Temari launched her attack without a moment's hesitation. She charged toward Kanon, the Three-Starred Fan in her grip gleaming with a daunting luster.
The instant she leaped, Kanon anticipated the move and executed a timely evasive maneuver. With a deafening crash, the fan slammed into the earth, creating a terrifying crater. However, Kanon had already cleared the blast zone.
By the time Temari regained her bearings, Kanon's silhouette had already flickered to her left flank. "Over here?" Temari braced herself and delivered a powerful kick toward Kanon.
Suddenly, a massive explosion erupted as Kanon's Shadow Clone detonated, leaving Temari in a state of shock. She hadn't even seen Kanon weave a single sign.
Though Temari's reflexes were sharp, she immediately leaped to a safe distance after the clone vanished, scanning the area for Kanon's trail.
"Found you!"
Temari swung her giant fan, unleashing a violent gale that swept toward the distant Kanon.
The wind moved so fast that even Kanon was nearly caught off guard, but she was far from defenseless. She rapidly wove signs, and a massive earthen rampart engraved with numerous flower patterns rose before her, shielding her from the fierce storm.
Seeing this, Temari immediately shifted strategies and circled around to Kanon's flank. With her vision blocked by the Mud Wall, the situation on the other side was a mystery. She decided to use a feint.
When Temari hurled her fan to the left, Kanon predictably attacked that point, leaving her right side wide open.
"I win!" Temari thought, a surge of triumph washing over her as she looked at Kanon's panicked expression.
The next second, a massive blade of pressurized air flew from Temari, sending Kanon flying dozens of meters away.
"It's over," Asuma noted calmly from the stands.
"Yes, it's finished," Kurenai Yuhi agreed with a slight shake of her head.
"Wait, this match is over already too?" Sakura frowned in confusion.
Down in the arena, the scene clearly showed Temari held the upper hand. Why would anyone say it was over?
Soon, Temari herself realized something was wrong. Why had Kanon been so easy to handle? Recalling the previous matches, Kanon's tactical brilliance and raw power meant she shouldn't have fallen for such a simple trick.
Then, Genma Shiranui walked into the center of the ring and announced to the audience:
"Temari vs. Kanon Uchiha... Winner: Kanon!"
Temari froze in shock. How could this be...?
In that instant, everything before her eyes turned surreal. The sky bled into a deep crimson, and three massive tomoe spun endlessly in the heavens above.
"The Sharingan... a Genjutsu," Asuma said, lighting a cigarette.
As it turned out, from the very moment Temari had squared off against Kanon, the Sharingan's hypnotic power had already seized control of the situation, leading Temari into a dream where she believed she had won.
"As expected of the Uchiha Clan..." Shikamaru remarked.
Temari knelt on the ground, still dazed, her hollow eyes watching Kanon walk toward her.
"Can you stand?" Kanon reached out a hand to help Temari up.
Slap! Temari brushed Kanon's hand away, her voice tinged with frustration. "I can't believe I lost the second I stepped out there. Next time, I won't lose to you!"
With that, she limped out of the arena, leaving Kanon standing alone, frowning at her retreating back.
"What a strange girl. Oh well," Kanon muttered, heading back toward Naruto.
As Kanon's match concluded, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, also narrowed his eyes. The match between Sasuke and Gaara could not be delayed any further.
The crowd, however, was buzzing with excitement. Kanon's two matches had been a masterclass: one showing her tactical intellect, the other showcasing the true power of the Uchiha, the Sharingan. Since the Uchiha clan massacre, the Sharingan had become a rare legend in the shinobi world. Now, everyone had witnessed its terrifying ability to plunge a strong opponent into an illusion in an instant.
Of course, some spectators weren't satisfied. The matches were too short, and they wanted more. Their expectations shifted entirely to Sasuke; after all, his strength was rumored to be even greater than his sister's.
"Hokage-sama, Sasuke has still not arrived," a ninja informed him.
"Then it can't be helped... we cannot keep the guests waiting any longer."
"Let's wait a little more. Ten minutes," the Kazekage whispered beside him. "It would be too cruel to disqualify him. Another ten minutes won't hurt."
At that moment, Might Guy and Rock Lee arrived at the scene. When Lee learned that Naruto had defeated Neji, his heart was a whirlwind of emotions. Guy patted his shoulder.
"I'm okay... Guy-sensei. A real man knows how to respect others."
"Naruto, well done."
"Lee! You've truly grown!"
"Guy-sensei!"
"Let your youth explode!" Might Guy hoisted Lee's wheelchair onto his shoulder and charged into the stands.
"Ohhh!" Lee's eyes burned with renewed fighting spirit.
Kanon, heading to the spectator area, saw the passionate duo and quickly moved aside to avoid being flattened by their momentum. Sakura waved to her with a smile. "Over here!"
"You were amazing, Kanon..." Sakura congratulated her.
"Not really... she just let her guard down," Kanon replied, a bit bashful from the praise.
"Come to my house tonight for a feast!" Kanon invited.
"Eh?! Kanon, are you cooking?!"
"You bet! Come to think of it, you guys haven't had my food in weeks." Kanon giggled.
"Then I'm definitely going!" Sakura nodded, taking Kanon's hand. She felt lucky to have such a cute and kind-hearted "younger sister" in Team 7.
"What about me?! Me too!" Ino poked her head over Sakura's shoulder.
"Of course! I'll tell Kiba, Shino, Hinata, Choji, and Lee later. Everyone come over tonight for dinner!" Kanon announced with a beaming smile.
"Whoa, we're having a party?!"
"Yes, a party! To celebrate the end of the Chūnin Exams."
…
Thirty seconds remained in the ten-minute grace period.
Suddenly, a single leaf drifted from the sky, followed by a surge of swirling sand and a massive pressure of wind that swept across the arena. Amidst the falling leaves, Kakashi and Sasuke appeared in the center of the stadium. Sasuke was clad in a new black outfit, white bandages wrapped around his right leg, his bangs grown longer and sharper.
The stadium erupted in cheers.
Kanon leaped down into the arena, shouting, "Sasuke-nii!!!"
"Hmph. You did well, Kanon." Sasuke's lips curled into a slight smirk. He had already heard of her two victories. Such wins were worthy of the Uchiha name.
"Well, don't you lose either," Kanon teased her brother.
"I won't lose!"
Naruto smirked from above. "Finally showed up, huh? I thought you were too scared to come."
"Did you win your first match?" Sasuke countered coldly.
"Of course."
"Don't let it go to your head, loser."
Kakashi quickly apologized to the proctor. "Sorry, we're late..."
"No matter. You made it just in time to avoid disqualification."
"Ahahaha, that's a relief," Kakashi chuckled.
Naruto roared down at Sasuke, "Sasuke! Don't lose to that guy! I want to settle things with you, too!"
Sasuke gave a short nod and fixed his gaze on Gaara. Gaara flickered, his body dissolving into sand before reforming in the center of the battlefield. Naruto, Kanon, and Shikamaru cleared the floor as the tension reached a breaking point.
Watching the two face off, Genma Shiranui looked expectant. "Finally, the main event." He raised his voice, announcing to the entire stadium: "Sasuke Uchiha vs. Gaara! Begin!"
…
Outside Danzo's office, nearly a hundred Root Anbu members stood in silence. Their gazes were unwavering, radiating a cold, ruthless aura. Danzo's voice rang out like shards of ice.
"This mission does not allow for failure. Eliminate the Uchiha remnant, Kanon Uchiha."
One Anbu member frowned, asking in confusion, "To kill just one little girl... why must Danzo-sama send so many of us?"
Danzo's reply was forceful. "That brat's genius is no less than that of Itachi Uchiha. Even a lion must use its full strength when hunting a rabbit. Remember! The Sharingan must be recovered!!"
Danzo didn't get angry; he simply addressed the man with cold indifference.
"Understood!" The Anbu member immediately bowed in submission, his awe for Danzo deepening.
Danzo waved a hand, a short and powerful command: "Go."
In an instant, the mass of Anbu members vanished like ghosts into the night. Danzo remained alone, whispering a final, grim sentence to himself.
"Kanon Uchiha, today is the day of your death. Your existence is too likely to interfere with my path to becoming Hokage."
"Since you cannot be used by me, then please... die."
"Hiruzen, this time, you will be too busy to intervene."
With that, Danzo turned slowly and stepped into the deep shadows, his every footfall a silent herald of the storm about to break.