Karin and Gaara faced each other under the glaring sun, the tension between them as thick as mist in the Land of Water.
Two redheads. Two different storms.
Karin adjusted her glasses slightly, her gaze locked on Gaara's hollow green eyes. She'd seen his battles—opponents crushed without him lifting a finger. But she wasn't like the others.
Gaara, meanwhile, stared silently. His sand twitched around his gourd like a restless serpent sensing prey.
He'd seen her, too. Not just her combat. But the rage, the resolve, the chakra that pulsed like wildfire under her skin.
"Begin!" Hayate announced.
Karin didn't hesitate.
She bolted forward.
Her speed wasn't flashy, but it was clean, fierce, and precise. A shinobi trained by both Naruto and Tsunade knew how to hit hard and fast.
The crowd erupted, cheers and gasps shaking the arena like a mini-earthquake.
Up in the stands, Kana covered her mouth, fingers trembling slightly. Her baby girl was charging head-on at a boy who could bury people alive.
"Karin…" she whispered.
In the arena, Gaara raised a hand calmly.
SHHHRRRRK!
The sand leapt up like a tidal wave, forming a shield between them.
THWACK! Karin's punch hit the barrier hard.
She didn't flinch. Instead, she twisted mid-strike, throwing an elbow to the left.
Another wall of sand rose up.
She danced around it like a boxer with chakra-enhanced footwork, slamming another punch toward Gaara's side—but the sand was everywhere, reacting faster than she could follow.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Every strike was met with a sickening crunch of impact, but not on flesh—only the grainy surface of that cursed defense.
Karin leapt back, her fist bruised slightly. She blew a breath, but her grin was feral.
"Hmm… I'm really curious—how does your sand work?" Karin asked, tilting her head slightly, eyes sharp with interest. "It moves like it has a will of its own... like it's trying to protect you."
Gaara didn't respond. Not with words. But for a flicker of a second—just one—his eyes twitched. Not in fear. Not in anger. But… emotion? Then, just as quickly, they returned to their usual cold, empty stare.
His fingers curled into a claw.
FWHHHOOOOSH!
The sand surged forward like a tidal wave, aiming to swallow her whole.
Karin didn't back down.
Instead, she slammed her heel into the ground. The earth cracked violently beneath her feet, and with a grunt of effort—
BOOM!
A massive wall of stone erupted from the ground, blocking the oncoming sand wave like a fortress forged in an instant.
Dust and debris clouded the air.
Gaara's eyes scanned left, then right. His sand hovered protectively around him, forming a swirling perimeter.
But Karin was gone.
FWIP!
A gust of air brushed past Gaara's cheek.
A single shuriken.
The sand blocked it effortlessly, rising just in time.
His eyes narrowed.
"Predictable…"
A voice echoed from behind the wall.
"Got it."
Karin stepped out, her expression lit with revelation. "I knew it. Your sand doesn't just obey your will—it acts on its own, even when you're unaware."
She slipped the rest of the unused shuriken back into her pouch with a smooth motion.
Then, she raised her hands.
Her fists began to glow, coated in pulsing chakra that hummed in the air around her like a storm ready to break.
She stared directly at Gaara now, no more testing.
"Now the real fight begins."
Up above, Naruto leaned forward, eyes half-lidded in quiet confidence."At least now... she's taking it seriously."
Kana, tense and holding her breath, turned to him."She'll win, right?"
Naruto didn't even blink."Whether she will win isn't the real question. The real question is—does she want to win?"
That kind of confidence could make the sky feel small.
Hiashi folded his arms, raising an eyebrow."That's a bold take."
Kushina smirked without looking at him."Hiashi, don't underestimate my daughter. She was born from Uzumaki blood. That means fireworks."
Hiashi gave a small grunt of agreement but kept his eyes locked on the battlefield."We're watching."
Down in the arena—
Karin moved. Not like a human. Not like a shinobi. Like a storm given form.
Her chakra enhanced every muscle, every joint, every cell. She moved with purpose—a silent promise that Gaara wouldn't stand untouched for long.
A punch.
A kick.
Another.
At first, Gaara's sand kept up—barely.
But then she accelerated.
Faster.
Stronger.
Harder.
Gaara's eyes widened for a heartbeat. Just a week ago, some unknown boy had managed to land a blow on him—and now, a red-haired girl was overwhelming his sand like it was made of paper.
WHAM!
A kick to the back.
Gaara stumbled forward, the sand swirling wildly around him.
Up in the stands—
Rasa, the Kazekage, chuckled lightly, arms crossed."Your village seems to be a hub of young prodigies."
Hiruzen puffed on his pipe, a calm smirk on his lips."Your son isn't lacking either. Having a Kekkei Genkai is impressive—but mastering it this early?"
The guards posted nearby exchanged glances. These two sounded like proud leaders praising each other's youth—but beneath those silky words?
Politics.
Mind games.
Only the sharpest ears could hear the daggers under the compliments.
In the arena—
Karin didn't slow down.
A flurry of fists and kicks tore through Gaara's defenses.
Crack.Crack.Crack.
She leapt back for a moment, letting the dust settle.
Gaara stood, breathing heavily. No blood. But his skin had fractured.
Then—SHHHK!
The broken layer of his body crumbled away, revealing a hidden layer beneath:Sand armor. Thick. Protective. Still intact.
Karin stared at him, wiping a drop of sweat from her cheek."So… you're still good to go, huh?"
Gaara didn't answer. He raised his hand—and with a violent clench, his sand surged forward like a predator.
But—
"I give up."
The words fell like thunder in the silent arena.
Everyone blinked.
What?
Even Gaara's sand didn't stop. It roared forward—relentless.
But just as it was about to strike her—
She vanished.
Appeared right behind Gaara. Leaned in, voice like a whisper laced with honey and steel:
"I said I give up. Not because I can't win. It's just… I've had enough fighting today."
And just like that—
She walked out of the arena.
Silence reigned.
Then—BOOM!
Like a dam breaking, the audience erupted.
A tsunami of cheers, screams, gasps, and awe crashed down on the stadium.
People weren't even sure what they had just witnessed. But it was electric. And it wasn't over.
Hayate Gekkō stood in the center of the arena like a statue struck by lightning—frozen in disbelief. The match had ended not with a knockout, not with a jutsu clash, but with three simple, seismic words.
"I give up."
He blinked. Once. Twice.
Then, clearing his throat, he forced his voice to work. "With Karin's surrender, Gaara is declared the winner. He advances to the next round."
But Gaara… didn't move.
Still as a sand sculpture, he stood rooted in place, eyes wide, lips slightly parted. Something about Karin's calm walk-off had struck him in a way brute force never did. A whisper stronger than a scream.
Hayate walked over and gently tapped his shoulder."You okay, kid?"
Gaara blinked back into reality, as if waking from a genjutsu. Wordlessly, he turned and exited the arena, the sand trailing behind him like a ghost.
In the stands—
Confusion and awe mixed like storm clouds rolling across the audience.
"What just happened? "She just walked out! Like a boss!" That was the coolest match I've ever seen!" She had him on the ropes and chose to stop. Who does that?"
The crowd buzzed, voices overlapping, but all carried a tone of admiration. Karin Uzumaki had become a name to remember.
Kushina leaned back with a victorious smirk, her fiery hair catching the sunlight. "So, Hiashi… thoughts?"
Hiashi adjusted his robes with the calm of a man trying to salvage pride. "I simply said she was a talented kunoichi. That hasn't changed."
Laughter burst around him.
Kushina elbowed Kana with a grin. "Damn right she's talented."
Kana didn't say anything. Her eyes glistened, and her smile was soft, too full to form words. Pride radiated from her like heat from a fire.
Meanwhile, high above—
The two Kage sat, each measuring the other with hidden scales.
Rasa, the Kazekage, kept his voice even."Hokage… Are you certain she's a Genin?"
Hiruzen exhaled a slow puff of smoke, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully."She is. But I admit… I didn't realize just how far she'd come."
His mind was already racing behind the mask of wisdom.
I need to speak with Kakashi. And Iruka. Did they see this coming? Did they train her for this? Or… is this the blood of the Uzumaki at work? That kind of resolve—it's not taught. It's inherited.
The stage had been set. The players had made their entrance. And though this match had ended in surrender—
Karin Uzumaki had just won the crowd.
And rattled the Kazekage's plans, if only slightly.
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[Author's Note:
Greetings, fellow readers.
This chapter may not land the same for everyone. Some of you might feel surprised, maybe even disappointed—and that's okay. I'm just a storyteller walking a path carved by vision, instinct, and sometimes... bold choices.
Let me be upfront—this fight was meant to feel one-sided.
In the original timeline, Gaara lost twice—once without Shukaku, and once with it. Both defeats came at the hands of Genin, and yes, there might've been a sprinkle (or a storm) of plot armor involved. Let's be real—he did get smacked around by Rock Lee.
But in my story, this is not the same Karin you remember from the OG. This Karin has spent years honing her craft, trained under two of the strongest kunoichi. She is a refined blade, not a half-drawn kunai.
So yes, the power gap here is intentional. Massive. Purposeful. And narratively earned.
I stand by this decision—but I'm open to your thoughts. Is the claim fair? Or does it feel off? Let me know—I respect every perspective.
As always, thank you for walking beside me on this journey. Your support means more than words can say.]