May 26th 2002:

Bright moonlight shimmered silver and eclipsed Ryomen Sukuna's acute vision. Lukewarm streams of wind rustled the various bushes and leaves in the isolated forest. Starlight illuminated the shadows.

Positioned on the thick tree-branch in his usual training spot, Sukuna contemplated to himself about how the last ten days had been. After some simple trial and error, he had managed to tame Nue at last.

Sukuna closed all four of his crimson eyes once his tattooed face was touched by the sensation of the crisp wind, appreciating the feeling. Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha had been busy from training.

Despite not being one of the people who would be competing in the third stage of the Chunin-Exams, Sukuna felt satisfaction because of the many Black-Flashes he had landed on Rock-Lee in their match.

His general understanding of his cursed-energy had become even more polished than it had been beforehand. If Sukuna's assumption was correct, then he had also reached a higher level of his potential.

Of course, Sukuna held some anticipation for the final matches of the Chunin-Exams. It would be fun to watch Sasuke battle Neji Hyuga and Naruto fight Gaara. He wondered how much stronger they had gotten.

(-)

June 9th 2002:

The day for the third stage of the Chunin-Exams had come. Seated on the chairs set around the upper platforms of the outside arena, the crowd of various spectators waited in excitement for these matches.

Stood on one of these upper platforms around the arena himself, Sukuna clenched his hand over the guardrail in front of him. Both of his teammates were stationed in the middle of the wide arena itself.

The other participants for the Chunin-Exams were also present in the middle of the arena alongside them. Instead of Hayate Gekko, a man named Genma Shiranui was the proctor for this stage.

Much to his hidden surprise, Kakashi Hatake hadn't made Sasuke late for the third section of these exams. Sukuna glanced to his left side after Kakashi had appeared next to him. "Are you excited, Sukuna?"

Returning his attention to the middle of the arena, Sukuna replied. "Kind of. I'm more curious about how stronger those two have gotten."

Kakashi leaned on the guardrail, posture relaxed. "I'm not sure about Naruto. But I can tell you Sasuke's new skills will surprise you a lot."

"Will they?" Sukuna glanced at his masked teacher, eye-brow raised. "Whatever. I'm just surprised you didn't have Sasuke come here late."

"I wanted to." Kakashi pressed a gloved hand to his chest. "But Sasuke was quite persistent on not being late."

"So." Kakashi addressed his student. "I haven't spoken to you much over this month. How has your training been going for you?"

Shrugging in response, Sukuna said. "It's gone pretty well. I spent most of the month training around Lee and Gai or just by myself."

"Even when I told you to just spend this month recovering." Kakashi shook his head, feeling helpless. "You three should listen to me more."

"Now that I think about it." Sukuna's two lower eyes swept around the upper platform of the arena. "How tight is security gonna be today?"

"The Hokage has security taken care of." Kakashi decided to change the subject of the conversation. "Just enjoy these matches, Sukuna."

"I'm going to find myself a seat." Kakashi patted his student on the shoulder, then went to climb the stairs. "I'll see you after this finishes."

"See ya." Sukuna nodded, looked at the platform where the Hokage and Kazekage were located, and sighed. "When will this shit start?"

(-)

Sasuke ignored the tense sense of anticipation amongst his fellow competitors in the final portion of the Chunin-Exams. Genma had completed his explanation to them about the rules of this round.

Genma chewed on the twig in his mouth. "The first match will be Sasuke Uchiha versus Neji Hyuga. I hope you two are prepared."

"Will the rest of you head to the waiting room outside of the arena?" Genma asked the other Genin. "You'll get your chance to fight soon."

Naruto thumped Sasuke's shoulder in support, grinned at him, and followed everyone else to the waiting room. Genma wasted no time, motioning his hand downwards. "Now then! Match one will begin!"

Stepping back, Genma distanced himself from the two opponents to make some extra room for them to battle it out. A calm silence was evident between Neji and Sasuke—who had rolled his shoulders.

"Can you not see the excitement that clouds these fools?" Neji asked him, assuming his stance. "The Uchiha-Clan versus the Hyuga-Clan."

"Is that what you think this match represents?" Sasuke scoffed, unimpressed. "I couldn't care less about any of that dimwitted rivalry."

Sasuke activated his Two-Tomoe Sharingan, ignoring the crowd's reaction to his unique eyes. "You're my opponent, nothing more."

"That is where you are wrong, Sasuke Uchiha." Neji had turned on his Byakugan in response. "This match represents an old rivalry."

"It really doesn't." Sasuke rolled his Sharingan-accentuated eyes. "I don't have to prove myself or anything to you. Now, enough talking!" He then disappeared.

Sasuke appeared in front of Neji in a burst of inhuman speed. Enduring the strike to the shoulder from Sasuke, Neji curled his fingers up, sneered at him, and lashed his hand out at his stomach.

Stomping his foot onto the soil underneath them, Sasuke launched himself into the air. Neji utilized his Byakugan's extended range of vision to scope out Sasuke before he tilted his body to the right side.

Having somersaulted downwards to axe-kick Neji, Sasuke looked off to his right and landed on his feet in a roll of rapid movement. Neji broke into his guard a mere moment later, palm extended outwards.

"I can't let him attack any of my chakra-points!" Sasuke raised his knee in time to redirect Neji's palm strike away from him. "That was a close one."

Keeping up his building velocity, Sasuke whirled around, lifted his leg, and roundhouse kicked Neji's hip. Mouth pressed into a thin line, Neji called on the absolute defense of the Eight-Trigrams: Palm-Rotation.

Sasuke's Sharingan was squinted at the chakra being emitted out of Neji—who unleashed the Palm-Rotation upon him. Spinning in a perfect circle, Neji formed a dome of dense chakra around his body.

Neji repelled Sasuke onto the ground, took on his stance once more, and rushed at his downed opponent in a blur. Returning to his feet, Sasuke widened his eyes as both of Neji's hands reached out to him.

"Is this what Kakashi told me about?" Sasuke glared ahead. "The Hyuga-Clan's technique — the Eight-Trigrams: Sixty-Four-Palms?"

Relying on the pure visual prowess of his Two-Tomoe Sharingan, Sasuke twisted himself out of the range of each of Neji's powerful strikes. Sasuke then cast five hand-signs and clasped his hands.

"Incredible." From his seat on the upper platforms, Hiashi Hyuga thought. "He was able to fend off all of the hits Neji tried to land on him."

"And to think." Hiashi focused on Neji afterwards. "A member of the branch family has been able to learn the Eight-Trigrams: Sixty-Four-Palms!"

Kiba Inuzuka—who was seated next to Hinata Hyuga—snorted. "That's what that bastard Neji gets for underestimating someone from our class!"

Hinata coughed in pain. "I can't believe Sasuke's pushing Neji this far."

"That speed!" Rock-Lee pumped his fist, impressed. "Sukuna's teammates truly are something else! Sasuke has countered all of Neji's blows!"

"That's Sasuke for you!" Ino Yamanaka was on the edge of her seat in excitement. "Neji doesn't stand a chance against the top of our class!"

Sukuna leaned against the guardrail on the platform he was on. "He's going to use the Flame-Stream, huh?"

Like Sukuna had concluded from his simple observation, Sasuke fired off a Flame-Stream at Neji point-blank. Stunned for a second, Neji used the Eight-Trigrams: Palm-Rotation to disperse Sasuke's attack.

"I underestimated you, Sasuke Uchiha." Neji spoke out to him. "Do not think you have won this match based off your performance this far…"

Sasuke morphed his mouth into an aloof smile and shot forward. Neji and him engaged each other in a duel of aggressive Taijutsu. Elbow stretched out at the Hyuga, Sasuke smacked it into his shoulder.

Axe-kicking Neji on the shoulder in break-neck succession, Sasuke grunted. "I have to keep up the pressure on him, no matter what."

"He's targeting my shoulder to disrupt my balance!" Neji realized. "What a foolish tactic. I expected more from someone of the Uchiha!"

Sasuke leered at Neji's Byakugan to put him under a weak Genjutsu. In the three seconds it took Neji to break the illusion, Sasuke had pushed a palm into his abdomen.

Specks of blood were ejected from Neji's mouth until a foot buried itself into his jaw and propelled him upwards. From his chair, Might-Gai blinked in shock. "That kick! It matches Lee's one!"

"I taught him that myself." Kakashi said. "It was a little presumptuous of me — but I think it served Sasuke well."

Sasuke channelled chakra to his feet, ran up the wall of the arena, hurled himself at Neji, tackled him downwards, and tossed him to the ground. Wide cracks stretched out across the soil in the arena.

The crowd went wild, cheering and thinking Sasuke had won. Much to most people's pleasant or unpleasant surprise, Neji rose to his feet. Wiping his blood-stained lips, Neji stared at Sasuke and vanished.

Surprised by Neji's sudden increase of speed, Sasuke failed to parry a kick to the side of the head and flipped into one of the cracks in the soil. Neji spat out a mass of blood. "I'm astonished you did all that."

Neji spread chakra across his entire body to enhance his physical prowess. In the middle of removing himself out of the cracks he was in, Sasuke grunted at the merciless kick being slammed into his nose.

"I'll have to use the less traditional Taijutsu style Gai-Sensei taught me." Neji decided in his head. "But let's try this just one more time."

Skidding backwards, Sasuke dispersed the cloud of dust around him, stood up in mild annoyance, and watched Neji appear in front of him. Adopting his usual stance, Neji pushed his hands out for Sasuke.

Snapping out of the daze of pain his mind had been in, Sasuke managed to parry all of the jabs that Neji had aimed at him. Sasuke caught Neji's fist in his hand, squeezed it, and then kicked him.

"I can't believe it." Ten-Ten had furrowed her brows in shock. "How far did Sasuke train in this last month? It's like he's reached Neji's level!"

Gai looked at Kakashi, contemplative. "How much did you push your student, Kakashi? Even then, Neji's skill is sure to shock everyone!"

Neji applied chakra to his feet to keep himself stuck in place, dug his knee into Sasuke's abdomen, and hurtled him backwards. Sasuke restabilised his footing in an instant, head tilted to the side in curiosity.

"Has he been holding back this entire time? Or is it something else?" Sasuke pondered. "Each time I get the advantage, he counters me."

Dragging Sasuke back into combat, Neji roundhouse kicked him, drop-kicked his shoulder, and struck a palm into his solar-plexus. Blood streamed from Sasuke's closed lips. Neji forged onwards.

"How eccentric of Neji." Hiashi folded his arms. "The Gentle-Fist Taijutsu style was ineffective on Sasuke—so he changed things up."

Impassive, he leaned forward from his perch on his seat. "He's using his odd teacher's Taijutsu style instead. Or at least some form of it."

"Now that Neji has adapted to using that form of Taijutsu, the tide of battle has changed." Hiashi hummed. "He could win this match."

Neji and Sasuke punched each other in the stomach and chest at the same moment. Instead of being flung away, Neji grabbed Sasuke's shoulder to maintain his balance and head-butted him in the nose.

"Huh." Sukuna groused to himself. "It looks like Neji could win this. I'm guessing he'll try and pull off the Sixty-Four-Palms on Sasuke now."

Sukuna propped his elbow down on the guardrail. "Sasuke hasn't used all of his Jutsu yet—though. He won't be getting overwhelmed."

"He's altered his style. It reminds me of Lee's style just a little." Sasuke scoffed, driving a knee into Neji's chin. "I won't lose because of that."

"Eight-Trigrams: Sixty-Four-Palms!"

Failing to account for the chance of Neji using the Eight-Trigrams: Sixty-Four-Palms on him a second time, Sasuke gritted his teeth as sixty two of his chakra points were closed off. He had redirected the last two blows.

"My assumption was right." Hiashi closed his eyes, then opened them. "In a match of pure physical power, Sasuke Uchiha is superior."

"In Taijutsu, I would say that Neji has the clear cut advantage." He mused to himself. "I do wonder what Sasuke Uchiha will do now."

"Sixty two of his chakra points are blocked off." Hiashi relaxed in his chair on the upper platforms. "He won't be able to fight on from that."

Sasuke had fallen to one knee while the rest of his body was experiencing the dangerous effects of his cut off chakra points. Turning off his Sharingan to conserve his energy, Sasuke smirked.

"That was careless of me." Sasuke shook his head to refocus himself. "I got cocky and let Neji land the Sixty-Four-Palms technique on me."

"I should have used the Chidori earlier—but it's too late for that." Sasuke sighed. "I bet Sukuna and Naruto are laughing at me, heh."

"I'm impressed you withstood that." Neji looked at the proctor in distaste. "Call the match, would you? It's clear that I am the winner."

"Idiotic." Sukuna rested his other hand on the guardrail. "Does Neji really believe Sasuke wouldn't have a back-up plan for this scenario?"

Proving Sukuna's thoughts right, Sasuke fought through his exhaustion, climbed to his feet, pulled out a scroll, and unsealed a pair of clawed gauntlets. Sasuke slipped them on, obsidian eyes focused.

"Are those claws?" Sukuna chuckled. "They're like my natural claws and the claws that Naruto gets when he's using Kurama's chakra."

"Gauntlets?" Gai addressed Kakashi, confused. "That choice of weaponry was your suggestion, wasn't it? I'd expect nothing less."

"Imported from the Land-Of-Iron itself." Kakashi leaned back on his seat. "This was Sasuke's back up plan if Neji disrupted his chakra."

Lee—who was settled into a seat beside Gai—said. "But how will those gauntlets help him, Kakashi-Sensei? His chakra is blocked!"

"You'll just have to wait and see." Kakashi shrugged. "Those gauntlets were designed from a metal that conducts a person's chakra nature."

"How foolish of you." Neji approached Sasuke in an unamused gait. "Your chakra points are blocked!" You can't even maintain your Sharingan!"

Naruto sneered at Neji's vicious statements from his position on the upper platforms. "Who cares? The bastard is gonna annihilate you!"

Sasuke closed his eyes, felt the Curse-Mark on the back of his neck, and relied upon its strength for a brief moment to reactivate his chakra points. Unlinking himself from the mark afterwards, Sasuke grunted.

Unbeknownst to a number of people, Orochimaru had disguised himself as the Fourth Kazekage and widened his smile into an astonished grin. "Wonderful! He suppressed the mark all on his own!"

"He even used it to rouse his closed off chakra points awake." Orochimaru thought. "How clever of him. He will be a worthy vessel."

"Impossible!" Sasuke had disconnected himself too fast from the mark for Neji to see or comprehend it. "He reopened his chakra points?!"

"My turn." Sasuke cut Neji off from any further thoughts, punching him in the jaw and snapping his head upwards. "No more wasting time."

"I'm guessing Sasuke's back-up plan worked." Sukuna grinned. "Let's see how the rest of this match will play out, then. I'm pretty curious."

Sasuke transmitted fire-natured chakra into his clawed gauntlets. Neji went in for an Eight-Trigrams: Palm-Rotation—but Sasuke was quicker. Pressing his clawed gauntlet into Neji's shoulder, Sasuke halted him in his tracks.

"He's subduing my movements!" Neji clicked his tongue. "I didn't account for what I would do if he somehow restored his chakra flow!"

Sasuke tore his gauntleted hand out of Neji's left shoulder, leaving five gashes in its place. More and more heat built up around the metal of his two gauntlets before he unleashed a barrage of punches on him.

Moving himself out of the range of five of those strikes, Neji spun around and had his fore-arm struck instead of his nose. It became somewhat charred. Sasuke pushed on, lashing his leg outwards.

Having activated his Sharingan, Sasuke placed Neji in a short-lived Genjutsu and roundhouse kicked his head. Neji scowled, backing away from Sasuke and preparing his final move to end this match.

Sasuke followed his example, casting a series of hand-signs. Lightning flashed around his clawed gauntlets, showering the arena in blue. Rushing forward in a burst of speed, Sasuke lifted his hand.

Sukuna just snorted. "The Chidori, huh?"

A collision of the Eight-Trigrams: Palm-Rotation and Chidori ensued. Flashes of chakra inundated the atmosphere. Dust clouds formed, then were dispelled as Sasuke stared down at Neji's semi-conscious body on the soil.

There was no satisfaction in Sasuke's Sharingan-accentuated eyes. "You kept mentioning our clans' rivalry, right? Here's your answer."

"There you have it, folks!" Genma chewed on the twig in his mouth and announced. "I declare the winner of match one Sasuke Uchiha!"

"Neji." Hiashi shook his head in disappointment at himself. "I suppose I have failed you, brother. Neji's hatred stands strong."

Naruto grinned, shaking his fist in celebration. "Good work, Sasuke! I didn't think that the bastard had gauntlets, though. Kind of like Doto."

"The Chidori." Gai hummed, looking off to the side. "I didn't think you'd teach him that Jutsu, Kakashi. It is one that you created yourself."

"You taught Lee the Eight-Inner-Gates." Kakashi responded. "Besides, the Chidori is one of the best techniques for Sasuke to learn."

Hiruzen Sarutobi chuckled. "What an exciting match. Wouldn't you say so, Rasa? Sasuke Uchiha and Neji Hyuga both performed rather well."

Orochimaru—who maintained his fake persona as Rasa—replied. "Indeed. The blood of the Uchiha-Clan also looks to still run strong."

Numerous cheers were emitted out from the audience itself. Sasuke ignored them, treating their attention like it was nothing and letting two of the Medical-Shinobi stationed at the arena take him to the infirmary.

"It's just unbelievable!" Ten-Ten watched the Medical-Shinobi transport Neji to the infirmary, incredulous. "Sasuke managed to beat him?"

The buzz of general excitement in the crowd had died down after a while. Genma moved the twig in his mouth to the side, huffed to himself, and shouted. "Naruto Uzumaki versus Gaara Of-The-Sand!"

"It's my time to shine, huh?" Naruto flipped down onto the soil of the arena, mouth stretched out into a grin. "This numbskull's going down!"

In a hurricane of sand, Gaara appeared in the middle of the arena. Despite the lack of emotion in his eyes, Genma noticed there was an underlying mania in them. "This brat — he isn't normal by any means."

Soon, however, that emotionless exterior from Gaara shattered. He grinned, merciless and hungry for battle. Heedless of Gaara's growing bloodlust, Naruto tilted his head. "What, are you scared?"

Sukuna had sensed the bloodlust because of his attunement to negative emotions. "Gaara isn't even hiding his desire to kill Naruto."

Hiruzen held his pipe in his mouth. "This is the Sand-Village's Jinchuriki, eh? I wonder how Naruto shall fare against him, then."

Kakashi's demeanour stayed relaxed. "I'm sure lord Jiraiya has taught Naruto enough skills to beat him. Let's see what Naruto can do now."

Genma chopped his hand downwards and yelled out. "Begin now!"

"You know." Naruto spoke in a mocking tone. "I was wondering how I was meant to get by that stupid sand defense thing of yours, right?"

Stepping towards Gaara without any real concern for his own well being, Naruto grinned. "I just have to be faster than your dumb sand!"

Kankuro smacked his lips together, nervous. "What is that punk doing?! Is he trying to make Gaara even more madder already?!"

"What an imbecile." Temari touched her fore-head. "Does he think that taunting Gaara will do anything? It'll just make him crazier."

"Naruto Uzumaki, huh?" Baki shook his head. "He sounds like a fool to me. I feel pity for him — he doesn't know how monstrous Gaara is…"

"You will prove my existence!" Gaara rasped out, grinning like a true psychopath. "Mother has spoken of you! The ninth one! Die! Die!"

"There's that damn feeling again!" Naruto slapped the side of his head. "You've pissed off that old fur-ball more than I ever have."

Changing his gaze to a more serious one, Naruto let his blue eyes flash red in endless rage. "You've been pissing me off too, though."

"How blatant can you be?" Sukuna chuckled, leaning on the guardrail and viewing the match. "At least he isn't being that obvious."

Naruto planted a hand onto his seal, widened his eyes, and accessed a small portion of the Kyuubi's chakra. His nails grew into claws. His teeth morphed into fangs. His thin whiskers thickened themselves.

An incredible amount of dense chakra invaded everyone's senses. Many Shinobi tensed their muscles a little in shock. Civilians trembled—but composed themselves. Sukuna grinned, curious.

"He can use the nine-tails' chakra on his own." Hiruzen smiled. "I'm glad to see that Naruto has gotten so strong."

"What magnificent chakra!" Orochimaru blinked, pleased. "But, even now, he still hasn't used the Synchronization-Seal at its true strength."

Gaara had lost all sense of rationality after his tenant and himself had detected that malicious chakra. "I will end this!"

Naruto closed in on Gaara in a blur of rapid movement, twisted himself out of the reach of Gaara's sand, and slammed a punch into his face. Gaara staggered from the blow, not used to being attacked like this.

Maintaining his break-neck speed, Naruto bashed his foot into Gaara's abdomen and hurtled him away. Bubbles of red chakra escaped his body, coiling around him and somehow hissing at Gaara in disdain.

"That speed!" Lee was awed. "I can't say for sure! But it looks like Naruto has reached a similar level to me! And only in one month!"

"How much did Jiraiya teach him?" Amusement crinkled Kakashi's mask. "Whatever he did to teach Naruto, it worked well enough."

"This is bad!" Baki sweated. "Gaara's lost all sense of logic! I can tell by looking at him from here he wants to murder this brat! This is bad!"

"We haven't been given the signal for the plan yet!" Kankuro gritted his teeth. "Judging from Gaara's face, he doesn't plan on waiting for it!"

Orochimaru was just amused by the entire situation. "It is of no consequence to me if Gaara goes on a rampage in this arena…"

Gaara's Sand-Armour had started to crack from Naruto's relentless onslaught of punches and kicks. Naruto clutched the back of his head and hit it on his knee thrice.

Three tendrils of sand managed to grab Naruto's shoulders and hurled him into the ground, uprooting the grass and soil in the arena. In a simple leap, Naruto landed on his feet and blinked his crimson eyes.

"Crap, you dislocated both of them!" Bubbles of red chakra popped Naruto's shoulders back into place. "That feels better! Come on!"

"That repulsive chakra!" Gaara's voice became the voice of two for a second. "I will slaughter you, Naruto Uzumaki! Heed my words!"

"Please." Naruto rolled his crimson eyes, annoyed. "You can't scare me!"

A swarm of Shadow-Clones were then summoned by Naruto. All of them performed the Wind-Style: Great-Breakthrough. Gaara's sand shielded him from the technique and dispersed each of the clones.

In his haze of mania, Gaara formed a dome of sand around himself. Naruto roundhouse kicked it, elbowed it, and shouldered it. However, none of these strikes breached it. Naruto smiled to himself.

"I guess it's about time I tried to use this!" Naruto extended his palm out and a blue orb of chakra appeared on his hand. "Rasengan!"

"That Jutsu?" Hiruzen's smile grew into one of disbelief. "Did Kakashi teach him that one? I suppose Naruto deserves his father's Jutsu."

"How intriguing." Orochimaru kept his indifferent facade up. "I forget that the Jinchuriki is Minato Namikaze's child. Of course he can use it."

"Jiraiya taught him that in a month." Kakashi's single visible eye was wide in disbelief for a moment. "And he likes to call me sentimental."

Kicking himself into a run of inhuman agility, Naruto slammed the Rasengan through the dome of sand and into Gaara's abdomen. From inside the sand-constructed dome, Gaara let out an unnatural scream.

"Blood! Blood! Blood! It's my blood!"

Naruto leaped away from the dome of sand after a mutated arm lashed out at him from it. Baki gulped, looking down at the dome of sand in trepidation. "Damn it! Is he transforming now?!"

"No." Baki watched the sand dome crumble into dust and saw Gaara grin at his punctured stomach. "His shell was breached before he could complete the transformation! This could turn out bad for us!"

A mere moment later, Naruto glared at the random feathers that drifted downwards upon the arena and the people outside and inside it. Soon enough, a majority of people fell unconscious in their seats.

Realizing it was some kind of Genjutsu, a number of Leaf-Shinobi dispelled the illusion and searched for its source. Feeling sleepy himself, Naruto grunted at the red chakra that helped him stay awake.

It was then that everything went into disarray. The plan to destroy Konoha had been started.

Sukuna slipped his hands into his pockets.

A/N: Thanks for reading this chapter.