The crowd buzzed with tension as Gaara and Sasuke faced off in the center of the arena. The excitement was palpable, and everyone was on edge. It was the match many had been waiting for, a true clash of prodigies.
Hyuk quietly made his way back to his seat after a brief "fun" with Anko. His expression remained cold and distant, as always, though the faintest hint of satisfaction lingered in his eyes. He barely sat down before Kurenai was by his side, slipping in closer to him. She congratulated him softly on his previous victory, but as she spoke, her hand subtly caressed his popsicle, her touch lingering for a moment longer than usual.
Hyuk didn't react outwardly, his eyes lazily drifting towards the arena. However, Kurenai's attention was only half on the fight. She leaned in closer, her fingertips brushing against Hyuk's popsicle, and for a moment, she caught a familiar yet foreign scent. A woman's scent—one that wasn't hers. Kurenai's heart skipped a beat, jealousy sparking inside her. She knew Hyuk was no stranger to women, but sensing another on him so soon after their brief touches felt like a betrayal.
Her mind raced. Anko... It must be her, she thought, recognizing the scent. A mixture of hurt and possessiveness welled up inside, but she quickly suppressed it. I can't push him away... If I question him now, he might abandon me altogether.
Her hand stopped its movement for a brief second, but then she continued caressing him, determined not to let her insecurities show. Hyuk, ever observant, felt her shift in energy but didn't acknowledge it, keeping his gaze locked on the fight below.
In the arena, Sasuke narrowed his eyes, his Sharingan whirring to life as he watched Gaara's sand swirl around him protectively. The tension between the two was palpable. Gaara, with his unnerving calmness, looked ready to crush his opponent, while Sasuke was determined to prove his strength.
The battle began. Sasuke moved with incredible speed, faster than anyone expected. His movements were nearly invisible to the untrained eye as he dashed toward Gaara, but Gaara's sand defense responded instantly, blocking each strike.
The crowd gasped as Sasuke tested Gaara's defenses with a series of lightning-fast taijutsu attacks. Sand clashed against fists, and while Gaara remained cocooned in his impenetrable shield, Sasuke showed no signs of slowing down.
Rock Lee, watching from the stands with his injuries still fresh, was visibly impressed. Despite the pain in his body, Lee's eyes burned with admiration. "Sasuke's using my speed... but he's taken it even further."
Guy stood next to Lee, arms crossed, nodding. "Sasuke has come a long way in a short amount of time. But this fight... it's only just beginning."
On the other side of the arena, Naruto sat, clenched fists on his knees, watching intently as his rival took on Gaara. Hinata and Sakura were beside him, both cheering for Sasuke, though Hinata was quieter in her encouragement.
As the match progressed, Sasuke moved into the next phase of his attack. A crackling sound filled the arena—a familiar noise to some—and a bright light began to form around Sasuke's hand.
"Chidori!" Kakashi muttered under his breath, watching intently.
As the electric chakra gathered in Sasuke's palm, the sound of birds chirping filled the air, growing louder with each passing second. Gaara, sensing the dangerous technique, prepared himself, his sand tightening around him even further.
Ino, sitting a few rows behind Sakura, caught a glimpse of Kurenai's subtle movements towards Hyuk. She noticed how Kurenai's hand moved lightly over his crotch, the touch unmistakably intimate. Ino furrowed her brow, momentarily distracted from the fight. She glanced at Hyuk, whose cold expression betrayed nothing, and then back at Kurenai, who seemed completely absorbed in whatever was happening between her and Hyuk. Ino bit her lip, unsure of what to make of it. Is Sensei... is she really...? No, that can't be right...
But before she could dwell on the thought, the sound of Sasuke's Chidori rang out even louder. The arena was filled with the intense energy of the technique, drawing everyone's attention back to the battle.
Sasuke rushed forward, his Chidori blazing, aiming straight for Gaara's sand shield. With a loud crack, the lightning-infused technique struck the sand, piercing through it. The crowd gasped as Sasuke's hand plunged toward Gaara, causing the protective sand to finally break under the pressure.
A brief silence fell over the arena as the sand crumbled, and for the first time, Gaara let out a scream—a sound of shock and pain. Blood trickled from where Sasuke's Chidori had struck, and the sight of it sent a chill through the crowd.
"Sasuke managed to get through!" someone shouted in awe.
Even Hyuk raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Hmm... so Kakashi passed that down to him. Interesting."
Kurenai, still at his side, didn't say a word, though her fingers tensed slightly at the sight of the intense battle below. Her jealousy temporarily forgotten, she watched, intrigued by Sasuke's display of power.
Meanwhile, in the crowd, Guy turned to Kakashi, frowning slightly. "Why did you teach him such a dangerous technique, Kakashi?"
Kakashi, his eyes locked on Sasuke, responded calmly. "Because he is similar to me."
The battle between Gaara and Sasuke wasn't over yet, though. Gaara's rage was growing, and his sand began to swirl again, ready to unleash its terrifying power. Sasuke, already drained from using the Chidori, readied himself for another attack, determined not to back down.
The crowd watched in suspense as the fight continued, the energy in the arena palpable.