The arena was buzzing with energy as the spectators filled the stands, their cheers echoing around the arena. The third round of the Chunin Exams had begun, and the atmosphere was thick with anticipation. Teams had made their way to the center of the arena, and now the matchups were about to start.
Naruto stood tall, feeling the familiar excitement coursing through him. His Chimera-Gan gleamed, but he kept it concealed under his eye patch. Today wasn't about showing off his abilities; it was about winning. His opponent, Kiba, stood across from him with his trademark grin. His dog Akamaru was perched on his shoulder, ready for the battle.
"I'll make this quick, Naruto," Kiba said, his voice dripping with confidence. "You're gonna regret messing with me!"
Naruto smirked, his mind already calculating his strategy. Kiba relies too much on brute force and his dog. I just have to play it smart, stay calm, and wait for the right moment.
"Let's get this over with," Naruto replied, his voice calm but his eyes sharp.
The proctor stepped between them, raising his hand.
"Begin!"
Kiba didn't waste any time. He slammed his fist to the ground and shouted, "Akamaru, transform!" His dog began to grow rapidly, changing into a larger, more muscular form. Kiba's features also shifted, his body becoming more animalistic as he entered his enhanced state. He charged at Naruto with surprising speed, a wild grin on his face.
Naruto didn't flinch. Instead, he tapped into his Chimera-Gan. His eyes scanned Kiba's movements, instantly calculating his next steps. Kiba was fast, but Naruto had already anticipated his attack.
In a fluid motion, Naruto created a handful of clones out of cells, which instantly dispersed into the surrounding area. Each clone mimicked his movements, creating the illusion of a group. Kiba, focused on Naruto, lunged forward, his fist aimed directly at him. But the Naruto he was aiming for vanished in a blur.
The real Naruto stood on a nearby rooftop, eyes still locked on Kiba. He flicked his wrist, summoning a few cells from the ground. In seconds, a small but sharp spear of hardened cells appeared in his hand. Without hesitation, Naruto hurled it toward Kiba.
Kiba barely had time to react. He twisted his body to the side, avoiding the spear by a hair's breadth. But that was exactly what Naruto had been waiting for. The moment Kiba dodged, Naruto followed up with a barrage of clones that exploded into cloud-like cells, each bombarding Kiba from a different direction. The real Naruto, unseen in the chaos, moved behind Kiba and sent a low kick toward his back.
Kiba staggered forward, momentarily thrown off balance, but quickly regained his footing. "Not bad, Naruto!" he said, a grin still plastered on his face. "But you can't escape me!"
Akamaru, now back in his smaller form, barked, and Kiba dashed forward again, this time faster than before, aiming to close the gap between them. The ground beneath him cracked as he used his Enhanced Animalistic State to close the distance in mere moments.
Naruto's mind raced. He's not giving up, but neither am I. Time to turn up the heat.
He summoned a large, twisting serpent made from his own cells, which lunged at Kiba just as he was about to strike. Kiba, startled by the sudden appearance of the creature, swerved around it, but in doing so, he left himself open for Naruto's next move.
Naruto smirked, using his Chimera-Gan to adjust his body, forming a thick suit of armor-like cells around his arms and chest. It was light enough for him to move freely but strong enough to withstand any incoming blows.
As Kiba's fist came toward him, Naruto met the attack head-on, his armored arm blocking Kiba's punch. The force of the blow pushed Naruto back slightly, but he quickly retaliated with a well-placed strike to Kiba's side. Kiba grunted, stumbling back a few steps.
Akamaru barked urgently from the sidelines, and Kiba, realizing he needed to end this quickly, raised his arms, channeling chakra into them. His eyes burned with determination. "Let's go, Akamaru! Fang Over Fang!"
Kiba spun in a blur of motion, creating a powerful, spinning cyclone of energy that headed directly toward Naruto. The speed and force behind the attack were intense, and the ground itself seemed to tremble as Kiba's spinning assault came closer.
Naruto didn't panic. Instead, he tapped deeper into his Chimera-Gan, summoning a massive wall of cells to form a protective barrier. The Fang Over Fang crashed into the wall, sending shockwaves through the arena. The dust cleared, revealing the wall was intact, though it had been partially shredded by Kiba's powerful jutsu.
Naruto stood tall behind the barrier, his eyes cold and calculating. "Nice try, Kiba. But you're too predictable."
He closed his eyes for just a second, allowing his Chimera-Gan to scan Kiba's movements. With a mental command, Naruto summoned a set of cells from Kiba's own body, molding them into a replica of his canine partner Akamaru. The new "Akamaru" stood by Naruto's side, mirroring Kiba's own dog.
"Let's see how you like this," Naruto said with a grin.
He launched the fake Akamaru forward, and the clone jumped at Kiba, distracting him just long enough for Naruto to appear behind him. With a swift motion, Naruto grabbed Kiba's arm and locked him into a hold.
Kiba struggled, but Naruto's grip was firm. "You're strong, Kiba," Naruto said, his voice low. "But I'm smarter."
Kiba's eyes widened as he realized he was trapped. With a deep breath, Naruto released the hold and stepped back, giving Kiba space to move. The proctor stepped forward, raising his hand to signal the end of the match.
"Winner: Naruto Uzumaki."
The crowd erupted into applause. Naruto flashed a confident smile, feeling a surge of pride. He had won, but more than that, he had proven to himself that his strategy and ability were enough to outsmart his opponent.
Kiba, though a little bruised, grinned. "You're not half bad, Naruto. I guess I underestimated you."
Naruto shrugged, his eyes glinting with determination. "You're pretty strong too, Kiba. But next time, maybe you should try thinking instead of just charging in."
As the two walked off the field, Naruto's eyes flicked toward Sasuke, who had already won his match. The exams are just beginning. Let's see who else I have to outsmart.
And so, the next phase of the Chunin Exams began, with Naruto having taken his first victory