"Heh! This is already your luck."
Standing at the very back of the second row, Kiba Inuzuka turned sideways and sneered at Naruto. "Too bad Akamaru and I won't get to use the special move we prepared just for you. Don't embarrass yourself too badly, you bootlicker."
"I'll try my best," Naruto replied, chuckling.
He glanced forward and noticed that Hinata was looking at him with complete confidence.
"Cough—cough. The two contestants listed on the board, please step forward."
As the referee, Hayate Gekkō called out loudly from the arena floor.
Naruto withdrew his gaze and walked calmly through the crowd until he stopped in front of Hayate. Turning around, he saw his opponent about five meters away—Misumi Tsurugi, his face partially hidden behind a mask, eyes filled with malice.
"Any objections from either side?" Hayate asked.
"No."
Naruto and Misumi answered at the same time, both firm.
"Then the first match begins. Everyone else, move up to the viewing platforms."
Hayate retreated several steps. The other examinees headed for the stairways on both sides of the arena.
Soon, only Hayate, Naruto, and Misumi remained on the floor.
On the viewing platform, Sakura leaned closer to Sasuke.
"Sasuke-kun… Naruto won't—"
"Of course not," Sasuke said coldly, eyes fixed on the arena. "His opponent is guaranteed to lose."
Sakura froze, then whispered nervously, "I—I didn't mean Naruto would lose. I'm worried he might blow his opponent up. I saw him bring a lot of explosive tags in the waiting room…"
Sasuke's eyes flickered—but he didn't respond.
Because Kakashi had appeared behind him, accompanied by another examiner.
"How many explosive tags does he have?" the examiner asked quietly.
Sakura turned slightly, lowered her voice, and replied, "I saw him count them several times—at least sixty. And he also drew a lot of fake explosive tags…"
Arena Floor
"Senior, you can still give up now."
Naruto looked at Misumi sincerely. "We're both Konoha shinobi. I really don't want to hurt you. And your teammate—Kabuto-senpai—helped me a lot."
"Hurt me?" Misumi sneered. "Brat, since you know I'm your senior, you should understand that you are the one who should surrender."
"If you insist on fighting, I'll give you one piece of advice—once I use my technique, surrender immediately."
"Alright," Naruto said, nodding.
He pulled out a kunai and sighed regretfully. "Since the tough talk is over, let's fight."
"I won't give you a chance to make a move!"
Misumi kicked off the ground and charged, a sharp kunai clenched in his right hand.
Naruto didn't move—no stance, no defense.
Just as Misumi reached him, Naruto smiled and opened his free hand.
"Hm?"
Misumi's pupils shrank. A small pellet dropped from Naruto's palm.
Bang!
Thick smoke engulfed them instantly, followed by rapid clang clang clang sounds of metal colliding.
"Smoke bombs? How boring."
"I can't see anything!"
"Why isn't Naruto using Shadow Clones?"
"Uh… Naruto-kun—"
"What's wrong?"
"Tch. What a dirty trick."
"…"
Reactions varied among the spectators. Some scoffed, some stayed silent, others looked puzzled—and a few wore expressions of tension or excitement.
Hinata looked surprised—but pleased.
Neji looked grim.
The moment the smoke exploded, both had activated their Byakugan. While others were blind, they saw everything clearly.
After several dull impacts, a kunai flew out of the smoke. As the smoke thinned, the crowd saw two figures tangled on the ground.
No—
Naruto was pinned.
Misumi's arms and legs were wrapped around Naruto's limbs like ropes—unnaturally flexible.
"What's wrong with his body?!"
"Human joints can't bend like that!"
"…"
Just as they saw, Misumi's limbs were twisted and coiled tightly around Naruto.
"I can dislocate every joint in my body," Misumi said coldly. "Using chakra, I can—"
"Alright, alright," Naruto interrupted cheerfully. "Everyone can see your body's secret. I just want to ask—are you sure you're not letting go?"
"I'll only tighten my hold!"
"Sigh… then I guess I'll have to—"
"You'd better surrender now, or I'll snap your—hm?! What is this?!"
Hiss—hiss—hiss—
Light flared.
Misumi's heart lurched. He tried desperately to release Naruto—but it was already too late.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Hayate's expression sharpened. He had just lifted his foot—then froze.
Deafening explosions rocked the arena. Smoke surged again. The spectators' faces drained of color.
They saw two arms fly into the air.
Before the severed limbs hit the ground, they saw a distant kunai go poof!—turning into Naruto, lying flat on the floor.
The crowd erupted again.
"He escaped with a Transformation Jutsu!"
"I thought they blew each other up!"
"That many explosions—maybe ten explosive tags at most."
"Damage taken by a Shadow Clone feeds back to the original body. He's been down for a while—must hurt badly."
"…"
Naruto staggered to his feet.
When the smoke cleared completely, Misumi—now missing both arms—was barely recognizable.
Hayate approached, checked his pulse, then glanced at Naruto's exhausted face.
"The winner is—Uzumaki Naruto."
Four medical-nin rushed in with stretchers.
Two of them shook their heads as they loaded Misumi's body and severed arms. The other two approached Naruto.
"Contestant, please lie down. The medical team will provide immediate treatment."
Naruto waved them off. "No need. I'm almost healed."
He headed for the stairs.
His first few steps were slow—but after that, his pace clearly quickened. Under the stunned gaze of the medics, he jogged up the stairs and rejoined the viewing platform.
"So this is what the Hokage meant by his abnormal recovery ability?" one examiner muttered.
"Yes," Kakashi replied calmly. "He used explosive tags on me once too. Yamato said he was unconscious for less than thirty seconds."
"As his instructor, you should forbid such dangerous methods!"
Naruto walked past Kakashi and the examiner.
"He's never called me 'sensei,'" Kakashi said flatly. "He only calls me Kakashi-senpai."
Nearby, the disguised examiner immediately turned and headed toward the Third Hokage.
"Are you here to congratulate me, Kakashi-senpai?"
Naruto smiled when he saw Kakashi—and the examiner disguised as Jiraiya.
But just as he stepped forward, Jiraiya had already left.
"…Yeah," Kakashi replied mildly. "That was a clean win."
Moments later, his gaze shifted to the electronic screen.
Uchiha Sasuke vs. Haruno Sakura
Sakura froze.
Sasuke turned immediately and walked toward the stairs without expression. Soon, he reached Naruto and Kakashi.
"Go easy on her," Naruto said with a grin as Sasuke passed him.
Then Naruto headed toward Hinata's section of the stands.
Sasuke stopped before Kakashi. "Tell her to withdraw."
With that, he walked down into the arena.
Kakashi watched his back. When Sakura approached, he said calmly, "Sakura—Sasuke is different from you. If you're not prepared to fight, withdraw."
"Kakashi-sensei…"
"He won't hold back just because you're his teammate," Kakashi said evenly. "You know that."
Sakura's eyes dimmed. "I understand."
Naruto soon struck up a conversation with Hinata.
Kiba and Akamaru were visibly annoyed—but after seeing Naruto's first match, neither dared to say anything. Shino watched silently, eyes fixed on Naruto.
Kurenai smiled.
Asuma's eyes lit up. He stubbed out his cigarette and walked over.
At the same time, Sasuke and Sakura stood before Hayate.
"The second match begins," Hayate said hoarsely. "Any objections?"
"No."
Sasuke answered coldly. His eyes instantly turned scarlet—the Sharingan spinning—as killing intent poured out.
"You'd better think carefully," he said to Sakura. "Because I'm afraid I might kill you if this continues."
Sakura trembled. She glanced at Kakashi, clenched her fists, and lowered her head.
The stands erupted at the sight of the Sharingan. Even the Third Hokage looked surprised—Sasuke's eyes had evolved again, if only in his left eye.
"So… under pressure, his eyes evolved again," Orochimaru thought from a hidden corner, disguised as an examiner. Just like that man. He's the type who'll sacrifice anything for power.
Recalling their battle in the Forest of Death—how Sasuke abandoned the scroll and his teammates when defeat was certain—Orochimaru nearly extended his tongue in excitement.
And after hearing Sasuke's words to Kakashi about the curse mark…
Once the plan succeeds, Orochimaru thought, he'll come to me on his own.
"I withdraw."
Sakura raised her hand at last.
Hayate nodded. He knew the gap between them well.
"The winner of the second match is—Uchiha Sasuke."
Sasuke deactivated his Sharingan. He exhaled quietly.
Another performance for Orochimaru—done.
The next stage would be the finals.
The crowd remained silent—no one mocked Sakura. Those familiar with the Sharingan accepted the outcome.
The screen rolled again.
Ding—
Inuzuka Kiba vs. Akimichi Chōji
"Ha! Akamaru—our turn!"
"Woof!"
Kiba leapt down eagerly.
"Shikamaru… can I withdraw?" Chōji asked seriously, chewing chips.
"…Troublesome."
Shikamaru glanced at Asuma. Asuma shook his head sternly.
"Just go. End it quickly," Shikamaru sighed. "Remember—Asuma-sensei said if you win, he's treating everyone to barbecue."
"Alright!"
Chōji's eyes lit up. He stuffed the chips away and jumped down.
"Do you think Kiba will lose?" Hinata asked softly.
"Sounds like you want him to," Naruto teased, watching Kiba flee from Human Boulder.
"But yeah—he doesn't look like he's winning."
"That's not what I meant!" Hinata shook her head. "Kiba and Akamaru still have a special move!"
Naruto smiled. "Would that special move work on you?"
"…No."
Hinata glanced toward Shino and whispered, "It wouldn't work on me. And actually, that move hasn't—"
"Kiba and Akamaru already took Soldier Pills," Shino said quietly, appearing beside her.
"Eh—Shino!"
"Chōji took a Spinach Pill," Shikamaru added, joining them, his expression grim.
"…Because of Asuma's barbecue promise?" he muttered darkly.
Naruto watched silently.
Spinach Pills had side effects—but nothing fatal. What puzzled him was where Chōji had found the motivation to fight this hard.
"Fang Over Fang!"
"Human Boulder!"
BOOM!
The arena shook violently.
Two Kibas flew backward—one transformed midair into Akamaru.
Both hit the ground unconscious.
"Chōji… won?" Shikamaru stared.
"…Not quite," Naruto said calmly.
Chōji's massive body shrank back to normal—but he didn't stand up.
Hayate checked both fighters, then announced:
"Both contestants have lost consciousness. No winner for the third match."
Asuma flashed down instantly to Chōji's side. Kurenai, a step slower, scooped up Akamaru first.
As the medical team carried them away, the screen updated again.
Kankurō vs. Yamanaka Ino
Shikamaru looked at Naruto. "What are Ino's odds?"
Naruto smiled. "Fifty percent."
"…That tells me nothing."
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