Gaara's expression turned deeply serious.
To slice through Kankuro's puppet…
Was it that sword?
Gaara glanced at Sasuke's blade. It looked like a fine weapon, but he dismissed the thought. From that brief clash, this boy's speed and sword strikes were extraordinarily powerful.
Far beyond a chūnin's level.
Gaara looked at Kankuro, still dazed on the ground, and frowned. "Get up. How long will you shame the village?"
His tone was flat but sharp, making Kankuro tremble.
Though heartbroken over his puppet, he stood quickly.
"I-I, Gaara," Kankuro stammered, sweating. "L-let me explain, without the puppet—"
"Shut up!" Gaara snapped.
His voice held no trace of camaraderie.
Even a hint of killing intent.
Kankuro trembled again, lowering his head, silent.
"Gaara…" Temari, sweating, didn't dare speak further.
Sasuke's brows furrowed. As teammates, their fear of this Gaara seemed excessive.
He gave Gaara a deep look, then shook his head, disinterested, turning to Neji.
He raised his sword.
"We'll join the Chūnin Exams," Sasuke said, his gaze on Neji sparking with battle intent. "But I'm curious about your strength."
With that, he stepped forward, appearing before Neji in a flash, swinging his sword down with force.
The Qingfeng Sharp Sword screeched.
Boom—!
A heavy impact echoed.
Shockwaves rippled outward.
Neji caught Sasuke's sword between his hands!
"What… kind of monsters are these?" Temari clenched her fists, stunned, staring at the cracked ground beneath them.
Were they really genin? Their peers?
Or…
Was this the strength of Konoha's genin?
Kankuro stumbled back, sweat pouring.
If that strike had aimed at him, he'd be in pieces.
These two genin hadn't even used ninjutsu.
Just taijutsu, and this powerful.
"No need for such probing," Neji said calmly, then opened his eyes wide.
—Byakugan!
Veins bulged around his eyes, scanning Sasuke for energy distinct from chakra.
"You're right," Sasuke said, twisting his sword. As Neji released, he leapt back several steps.
His eyes glowed crimson.
—Sharingan!
He too wanted to know what series Neji had opened.
Their auras surged, battle intent rising.
"Byakugan… Sharingan," Temari said, swallowing, eyeing their eyes. "They're from Konoha's strongest Bloodline Limit clans!"
It hit her.
Neji had called this black-haired boy Uchiha Sasuke.
He was the lone Uchiha survivor?
"Bloodline Limits, this strong?" Kankuro said, his painted face paling as their auras clashed. "Terrifying. This presence… stronger than jōnin."
"Not 'like'… they are that strong," Gaara said, his expression frozen.
He felt pressure.
Why…
At their age, this unreasonable power.
Like monsters.
But worse—
Why did these two, with monster-like strength, lack the fear and hatred he faced?
Gaara saw no loneliness in their eyes, like his own.
This village…
Weren't they afraid?
Above, munching chips, Shen Mo heard Gaara's thoughts. He understood—this future Fifth Kazekage still believed fighting only for himself made him strong, that his existence was for killing.
"What series suits him…" Shen Mo muttered, then tossed three wealth detectors at Gaara's group.
The result… darkened his face.
Barely better than Sakura.
As the Fourth Kazekage's kids, how were they this poor?
No profit here.
Shen Mo sighed, eating chips, watching, pondering.
Then…
"Hey, hey," Naruto said, suddenly realizing. "You two aren't planning to fight here, are you? You'll wreck stuff and owe a ton of money."
Money…?
At that word, Neji and Sasuke's faces shifted.
Their auras weakened.
One's clan was gone, the other had left his—both broke.
"Hey," Sasuke said, raising his voice. "There's a better place to fight."
"The Stage?" Neji caught on.
"Exactly," Sasuke said, thinking of Haku's Level 4 can, his heart heating up. "You open it."
Opening a Stage meant a real fight, maybe catching a high-level member's eye.
"Why me?" Neji said, intrigued but tilting his chin. "You open it."
"Hmph. Whoever opens it, the loser pays," Sasuke said coldly. "You came to me, so you should open it."
"Heh," Neji chuckled. "You suggested the Stage, so you open it."
"…"
"…"
Neither spoke.
Gaara's group looked confused.
"What are they talking about?" Temari asked.
"No idea," Kankuro said, shaking his head. "Some secret code?"
"Makes sense, because we're here?" Temari's face darkened.
Not just terrifying strength, but cautious talk—this was Konoha.
Shen Mo, watching, was speechless.
Because…
Neither could afford to open the Fate-Witnessing Stage.
Yet neither would admit it.