Chapter 15: Strategists and Quitters
The crowd was restless as they waited for the next match to begin. The board had displayed Sasuke Uchiha vs. Gaara of the Sand, but neither fighter was present. Whispers rippled through the stands as spectators speculated about Sasuke's absence.
"Where is he? He can't just skip his match!" Came the cry of one roused onlooker.
"This is ridiculous! We paid to see him fight Gaara!"
On the balcony, the Third Hokage stood alongside the Kazekage, their expressions calm despite the mounting tension. The Kazekage leaned slightly toward Hiruzen. "It would be a shame to disqualify such a promising young shinobi. Especially since his opponent is to be my son. Why not postpone the match to the end of the round?"
Hiruzen frowned, his gaze thoughtful. "This is against protocol..."
"But the crowd has spoken," the Kazekage pressed, his tone smooth. "The people have come for this fight. Denying them would cause... dissatisfaction."
Hiruzen sighed, glancing at the eager audience. "Very well. We will postpone the match."
As the next match was announced, Kankurō stepped forward, but the puppet user raised his hand before entering the arena.
"I forfeit," Kankurō said flatly, his voice devoid of emotion.
The crowd erupted into agitation, filling the arena with boos and jeers. The audience was clearly displeased with his decision.
"What's his problem?" Came the outraged shouts of a shrill old woman.
"Coward! He didn't even try!"
Shino stood silently, his expression unreadable behind his high collar. His beetles buzzed faintly, sensing no further need to prepare for battle. He turned and walked back to the balcony, sparing Kankurō only a brief glance.
Naruto leaned over the railing, glaring at Kankurō. "What's with these Sand guys? First, Gaara gets his match postponed, and now this guy bails? Lame!"
Kankurō ignored the crowd and Naruto's comments, returning to the waiting area with an air of indifference.
"Match Four will be Temari of the Sand versus Shikamaru Nara," Genma called with a professional disinterest.
The energy shifted as Temari and Shikamaru stepped into the arena. Temari held her massive fan confidently, her smirk promising a tough fight. Shikamaru, by contrast, walked down with his hands in his pockets, his usual bored expression plastered across his face.
"I'm not really feeling this," Shikamaru muttered to himself, sighing heavily.
Naruto shouted from the stands, "Hey, Shikamaru! Stop being lazy and win already!"
"Troublesome," Shikamaru mumbled as he took his position.
Genma raised his hand. "Begin!"
The match began with Temari opening her fan ever so slightly, releasing a gust of wind that forced Shikamaru back. He quickly darted behind a rock, using it for cover as Temari laughed.
"Hiding already? Pathetic," Temari taunted, her fan poised for another attack.
Shikamaru peeked out from behind the rock, forming the seal for his Shadow Imitation Technique. His shadow stretched toward Temari, but she easily dodged, leaping into the air and landing several meters away.
"You'll never catch me like that," Temari said, smirking.
Shikamaru sighed, scratching his head. "Yeah, yeah. Keep talking."
The match seemed one-sided as Temari kept Shikamaru on the defensive, her wind techniques forcing him to reposition constantly. His figure darted furtively between the shade of trees and boulders. The crowd grew restless, many assuming that Shikamaru was stalling.
But those paying close attention noticed that Shikamaru's movements weren't random. With each gust of wind, he subtly adjusted his position, moving closer to a tunnel left behind from Naruto's earlier fight with Neji. After several minutes of evasion, Shikamaru suddenly stopped, standing in an open area.
"Alright, let's finish this," he said, forming the seal again.
Temari raised an eyebrow. "You're just wasting chakra. Let me show you how it's done!"
She swung her fan, her chakra surging in preparation to release another powerful gust, but Shikamaru didn't move. Instead, his shadow darted forward, slipping into the tunnel and extending behind Temari. Before she could react, the shadow connected with hers.
Her body froze, her eyes wide with shock. "What?!"
Shikamaru grinned lazily. "Gotcha."
Using his shadow to control Temari, he forced her to lower her fan and mimic his movements. The crowd gasped, realizing he had been leading her into this trap the entire time.
Temari gritted her teeth. "You planned this from the start, didn't you?"
Shikamaru shrugged. "I guess you could say that."
With victory within his grasp, Shikamaru raised his hand to signal the proctor. But instead of delivering a finishing move, he let out a heavy sigh. "I quit."
The audience erupted in confusion.
"What's he doing? He had her!" The elderly woman in the crowd was practically rabid at this point.
"Is he crazy?!"
Genma blinked. "Are you certain, Shikamaru?"
Shikamaru nodded. "Yeah. I'm out of chakra anyway. And honestly, it's too troublesome to keep going. I'd just have to fight someone else after this."
Naruto shouted from the stands, "What are you doing, Shikamaru? You could've won!"
Shikamaru glanced up at him, smirking. "You fight for recognition, Naruto. I fight to survive."
Temari's expression was a mix of frustration and relief as Hayate declared her the winner. She looked at Shikamaru as he walked away, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.
Back in the stands, Naruto pouted. "Man, he's so weird."
"Weird or not, you can't deny he's smart. His strategy had her completely outmaneuvered." Sakura crossed her arms.
Kakashi chuckled. "Sometimes knowing when to stop is just as important as knowing how to win."
As the matches continued, the tension in the arena grew. The crowd eagerly awaited the postponed fight between Sasuke and Gaara, the anticipation building with each passing moment.
The crowd roared with anticipation as the announcer's voice echoed through the stadium:
"Next match: Sasuke Uchiha versus Gaara of the Sand!"
The tension in the arena was palpable. The fight everyone had been waiting for was finally here. Sasuke descended into the arena—appearing in a melodramatically concentric swirl of leaves, with his sensei at his back— just as the proctor raised his hand to call for his disqualification. His appearance was met with cheers from the crowd, who had grown restless during the delays.
"Right on time," Kakashi muttered as he body flickered to the balcony, his visible eye narrowing as he watched his student fall into a neutral position.
Gaara, already waiting, stood motionless, his arms crossed over his chest. His gourd shifted slightly as he tilted his head to watch Sasuke approach. His teal eyes were cold, predatory, and his expression betrayed no emotion.
"Finally," Gaara murmured, his voice barely audible but laced with menace.
The proctor raised his hand. "Begin!"
Sasuke wasted no time, vanishing in a blur of speed. The crowd gasped as he reappeared behind Gaara, his fist aimed for the back of the Sand ninja's head. Gaara's sand moved instinctively to block, but it was a fraction too slow. Sasuke's punch connected, sending Gaara skidding across the arena floor.
The audience erupted in cheers.
Naruto leaned over the railing, wide-eyed. "What the—? When did Sasuke get that fast?"
Might Guy watched intently from his nearby location. He had only just returned from checking on his student's health, his expression unreadable. "So... he's used his Sharingan to copy and in a matter of weeks master Lee's hardfought Taijutsu."
"I wouldn't say he's mastered it," Kakashi said with a sheepish turn of his visible eye. "But he's picked up enough to make this fight interesting."
Gaara straightened, brushing sand from his sleeve. His lip twitched ever so slightly. "Interesting," he said, his voice calm despite the faint edge of irritation. "You're faster than before."
Sasuke smirked. "And you're still too slow."
He darted forward again, his speed forcing Gaara to move defensively. The sand struggled to keep up, forming grainy, flimsy barriers just in time to deflect Sasuke's relentless strikes.
From the stands, Temari and Kankurō watched with growing concern.
"He's pushing Gaara this hard?" Temari muttered, her grip tightening on her fan.
Kankurō frowned. "He hasn't even used that yet. Gaara's just playing with him."
The roar of the crowd reverberated through the Chūnin Exam arena, yet the onlookers sat frozen, captivated by the unfolding battle between two prodigies.
Gaara, the prodigy of the Sand Village, stood motionless in the center of the arena. His face, once impassive, was now contorted in frustration. The crimson kanji on his forehead—the mark of "love"—gleamed under a sheen of sweat. His sand, so often an impenetrable shield, struggled to keep up with Sasuke's relentless attacks. And now, sensing that Sasuke's speed had surpassed his sand's ability to defend, Gaara was forced to retreat. Slowly, the sand swirled around him,slowly forming a thick cocoon of reinforced sand.
"It's no use," Gaara said, his tone steady. "My defense is absolute. You won't touch me again."
"We'll see about that," Sasuke replied, his voice low. He flipped backwards and landed on the arena wall with a flutter of his black jumpsuit. He narrowed his eyes, his Sharingan spinning as he analyzed the defensive maneuver. He could see Gaara's chakra suffusing the sand, pulsating with hostility and desperation. The cocoon was not merely a shield—it was a trap, a calculated move to transform defense into overwhelming offense. Sasuke knew that if he gave Gaara even a moment to prepare, the counterattack would be catastrophic.
"No way I'm letting you finish that," Sasuke muttered to himself. He pushed off the wall with a burst of speed and landed on the flat surface of the arena floor. For a brief moment, he stood still, his head bowed as he brought his hands together to form a series of rapid hand seals. He raised his hand, and with a loud screeching sound, lightning chakra erupted from his palm. The sound of a thousand chirping birds filled the arena as the crowd gasped in awe.
"That's—!" Naruto started, his eyes wide.
"Chidori," Kakashi said, his tone heavy. "My Lightning Blade."
"Kakashi, you would teach a genin an A-rank assassination technique?" Guy inquired with cold anger.
"I don't think you're one to talk about teaching dangerous techniques to children, Guy," Kakashi answered with his typical disinterest.
Sasuke sighed and steadied his breath. His Sharingan glowed crimson in the shadows of the high sun. His breath came fast but steady, his lips curled into a faint smirk as he stared down at Gaara's figure.
"Here it comes!" Kankuro shouted from the stands, leaning forward. Temari's fan trembled in her grip as her eyes darted between Sasuke and Gaara's cocoon.
"Chidori!" Sasuke's voice rang out, sharp and electric.
A piercing screech filled the air, like the cry of a thousand birds chirping in unison. Blue lightning crackled violently in Sasuke's hand, illuminating the arena with an otherworldly glow. The spectators shielded their eyes against the brilliance of the Chidori, while Sasuke's determined visage cut through the light like a blade. Sweat dripped down his face, but his resolve was unshaken. His Sharingan locked onto Gaara's cocoon, analyzing its density, its flow of chakra, and its weak points.
Naruto, watching from the stands, clenched the railing with white-knuckled intensity. "Sasuke... What's he—what's he gonna do with that?!"
Kakashi, standing beside him, offered no answer, but his single visible eye betrayed the faintest trace of pride and apprehension. Sasuke was executing his technique perfectly, yet the risks of the Chidori were immense. One wrong move, and the consequences could be dire.
Sasuke bent low, the Chidori sparking wildly in his hand. His speed was already near impossible to track, but with his fully matured Sharingan's predictive power, he was about to push himself even further. With a burst of chakra to his legs, he vanished in a blur of motion, reappearing only a fraction of a second later inches away from Gaara's cocoon.
The sand reacted instantly, tendrils whipping out to intercept him, but Sasuke's Sharingan caught the attack before it could land. He ducked low, twisting his body to avoid the sand's grasp, and surged forward, his Chidori roaring louder with every step.
"Take this!" Sasuke shouted, driving the lightning-infused hand straight toward the cocoon. The impact was deafening—a sharp, explosive crack that sent a shockwave rippling through the arena.
The Chidori tore into Gaara's sand like a drill through stone, blue lightning carving a tunnel into the defensive cocoon. Sparks and shards of sand flew in every direction, the crackling of lightning and the grinding of sand creating a cacophony that drowned out even the crowd's gasps.
Inside the cocoon, Gaara's eyes widened in disbelief. For the first time in years, his ultimate defense was faltering. The searing heat of the Chidori pierced closer and closer, and for a brief moment, he felt something foreign: fear. The sand around him trembled, reacting to his emotional state, but it wasn't fast enough to fully stop the onslaught.
Outside, Sasuke's grin widened as his hand pushed deeper into the cocoon, the resistance growing fiercer with each passing second. His Sharingan caught the faintest flicker of movement inside—Gaara himself, vulnerable for the time being.
Suddenly, a deafening roar erupted from within the cocoon. The sand around Sasuke exploded outward, forcing him to leap back. The remnants of the cocoon collapsed, revealing Gaara in a monstrous form, half-transformed into the One-Tailed Shukaku. His left arm had morphed into a grotesque claw of sand, and his face was twisted with fury.
"You..." Gaara growled, his voice an inhuman mix of his own and the beast's. "You will not defeat me! You won't invalidate my existence; I will prove my existence by destroying yours!"
Sasuke landed lightly on his feet, his Chidori dissipating in crackles of lightning. He panted heavily, his body pushed to its limit, but his Sharingan never left Gaara's grotesque form. For a moment, he allowed himself a small smile.
"This just got interesting," Sasuke said, readying himself for the next stage of the fight.
Before the match could continue, a sudden explosion of smoke erupted in the Kage's box. The audience turned their attention upward as the chaos unfolded.
"What's going on?" Naruto shouted, his head snapping toward the disturbance.
From the shadows, Kabuto stepped forward, a sinister smile on his face. "Showtime." He formed a series of hand seals, his chakra flaring.
A wave of Genjutsu-imbued feathers swept through the arena, and one by one, the spectators began to slump in their seats, unconscious. Only the more experienced shinobi and a handful of genin managed to resist.
Naruto gripped the railing, his heart pounding. "What is this?!"
Kakashi's eyes narrowed as he scanned the chaos. "It's begun. The invasion we've feared.."
On the arena floor, Gaara clutched his injured shoulder as Kankurō and Temari rushed to his side. Temari grabbed his arm, pulling him away. "Gaara, we're leaving!"
Sasuke took a step forward, his Sharingan fixed on them. "You're not going anywhere."
But before he could pursue, the Sand siblings vanished into the shadows, leaving only a trail of sand behind.
As the smoke cleared, Orochimaru revealed himself in the Kage's box, his wicked grin aimed at the Third Hokage. "It's been a long time... Sensei."
Hiruzen's expression darkened as he stepped forward, readying himself for the confrontation. Below, the arena erupted into chaos as shinobi from the Sand and Sound Villages launched their attack.
Naruto's eyes fluttered as he succumbed to the Genjutsu.
"Sakura, wake them up, then regroup. I'm going to move." Kakashi's orders hadn't even left his lips fully before he disappeared in a blur of speed.
Sakura nodded in bemused panic and prepared to do her best to defend her village and friends.