Naruto watched closely as Neji unleashed the Eight Trigrams One Hundred Twenty-Eight Palms.
The technique was undeniably powerful, but Naruto noticed that it contained too many unnecessary movements.
The Hyūga Clan specialized in targeting chakra points, cutting off the flow of chakra through the body's meridians. Once a shinobi lost access to their chakra, they became as defenseless as a lamb before the butcher's blade.
When the chakra points were struck, the entire network of meridians shut down, leaving the victim in unbearable pain.
Still, Naruto couldn't help but feel that Neji's technique could be refined. If the movements were simplified, the technique would become not only faster and stronger, but also less draining on chakra reserves.
That, however, was something he would discuss with Neji another time.
Neji himself seemed to realize that continuing would be meaningless. He raised his hand at once.
"I surrender."
The declaration shocked the arena. The crowd erupted in uproar, their voices a chorus of disbelief. Why had he surrendered so abruptly, just as the fight was heating up?
In the stands, Hyūga Hiashi frowned as he watched his nephew. He couldn't explain why Neji's strength had suddenly surged, but one thing was clear—at only thirteen, such power would inevitably draw dangerous attention.
"Are you certain you want to surrender?" asked Shiranui Genma, the proctor. His sharp eyes studied both competitors. To him, the two already wielded strength on par with his own—perhaps even beyond. It was impossible to predict who would have triumphed in the end.
Nearby, Kakashi observed with narrowed eyes. He understood much of Naruto's power, yet couldn't grasp why Naruto—who had hidden his abilities so carefully—had chosen this moment to reveal them.
Was he abandoning patience? Did he no longer intend to bide his time and reclaim the Hokage's seat in the future?
From Kakashi's perspective, Naruto clearly knew who he was. By gaining the trust of the Third Hokage and slowly drawing closer to Konoha's leadership, Naruto could eventually reach the position of Hokage. So what was his true goal today? Wasn't he afraid of provoking suspicion from Hiruzen or Danzo?
Though Kakashi carried his own grudges against the village, particularly over his father's death, he still loved Konoha deeply. Naruto surely understood that, which made it unlikely that Kakashi would ever join the Umbrella Organization. Recruiting him would be nearly impossible.
But perhaps that was fine. Naruto didn't need everyone at his side. Leaving Kakashi within Konoha might prove useful someday.
"Might Guy," Kakashi muttered quietly, "stay alert. Something may happen soon."
Guy, who had been brimming with pride at his student's performance, was startled by the gravity in his friend's tone. His smile faded, and he gave a firm nod.
Kakashi's gaze returned to the arena, sharp and troubled. Naruto… what are you planning?
On the field, the proctor declared Naruto the victor.
The Third Hokage was already wary. If Naruto had shown such ability from the very start, Hiruzen would have chalked it up to prodigious talent—after all, the ninja world had no shortage of geniuses. Uchiha Itachi, for instance, had been near Kage-level at thirteen.
But the strength Naruto displayed now far surpassed what Hiruzen had quietly observed of him all these years.
Even so, this was neither the time nor place to confront him.
Naruto stepped down from the arena, and as he passed, Yakushi Kabuto leaned close. "Lord Naruto, Lord Orochimaru is ready."
Naruto gave a slight nod and moved toward Sasuke, meeting his eyes. Sasuke's nod in return confirmed his understanding.
Then Naruto glanced at Gaara, who appeared to be sleeping nearby. A whisper slid into Gaara's mind: "Gaara, when you step onto the stage, the plan begins."
Gaara's eyes opened slowly, meeting Naruto's steady gaze.
He gave the faintest gesture of acknowledgment just as the referee's voice rang out again, calling the next match.
In the original events, Sasuke's late arrival had pushed Gaara's battle to the end. But this time, things proceeded as scheduled.
Sasuke vaulted onto the arena floor. His attire had changed—closer to what he would wear later, with the Uchiha fan emblazoned proudly on his back.
The crowd roared in excitement.
To them, Sasuke was not only a gifted shinobi, but the last orphan of the Uchiha Clan.
The Uchiha name once echoed across the shinobi world. Now only two remained — one had turned rogue, and the other was Sasuke.
Orochimaru caught Kabuto's signal from the crowd; Kabuto, disguised in ANBU garb, had given the cue. A thin smile spread across Orochimaru's face.
Someone nearby murmured, "Why do you smile?"
Orochimaru didn't answer. He turned toward the Third Hokage and said, calm as ever,
"Konoha has its talents, but Sunagakure isn't without merit either."
Hiruzen's eyes shifted to the arena. The young man onstage — slight, pale, and striking in a way that made him memorable — might very well be Sunagakure's finest of the new generation.
On the arena floor, Sasuke and Gaara sized each other up. The referee gave the signal, and the match began.
Then white feathers drifted down like snow.
At first some ordinary spectators blinked and grew drowsy, as if the falling feathers carried sleep in their wake. Among them were nobles from various lands — targets Naruto would never risk killing.
A massacre of nobles would draw political pressure from their daimyo and doom any chance for the Umbrella organization to operate in peace. Nobles had families, lords, mouths to speak for them; a diplomatic uproar would follow.
Feathers fluttered, one after another. At the same moment, hidden ninja from the edges of the arena sprang into motion — figures from Sunagakure and Otogakure emerging at Orochimaru's prearranged signal.
Sakura reacted instantly and dispelled the genjutsu. She turned to help Ino break free. Shikamaru, sensing something wrong, feigned collapse and stayed motionless.
Gaara answered differently. He revealed his tailed-beast form, and Shukaku was unleashed in a rampage that tore the arena's calm apart.
Orochimaru's summons — beasts he had positioned beforehand — burst through the crowd, sowing chaos across the village.
"What on earth is this?!" the Third Hokage shouted, staggering to his feet, face draining of color.
Orochimaru removed all pretense.
"Long time no see, Third Hokage. Look closely."
Hiruzen's expression hardened. The truth struck him: this attack was a conspiracy between Orochimaru and Sunagakure, aimed straight at Konoha. Orochimaru's composed face told the rest — whatever had happened to the Kazekage, it had not ended well.
Orochimaru forced Hiruzen to the rooftop, the two of them a compact, roaring focus of the battlefield below.
"You've grown predictable, teacher," Orochimaru said with cold amusement.
"This might be the last time I call you that."
Fury and disbelief warred across Hiruzen's features.
"Orochimaru! What do you intend to do?!"
Before more could be said, the Sound Four completed a formation and hammered the air with a strong barrier technique.
"Ninjutsu — Four Violet-Flame Battle Encampment!"
Hand seals blurred; a shimmering prison snapped into place around Orochimaru and the Third Hokage. Orochimaru had wanted a private reckoning with Hiruzen — but he'd also planned the spectacle carefully.
Naruto watched, eyes narrowed. Orochimaru's motives were twofold: revenge on the man who had long opposed him, and a theatrical proving of his own talent. There was also a darker wish — to let the Third Hokage die gloriously, a martyr in the face of Orochimaru's designs.
Naruto had long since seen through such theatrics.
Konoha's rot ran deeper than molten hate and individual betrayals; as long as Danzo's shadow lingered, the village would not truly change. Toppled leaves do not remake a root system. If a healthy root could not take hold, Konoha's tree would only rot from within.
Let Orochimaru learn the cost of underestimating an opponent. Hiruzen Sarutobi would not be so easily disposed of.
...
TN:
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