Chapter 31 - Chapter 31: A Draw?  

 

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Sasuke quickly formed seals with both hands, gathering powerful thunder chakra. Instantly, a huge thunder dragon formed, roaring as it rushed toward Kakashi and Guy.

 

Kakashi's eyes sharpened instantly. He knew the power of this attack was immense. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, and he decided to use Kamui to transfer the thunder dragon.

 

Kakashi's Sharingan spun rapidly, distorting the space. As the thunder dragon approached, Kakashi used Kamui to transfer it to another dimension.

 

"Hmph, you have some skills, Kakashi," Sasuke sneered.

 

Guy roared and launched himself at Sasuke like a cannonball. Sasuke calmly used ninjutsu to counter.

 

Each of Guy's punches carried the power to split mountains, while Sasuke relied on his agility and the power of the magic seal to keep up. Their clash was intense, each collision echoing loudly.

 

Kakashi wasn't idle either, using various ninjutsu to create openings for Guy. Sasuke struggled to fend off both their attacks.

 

During one confrontation, Guy seized an opportunity and kicked Sasuke in the abdomen, sending him flying. Sasuke stabilized mid-air, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.

 

"Damn it!" Sasuke roared.

 

Gathering chakra again, he unleashed countless lightning blades toward Guy and Kakashi. Guy dodged with his physical skills, while Kakashi used Kamui to transfer the blades away. The battle grew fiercer, with Sasuke's attacks becoming more powerful and Kakashi and Guy's teamwork more synchronized.

 

After a storm of attacks, all three were left breathless. A trace of madness flickered in Sasuke's eyes as he gathered his strongest power.

 

"Take this, my strongest attack!" Sasuke shouted, activating "Senjutsu Thunder Cliff." He put his hands together, summoning a massive lightning column from the sky. Kakashi quickly used the earth flow wall, but the lightning's power was overwhelming, pushing him back. Guy dodged nimbly.

 

At that moment, Sasuke's body twitched, and his eyes became confused.

 

"I... what happened to me?" Sasuke muttered.

 

Kakashi and Guy exchanged puzzled glances.

 

After a moment, Sasuke seemed to snap out of it. Looking at Kakashi and Guy, a guilty expression crossed his face.

 

"I'm sorry, I don't know what happened," Sasuke said.

 

Kakashi patted Sasuke's shoulder, "It's okay, Sasuke, just focus on getting back to normal."

 

Guy sighed in relief, "Glad you're okay, Sasuke."

 

Kakashi frowned, "Sasuke, your condition was strange. Could Orochimaru's seal be affecting you?"

 

Sasuke nodded after a pause, "Maybe. I felt like I lost control, like something powerful was controlling me."

 

Guy stretched, "Anyway, you're fine now. But in the future..."

 

Sasuke took a deep breath, "I know. I'll learn to control this power and not worry you."

 

As Kakashi was exhausted from using ninjutsu, they decided to rest nearby before heading back. Anbu guards and medical ninjas took the injured and unconscious Itachi away.

 

Kakashi said, "I'll place a seal on you when we return."

 

Sasuke hesitated, "Okay. When I lost control, I thought I saw my brother..."

 

Kakashi and Guy then explained how Sasuke had seriously injured Itachi. Sasuke lowered his head in silence.

 

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**Chunin Exam Arena** 

The atmosphere was tense, with Gaara and Rokudo Toss facing off. The audience held their breath, feeling the powerful auras. Gaara stood firm, his sand armor radiating a mysterious energy. Across from him, Rokudo Toss smiled confidently, his aura strong.

 

"Begin!" the referee announced, and the battle erupted.

 

Rokudo Toss rushed at Gaara, who responded by forming a sand wall. Toss punched through it, and Gaara countered with sand spikes. Toss dodged, closing in on Gaara.

 

Forming seals, Toss unleashed a powerful shockwave, pushing Gaara back. "Hmph, not bad," Toss sneered.

 

Gaara's eyes hardened, and he summoned a massive sand giant, a technique learned from Suigetsu's water giant. Toss, unphased, clashed with the giant, each impact shaking the arena.

 

After a fierce exchange, Toss found a weakness in the sand giant, destroying it with a punch. Gaara, unflustered, activated "Sand Falls Burial," trapping Toss in a vortex of sand.

 

Struggling, Toss unleashed his full power, breaking free and attacking Gaara again. Gaara defended with sand, but Toss was too fast, breaking through and striking Gaara.

 

Gaara spat blood but stood firm, controlling the sand to counterattack. Toss dodged and resisted but was hit by some sand. Angered, he used his power for a final duel.

 

The power of their attacks shook the arena, stunning the audience. In the end, Gaara created a sea of sand, while Toss countered with his strongest technique.

 

After a loud explosion, the dust settled to reveal both fighters standing, exhausted. The referee declared, "Pause, I declare a draw!"

 

"Ah? A draw?" the audience murmured in surprise.

 

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