"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The thunderous sounds of shadow clone creation echoed throughout the arena as thick, billowing clouds of transformation smoke completely obscured the entire dueling ground from view.
"Naruto..." Mikoto murmured, glancing sideways at Kushina with a slight twitch of amusement playing at the corners of her lips as she observed her friend's animated reaction.
Kushina's expression was absolutely radiant with maternal pride and excitement. She pumped her fist enthusiastically in the air and shouted at the top of her lungs, "Go get him, Naruto! Show them what you can do!"
"Hey! Hey! Hey!"
Battle cries and coordinated shouts rang out from within the dissipating smoke clouds, creating an almost overwhelming cacophony of voices that seemed to come from every direction at once.
As the transformation smoke gradually began to clear and drift away on the arena's gentle breeze, the assembled spectators found themselves collectively gasping in amazement at the incredible scene that was slowly being revealed before their eyes.
Hundreds upon hundreds of Naruto's shadow clones now filled every available inch of space throughout the dueling arena. They covered the ground in dense formations, clung to the walls at impossible angles, and even occupied positions suspended in mid-air through chakra manipulation. The sheer scale of the technique was unlike anything most of the audience had ever witnessed.
Even Gaara, who was now completely surrounded by this overwhelming army of identical opponents, couldn't entirely suppress a flash of genuine surprise that flickered across his normally impassive features. For the first time since the battle began, he found himself unable to immediately locate Naruto's original body among the sea of perfect duplicates.
Without warning, approximately a dozen Naruto clones broke away from the main formation and charged directly toward Gaara with coordinated precision, their battle cries echoing in unison.
Gaara responded instinctively to the frontal assault, swinging his right arm in a wide arc while simultaneously drawing upon the massive reserves of sand contained within the gourd strapped to his back. The sand responded to his will like a living thing, flowing out in powerful streams and condensing into devastating offensive weapons.
"Bang!"
The impact was immediate and decisive. Dozens of shadow clones were instantly destroyed by the sand's overwhelming force, dispersing into clouds of white smoke that briefly obscured the battlefield once again.
However, even as the first wave of clones was being systematically eliminated, Naruto's remaining duplicates had already begun repositioning themselves for the next phase of the assault. They moved with remarkable coordination and tactical awareness, surrounding Gaara from multiple angles simultaneously.
The sand, responding to its master's defensive instincts, suddenly contracted back toward its source like a living organism seeking protection.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The sound of hundreds of powerful physical strikes landing against Gaara's sand defense created a continuous thunderous drumbeat that reverberated throughout the entire arena. Each blow was delivered with the full force and determination of Naruto's unwavering will, but every single attack was successfully intercepted and neutralized by the seemingly impenetrable barrier of sand.
As wave after wave of shadow clones pressed their relentless assault, more and more sand was drawn from Gaara's reserves to reinforce his defensive perimeter. The attacks were coming from so many different directions and at such an overwhelming pace that his sand had no choice but to completely encase him for maximum protection.
Eventually, all available sand contracted into a perfect elliptical cocoon, creating what appeared to be an impregnable fortress with Gaara safely protected at its center.
The hundreds of shadow clones showed no sign of slowing or tiring in their assault. They launched attack after attack in a violent, storm-like barrage that seemed to have no end, bombarding every inch of the sand cocoon with relentless determination and coordination that spoke to Naruto's tactical maturity.
"What an absolutely incredible battle!"
"This is amazing! Look at all those clones!"
"Is that really the son of the Fourth Hokage? What did they say his name was?"
"I think it's Naruto! Namikaze Naruto!"
Throughout the spectator sections, every pair of eyes was riveted to the spectacular display unfolding below. Many of the assembled dignitaries and nobles had never witnessed anything quite like this level of technique from someone so young.
Most of these distinguished guests had originally come primarily for the political novelty of watching the Hokage's son face off against the Kazekage's son, treating it more as an entertaining spectacle than a serious display of ninja skill. Many hadn't even bothered to pay attention when the examiner had announced the contestants' names at the beginning of the match.
But now, Naruto's opening gambit had completely captivated their attention and earned their genuine respect and amazement.
"I had no idea Naruto had become this powerful," Rock Lee exclaimed in wonder from the contestants' preparation area, his eyes wide with admiration and competitive fire. Even though he had witnessed Naruto's Multiple Shadow Clone Technique during earlier rounds of the Chunin Exams, nothing had prepared him for this level of execution.
The sheer number of shadow clones Naruto was maintaining simultaneously in this battle was several times greater than anything he had demonstrated previously. Lee couldn't help but analyze the tactical implications - even with his taijutsu skills, dealing with such an overwhelming numerical advantage would present enormous challenges.
Beside him, Hyuga Neji observed the proceedings with a slight frown creasing his normally composed features, his Byakugan activated as he studied the chakra flows and tactical patterns with analytical precision.
"This big idiot," Sasuke muttered with a mixture of annoyance and grudging respect, crossing his arms as he watched his rival's display. "Is he really going to reveal his full capabilities right from the very beginning of the match?"
Despite his dismissive words, there was an unmistakable note of impressed surprise in his voice that he couldn't quite manage to conceal.
"Go brother! You can do it!" Chiharu called out enthusiastically, grabbing Hinata's arm and pulling her into cheering loudly for Naruto's success.
Up on the elevated viewing platform, a relieved and genuinely proud smile spread across Minato's face as he watched his son's tactical prowess unfold. The level of skill and strategic thinking Naruto was demonstrating exceeded even his optimistic expectations.
After what seemed like an eternity of continuous assault, Naruto and his hundreds of shadow clones finally ceased their relentless bombardment and stepped back to assess the results of their coordinated efforts.
The sand cocoon had withstood literally thousands of individual physical attacks from multiple angles, and yet only shallow surface marks and minor scratches were visible on its exterior surface. Even more disheartening, those barely perceptible traces of damage were already beginning to fade as the sand automatically repaired itself.
"It's incredibly hard," Naruto observed with a slight frown, his pupils contracting as he studied the defensive barrier with new respect. "Even an assault like that couldn't break through?"
The spectators around the arena shared his amazement and concern. While Naruto's initial display of overwhelming force had been visually spectacular and tactically impressive, Gaara's defensive capabilities were proving to be even more extraordinary.
The fact that such a sustained and coordinated assault had failed to penetrate his protection demonstrated that this so-called "absolute defense" was far more formidable than anyone had anticipated.
"This is bad," Temari whispered from her position among the Sand Village spectators, genuine panic beginning to creep into her voice and expression.
"It looks like your teammate hasn't been defeated yet," Shikamaru commented with his characteristic analytical detachment, glancing over at her with mild curiosity. "Naruto's attack strategy was definitely impressive, but it doesn't seem to have caused any real substantial damage to Gaara."
He paused to consider the tactical implications before adding, "Besides, even someone with Naruto's chakra reserves probably can't sustain that many shadow clones for much longer without serious consequences."
"That's not what I'm worried about," Temari shook her head urgently, her concern clearly focused on something far more dangerous than simple tactical defeat.
While it was true that Naruto hadn't yet managed to actually harm Gaara, the fact remained that her brother had been forced to commit every grain of available sand to pure defensive measures. From a strategic perspective, Gaara had essentially been backed into a corner with no offensive options remaining.
The reality that Naruto had pushed him to such desperate defensive measures right from the opening moments of the battle meant that the monster sealed within Gaara's body was likely becoming increasingly agitated and might soon demand more violent action.
"In that case..." Naruto murmured to himself, standing before the seemingly impenetrable sand cocoon while raising his eyes to meet his father's gaze on the elevated platform.
In the next moment, a determined gleam began to shine in those brilliant azure eyes, and his expression shifted to one of focused concentration unlike anything he had shown previously.
"What is he planning to do now?" Even among the hundreds of identical shadow clones, Naruto's subtle change in demeanor was immediately noticed by experienced jōnin like Kakashi and Asuma Sarutobi, who had been watching the battle with professional interest.
A knowing smile appeared on Shisui's face as he recognized the signs of what was coming, though his expression simultaneously became more alert and wary. He understood that once Naruto managed to break through Gaara's defensive barrier, the psychological and emotional consequences for the Sand ninja would likely trigger a complete loss of control, potentially unleashing the tailed beast sealed within his body.
Standing directly in front of the sand cocoon, two of Naruto's shadow clones moved into close proximity with each other. One clone raised his right hand and held it steady, while the other began a complex series of rapid hand movements, his palms working in precise coordination around the first clone's extended arm.
"Buzz..."
As the supporting clone continued his intricate manipulations, a brilliant blue sphere of pure chakra gradually began to take shape and condense in the primary clone's palm. The energy swirled and compressed with visible intensity, creating an almost hypnotic pattern of movement.
"What kind of technique is that supposed to be?" Sasuke demanded, his previously calm and dismissive attitude instantly replaced by sharp attention and barely concealed alarm. His Sharingan activated automatically as he stared intently at the mysterious jutsu forming in Naruto's hand.
Even though Naruto had been secretly practicing the Rasengan for quite some time under careful instruction, he had deliberately avoided using it in any public demonstrations or sparring matches. He had particularly made sure to keep it hidden from Sasuke's observation, treating it as his ultimate trump card for crucial moments exactly like this one.
"Is that the Rasengan?" Mikoto exclaimed in genuine surprise, her eyes widening as recognition dawned. She glanced quickly at Kushina before turning her full attention back to Naruto with fascination and concern.
"Even though his execution is quite different from Minato's original technique, has that boy really already mastered such an advanced jutsu?"
As someone who had been close friends with both Minato and Kushina since their childhood days, Mikoto possessed far more knowledge about the Rasengan's history and significance than most other observers.
The Rasengan had originally been developed by Minato specifically to complement his incredible speed and mobility in combat. It represented the ultimate expression of chakra shape manipulation, designed to be executed instantaneously without requiring any hand seals whatsoever.
While it was obvious that Naruto couldn't yet perform the technique with his father's characteristic single-handed speed and fluidity, the mere fact that he had managed to learn and adapt such a complex jutsu was already an remarkable achievement for someone his age.
"So you decided to teach him that technique already?" the Third Hokage commented with an approving smile, turning to address Minato on the elevated platform.
"Rasengan!" Naruto declared with absolute determination as the chakra sphere reached its optimal density and power level in his palm.
Without hesitation, he thrust his hand forward and drove the spinning ball of energy directly into the sand cocoon's surface.
"Bang!"
The moment of impact sent visible ripples spreading outward through the surrounding sand barrier, and the entire defensive structure shuddered under the concentrated force of the attack.
Throughout the spectator areas, representatives from every major nation and village focused their complete attention on this crucial confrontation, understanding that the outcome might well determine the course of the entire match.
Naruto's Rasengan pressed steadily deeper into the sand defense, grinding forward millimeter by millimeter as the spinning chakra fought against the barrier's resistance.
However, as precious seconds continued to tick by, the energy contained within the Rasengan gradually began to weaken and dissipate, its brilliant blue glow slowly fading as the technique reached the limits of its duration.
When the chakra sphere finally collapsed and disappeared entirely, Naruto's hand had managed to penetrate several inches into the sand barrier, but compared to the overall thickness and depth of Gaara's defense, the progress seemed almost insignificant.
"It still didn't break through?" Sasuke whispered in disbelief, staring at the scene with a complex mixture of emotions.
Internally, he found himself wondering: [If I had used Chidori instead, would that have been enough to penetrate this defense completely?]
His feelings alternated rapidly between shock at the barrier's incredible resilience and a strange sense of relief that even Naruto's most powerful technique hadn't achieved decisive victory.
"Crack..."
While everyone in the arena was discussing the implications of what they had just witnessed, Gaara, safely enclosed within his sand cocoon, suddenly heard a faint but unmistakable sound echoing from somewhere above his head.
Raising his pale green eyes toward the source of the noise, he could see hairline fractures beginning to appear in the sand barrier's interior surface, spreading slowly outward like a spider web of structural weakness.