The rest of the fights progressed as planned, each combatant showcasing the unique abilities that had brought them to this stage. Naruto watched intently, analyzing every movement, every jutsu, storing away ideas and insights for his own growth. Finally, the match that everyone was waiting for arrived: Sasuke Uchiha versus Gaara of the Sand.
The audience was buzzing with excitement, and Naruto felt his pulse quicken too. Sasuke had been training intensely with Kakashi-sensei over the past month, preparing specifically to face opponents like Gaara. Unlike in the original timeline, there was no curse mark to contend with—only Sasuke's raw talent, sharpened by Kakashi's tutelage and his fierce determination to win.
As the two stepped into the arena, a hush fell over the crowd. Gaara stood with his usual eerie calm, his eyes cold and distant, sand swirling around him like a silent warning. Sasuke met his gaze with equal intensity, his Sharingan already active, reading every subtle movement of Gaara's body. His stance was confident, balanced, a testament to the training he'd been through.
Without any hesitation, the match began.
Sasuke leaped forward, his movements swift and fluid, closing the gap between himself and Gaara. Gaara responded with a wave of sand, attempting to capture Sasuke mid-air, but Sasuke was quicker. He vanished in a burst of speed, appearing to the side of Gaara and unleashing a series of rapid punches and kicks. Gaara raised his sand shield just in time, but Sasuke's blows were relentless, faster than Gaara had anticipated. The impact of each strike reverberated through the shield, making Gaara take a small step back.
Naruto watched, impressed. Sasuke had refined his speed to an incredible level—he was almost on par with Kakashi himself.
Gaara's expression shifted slightly, his face tightening as he realized Sasuke wasn't an opponent to be underestimated. With a flick of his hand, he summoned more sand, creating a dense, swirling wall around him. Sasuke leapt back, gauging his opponent's new defense.
But Gaara wasn't content to remain on the defensive. With a swift movement, he extended his arm, sending tendrils of sand lashing out toward Sasuke. The sand moved with terrifying speed, but Sasuke's Sharingan allowed him to see the attack coming, dodging each strike with precise movements. He dashed sideways, keeping his distance as Gaara's attacks grew more aggressive, his expression more unhinged.
Sasuke's hand crackled with electricity as he charged his next move. He'd been practicing a powerful new jutsu under Kakashi's guidance, and it was time to put it to use. Lightning began to gather around his hand, forming into a concentrated mass. Sasuke's gaze focused, and with a determined shout, he thrust his hand forward.
"Chidori!"
The powerful, piercing lightning jutsu cut through the air as Sasuke dashed forward, aiming directly for Gaara. The crowd gasped, and Naruto felt his heart skip a beat, knowing how dangerous this technique could be. Gaara reacted immediately, summoning an immense amount of sand to block the attack, but Sasuke's Chidori pierced through, striking Gaara's sand armor and leaving a deep gouge in his shoulder.
Gaara cried out in pain—a sound rarely heard from him. Blood trickled from the wound, and for the first time, fear flickered in his eyes. His sand cocooned him protectively as he staggered back, breathing heavily. But the pain seemed to push Gaara further, something darker stirring within him.
"Blood…" Gaara murmured, his voice low and trembling with a twisted glee. The sand around him began to shift, forming into a monstrous shape, a clawed, sand-covered hand beginning to emerge. Gaara's bloodlust had been unleashed, and his partial Shukaku transformation was starting to take hold.
But Sasuke didn't back down. He readied himself, charging his chakra for another assault. The crowd watched, tense, as Sasuke weighed his options. He knew that Gaara's control over sand made him a formidable opponent, and with the influence of Shukaku beginning to take over, his strength was only growing.
Before Gaara could unleash his full transformation, though, proctors stepped forward, realizing the danger of the situation. One of the proctors called a halt to the match, deeming it too risky to continue with Gaara's uncontrolled state. Sasuke looked like he wanted to keep fighting, but he knew better than to challenge the proctors' decision.
The audience erupted into applause, and Sasuke gave a nod of acknowledgment to Gaara, who was seething in barely-contained rage, his sand retreating as the match was forcibly ended. Naruto exhaled, both relieved and impressed. Sasuke had shown incredible skill, strength, and composure under pressure.
As Sasuke walked back from the arena, Naruto greeted him with a nod, a hint of admiration in his eyes.
"You did good, Sasuke," Naruto said. "Guess that training really paid off."
Sasuke merely shrugged, but Naruto could tell he was pleased with the result. He'd proven himself as a powerful shinobi, worthy of the Uchiha name. But both of them knew that this was just the beginning. With the finals complete, a new wave of challenges awaited them—each with their own hopes, strengths, and goals as shinobi of Konoha.
As Gaara staggered to his feet, a strange silence fell over the arena. His red hair drooped forward, shadows cast across his face, and he breathed heavily, drool dripping from his mouth as he glared toward Sasuke. His entire posture was off, like he was barely keeping himself together. The tension in the air was thick, and everyone—Sasuke, the proctors, and the spectators—could feel the ominous shift.
High up in the stands, Temari and Kankuro exchanged uneasy glances. They knew this look on Gaara's face. It was the precursor to something dangerous, something uncontrollable. Temari reached for her fan, readying herself for what might happen next, while Kankuro clenched his fists, silently pleading with Gaara to hold it together.
Sitting in a special reserved area, the "Kazekage," or rather, Orochimaru in disguise, watched with dark satisfaction. His eyes gleamed with anticipation as he observed Gaara's instability—a perfect trigger for the chaos he had planned. This was precisely the moment he had been waiting for.
"Gaara," Temari called out carefully, her voice barely a whisper. But her brother didn't respond. He seemed entirely transfixed, locked onto Sasuke as if the young Uchiha were the only thing that mattered.
Slowly, Gaara lifted his hand, sand swirling around him, responding to his growing fury. The sand pulsed and thickened, forming grotesque shapes, as though his inner demon was inching closer to the surface. His breathing grew erratic, his eyes wild and bloodthirsty. Shukaku's influence was becoming undeniable.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed as he recognized the intensity of Gaara's gaze. He braced himself, ready to go all out if necessary, but he sensed the situation was more volatile than before. This wasn't just another fight. He felt the primal energy, the danger coursing through Gaara, as if something monstrous was trying to claw its way out.
The proctors looked to each other, unsure of what action to take, but Kakashi, from the sidelines, was already moving into position, anticipating the potential disaster.
"Kazekage-sama!" one of the council members called out, hoping for guidance. But Orochimaru, still disguised, merely nodded slightly, a sinister smirk tugging at the edges of his lips. He wanted this to unfold, for Gaara to unleash his full power and throw the arena—and perhaps all of Konoha—into disarray.
Before the proctors could take any preventative measures, Gaara's sand surged forward, creating a dense, monstrous hand that reached for Sasuke with terrifying speed and force. Sasuke darted back, his Sharingan spinning as he avoided the grasp. But the sand claw came after him with relentless precision, each strike and swipe more forceful than the last.
Sasuke was barely keeping up, his Chidori still crackling faintly in his hand, but he hesitated to strike. He knew that if he didn't end this quickly, Gaara could lose control entirely. Yet, at this distance, he couldn't find an opening.
But then, a shadow moved through the air—a distraction that pulled Gaara's attention away from Sasuke for just a moment. Naruto, up in the stands, had started weaving hand signs, summoning a dense cloud of clones that leaped down into the arena, all targeting Gaara's sand construct at once. The clones swarmed the sand hand, their collective force buying Sasuke a brief respite.
"Now, Sasuke!" Naruto called, giving him an opening.
Seizing the opportunity, Sasuke shot forward, Chidori sparking to life with renewed intensity. With a swift, precise strike, he aimed his lightning-covered hand at Gaara, hoping to shock him out of his trance.
But before he could make contact, Gaara's body twisted, and an overwhelming burst of sand erupted from him, knocking everyone back. Temari gasped as a monstrous form began to emerge, Gaara's sand molding around him, taking on the shape of Shukaku. The monstrous sand tanuki took form, looming over the arena with terrifying menace.
Orochimaru smirked from his seat. This chaos was exactly what he had been waiting for. His plan to use Gaara as a catalyst for destruction was unfolding beautifully. In the ensuing uproar, the disguised Orochimaru signaled to his hidden operatives. The invasion of Konoha was about to begin.
As the arena descended into pandemonium, the audience scrambling for cover, Sasuke, Naruto, and Kakashi prepared to face the unleashed monster, knowing that this battle had just become far bigger than any of them had anticipated.