On the Scene

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The Chūnin Exams, held only once every few years, were a major event in Konohagakure. Villagers from all walks of life were eager to witness the action. The arena was already filled to capacity, yet more spectators crowded the streets outside, hoping to soak in the atmosphere despite being unable to see the battles. Vendors lined the pathways, shouting their sales pitches and promoting their wares. What had once been a formal exam had evolved into a village-wide festival.

Menma entered the arena through the special entrance reserved for participants. The Sunagakure team had already arrived, with Sasuke standing among them. Unlike in the original timeline, Sasuke was not late this time; he had arrived just ahead of Menma. In fact, Menma was the last of the ten remaining participants to show up.

"Menma! You're late! You're the last one here!" Naruto called out, waving enthusiastically.

"Heh, I'm not late—you guys were just early," Menma smirked, taking his place beside Naruto and Sasuke. His gaze darkened momentarily, his thoughts hidden behind a mask of indifference.

Today would mark the severing of all ties with his past. These people—his so-called comrades—could soon become his enemies. Even Naruto, his "brother," might end up standing against him. It was inevitable, much like the legendary clash between Uchiha Madara and Senju Hashirama. Ideals would collide, and paths would diverge.

"How can you call this 'early'? Look at the stands—they're packed! This is our chance to make a name for ourselves!" Naruto's excitement was palpable. The grand stage, the cheering crowd—this was everything he had dreamed of, and he couldn't wait to show off his abilities.

Sasuke, standing silently nearby, shared that same determination. To restore the Uchiha clan, he needed to prove himself in front of everyone. His first match was against Hyūga Neji, the top rookie of last year. Defeating Neji would be the perfect stepping stone toward achieving his goal.

Sasuke's eyes briefly glanced at Neji, then shifted to Menma. His resolve solidified. Under Kakashi's guidance over the past month, Sasuke had grown significantly stronger. He was ready for anyone.

Rock Lee, meanwhile, was also eager to face Menma. For him, battling the strongest rookies—Menma, Sasuke, Neji, and Naruto—was the ultimate test of his strength.

As for Gaara and his team, their focus was far more sinister. For them, the Chūnin Exams were merely a prelude to something far darker.

The only one who seemed genuinely nervous was Sakura. She hadn't expected to make it this far and knew she wasn't on the same level as the others. The first exam had been a written test, and in the second round, she had relied heavily on Naruto and Sasuke. But this stage was different—here, individual strength was what mattered.

Out of the ten remaining participants, Sakura knew she was the weakest. The enormity of the arena, packed with spectators, made her feel small. She searched for comfort in the familiar faces of her teammates but found little solace.

"Alright, enough chit-chat. The matches are about to begin," Shiranui Genma announced, stepping forward. As the replacement for the late Gekkō Hayate, Genma's expression was serious, a senbon needle casually clenched between his teeth. He glanced at the two figures seated in the highest seats, signaling the start of the final exam.

Menma, Naruto, Gaara, and the others turned their attention toward the Kage. Menma's eyes flickered with a mixture of disdain and calculation, while Gaara's gaze was cold and detached.

Seated at the highest point of the arena were the two Kage: the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, and the Fourth Kazekage, who, unbeknownst to most, was actually Orochimaru in disguise.

The crowd erupted in cheers, their excitement palpable, but Menma wasn't fooled. His senses, honed by the Kagura Mind's Eye technique, told him the truth: the man beside Hiruzen was not the real Kazekage. Orochimaru's chakra was unmistakable, and Menma had no doubt that Rasa, the true Kazekage, had already been eliminated.

'So, Orochimaru's already made his move. Rasa's out of the picture. One less Kage-level threat to deal with,' Menma thought, his mind racing. Orochimaru's coup explained the ominous aura that had been hanging over the village for days.

As Hiruzen and Orochimaru exchanged pleasantries, Menma's focus remained sharp. He knew today would set the stage for battles far more significant than these Chūnin Exams.

Hiruzen raised his hand, signaling the start of the final round.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let the main event begin!" his voice boomed across the stadium.

"Yeah!"

"It's starting!"

"Go, Konoha! Show them what we're made of!"

"Uchiha versus Hyūga—this is gonna be legendary!"

The cheers from the crowd echoed throughout the stadium, but most of it came from the civilians and lower-ranking shinobi. Baki, Kakashi, Asuma, and Kabuto—hidden in the shadows—remained vigilant, their senses keen to the underlying tension.

Baki's gaze was fixed on Gaara. As the key enforcer of the Konoha Crush and Sunagakure's most critical combatant, Gaara's stability was crucial.

"Stick to the plan, Gaara," Baki thought silently.

He glanced towards the outskirts of the Hidden Leaf Village, where Sunagakure's elite forces were stationed, poised to strike at Konoha's vulnerable points the moment the signal was given.

Meanwhile, Konoha's Jōnin, including Kakashi and Asuma, had received covert orders from the Third Hokage. Although Sarutobi Hiruzen was unaware of the exact plans of Sunagakure and Otogakure, the hints he had gathered were enough to keep him on edge. Still, Hiruzen hoped to avoid bloodshed if possible. Any conflict in Konoha would lead to heavy losses, and as Hokage, it was his duty to protect the village.

Yet, he knew deep down that today's events would not end peacefully. A storm was brewing—one that even he couldn't stop.

---

Off the Field

"All participants except Uchiha Sasuke and Hyūga Neji, return to the waiting area," Shiranui Genma announced calmly, his eyes scanning the gathered Genin, including Menma and Gaara.

As Sasuke and Neji stepped forward, their eyes locked, tension crackling in the air. Sasuke was eager to test his skills against the Hyūga prodigy, while Neji welcomed the challenge of fighting the last Uchiha. Despite the near extinction of his clan, the Uchiha name still held power, and Neji knew that defeating Sasuke would be no small feat.

The other contestants moved toward the stands.

"Go, Sasuke! Beat that guy!" Naruto yelled, pumping his fist in excitement.

"Sasuke-kun, do your best!" Sakura called out, her voice filled with worry.

Menma observed the pair, a thoughtful expression on his face. Of all Konoha's Twelve, Sasuke and Neji were the most likely to become his allies. Sasuke had already shown his potential in the original storyline, while Neji had room for growth, though his position as a branch family member of the Hyūga Clan imposed certain limitations.

'These matters can wait. For now, let the show continue,' Menma mused as he turned and walked toward the corridor, casting one last glance at Sarutobi Hiruzen, who sat on the high platform. Anticipation sparkled in his eyes.

As the participants cleared the field, Genma focused on the two combatants. "The first match, Uchiha Sasuke versus Hyūga Neji, begins now!"

---

Boom!

Sasuke activated his Sharingan, the red tomoe spinning in his eyes as his chakra surged. Neji smirked coldly, responding in kind.

"Byakugan!" Neji's calm voice signaled the activation of his dōjutsu, the veins around his eyes bulging as his perception sharpened. The air between the two crackled with intensity, far beyond what was expected of Genin.

"Whoa, Sharingan!"

"Is that the legendary Uchiha clan's Sharingan?"

"Byakugan versus Sharingan! This is going to be an incredible match!"

"I wonder which is stronger, Byakugan or Sharingan?"

Excited murmurs rippled through the crowd, all eyes locked on the two combatants.

"Haha! Kakashi, it looks like our teams are facing each other first. This is true youth!" Might Guy exclaimed enthusiastically, giving a thumbs-up.

"Mmhmm," Kakashi responded, his visible eye shifting from the match to Baki. The seriousness in his gaze deepened as he studied the movements of the Sunagakure ninja.

---

Words were unnecessary between Sasuke and Neji. Both knew what was at stake.

Boom!

Sasuke made the first move, dashing towards Neji with blinding speed. Neji's eyes widened momentarily—Sasuke was faster than anticipated.

"Eight Trigrams Palm!" Neji swiftly assumed his stance, ready to counter.

The two clashed fiercely, the ground beneath them cracking under the force of their blows.

"When did Sasuke get so fast?" Lee muttered, his eyes wide as he watched from the stands. Naruto cheered loudly, oblivious to the tension.

'So, he's using Lightning Chakra to enhance his speed. A clever tactic,' Menma thought, analyzing the fight. He knew Sasuke had learned Kakashi's Chidori, enhancing his combat abilities significantly. This growth spurt had made Sasuke formidable, but Menma also knew that Sasuke lacked experience against opponents like Gaara, the One-Tailed Jinchūriki, whom he would face later.

For now, however, Sasuke held the advantage against Neji.

---

Bang!

Sasuke's sharp taijutsu, combined with the foresight granted by his Sharingan, forced Neji onto the defensive. Neji gritted his teeth, trying to find an opening to retaliate, but Sasuke's relentless strikes gave him no room.

Realizing the stalemate, Neji pushed off with a burst of chakra, creating some distance between them.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!" Sasuke wasted no time, forming hand seals and launching a massive fireball towards Neji.

"Whoa!"

"Fire Style already?"

The crowd gasped as the giant flame roared toward Neji, heat radiating through the stadium.

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