Chapter 36: Chaos in the Chunin Exam

The climax of the joint Chunin Exams has arrived.

These carefully selected Genin will fight on behalf of their villages.

The Kazekage of the Sand Village is present.

He seems to be a ninja very adept at concealment.

His entire body is tightly wrapped, leaving only his eyes exposed, and he doesn't release any chakra. From a distance, Naruto couldn't detect his aura.

He appears to have high expectations for the Sand Village's performance, as he couldn't resist mocking Sarutobi Hiruzen when they met.

Ironically.

The various daimyo in attendance see this merely as a gambling event, having already placed heavy bets on the Genin they favor.

The first match is between Nara Shikamaru and Temari.

Although it ended with Shikamaru "forfeiting," it didn't detract from the quality of the battle.

The tactical exchange between the two was exceptional.

Each move was calculated, pushing their abilities to the limit.

Konoha may have lost, but it was an honorable defeat.

A ninja with a strategic mind is a rare treasure, and one as brilliant as Shikamaru is even rarer.

The second match is the most anticipated one.

Gaara versus Uzumaki Naruto.

Standing in the arena.

Naruto listens to the cheers around him and surveys the area.

Maintaining order are Konoha's security forces.

But within the grounds, there are also Anbu ninjas, alert but not numerous.

Kakashi-sensei and Rock Lee's teacher, Might Guy, both look serious.

The examiner for the third match was supposed to be the sickly "Gekko Hayate," but he has been replaced by "Shiranui Genma," and there's no trace of Gekko Hayate's chakra in the area.

Did something happen?

What made Konoha react this way?

"Your aura is delicious," Gaara speaks, chakra surging as sand pours from his gourd, "I've long wanted to fight you, but I never had the chance."

"Mother will love your blood."

Naruto is surprised.

Is he... talking to the sand?

He senses carefully.

Within the flowing sand, there's a faint, firm yet peculiar chakra.

It doesn't belong to the "Tailed Beast" nor to Gaara.

Talking to the sand seems to be painful for Gaara.

He covers his face, breathing heavily.

After a moment, he calms down, raises his head, and looks at Naruto: "Come on..."

Naruto doesn't draw his sword.

He steps forward instantly, the sand trying to catch up with his speed.

But it can't—

The sand is noticeably slower than his swift movements.

Naruto lands a punch.

Gaara can barely defend, and the sand armor protecting his body is gradually being eroded by Naruto's relentless attacks.

In the stands.

"Naruto is really strong." Might Guy watches the golden figure weaving through the flying sand, sighing, "What took Lee so much effort to achieve, he does effortlessly."

"And..."

"He hasn't even used his full strength yet."

Kakashi nods.

Naruto hasn't drawn his sword nor used any of his unique techniques.

"Naruto isn't someone who underestimates his opponents." Haruno Sakura frowns, puzzled.

"He's testing." Kakashi whispers, "Naruto seems to have noticed something; he's confirming a theory."

Sakura looks up at Kakashi, hoping for a more specific answer from him.

"I don't know what he's testing either." Kakashi shakes his head, "His sensory abilities far exceed ours."

After a few attacks.

Naruto stops, looking at the panting Gaara.

Just as I thought...

"What's with the chakra in your sand?" he asks curiously.

Such a technique has never been seen before.

The sand that reacts to attacks and instantly protects Gaara is not controlled by him. It is powered by a faint chakra that senses the presence of a certain aura.

However, the owner of this chakra is not present.

"You are really strong," Gaara grinned menacingly. "To be able to sense this chakra."

"This is the power of a Tailed Beast."

"Since you are curious, let me show you..."

He formed hand seals, and the sand around him slowly gathered, surging like a tide.

Naruto interrupted him, "That is not the power of a Tailed Beast."

Gaara was stunned.

Naruto continued, "We are actually the same kind. There is also a Tailed Beast inside me."

"I know what a Tailed Beast's chakra looks like."

"The sand protecting you does not contain a Tailed Beast's chakra."

"It is a weak but very gentle chakra."

"You don't even know this?"

Gaara was momentarily lost.

The sand that protects him does not contain a Tailed Beast's chakra?

A gentle chakra...

His body stiffened as he maintained the "hand seal" position, but the chakra did not continue to flow, and the sand fell to his feet with a clatter.

At this moment.

A violent chakra fluctuation was born in the high sky.

Naruto immediately turned his head to look.

He noticed the source at a glance.

It was Yakushi Kabuto, the man who voluntarily forfeited the Chunin Exam, claiming to be unremarkable.

He was wearing a mask, hiding in a black cloak, dressed indistinguishably from other members of the Anbu.

Feathers fell, like rain.

A feeling of drowsiness welled up from within.

It was genjutsu!

This was a large-scale genjutsu targeting everyone in the arena.

Naruto formed hand seals, his chakra vibrated, dispelling it.

But...

The sudden deployment of this technique caused most people to succumb, falling into a deep sleep. Only a few Jonin and Anbu on duty managed to stay awake and react in time.

Among the Genin.

Only Haruno Sakura, Sasuke, Shikamaru (who was pretending to be unconscious), and the nearly unnoticed Aburame Shino remained awake.

The Sand ninja jumped into the arena.

There were three of them.

Gaara's two teammates and a Sand ninja wearing a dark vest, with his head wrapped in white cloth and half his face covered, the Jonin instructor of their team.

"What is the Sand trying to do?" Naruto stared at the four people in front of him.

The Sand Jonin turned his head and ordered, "Gaara, continue with the plan."

"We'll provide cover."

Gaara looked up, his eyes fixed on the Jonin's back, then glanced at Naruto.

Chakra surged again.

The sand roiled and gathered, forming a huge sphere that enveloped him.

"The existing order between Konoha and the Sand should change," the Sand Jonin replied to Naruto, glancing at the stands. "You have caught the attention of Kazekage-sama. His order is that once Gaara releases that power, we are to hold you off together."

The ninja from the Sound Village were also executing their plan, holding off the still-awake Jonin from Konoha.

"Kazekage?"

Naruto turned to look at the chaotic observation tower.

"Are you sure it's Kazekage's order, not Orochimaru's?"

The Sand Jonin was taken aback.

Naruto turned back to face him, "Kazekage just attacked the Third Hokage, and the chakra he released was the same as Orochimaru's."

The Sand Jonin gritted his teeth, formed hand seals, and said, "I don't understand what you're saying."

"Do you think you can confuse us with your nonsense?"

"Move out!"

Temari brandished her large fan, Kankuro shook his hand, and two puppets flew out.

Naruto stared at the four of them, his eyes calm, and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword.

"Four against me..."

"Orochimaru indeed values me highly."

"But do you really think you can stop me?"

The Sand Jonin swallowed, glancing at the sand sphere behind him.

Both are "Jinchuriki," around the same age.

But this kid in front of him, where does this overwhelming presence come from…

~~~

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