"Gaara, are you alright?"
"This is medicine that Kazuyama Sensei left for us. He said it can quickly restore chakra."
Temari pulled a small vial from the pouch at her waist, shook out two pills, and handed them to Gaara.
Gaara took them without a word and swallowed them immediately.
"Hey, Temari, didn't you say you were out?"
"If I'd known this would happen, I wouldn't have used mine up so fast!"
Kankurō eyed the vial in her hand with open envy. The three of them had all received this medicine, but he and Gaara had already finished theirs long ago.
And no wonder—the rush of chakra recovery it provided was intoxicating. Once you'd used it, it was hard to resist.
"Hmph, I've only got three left. If you two hadn't been so wasteful, you wouldn't be in this mess!"
"Enough. We need to move. That guy… something's not right about him."
Tension flashed across Temari's face. The enemy's technique was strange, and he clearly wasn't one of the exam candidates.
His target was Gaara. The thought made her recall Kazuyama Sensei's warnings about certain enemies. It had to be one of them.
"It's too late. He's already caught up."
After swallowing the medicine, Gaara felt his chakra surge back. His face hardened as he looked straight ahead.
And there, standing not far in front of them, was Muren Uchiha—watching them with cold amusement.
"Little mice. Where do you think you're going?"
"Tch, is he using Shinsoku or something? His speed's just like Kazuyama Sensei's!"
Kankurō scowled. The guy was too fast. Even though they'd run ahead, he had somehow gotten in front of them.
"Hmph. Kazuyama Gekkō's students, are you?"
"That's even more troublesome. I'll just have to kill all of you."
"After all, he and I are mortal enemies."
"Fire Release: Crimson Inferno!"
Muren's talent for Fire Release was exceptional—unsurprising for someone of the Uchiha Clan.
He had once relied too heavily on his dōjutsu, but after crossing blades with Kazuyama Gekkō several times, he had learned his weaknesses.
Since then, he had devoted years to mastering Fire Release, now wielding it at a level that surpassed even Kage-class mastery.
His hands flashed through seals. Around him, flames coiled like crimson silk ribbons—compressed, concentrated fire.
The red heat spread outward, and in an instant, the air itself shimmered and burned, vaporized by sheer intensity.
"Sand…"
"Scorch Release: Extremely Steaming Murder!"
Several blazing spheres burst from above Gaara's team, unleashing one wave of scorching heat to counter another.
The fireballs collided with the crimson flames, erupting into an explosion of unbearable heat that forced the three to fall back immediately.
Even from a distance, the moisture in their bodies evaporated rapidly—they felt parched in seconds.
"Huh? That's Scorch Release?"
"In the entire ninja world, only a handful possess such a Kekkei Genkai…"
Muren's expression stiffened. This technique intrigued him—it was extremely rare, unseen for years.
As he faltered, three figures suddenly appeared.
"Hey, you three from Sunagakure—fall back."
"Didn't expect to stumble into Father's disciples while passing through. Senko, heal them."
"Karin, check if anyone else is nearby."
A tall figure stood ahead—handsome, poised, right palm open with several fireballs orbiting around him.
Michihito Gekkō stared sharply at the enemy before him, signaling for his sister and teammate to move.
Senko Gekkō said nothing, kneeling beside Gaara's team as green healing chakra flared in her palms.
"Don't move. That heat dried out your bodies too much. Without treatment, it'll leave permanent damage."
"Bro, you went way too far."
Senko muttered while working, chastising her brother under her breath.
Michihito shook his head. He didn't think that was his doing—the opponent's flames were as hot as any Scorch Release technique.
Had he not gone all out earlier, he wouldn't have been able to withstand that kind of heat.
"Michihito, no one else nearby," Karin reported.
"Good."
As a member of the Uzumaki Clan, Karin's Kagura Mind's Eye was an elite sensory technique—one of the best in the ninja world.
With her perception backing them, Michihito could focus entirely on their opponent.
"Mangekyō Sharingan… and such strange Fire Release."
"So, you're the Madara Uchiha my father mentioned?"
"Heh, never thought I'd run into an opponent like you during a Chūnin Exam."
"Well then—before Father finds out, I'll take you on myself."
"Hatake Style! Quick-Draw Slash!"
"Swish!"
Without hesitation, Michihito clenched his right hand, extinguishing the surrounding fireballs. Chakra surged violently around his body.
He reached back, drawing his chakra short blade in a single fluid motion, and lunged toward Muren.
The Hatake sword style emphasized speed—one strike, one kill.
Michihito flooded his limbs with chakra, enhancing his strength and speed. Though not as explosive as lightning activation, it was still powerful.
The blade absorbed his chakra, glowing faintly red.
In a flash, the strike was already at Muren's face—
But the next instant, it stopped dead. His sword froze half a meter from its target, unable to advance an inch.
"Hmph?"
"Don't get ahead of yourself, kid. Even Kazuyama Gekkō couldn't beat me!"
Rage filled Muren's voice at the sight of Kazuyama's son standing before him.
Using his dōjutsu to block the strike, he unleashed another roaring wave of fire.
"Hmph!"
"Slash!"
Facing the sudden inferno, Michihito shifted his stance, swinging vertically instead of horizontally.
His chakra blade split the flames cleanly in two, and he leapt back, returning to his original position.
"Huh? Brother, you actually retreated?"
"Looks like he's way stronger than us."
"Should we call for backup?"
Senko had just finished healing Gaara's team when she saw her brother driven back.
Her expression tightened. For him to yield that quickly, the enemy's strength had to be overwhelming.
"Let's test him again. If that fails, we'll call for help."
Michihito sheathed his sword, realizing blade work alone wouldn't win this fight.
The moment he did, Senko didn't hesitate. Her form shimmered, fading into transparency before vanishing completely.
"Transparent Escape Technique!"
"Of course—you really are his children."
"Die! Fire Release: Flame Wave!"