---
The flames were closing in.
The scorching heat spread rapidly, and Neji, unable to dodge in time, narrowed his eyes. In a swift response, he surged chakra through his body, spinning at high speed.
"Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven!"
(八卦掌回天, Hakkeshō Kaiten)
In the stands, Hiashi Hyūga, who had come specifically to observe the match, stared in surprise, along with several other shinobi.
A rapidly spinning, spherical barrier of chakra appeared around Neji, swirling with precision.
Boom!
Rumble!
Neji's Kaiten dispersed the incoming flames of Sasuke's Fire Style jutsu, neutralizing the attack. The brief pause gave Sasuke the opportunity to close the distance. With his Sharingan focused on Neji, the Uchiha prodigy saw no way for his opponent to escape.
Whoosh!
Sasuke darted forward, closing in at blinding speed. His left leg swung up in a sharp arc, aiming a powerful kick at Neji.
Bang!
Neji barely managed to block, his arms braced against the impact. Still, the force behind Sasuke's strike caused him to stagger.
'He's faster and stronger than I expected!' Neji thought, frowning. As a Hyūga, a clan renowned for their mastery of taijutsu, he wasn't used to being outmatched in close combat. Yet here he was, struggling to keep up with an Uchiha.
"Rotation!" Neji shouted again, his body spinning rapidly as he generated another wave of chakra, forcing Sasuke back.
Boom!
Sasuke leaped away, retreating a short distance. He landed lightly, his gaze locked onto Neji's defensive stance.
"That Kaiten is a real pain," Sasuke muttered. "Let's see how strong it really is!"
With a determined gleam in his eyes, Sasuke created more distance, jumping back until he landed on the vertical wall at the edge of the arena.
"Huh?"
"What's he doing?"
"Why is he backing off?"
The audience murmured in confusion as they watched Sasuke form hand seals at lightning speed.
Zzzt! Zzzt! Zzzt!
"What's that sound?"
"Lightning?"
"No way… Could it be...?"
The distinctive crackling of electricity filled the air. Blue lightning chakra surged around Sasuke's hand, growing denser with each passing second.
"You taught him that jutsu!?" Might Guy exclaimed, turning sharply to Kakashi, his usual cheer replaced with a serious expression.
Kakashi, hands in his pockets, glanced at his rival with a calm smile. "He's got talent, Guy. He reminds me of myself at his age," he replied with a hint of pride, watching Sasuke channel his chakra.
All eyes were now glued to Sasuke.
"Whoa! Sasuke, what kind of jutsu is that?" Naruto shouted, his face a mix of amazement and envy.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura gasped, concern written on her face.
Even Menma narrowed his eyes from where he stood, his gaze sharpening as he watched Sasuke gather more chakra. The intensity of Sasuke's technique made Lee and Tenten grip the railings tightly, their bodies tense.
"Neji..." Tenten whispered in concern, her eyes flicking to her teammate.
Neji's Byakugan flared as he analyzed the growing mass of lightning chakra around Sasuke's hand. His heart skipped a beat as he felt the overwhelming energy building up.
'What kind of jutsu is this?'
A deep sense of unease settled in Neji's chest. His Byakugan met Sasuke's Sharingan, and in that moment, Neji felt the cold, calculating intent in Sasuke's gaze.
Sasuke smirked, seeing the wariness in Neji's eyes.
Boom!
With explosive force, Sasuke pushed off the wall, launching himself at Neji with terrifying speed.
"Chidori!"
(千鳥, One Thousand Birds)
The screeching sound of a thousand birds filled the air as Sasuke's lightning-coated hand pierced forward, aiming straight for Neji.
Whoosh!
Sasuke's speed was incredible, far too fast for the ordinary onlookers to track.
"Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven!" Neji spun once more, unleashing his chakra in a powerful defensive rotation. His Kaiten flared to life, creating a barrier between him and Sasuke's oncoming attack.
Boom!
The arena shook from the violent collision. A shockwave blasted through the area, sending dust and debris flying. Despite Neji's best efforts, Sasuke's Chidori drilled into the Kaiten, the sheer force of the attack overwhelming the Hyūga's defense.
Crack!
A sharp crack rang out as the Chidori broke through, shattering Neji's chakra barrier. The lightning-clad hand came dangerously close to Neji's shoulder. Pain surged through him as the edge of the Chidori grazed him, tearing through his clothing and drawing blood.
Swish!
"Hngh!?" Neji gasped, wincing as the searing electricity surged through his body. Before he could react, Sasuke closed in with a swift, powerful punch aimed directly at his abdomen.
Thud!
"Ugh!"
Neji's eyes bulged as the impact knocked the air from his lungs. Blood spurted from his mouth as his vision blurred. Sasuke grabbed him by the collar, lifting him off the ground before slamming him back down with brutal force.
Bang!
The ground cracked beneath Neji's body, dust rising around them. As the dust settled, Sasuke stood tall, victorious, while Neji lay defeated.
In the stands, Shiranui Genma raised his hand.
"The winner of the first round: Uchiha Sasuke!"
---
"Ohhhhhh!"
"Knew it! Uchiha always wins!"
"The Sharingan is truly on a different level!"
"The Uchiha clan really is the pride of Konoha!"
"Heh, told you he'd beat the Hyūga."
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause as Sasuke, the pride of the Uchiha, stood over his fallen opponent.
---
Pain surged through Neji's body, but it couldn't compare to the weight of confusion and loss in his heart. Unlike his fight with Naruto, where victory had seemed inevitable, Neji had known Sasuke would be a tough opponent. Even so, he believed he'd put up a good fight. The harsh reality, however, was far more unforgiving.
From the very start, he'd been at a disadvantage.
This was a completely one-sided battle.
Especially with that last lightning technique, Chidori. If Sasuke hadn't held back, Neji was certain he would've died. The difference in their abilities was undeniable, and the blow to his pride stung more than the physical injuries.
Neji struggled to accept it.
Sasuke stood over Neji, his expression cold and indifferent. He had expected more from the so-called prodigy of the Hyūga clan, but in the end, Neji was nothing more than another stepping stone.
My real opponent is still Menma, Sasuke thought as he turned his gaze toward the viewing platform where Menma stood. His Sharingan faded back to its natural black, but the determination in his eyes didn't waver.
To Sasuke, the Hyūga's reputation meant nothing. The pride of their clan, the so-called "Byakugan masters," had proven to be little more than a joke. For an Uchiha, the Hyūga were no competition.
Menma caught Sasuke's gaze but remained impassive. His attention soon drifted to Neji, now being lifted onto a stretcher by the medical team. If used properly, Neji could be a valuable piece in the future, Menma thought. But the presence of the Caged Bird Seal complicated things. Without a way to remove it, Neji's potential would always be shackled.
"Whoa! Sasuke won already? What kind of jutsu was that? It was so bright and loud! That guy is amazing!" Naruto exclaimed, his eyes wide with excitement. Beside him, Sakura looked on with admiration, her heart racing.
This is the Sasuke-kun I admire... Sakura thought, a flush of excitement warming her cheeks.
Neji… Lee and Tenten watched in concerned silence as their teammate was carried away. For Lee, the sight of Neji's defeat hit especially hard. Neji was the opponent he had always strived to surpass, and yet Sasuke had defeated him with ease. Though it wasn't an instant loss, Sasuke had clearly dominated the match.
Lee clenched his fists, a fire igniting within him. Is this what it means to be young? Guy-sensei, I understand now! I'll work even harder!
In the highest stand, Orochimaru, disguised as the Fourth Kazekage, licked his lips in anticipation. Yes, Sasuke-kun… grow stronger. The more power you gain, the more valuable you'll become.
The match had been brief but exhilarating, setting the stage for an even more intense atmosphere as the first round ended. The audience's excitement reached a fever pitch, and the anticipation for the next match was palpable.
"Second round! Namikaze Naruto versus Gaara. Competitors, please enter the arena!" Shiranui Genma announced, once Neji had been carried off.
"Heh, it's my turn!" Naruto grinned, his fists clenching in anticipation.
"Do your best, Naruto!" Sakura cheered, her fist raised in encouragement.
"Don't worry, Sakura! I'm not letting Sasuke outshine me!" Naruto laughed, leaping down into the arena to the cheers of the crowd.
On the opposite side, Kankuro shot a worried glance at Gaara. "Gaara…"
But the look in Gaara's eyes stopped him short. His cold, unblinking gaze spoke volumes. Kankuro swallowed hard, saying no more.
With a swift motion, Gaara slammed his hand onto the railing and leaped down into the arena, landing with a light thud.
"Is it Naruto's turn?"
"He's up against that Sand ninja? That guy looks dangerous…"
"Don't worry! Naruto's got this!"
"Yeah! He's the Fourth Hokage's son!"
"Go, Naruto!"
The mood in the stands shifted from casual observation to fervent support. Unlike Sasuke's fight, which had been about enjoying the spectacle of the Uchiha and Hyūga clans, this was a showdown between Konoha and Suna. And with Naruto, the son of the Fourth Hokage, representing Konoha, the crowd's cheers grew louder in his favor.
Their voices filled Naruto with excitement and determination. Most of the crowd had their eyes on him, but a few were focused on Gaara: the Sand siblings, the Sound ninja under Kabuto's lead, Kankuro, Temari, and Menma.
Gaara's presence in the arena signaled something more than a simple fight. The match would be the first step in executing the Konoha Crush plan. Shukaku's transformation was critical, and all eyes were on Gaara to ensure that everything unfolded perfectly.
We just need to wait for the right moment… Menma thought, his expression neutral as he masked the tension stirring inside him. Success depended on Gaara's actions and their timing.
"The second match, begin!"
Genma's voice echoed across the arena as Naruto and Gaara squared off. This was a clash of fates.
Without hesitation, Naruto sprang forward, chakra surging beneath his feet.
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" Naruto swiftly formed the hand seals, releasing a powerful gust of wind from his mouth that roared toward Gaara.
Boom!
The wind howled as it tore through the arena, kicking up debris and racing straight for Gaara.
----------------------------------------
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