The entire stadium had fallen silent.
No one dared to speak. No one dared to move.
Even the wind seemed afraid to brush past Benimaru.
The golden chakra that flooded the arena twisted and rippled — not wild, but controlled. It felt alive, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.
Every flicker of light made the shadows dance violently across his face. His eyes, once soft and warm, were now burning molten gold — cold and merciless.
Neji was frozen beneath his gaze. The veins around his Byakugan bulged, but even his vision couldn't comprehend what he was seeing.
His chakra...it wasn't human
It was something far darker — the fury of a demon wearing the skin of a man.
Benimaru took a step forward, and the entire arena trembled.
Each footstep cracked the ground beneath him, the sound echoing like thunder.
Jonin in the stands were already forming hand seals — ready to intervene if he went too far.
But none of them moved yet. They couldn't.
Because deep down… they were terrified.
Even the usually stoic Kakashi trembled before the might of this chakra. He lifted his headband, revealing his Sharingan—he would step in if this went too far
Benimaru walked slowly and carefully—each movement controlled and calculated. His eyes were no longer yellow but pitch black—an abyss that threatened to consume it all
He stood in front of Neji then knelt down to his level.
"Do you know your sin?"
Neji nodded faintly, too afraid to look up. Benimaru's lips curled upwards. He was planning on simply watching the exams and participating when they called for him but…..
He couldn't forgive what Neji had done.
Forming a Chakra blade in his left arm, he pointed it at the Hyuga's face. It was bright gold, a slight contrast to the normal blue color of Chakra
It pulsed with an otherworldly energy—even Neji could sense it. His Byakugan could see the ridiculous amount of Chakra needed to form it
And the even more ridiculous control needed to maintain it
"This is the blade of retribution" said Benimaru, no hint of remorse or sorrow in his voice
"Today, you die…contemplate your sins as you rot in hell"
My fist surged forward, chakra blade burning with an ethereal golden glow. Kakashi rushed in to stop me but he wouldn't make it—he was too slow
My blade was inches away from the Hyuga's head, aimed for a quick beheading but before I could finish him, I felt a set of arms cuddling me from behind
"Please…..stop"
Hinata was barely conscious, barely living but she had dragged her body from the floor to stop me. Her face streaked with blood and tears
"Please…..don't kill him"
My chakra blade faltered for a second, recognition of what I'm doing dawned upon me
'This isn't me. What am I doing '
"You're doing exactly what I made you do, little brother"
His brother's voice oozed from the mindscape
"What do you mean"
His brother didn't answer immediately, choosing to enjoy the feeling of powerlessness he'd given me
"ANSWER ME!" I barked, voice full of hatred and anger
My brother's eyes turned to slits as he appeared behind me. My eyes widened, I didn't even see him move.
He grabbed my face and slammed it against the ground. He didn't stop, he yanked me by my hair and pointed a pitch-black blade at my stomach.
With heavy breath, I spat "Do it."
My brother locked eyes with me, then dissolved the sword and gut punched me into the wall
I could feel my eyes rolling to the back of my head. He vanished, reappeared in front of me and stomped my head into the floor, cracking it
"Never raise your voice to me again."
He let go of my hair and sat back on his throne. I got back up with shaky legs
"At the very least…" I breathed out, voice barely audible. His ears perked slightly
"Tell me what you did"
My brother's lips curved ridiculously wide. He looked like the devil incarnate
"I didn't do anything" he said
"But when you lost control of your emotions, you started something you can't finish"
"Started something I can't finish" Benimaru repeated
"You caused a forced joining of our powers which led to my powers corrupting you because you were too weak mentally to handle it" he said, mouth curving to a sly smile
I got a tick mark at being called weak but didn't let it get to me. When I get stronger, I'll knock that smile off his face
My vision blurred slightly, I'm back in the real world. My chakra blade dissolves completely as I stop funneling it
I can feel Hinata still clinging to me, despite her unconscious form. I rub my hand against her hair
"It's okay now" I mutter "I won't hurt your cousin anymore"
Even while asleep a smile graces her lips. I grin at her—she is really beautiful
However, what I just did couldn't be ignored. Kakashi saw that I had stopped my assault but couldn't relax
He blitzed behind me and placed a hand on my shoulder
"Not bad...though I'd recommend using that power for exams, not terrifying your classmates" he smiled, trying to diffuse the earlier tension
"Yes sure. Whatever you say" I responded casually "But he had it coming"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "is that so."
Medics had already surrounded both Neji and Hinata and began treating them. However Hinata was in far worse condition than Neji
Neji had some minor bruises and scratches that would heal. Hinata on the other hand, was on the brink of death and needed emergency treatment
Neji watched as they carried his cousin away with a look of disdain, but one glare from memade him start studying the clouds
Within the VIP room, Hiruzen's hand was raised—prepared to strike me down at a moment's notice
Thankfully it didn't come to that. He sighed dramatically
'The boy has potential' He thought 'But that dark power plaguing him is limiting it. What he just displayed easily rivals Kage level chakra'
The Kazekage on the other hand had different thoughts
'It seems Benimaru-kun has grown quite a bit since our bout…maybe I should've marked him when I had the chance' he pondered regretfully
With the effect of my chakra dissipating, people in the crowd began waking up. Most Genin stared at me in pure awe while others hid away in fear
Some had particularly interesting reactions. Gaara was glaring daggers into my skull for some reason
Lee kept pumping his fist into the air, he looked like he was genuinely excited to fight me
Sasuke stared at me in disbelief. He knew I was strong but I just surpassed his expectations, but then his eyes narrowed
'He wasn't this strong when we faced Orochimaru was he? Or was he hiding his strength'
Shino was staring at me, trying to analyze the situation
'He is far stronger than any of us. Is he truly a genin?'
Naruto jumped down the railing, running at me
'He's amazing. I have to get stronger or else Benimaru might steal the Hokage title from me'
He stopped in front of Neji and glared at him
"Benimaru may have given you his own brand of justice but I'm not done" he clenched his fist "I'll get payback for Hinata…and defeat you"
Neji seemed to have gotten some confidence back and retorted sharply "A failure like you thinks he can beat me? What a joke"
Naruto's jaw tightened "I'll show you...I'm the Number one knuckleheaded ninja, Naruto Uzumaki"
Neji snorted in disdain, believing it was beneath him to reply and walked out of the arena.
Naruto glared at his retreating form and turned to me "Benimaru…how are you so strong"
He asked, awe and amazement clear in his voice. What I had achieved was ridiculous. I had singlehanded caused hundreds of people to collapse without raising a finger.
It was absurd, but was also reality—and Naruto had to accept it. Now only one question remained in Naruto's mind: how could he get this powerful as well
I ruffled the blond's hair playfully. I was truly amazed, even after seeing the huge gap in our abilities—Naruto had no jealousy or envy whatsoever
His eyes held pure happiness and an intense desire to also grow to this level
"You wanna know how to become like me" I asked, he nodded his head ferociously "100 pushups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squads and a 10 kilometer run every single day"
Naruto blinked "Everyday?"
Benimaru replied with the most serious tone he could muster "Everyday"
And with that, the chuunin exams proceeded as normal. The next match was Gaara vs Dosu
The match, if it could even be called that, was brutal. It ended before it even began.
Gaara's sand crushed Dosu slowly and painfully, until he squished him into nothing more than a pool of blood—showing just how terrifying the chuunin exams really were
The Procter declared Gaara the winner, then announced the next match
"ROCK LEE AND BENIMARU RYOTA. COME TO THE ARENA"
Without wasting time, Lee back flipped into the arena with style
"Benimaru, LET US START OUR BATTLE WITHOUT DELAY" he shouted, voice full of determination
"Behind you"
I walked out from behind Lee's shadow. In an instant I stood multiple meters away from him
I cracked my neck purposefully, Lee was right—this would be a battle to remember
—-CHAPTER END