"Great job, Naruto!"
Haruno Sakura shouted happily.
The stands immediately erupted into cheers.
Only one person didn't share that excitement.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, frowned slightly, deep in thought.
That surge just now… was unmistakably the chakra of the Nine-Tails.
At this stage, he absolutely did not want Naruto to move any closer to becoming a perfect Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
A complete Jinchūriki—even one as young as Naruto—would be enough to shake every major ninja village. And worse, this one was still completely unstable.
Leaving aside Naruto's identity and origins…
Neither Jiraiya nor Namikaze Kirito would ever allow things to progress that far.
Because of that, Hiruzen felt no joy at all—only solemn caution.
Most of the audience believed Naruto's victory was the result of a sudden breakthrough under pressure. But any ninja with real experience could feel what had actually happened.
The Fourth Kazekage Rasa, Gaara, Kakashi, and several others all noticed it clearly.
The representatives from Gensōkyō Village showed no reaction—but that didn't mean they were unaware.
It seems I'll need to speak with my old friend Danzō later…
With that thought, Sarutobi Hiruzen adjusted his expression once more, restoring his familiar kind smile, appearing satisfied with Naruto's performance.
Everyone's attention remained on Naruto.
Everyone—except Namikaze Kirito.
Kirito's gaze stayed fixed on the old man on the platform.
Watching Hiruzen's expression shift from concern… to composure… and back again was far more entertaining than the match itself.
Kirito couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Standing beside him, Kurenai Yūhi misunderstood the reason for his smile. She assumed he was simply happy for Naruto.
After all, she knew Naruto's background—and she hadn't forgotten what Neji had done to Hinata.
With Naruto's victory, she felt genuinely relieved.
"Second match—Uchiha Sasuke versus Nara Shikamaru!"
At the referee's announcement, the two genin stepped onto the field.
The Nara clan had always been known for its brilliance, and Shikamaru possessed extraordinary tactical intelligence.
But none of that mattered here.
Sasuke's Sharingan was already active—and with Kakashi's training behind him, the difference in raw combat power was obvious.
The moment those scarlet eyes locked onto him, Shikamaru understood immediately.
This wasn't a battle he could win.
Without hesitation, he raised his hand and surrendered.
It was a perfect example of one simple truth:
No matter how clever your schemes or strategies may be, absolute strength can crush them all.
Under overwhelming power, tricks become meaningless.
After securing his victory, Sasuke glanced toward Kimimaro, who was preparing to fight next.
His eyes burned with fighting spirit.
Anything connected to Uchiha Itachi was enough to stir his blood.
"Third match—Kaguya Kimimaro versus Gaara!"
The atmosphere exploded.
This was the match everyone had been waiting for.
During the preliminaries, both fighters had displayed strength far beyond that of ordinary genin—power that even average jōnin would struggle to match.
The cheers grew louder and louder.
"Kazekage-sama," a voice spoke up, "what do you think of this duel?"
Rasa turned slightly, looking toward the figure from Gensōkyō Village concealed beneath layered wrappings.
A hint of confusion crossed his eyes. Aside from brief formal greetings, the two had never interacted.
The sudden question caught him off guard.
Seeing Rasa's hesitation, the man spoke calmly.
"Kimimaro is the strongest genin of our village. Since he's about to face your son, I thought it only proper to ask your opinion."
Rasa nodded, accepting the explanation.
"Gaara is also the strongest genin of the Sand," he said. "But that surname—Kaguya. That clan originated from Kirigakure, didn't it?"
"Heh… sharp eyes," the man chuckled. "Yes. Kimimaro is from the Kaguya clan of the Mist. He left long ago and now belongs to our village."
"Your Gensōkyō Village truly gathers talent from everywhere," Rasa said meaningfully.
"Just a bit of luck."
On the battlefield.
Kimimaro and Gaara stood facing each other.
At the referee's signal, the match began.
Gaara stared coldly at the boy before him. The events of the previous days still burned in his mind.
Now—he finally had a chance to crush his opponent.
Kimimaro, by contrast, remained expressionless, as if the match held no significance at all.
Seeing that indifference, Gaara said nothing.
The gourd on his back opened, and he extended his hand.
"Sand Coffin."
Golden sand surged up from beneath Kimimaro's feet, wrapping around him layer by layer.
"Sand Burial!"
Gaara clenched his fist.
The sand compressed violently, twisting and crushing inward.
The stands fell silent.
"That's it?"
"After all that buildup, he's crushed instantly?"
"Wasn't he supposed to be the strongest from Gensōkyō Village?!"
"No—look!"
Before the doubts could settle, Kimimaro stepped calmly out of the collapsing sand cocoon.
White bone armor covered his body completely.
The sand had been stopped cold.
"Impressive pressure," Kimimaro said calmly. "Without this armor, I might've been injured."
He lifted his gaze.
"But after being tempered by that lord… your sand is far too weak."
In the next instant, Kimimaro vanished forward.
A sharp bone spike formed in his hand and shot toward Gaara's head.
Boom!
A wall of sand rose instantly, forming a dense shield that blocked the strike.
Kimimaro wasn't surprised.
If it were that easy, Gaara wouldn't be the One-Tail Jinchūriki.
Bone spurs erupted across Kimimaro's body. Twin bone blades extended into his hands as he charged forward relentlessly.
Physical combat had always been his strongest domain.
As his attacks accelerated, Gaara's sand defenses began to lag.
Gaara retreated rapidly, trying to create distance.
Then—
He froze.
Kimimaro didn't pursue.
That made no sense.
Judging from his movements, Kimimaro was clearly faster.
Then Kimimaro slowly crouched, placing both hands against the ground.
"Shikotsumyaku—Dance of the Clematis!"
Boom—boom—boom!
A thunderous roar erupted behind Gaara.
"Damn—!"
Gaara spun around—but it was already too late.
Countless bone spikes burst from the ground.
His retreat had led him straight into the trap.
With no time to evade, he reinforced his defenses with sand.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The bone spikes punched through, one after another.
These were nothing like the earlier attacks.
The sand couldn't fully stop them.
Gaara could only watch as the spikes closed in.
Finally...
One struck his body.
Then another.
And another.
The barrage of bone spikes crashed down relentlessly.
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