discovered in horror that the chakra in both his arms was rapidly draining.
He looked down abruptly to check, only to discover in shock that the wind outlets on both his arm devices used to release shockwaves had somehow been completely blocked by densely packed, constantly wriggling black insects!
"The moment you attacked in close quarters just now," Shino's calm voice sounded at the appropriate time, "my insects had already infiltrated onto your body. Now, they're using their bodies to block your wind outlets."
The next moment, a scene that made most people present feel their scalps tingle appeared—countless tiny black insects began slowly emerging from Shino's sleeves, collar, and even from beneath his skin! Like surging black tides, they quickly gathered around him, forming a constantly undulating, rustling "carpet of insects."
This horrifying scene made quite a few candidates in the stands unconsciously take half a step back.
"Damn it!" Zaku was both shocked and furious. Seeing he couldn't use ninjutsu, he unwillingly charged at Shino again with a punch, trying to decide the outcome through taijutsu.
However, his angry punch was easily dodged by Shino with a sidestep and deflected with a backhand. What made Zaku feel even more fearful was that an intense sense of weakness swept over his entire body like a tide. His steps became unsteady, his strength rapidly draining!
"These insects are called kikaichū," Shino explained calmly. "They feed on chakra. Right now, they're attached to your body, continuously devouring your chakra. I suggest you surrender."
The outcome was without suspense. With his arm devices destroyed and his chakra largely devoured, Zaku found even standing steady difficult. He was struck cleanly with an elbow to the side of his neck by Shino, letting out a muffled groan before completely losing consciousness.
Although Naruto had a good relationship with Shino, every time he saw countless insects swarming out from under this friend's robes and from within his skin, Naruto still felt an involuntary chill from physiological instinct, fine goosebumps inevitably rising on his arms.
As Gekko Hayate announced Aburame Shino's victory, accompanied by Inuzuka Kiba's cheers for his teammate, the electronic screen at the center of the arena began flickering again. Characters rolled, finally freezing to display the matched opponents for the next battle.
[Inuzuka Kiba VS Rock Lee]
On the other side of the stands, seeing his beloved student finally get his turn, Might Guy's blood immediately boiled. He rushed to the railing, pointing forward forcefully with his signature booming voice: "Go, Lee! Let everyone witness the power of your youth!"
"Ohhh—!!!" Lee's response was equally passionate, as if his entire body burned with invisible flames. He leaped athletically into the center of the arena, landing steadily and assuming a standard ready stance.
Naruto looked at this matchup list with a strange expression, then glanced at Inuzuka Kiba—just as excited as Akamaru on his head, eagerly rubbing his fists together and charging toward the arena...
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