"Naruto-kun, come on~!"
Several women cheered for Naruto.
Temari, watching from the stands, froze upon seeing her name appear on the match board.
"Haha, it's that Uzumaki Naruto. Temari, it's up to you. Show him the strength of the Sand!" Kankuro grinned.
Gaara, however, remained expressionless as he said, "Temari, you can't win. Just surrender."
Yet, as Temari saw Naruto already standing on the battlefield, a flicker of determination crossed her face.
"I want to give it a try."
Kankuro's heart skipped a beat. Rejecting Gaara?!
Temari, what are you thinking?!
He quickly forced a smile and turned to Gaara, ready to smooth things over.
Unexpectedly, Gaara merely paused for a moment before replying calmly, "Do what you want."
Temari let out a breath of relief before leaping onto the field, her giant iron fan in hand.
Naruto averted his gaze momentarily. The first glance is instinct. The second glance is evaluation.
Meanwhile, in the stands, Konan silently observed Naruto's every move.
Gather intelligence on the Nine-Tails in advance...
It's a pity that Ajisai doesn't yet understand peace. We'll wait a little longer; her body still needs time to mature.
Ajisai, completely unaware of Konan's thoughts, continued watching Naruto with admiration.
"Naruto-sama will definitely win!"
Elsewhere, the Hokage frowned.
He had arranged for Naruto's opponent to be Kiba Inuzuka, one of the weaker competitors among the new generation.
So how did she end up facing the Fourth Kazekage's daughter?
"Could there have been a mistake? Shikaku's son doesn't make mistakes..."
Frowning, he gestured, and an Anbu appeared at his side. After whispering a few words, the masked shinobi nodded and vanished instantly.
Orochimaru observed the exchange, a sly smirk forming on his lips as his gaze locked onto Naruto.
"The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki... Minato's son, huh?"
He chuckled inwardly. Then the one pulling the strings must be...
"Uzumaki Naruto."
On the field, Temari stood before Naruto, unfolding her iron fan in one swift motion.
Naruto met her gaze.
Temari in battle is completely different from Temari outside of it.
As the princess of the Sand, she had known loneliness and, in turn, understood others who had experienced it.
Because she had given love, she knew the value of tenderness.
With her presence, Gaara restrained himself.
He had never harmed Temari—but he had no hesitation in pummeling Kankuro mercilessly.
"Ahem…" Gekkō Hayate coughed before announcing in a deep voice, "Let the match begin!"
Temari immediately retreated a few steps, raising her fan defensively.
"If you won't make the first move, then I will!"
Boom!
Temari brought her fan down with force, creating a small crater where Naruto had stood.
As the dust settled, Naruto was nowhere to be seen.
Temari frowned and flicked her fan open to its third star.
With a swift motion, she sent a powerful gust forward.
Whoosh!
The wind howled, laced with razor-sharp blades that left deep gouges on the walls of the arena.
"Hmph, you're fast at running away."
Despite her words, Temari was already on high alert.
There's almost no information about Uzumaki Naruto. He hasn't displayed any overwhelming strength since the exams began...
Kankuro mentioned that his presence felt on par with Gaara's.
And that woman with the Byakugan looked down on him yesterday…
In that case—
"Ninja Art: Summoning—Sickle Weasel!"
A powerful whirlwind surged forward, carrying countless invisible vacuum blades.
"You can't hide forever!" she declared, confidence brimming in her voice.
To be fair, Naruto mused, Tenten really got crushed in the original timeline.
A matchup where you're completely countered from level one to level eighteen... brutal.
As Temari watched 'Naruto' being ravaged by her wind techniques, a smirk tugged at her lips.
"Not as strong as I thought."
In that case, retrieving him after the plan is executed should be easy.
I suppose so.
Bang!
Naruto's body vanished into a puff of smoke.
Shadow Clone?!
Temari's eyes widened in alarm.
A voice came from behind her.
"Three meters and twenty centimeters. Hmph, not very gentlemanly of me, but… you won't dodge at this distance."
The battle felt odd from the very beginning. Temari had remained motionless, standing still as if frozen.
Naruto waited patiently, but after a long silence, he turned toward Gekko Hayate with a helpless expression.
Brother, you really have no tact!
It wasn't that Hayate was unaware of what had happened—he had clearly noticed that Temari had fallen under a genjutsu. Right now, she was trapped in an illusionary world, leaving her defenseless in reality.
The problem was, Hayate himself was at a loss.
He had no idea when Naruto had cast the genjutsu.
There were no hand seals.
That meant the illusion could have begun the moment he shouted "Start!"—or worse, it might have already been active before the match even began.
Naruto immediately understood Hayate's hesitation from his troubled expression and sighed.
Taking control of the illusion, he synchronized Temari's movements with reality.
Within the illusion, Temari instinctively distanced herself and prepared to unleash a Wind Release jutsu.
The moment she completed the technique, Naruto took advantage of the opening created by her backswing. In a flash, he appeared behind her, pressing a kunai against her neck.
"Winner: Uzumaki Naruto!!"
Rock Lee's eyes lit up, and he nearly shouted in excitement.
Naruto casually withdrew his kunai and walked toward the stairs.
Kankuro immediately jumped into the arena.
"Temari! What happened to you?!"
Gaara, standing motionless, maintained his usual blank expression. But his gaze remained fixed on Naruto.
As soon as Naruto reached the stands, he finally dispelled the genjutsu.
Temari blinked in confusion as she slowly regained consciousness, her eyes adjusting to the sight of Kankuro anxiously patting her shoulder.
"Did I…win?" she asked hesitantly.
Kankuro's face twitched. "…Just get up already."
Temari frowned slightly, realizing from his reaction that things were far from simple.
"Was it an illusion?" She turned to glance at Naruto in the stands. "Incredible…"
This man… no wonder you lost.
Orochimaru's eyes widened slightly. He remained silent for a long moment before his long tongue slithered out to lick his lips.
What a terrifying talent for genjutsu… This level might even rival Uchiha Itachi's Sharingan illusions.
Konan's expression subtly shifted at his words.
Comparable to Itachi?
"For now, we should classify him as a genjutsu specialist," she said. "If he possesses this level of illusion mastery, it's possible he can already exert some control over the Nine-Tails."
That kind of rapid growth wasn't good news for the Akatsuki.
From his seat, the Hokage frowned slightly. Since Naruto had his back turned to him, he couldn't be sure whether or not he had used any hand seals.
However, he had been able to see through Temari's illusion immediately.
Orochimaru's expression makes me uneasy…
Still, Naruto had smiled at him earlier, looking just like an obedient, good-hearted child.
"Naruto-sama!"
Ajisai's eyes sparkled with admiration.
"What should I do?"
It was obvious she had completely forgotten about the peace ideals Konan had once instilled in her.
"Just follow the methods in the Tsukuyomi world," Naruto said casually.
Ajisai practically radiated excitement.
"Yes!" she responded enthusiastically.
As she turned away, she suddenly realized that Ino and the other girls were staring at her with clear hostility.
Misunderstood!
Although Naruto-sama was indeed very charming…
Ajisai wisely decided not to explain, knowing that doing so would only make things worse. She quickly retreated back to Konan's side.
"Who is she?" Tenten stepped forward, squinting at Naruto.
"A little sun that has just risen," he replied with a smile.
"…???"
Before Tenten could ask for clarification, the large screen in the arena changed.
Naruto pointed at the updated match list.
"It's your turn."
Tenten turned to look at the screen.
[Tenten vs. Inuzuka Kiba]
"Yosh! Finally, it's our turn, Akamaru!"
"Woof…"
Akamaru, however, looked distinctly unenthusiastic.
Kiba glanced at Tenten, his expression twitching slightly.
Although his personality was somewhat similar to Naruto's, he wasn't an idiot.
There was an old saying: He who understands the situation is a true hero.
"…Akamaru, listen up," Kiba whispered. "We'll go down there and pretend to fight a little. Tenten won't go all out if we don't push her too hard. If we just surrender immediately, that'd be too humiliating."
Akamaru shook his head firmly.
If she doesn't hold back and actually lands a hit, I'll be in bed for days!
That little white pup next door still needs my protection! Master, you idiot!
Kiba sighed. "Fine…"
Gekko Hayate cleared his throat. "Inuzuka Kiba, it's your turn."
Kiba lowered his head in thought. After a few seconds, he suddenly broke into laughter.
"Forget it. A real man doesn't fight a woman. I surrender."
Then he spread his hands, as if he was certain of victory, but since his opponent was a woman, he was reluctant to fight.
Shino adjusted his sunglasses and remarked, "You will pay the price."
Sure enough, Tenten smiled.
"Winner, Tenten!"
Next, it was Ken Misumi's turn to battle Kankuro.
Just like in the original events, there were no surprises.
Kankuro feigned vulnerability, and Ken Misumi, believing he had secured victory, found himself completely restrained by Kankuro's puppet, Crow.
Afterward, the Third Hokage signaled with his eyes, and Ino and Sakura faced each other.
Ino raised an eyebrow, clearly displeased.
"This old man is really annoying."
Sakura also complained, "As expected, what a setup. There's no way this wasn't rigged!"
Neither girl bothered to lower their voices. Everyone present heard them loud and clear.
"I forfeit!"
"I forfeit!"
They both declared at the same time.
Moonlight Hayate was stunned. He had never encountered a situation like this before.
But since both contestants had made their decision, he had no choice but to nod and cross their names off the list.
Naruto glanced at the Hokage seated high in the stands and noticed his expression was unchanged—but his gaze had darkened slightly.
To the Hokage, Sakura was merely an ordinary civilian ninja. Against Ino, a member of the Ino-Shika-Cho formation, her chances of winning were slim.
Even though Ino specialized as a support-type ninja, she was still more than capable of defeating a civilian-background shinobi in a direct fight.
Following that, Shikamaru faced off against Kin Tsuchi, a kunoichi from the Sound Village, while Choji fought against Dosu Kinuta.
With this arrangement, at least two members of the Ino-Shika-Cho formation were expected to advance.
Well... Choji probably didn't count. After all, he always followed Shikamaru's lead.
In the end, the clan's goal was to ensure at least one of them became a Chunin through the ranking system.
The original battle between Ino and Sakura had been interesting, particularly because of the emotional punches they exchanged. But now, that confrontation had been skipped altogether.
If they had fought seriously, considering their current strength, the match might have ended in a single exchange, leaving no room for further combat.
Once Hayate announced their withdrawal, the next match began: Shikamaru vs. Kin.
Shikamaru won far more easily than in the original timeline.
His Shadow Imitation Technique, now enhanced in both speed and range, captured Kin before she could react.
With a controlled movement, he forced her to slam her head against the wall, knocking her out instantly.
"Winner: Nara Shikamaru!"
Then came the highly anticipated battle between Gaara and Rock Lee.
This match was intense and thrilling.
Although the outcome remained unchanged—Gaara still won—the process was vastly different.
Now, Lee had mastered some basic ninjutsu.
With the Three Basic Jutsu and even the advanced Body Flicker Technique, Gaara's sand was no longer able to keep up.
And when Lee finally removed his weighted training gear—far heavier than in the original timeline—both Kankuro and Temari were visibly shocked.
But he didn't stop there.
Lee opened the Eight Gates up to the Fourth Gate.
Unlike before, he had trained to minimize the side effects of using the Hidden Lotus.
What followed was an aerial display of raw power—Lee kicked Gaara around like a ragdoll.
Bloodied and battered, Gaara nearly lost control of Shukaku.
Just as Lee prepared to open the Fifth Gate, Naruto's voice echoed in his mind.
"Alright, if you keep going, he's going to transform into a Tailed Beast. I'm letting him win, so I'll treat you to an extra drumstick tonight."
Lee suddenly snapped out of his battle trance and smacked his forehead. "I almost forgot the plan!"
So, in the middle of his final attack, he deliberately left an opening—just enough time for Gaara to counter.
The sand armor on Gaara's face shattered, but he still had some fight left in him.
Lee exaggeratedly coughed up blood and, in a dramatic display, clutched his chest and collapsed.
"Ahh—!!!"
Half-kneeling for a moment, he then toppled forward, face-first, with his rear end sticking up slightly.
It looked fine from the front, but from behind...
"I... I forfeit..."
"Winner: Gaara of the Sand!" Hayate announced.
However, Gaara was not finished.
He raised his hand, ready to crush Lee with his Sand Coffin.
"Gaara!" Temari shouted.
Lee had already admitted defeat. If Gaara continued, he risked disqualification.
"Hmph."
The sand stopped inches away from Lee's broken form.
Temari quickly leaped down and helped Gaara back to the stands.
With that, the match was truly over.
"Good job, Lee."
"Gai-sensei!"
"Lee!"
...
"Naruto-sama... Angel..."
Ajisai glanced between Naruto and Konan, momentarily unsure of what to do.
Since Konan had spoken, she had no choice but to approach Naruto.
However, when the two met, neither of them spoke.
They simply stood there, staring at each other in silence, waiting for the other to make the first move.
Ajisai finally realized—
Naruto's thoughts and Konan's were not aligned.
Neither was willing to speak first, creating an unusual tension between them.
Finally, the sound of Moonlight Hayate announcing the next match broke the silence.
"Next match: Hyuga Hinata vs. Hyuga Neji!"
Konan suddenly extended her hand.
Her face remained cold and impassive.
With a rustling sound, countless sheets of paper gathered together, forming a bouquet.
"For you."
Then, she added, "Next time we meet, you will be the one to speak first."
Naruto accepted the paper flower, gave a small nod, and turned to leave.
And just like that, his encounter with Konan came to an end.
Their ideologies had clashed, but in the end, Naruto emerged as the more resolute of the two.
"Ajisai, it's time to go back."
Konan watched Naruto's retreating figure, her lips barely parting.
"Yes!" Ajisai responded, following after her master.
On the way back, Ajisai hesitated before asking:
"Master Konan, why did you give Naruto... a big paper flower?"
Konan paid no mind to Ajisai's choice of words. Instead, she responded with a trace of helplessness:
"His ideals don't fit within the world of shinobi. I don't know how to deal with him."
She paused before adding:
"Maybe... Pain will know."
Ajisai lowered her head upon hearing this, a small, unreadable smile playing on her lips.
At that moment, Konan suddenly stopped, her gaze shifting toward Konoha. In the distance, a flash of red flickered in the shadows. A faint crease formed between her brows as an unsettling premonition took root in her mind. Without hesitation, she quickened her pace, intent on leaving Konoha as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, two figures approached the village gates.
Leading the way was a tall woman with flowing golden hair, her high heels clicking against the ground with each confident step. She walked with an air of authority, completely unfazed by the attention she drew. Following behind her was a younger woman, gently cradling a small pink pig in her arms.
On the other side, Naruto approached Hinata, who stood still, her expression troubled.
"Naruto-kun... I really have to fight Neji-nii," she murmured.
"The Third Hokage... so annoying..."
Look at that—she couldn't even bring herself to curse properly.
Naruto chuckled, ruffling her short, dark hair. "It's okay, just follow your heart."
Kurenai Yuhi stepped forward and placed a reassuring hand on Hinata's shoulder.
"Neji won't hold back," she said, her voice steady but laced with concern. "He's the voice of the Hyuga branch, and he's determined to win this match."
Her crimson eyes darkened slightly. "With so many outsiders watching, the internal struggles of the Hyuga clan are about to be laid bare for all to see."
Naruto listened in silence.
The Hyuga were the only major ninja clan in Konoha that neither Nagato nor Kushina had yet to approach.
Hinata exhaled softly and nodded. "I understand."
She turned and made her way down the steps.
Neji was already waiting in the center of the arena, his posture rigid and composed.
Naruto leaned against the railing, watching her go.
"Naruto... isn't this too cruel for Hinata?" Kurenai asked, her voice barely above a whisper. "She's too kind—she must be suffering inside."
She seemed to have forgotten the day Kushina first arrived in Konoha.
"She has to get through this," Naruto replied simply. "If she can't, then she shouldn't continue as a ninja."
On the battlefield below, before Hayate could even call for the match to begin, Neji spoke. His tone was calm—colder than usual, yet lacking the harsh edge from the original events.
"You're too kind, always seeking to avoid conflict." His pale eyes locked onto hers. "Miss Hinata, you are not fit to be a ninja."
He exhaled sharply, adjusting his stance. "I must win this battle."
Hinata, unshaken, took a deep breath and activated her Byakugan.
"Brother Neji, there's no need to say more."