CHAPTER 68

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**The Next Morning: The Top 8 Showdown Begins**

The morning sun rose over the Hidden Leaf Village, casting long shadows across the arena.

A brisk breeze carried the scent of dew-soaked grass and blossoming flowers, mingling with the palpable excitement of the gathered crowd.

Every seat in the massive stadium was filled, civilians, shinobi, and foreign dignitaries alike buzzing with chatter about the upcoming matches.

The tournament had reached its pinnacle—the top 8 contestants, all disciples of the Third Hokage, would clash to prove their strength and resolve.

This was no longer just a test for promotion but a stage to determine the best among a remarkable generation.

Hiruzen Sarutobi sat on the elevated Kage platform, his pipe gently releasing wisps of smoke into the air. After smoking tobacco one time he has been hooked to it, for some reason.

His sharp eyes scanned the arena below, where the young shinobi stood. Despite the calm demeanor he projected, his mind was alight with calculations.

His gaze lingered momentarily on Orochimaru. The boy's piercing golden eyes and his unsettlingly composed smile hinted at depths of talent that even Hiruzen himself hadn't fully explored.

Nearby, Jiraiya and Tsunade stood, their presence radiating confidence and energy.

Beside them, Sakumo Hatake carried himself with quiet determination, the faint glint of his blade hinting at the mastery to come.

The proctor stepped forward, his flame-patterned ANBU mask concealing his expression. His voice, amplified by chakra, reverberated throughout the arena.

"Welcome to the final stage of the Chūnin Exams! Today, the top 8 will compete to determine the strongest among them. Each match will test their strength, strategy, and resolve. Contestants, step forward when your names are called. First match: **Sarutobi Hisaka versus Hyuga Uzuki**!"

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### **Match 1: Sarutobi Hisaka vs. Hyuga Uzuki**

Sarutobi Hisaka, the pride of the Sarutobi clan, stepped into the arena with her confident stride, the sunlight catching her sleek black hair.

Opposite her stood Hyuga Uzuki, the youngest prodigy of the Hyuga clan, her Byakugan activated, veins around her temples pulsing as her piercing gaze analyzed Hisaka's stance.

"Begin!" the proctor declared, slicing through the tension in the air.

Uzuki moved first, her speed a blur as she closed the distance with the Hyuga clan's signature Gentle Fist.

Her strikes were precise and aimed to disable Hisaka's chakra network, each movement calculated and efficient.

Hisaka, however, was prepared, her body flowing like water as she evaded Uzuki's strikes by inches.

"Too slow," Hisaka teased, weaving through Uzuki's assault. With a sudden leap backward, she formed quick hand seals.

"Fire Style: Azure Flame Wall!" A torrent of brilliant blue fire erupted in an arc around her, forcing Uzuki to retreat.

The crowd gasped at the sight of the azure flames, their intensity and unnatural hue a testament to Hisaka's mastery of Fire Release.

"Your flames are impressive," Uzuki admitted, her voice calm yet resolute. "But let's see how they fare against the Byakugan."

She shifted her stance and activated the Eight Trigrams Palm Rotation, creating a spinning dome of chakra that disrupted the flames hurtling toward her. But the temperature left some burns testament to its sheer intensity.

As the flames dissipated, Uzuki countered with a sudden burst of speed, appearing behind Hisaka and landing a glancing blow on her shoulder.

Hisaka staggered, but her resolve remained unshaken.

"Fire style: Great Flame bomb" Hisaka shouted, igniting the arena once more with an explosive combination of Fire Style techniques.

The azure flames danced chaotically, forcing Uzuki to stay on the defensive. Despite Uzuki's impeccable technique, the relentless heat and Hisaka's well-placed counterattacks eventually overwhelmed her.

In a final move, Hisaka feinted with a fireball before closing the distance and landing a decisive kick, sending Uzuki sprawling. The proctor raised his hand. "Winner: Sarutobi Hisaka!"

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### **Match 2: Orochimaru vs. Nara Kaito**

The arena seemed to grow quieter as Orochimaru entered the field, his serpentine movements unnerving even the spectators.

Opposite him stood Nara Kaito, his sharp gaze and hands already forming the beginnings of his clan's signature shadow jutsu. 

"Begin!"

Kaito acted immediately, sending his shadow snaking across the ground toward Orochimaru.

But Orochimaru moved like liquid, his body bending unnaturally to avoid the advancing shadow.

He responded with a swift Water Release: Water Bullet, forcing Kaito to leap out of the way.

"Smart, but predictable," Orochimaru hissed, his tone both mocking and analytical.

Kaito smirked. "Let's see if you can dodge this."

Using the arena's uneven terrain, Kaito manipulated his shadow to split and surround Orochimaru.

For a moment, the crowd thought Kaito had him trapped as the shadows closed in from all sides.

But just as they connected, Orochimaru's form shimmered and dissolved into a pile of soil, an earth escape technique that left Kaito exposed.

Reappearing behind Kaito, Orochimaru struck with a lightning-fast kick, sending him sprawling.

Before Kaito could recover, Orochimaru unleashed a barrage of shuriken, each one laced with chakra to enhance its speed and penetration.

Kaito managed to block some using a shadow barrier, but the overwhelming pressure forced him to yield.

"Winner: Orochimaru!" The proctor's voice echoed as the crowd erupted in a mix of awe and unease.

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### **Match 3: Sakumo Hatake vs. Aoi Todo**

Sakumo Hatake faced off against Aoi Todo, a skilled Water Release user whose control over his element was unmatched among the genin.

Aoi immediately created a massive wave, flooding the battlefield and limiting Sakumo's movements.

He didn't use lightning style due to it affecting him. But Sakumo remained unfazed, channeling Lightning Release through his blade to part the waters and create stable footing.

Aoi retaliated with Water Dragon Jutsu, but Sakumo countered with a precisely aimed Fire Release, evaporating the dragon mid-flight.

The clash escalated as Sakumo combined his elemental mastery with unparalleled swordsmanship, each strike calculated and deadly. He ran towards Aoi on water and decisively tried to narrow down the distance.

Aoi's relentless water techniques eventually faltered under the pressure, as his chakra came at the brink of exhaustion, and Sakumo landed a decisive blow, knocking him out of bounds.

"Winner: Sakumo Hatake!"

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### **Match 4: Tsunade vs. Jiraiya**

The final match of the round was perhaps the most anticipated. Jiraiya's cocky grin clashed with Tsunade's steely focus as they stepped into the arena.

The proctor gave the signal, and the two teammates immediately sprang into action.

Jiraiya summoned a small toad to distract Tsunade while he launched a barrage of Earth Style techniques. Tsunade countered with raw strength, smashing through the earthen barriers with ease. 

"You'll need more than parlor tricks to beat me," she said, her voice cutting through the battlefield.

Jiraiya grinned. "Good thing I've got more up my sleeve."

He unleashed a combination of Fire Style and toad oil, creating a blazing inferno that forced Tsunade to retreat momentarily.

But she recovered quickly, using her chakra-enhanced strength to launch a massive chunk of earth toward Jiraiya, knocking him off his feet.

Soon after disrupting Jiraiya rythm, Tsunade started her relentless barrage of fist of superhuman strength, Jiraiya evaded every assault but the match ended with Tsunade closing the distance and landing a devastating punch that left Jiraiya incapacitated.

"Winner: Tsunade Senju!"

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With the semifinals set—Sarutobi Hisaka, Orochimaru, Sakumo Hatake, and Tsunade Senju—the stage was set for even greater battles to come.

The crowd buzzed with excitement, their cheers echoing through the arena as the young shinobi prepared for the next round.

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### **Semifinals Begin: Sarutobi Hisaka vs. Orochimaru**

The arena hushed as Sarutobi Hisaka and Orochimaru entered the battlefield.

Hisaka's azure flames had already impressed the crowd, but her opponent was Orochimaru—cunning, relentless, and enigmatic.

The match promised to be a clash of firepower and strategy.

"Begin!" the proctor declared.

Hisaka immediately unleashed her signature technique, "Fire Style: Azure Flame Barrage," sending waves of blue fire streaking toward Orochimaru.

The crowd gasped as the flames surged forward, illuminating the arena with their brilliance, leaving the earth molten like lava. 

Orochimaru remained unfazed, his hands forming seals at lightning speed. "Earth Style: Mud Wall!" A massive wall of earth rose to absorb the flames, but the intense heat began to melt through the barrier.

Orochimaru used the distraction to summon a clone, which slipped down the ground toward Hisaka unseen amidst the chaos.

The clone lunged, but Hisaka, sensing its presence, ignited her flames in a protective dome around her body, incinerating the creature instantly. "You'll have to do better than that," she said, her voice sharp.

Orochimaru's lips curled into a smile. "I planned to."

In a flash, he appeared behind her, his kunai aiming for her blind spot.

Hisaka twisted just in time, parrying the strike with a kunai of her own, the clash sending sparks into the air.

The two exchanged blows in a blur of steel and flame, the battlefield becoming a chaotic dance of light and shadow.

Despite her relentless attacks, Hisaka found herself on the defensive. Orochimaru's speed and unpredictability were overwhelming.

In a decisive move, he feinted with a kunai strike and unleashed "Water Style: Serpent Stream," a torrent of water shaped like a coiled snake.

The force of the attack knocked Hisaka off balance, leaving her vulnerable.

Orochimaru capitalized, appearing above her with a kunai poised to strike.

Hisaka conceded defeat with dignity, her breath labored but her spirit unbroken.

"Winner: Orochimaru!"

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### **Semifinal 2: Sakumo Hatake vs. Tsunade Senju**

Sakumo and Tsunade entered the battlefield, their calm yet determined expressions signaling a clash of titans. The crowd roared in anticipation as the proctor gave the signal.

Tsunade struck first, her chakra-enhanced strength shattering the ground beneath Sakumo's feet.

He leaped into the air, avoiding the shockwave, and retaliated with a combination of Fire and Wind Style jutsu.

The flames, fueled by the wind, roared toward Tsunade, forcing her to dodge.

Sakumo didn't relent.

As Tsunade evaded, he closed the distance, his blade flashing as it aimed for her defenses.

Tsunade countered with precision, her fists meeting his strikes in a clash of steel and raw power.

Each exchange shook the arena, the crowd marveling at the sheer intensity of their battle.

Realizing he couldn't overpower her directly, Sakumo shifted tactics. He created several shadow clones, each one launching coordinated attacks.

Tsunade smashed through the clones with ease but failed to notice the real Sakumo above her, his blade crackling with lightning.

The attack landed, sending a shockwave through Tsunade's system. She staggered but didn't fall, her willpower driving her forward.

With a roar, she unleashed a devastating punch, forcing Sakumo to retreat.

In the final moments, Sakumo used a combination of elemental jutsu to create a blinding explosion, momentarily disorienting Tsunade.

He capitalized on her momentary lapse, landing a decisive strike that ended the match.

"Winner: Sakumo Hatake!"

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### **The Final Battle: Sakumo Hatake vs. Orochimaru**

The arena buzzed with tension as the final match approached. Sakumo and Orochimaru stood across from each other, their gazes locked in mutual respect and challenge.

Hiruzen leaned forward in his seat, his eyes narrowing. *This is the moment I've been waiting for.*

The proctor raised his hand. "Final match: begin!"

Orochimaru struck first, summoning several clones to swarm Sakumo.

The White Fang responded with his signature speed, his blade slicing through the clones in a flurry of precise movements.

Orochimaru smirked, seemingly unconcerned as he prepared his next move.

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!" A gust of wind tore through the arena, forcing Sakumo to plant his feet firmly.

Orochimaru followed up with "Earth Style: Mud River," turning the ground beneath Sakumo into a treacherous quagmire.

Sakumo countered with a series of Lightning Style techniques, electrifying the mud and forcing Orochimaru to leap to safety.

Their battle escalated as both contestants unleashed increasingly powerful jutsu, Sakumo displaying mastery over his element combined with his swordsmanship while Orochimaru relied on his cunning adaptability and his use of five elements jutsu.

As fight was going on, Soon a turning point came when Orochimaru feigned a retreat, luring Sakumo into a trap.

As Sakumo closed in, Orochimaru revealed his hidden trump card— he summoned a large earth dome with the help of his clones hidden in earth, after that they went into smoke.

After trapping sakumo, he combine it with fire release jutsu enough to crush the battlefield. The crowd gasped as the earth moved, trapping Sakumo.

Sakumo didn't flinch. With a series of hand seals, he unleashed a combination of Lightning and Fire Style, dugging the earth while obliterating the dome, he then used earth escape technique to prevent being harmed by fire release.

The dome destruction shockwave rocked the arena, but Sakumo emerged from the smoke unscathed, his movements as fluid and unrelenting as ever.

The battle reached its climax when both contestants found themselves with kunai at each other's throats.

The crowd held its breath, the match ending in a draw as neither could gain the upper hand.

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### **Hiruzen's Closing Remarks**

As the dust settled, Hiruzen rose from his seat, his applause echoing through the silent arena. He thought "Orochimaru being strongest of the Sanin in potential, his title isn't wrong at all, it's just, he is more of a scientist than a ninja."

Soon after the earth ANBU came and restructured the arena.

Hiruzen after some time began his speech "Today, we have witnessed something extraordinary," he began, his voice carrying a mix of pride and gravity.

"Each of these young shinobi has shown not only their strength and skill but the heart and determination that define the Will of Fire."

He turned to Orochimaru, Sakumo, Tsunade, and Jiraiya. "You four are the pillars of the next generation, and today you've proven why."

Hiruzen's gaze swept across the audience.

"I hereby promote 52 participants to the rank of Chūnin, the largest number in our history. For those who did not make it, remember—failure is but a stepping stone to success. The new academy curriculum will ensure that every student, regardless of rank, is prepared for the challenges ahead."

As the crowd erupted in applause, Hiruzen's thoughts lingered on Orochimaru.

"He hides his true strength well, but today, he has shown glimpses of the immense potential within. I must begin preparing them all for what lies ahead. The next generation is close, and with it, the future of the Hidden Leaf Village."

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