The tower buzzed with tension.
By the fifth day, ten teams had made it through. Some walked with pride. Others were carried. And a few looked like they'd left pieces of themselves behind in the forest.
Team 7 stood among them — whole, quiet, and alert.
Naruto's eyes scanned the other Genin.
Gaara of the Sand stood silently in the corner, his arms folded, his gourd still. The air around him practically vibrated with menace.
Across from him, Neji Hyūga stood calm and composed, but his Byakugan had flickered more than once — subtle, but searching.
Kiba growled low under his breath. Ino tossed her hair and smirked. Rock Lee balanced upside down on one hand, grinning. Tenten leaned against the wall, checking her scrolls.
It was a room full of killers in the making.
Then, the doors opened.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, stepped forward, flanked by elite jōnin and ANBU.
"Congratulations," he said, his voice calm, aged, and powerful. "You've survived the Forest of Death."
No one cheered.
They were too tired. Too wary.
The Hokage gestured to a man with a prominent scar on his face — Hayate Gekkō.
He coughed into his sleeve and stepped forward.
"The final phase of the Chūnin Exams is a tournament," he said hoarsely. "One-on-one combat. You'll face off against each other… for the right to become Chūnin."
---
Naruto tensed.
He knew it. A fight. He wanted that. He thrived on that.
But the System pulsed again.
> System Advisory:
Tournament Stage – Multi-threaded paths active
Outcome will influence:
– Public Perception
– System Integrity
– Host Evolution
Hidden Objectives Updated
Hidden objectives?
He checked the updated quest.
---
> Quest: Chūnin Trials – Phase III
Primary Goal: Win Your First Match
Optional Goals:
– Impress at least 2 Jōnin observers
– Survive Gaara
– Avoid System Surge Event
Reward: Stat Points, Perk Unlock, Legacy Path Clue
WARNING: Match outcomes may trigger branching paths
Naruto's heart pounded.
There were layers to this now. Choices, consequences.
This wasn't just about winning. It was about becoming something.
---
Hayate continued. "Before we begin the public tournament in a month, we'll hold preliminary matches now to reduce the number of competitors."
Gasps echoed.
Sakura looked stunned. "Wait — today?"
"Right now," Hayate confirmed. "Some of you are in no condition to proceed. That's fine. You may withdraw."
Gaara's eyes narrowed.
"No."
Neji smiled faintly. "Let the weak fall."
Kiba growled. "Bring it."
Naruto stepped forward.
"I'm in."
---
Hayate led them to a wide underground arena beneath the tower.
It was built of solid stone, ringed with platforms, and surrounded by thick chakra-reinforced walls.
Proctors watched from the balcony.
Genma, Kurenai, Kakashi, Asuma — and behind them, the Hokage himself.
Naruto's gaze swept the room.
There were twelve names on the monitor.
"First Match: Uchiha Sasuke vs. Yoroi Akadō."
Naruto turned to Sasuke. "You got this."
Sasuke nodded, calm and cold.
---
The match was fast.
Yoroi tried to drain Sasuke's chakra, but the Uchiha moved with a precision Naruto hadn't seen before. Even injured from Orochimaru's curse mark, Sasuke held back — then flashed through the air and knocked Yoroi out cold with a brutal palm strike.
Victory.
But Naruto saw it.
The curse mark flared.
And Sasuke stumbled.
Kakashi moved instantly, dragging him out of the arena.
That left Sakura alone, watching with worry.
Then came the second match.
"Second Match: Sakura Haruno vs. Ino Yamanaka."
---
Naruto sat on the edge of the railing, leaning forward.
He knew Sakura could fight — when pushed.
But would she push herself?
The match began.
Ino started fast, using her Mind Transfer Jutsu. Sakura countered, cutting her own hair to escape the technique. Blow after blow followed, and in the end…
The match ended in a draw.
Naruto exhaled, but he saw something change in Sakura's eyes.
She knew she needed to grow stronger.
She would.
---
Match after match passed.
Shino won with precision.
Kiba overwhelmed his opponent with raw speed.
Hinata stood tall — but Neji destroyed her emotionally before the match even started.
Naruto wanted to jump in.
Wanted to stop the cruelty.
But Hinata stood firm.
She fought.
And though she lost, something in her shone.
Naruto whispered, "Respect."
Then the screen buzzed again.
"Next Match: Naruto Uzumaki vs. Kiba Inuzuka."
---
Naruto walked into the arena as the crowd above shifted in excitement.
Kiba grinned, cracking his knuckles.
"Hope you're ready to eat dirt, Naruto."
Akamaru barked beside him.
Naruto smirked.
"I hope you're ready to see stars."
---
Hayate raised his hand.
"Begin!"
Kiba charged, fast — spinning low, launching a smoke bomb.
Akamaru transformed mid-air.
Twin Fang attacks.
Naruto vanished.
A clone had taken the hit.
From the left, Naruto surged forward, landing a punch to Kiba's ribs.
Kiba retaliated with a backflip kick — Naruto ducked, clone launched another combo.
Kiba used a Beast Mimic technique, increasing his speed. He was fast — but Naruto's Echo of Instincts perk lit up.
He sensed the attack before it came.
He turned and—
POW — landed a strike right between Kiba's eyes.
---
> Battle Instinct Triggered
Counter timing: Perfect
+EXP: 310
New Trait Progress: "Combat Reflex II" – 45%
Kiba staggered, dazed.
Naruto formed three clones — then dived into the air.
"Uzumaki Barrage!"
Clones slammed Kiba into the ground with a spinning assault of fists and kicks.
Dust exploded.
Akamaru barked — and de-transformed, unconscious.
Hayate raised a hand.
"Winner: Naruto Uzumaki."
---
Cheers erupted.
Even some of the jōnin clapped.
Naruto looked up toward Kakashi — who gave a rare thumbs-up.
Asuma muttered something, and even Kurenai looked impressed.
The System pinged.
---
> Quest Update: First Match Victory – COMPLETE
Optional Objective – Impress 2 Jōnin: COMPLETE
Reward:
– +2 STR
– +1 DEX
– Perk Unlock: "Adaptive Flow" (Passive)
– System Sync: +3% (Total: 27%)
He staggered back to the hallway, grinning.
But Gaara was waiting.
---
Their eyes met.
For a second, Naruto's senses screamed.
The Echo of Instincts perk roared with warning.
Gaara's intent was cold. Empty.
"You interest me," Gaara said flatly. "The voices in your blood… they whisper to mine."
Naruto clenched his fist.
He wasn't afraid.
He wouldn't be.
"Back off, sand boy."
Gaara smiled — not kind.
"I wonder which of us breaks first."
---
Final matches played out.
Neji crushed his opponent without effort.
Lee's battle shook the floor — even the jōnin stood when he removed his weights.
And finally…
Gaara stepped into the arena.
His opponent didn't last more than ten seconds.
Just… blood.
No movement.
Hayate looked sick as he called the match.
"Gaara wins."
Naruto looked away.
His jaw clenched.
That wasn't a match.
That was murder.
---
That night, Naruto sat alone atop the tower.
The moon hung high.
He opened his System menu quietly.
> System Sync: 27%
New Trait Available: Adaptive Flow (Passive)
– Combos grow more effective with each successful hit
– Slight resistance to Genjutsu interference
Legacy Path Detected: ???
The Legacy Path remained locked.
But Naruto felt it… closer.
It wasn't just about stats anymore.
The System wasn't a tool.
It was a story written in his blood.
He didn't know where it ended.
But he'd keep climbing — match by match, level by level.
And when he faced Gaara again?
He'd be ready.