Three days had passed since the teams arrived at the tower.
The atmosphere had settled into an uneasy calm as more genin completed the second phase of the exam, their numbers still far fewer than those who had entered the Forest of Death.
Indra walked alone through the tower's corridors, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls.
The medical treatment had worked wonders, and though occasional twinges of pain from the curse mark reminded him of his encounter with Orochimaru, he was largely recovered.
Boredom had driven him to explore the tower's layout - a practical exercise in memorizing potential escape routes and strategic positions.
The final phase would likely involve combat, and understanding the terrain was always advantageous.
As he turned a corner into a less frequented hallway, Indra paused. The air had shifted subtly, carrying with it a familiar sensation of malice. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"Isn't it a bit soon for our battle?" he asked without turning around. "The preliminaries haven't even started yet."
The bloodlust behind him intensified, pressing against his back like a physical force. Indra chuckled, unimpressed. After facing Orochimaru's overwhelming killing intent, this felt almost... quaint.
He turned slowly, his Sharingan activating - three tomoe spinning lazily to a stop in each crimson eye as he met Gaara's unblinking stare.
The Sand ninja stood motionless, his arms crossed over his chest, gourd strapped to his back.
His pale green eyes held no emotion, yet the air around him seemed to vibrate with barely contained violence.
"Mother wants your blood," Gaara stated flatly. "She hasn't stopped talking about you since we met."
Indra's smirk widened. "I'm flattered. But I'd hate to disappoint her with such an... informal introduction."
He released his own bloodlust then - a focused, controlled wave of killing intent that crashed against Gaara's like ocean waves meeting a cliff.
The air between them seemed to distort, and the ground beneath their feet trembled slightly as their chakras flared in response.
Neither boy moved as they took each other's measure, the pressure in the hallway building to suffocating levels.
Dust particles danced in the air, disturbed by their clashing auras. Then, with deliberate slowness, they began walking toward each other.
One step. Two steps. Three.
They stopped with barely an arm's length between them, neither willing to break eye contact or show any sign of backing down.
"Gaara!" A female voice called from behind the Sand ninja. "What are you doing?"
"Indra!" Multiple voices echoed from the opposite direction.
Neither boy acknowledged the interruptions, their focus absolute as they continued their silent contest of wills.
Temari and Kankuro appeared behind their brother, tension evident in their stances. They knew better than to touch Gaara when he was like this, but their concern was palpable.
From the other end of the hallway came Teams 7, 10, and 11 - drawn by the oppressive chakra that had flooded the area.
Sayaka moved immediately to Indra's side, while Sasuke positioned himself strategically, ready to intervene.
"Enough," a stern voice cut through the tension. Ibiki Morino materialized between the two genin, physically separating them with outstretched arms. Behind him appeared Kakashi and Yua, their expressions serious.
Gaara's sand erupted from his gourd just as Indra vanished in a blur of speed. They collided where Ibiki had stood a split second earlier - sand lashing out like a living whip while Indra's kunai sliced through the air.
"I said ENOUGH!" Ibiki's voice boomed, a wave of his own intimidating presence washing over the genin.
Kakashi appeared behind Indra, a hand on his shoulder, while Yua stood ready with a hand seal formed.
"While fights aren't strictly prohibited," Kakashi said lazily, though his grip on Indra was firm, "they're generally discouraged during the rest period. Do you really want to tire yourselves out before the preliminaries?"
"The preliminaries?" Naruto perked up. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Never mind that now," Yua cut in, her eyes not leaving Gaara. "This isn't the time or place."
Gaara's sand slowly retreated into his gourd, though his gaze remained fixed on Indra. "When we fight," he said softly, "I will kill you and prove my existence."
Indra's Sharingan deactivated as he slipped the kunai back into his pouch. "Threats are just words until they're backed by action," he replied with a casual shrug.
"I look forward to playing with you and your mother till you both break."
A visible shudder ran through Gaara at Indra's words, and for a moment, something like excitement flickered in his dead eyes.
Then, without another word, he turned and walked away, his siblings hurrying after him with worried glances over their shoulders.
"What the hell was that about?" Naruto demanded once the Sand siblings were out of earshot.
"Nothing important," Indra replied dismissively, shrugging off Kakashi's hand. "Just saying hello."
Yua raised an eyebrow. "That was quite the greeting. I've seen diplomatic incidents start with less tension."
"He's dangerous," Shikamaru observed, his sharp eyes following Gaara's retreating form. "His chakra feels... wrong."
"Stay away from him," Sasuke warned, his gaze fixed on Indra. "All of you. There's something not right about that guy."
Indra merely smiled, saying nothing as the group dispersed. The jōnin instructors exchanged meaningful glances before following their students, leaving Ibiki alone in the hallway.
The scarred examiner stared thoughtfully after Indra. "Interesting," he murmured to himself. "Very interesting indeed."
Later that afternoon, Indra sat cross-legged on the floor of his assigned room, meditating. The encounter with Gaara had left him more energized than he cared to admit.
There was something invigorating about facing an opponent who radiated such pure killing intent - a reminder of how far true power can make you be able to go, and how much you can do what you want with it.
A knock on his door broke his concentration.
"It's open," he called, not bothering to rise.
The door slid open to reveal Sasuke, his expression unreadable as he entered and closed the door behind him.
For a moment, he simply stood there, studying Indra with dark eyes that had seen too much for someone so young.
"You should have told me," Sasuke finally said, his voice quiet but firm.
Indra didn't pretend to misunderstand. "About Sayaka's situation? You were on a mission."
"Before that," Sasuke countered, moving to sit across from Indra. "Before you proposed to her. Before you committed the Uchiha clan to this arrangement."
There was no anger in his voice, just a hint of... hurt? The realization surprised Indra. He hadn't considered that Sasuke might feel slighted by being left out of such a decision.
"You're right," Indra acknowledged after a moment. "I should have consulted you as clan head. It was... impulsive."
Sasuke's eyes widened slightly at the admission. He hadn't expected Indra to concede the point so readily.
"It wasn't just about protocol," Sasuke said, his gaze dropping to his hands. "We're... family. The last of our clan. We should face these decisions together."
Indra studied his cousin - this boy who had lost everything and now clung so fiercely to the fragile connection they shared.
It was touching, in its way, how Sasuke had embraced their kinship despite his usual aloofness.
"I didn't think about it that way," Indra admitted truthfully. "I saw a problem that needed solving and acted. But you're right - I should have trusted you with it."
"Is that all she is to you?" Sasuke asked, his voice carefully neutral. "A problem to solve?"
The question caught Indra off guard. He'd never considered how his pragmatic approach might appear to others.
"No," he replied after a thoughtful pause. "Sayaka is my teammate. Someone I've fought alongside. Someone worth protecting."
He met Sasuke's gaze directly. "But the engagement was a tactical decision, not an emotional one."
Sasuke nodded slowly, seeming satisfied with the answer. "Just... don't keep things from me in the future. Especially things that affect our clan."
"I won't," Indra promised, and was surprised to find he meant it. Whatever his ultimate goals, alienating Sasuke served no purpose. The friendship between them was becoming something real - something valuable.
A comfortable silence settled between them, neither feeling the need to fill it with empty words. Finally, Sasuke rose to his feet, preparing to leave.
Before he reached the door, he turned back and, with startling speed, poked Indra in the forehead with two fingers - the same gesture as before.
"Trust me more," Sasuke said, a rare softness in his expression. "I'm your older brother, after all."
Indra blinked in genuine surprise. "Since when did we become brothers? And since when are you the older one?"
"Since I decided," Sasuke replied with simple finality, as if that settled the matter completely.
Indra narrowed his eyes, though there was no real irritation behind the gesture. "And what gives you the right to decide something like that?"
A smirk played at the corner of Sasuke's mouth as he crossed his arms behind his head in an uncharacteristically casual pose. "What are you going to do about it?"
The challenge hung in the air between them, playful yet... nice. Indra felt an unfamiliar warmth spreading through his chest - not the burning drive of ambition or rage.
Belonging.
"Nothing," Indra finally replied, a small smile forming on his lips. "For now."
Sasuke's smirk widened into something almost resembling a genuine smile before he turned and left, sliding the door closed behind him.
Alone again, Indra returned to his meditation, though his thoughts kept drifting back to Sasuke's words.
Brother. It was a loaded term, especially for Sasuke, whose entire existence had been defined by his relationship with Itachi.
That he would willingly apply that title to Indra spoke volumes about how much their bond had grown in such a short time.
And yet, a shadow lingered at the edges of Indra's mind - the knowledge that his plans might someday put him at odds with Sasuke.
The path to becoming "the strongest" rarely accommodated sentimentality.
But... There had to be a place for family and bonds. There had to be. After all, what is the point of being the Strongest if one couldn't enjoy it?
--------------------------
The next day dawned clear and bright, sunlight streaming through the tower's high windows.
The remaining teams had gathered in the central arena - a large, open space with balconies running along both sides and a massive stone statue of hands forming a seal at the far end.
The Hokage stood before them, flanked by jōnin and chunin examiners. His aged face was solemn as he explained the true purpose of the Chunin Exams - not merely to promote talented genin, but to serve as a substitute for war between nations.
"Due to the unexpectedly high number of remaining participants," the Third continued, "we must hold preliminary matches immediately to reduce the number for the final tournament."
Murmurs spread through the assembled genin. Indra, standing with his team, exchanged glances with Sayaka and Chinen.
They had anticipated this, thanks to his foreknowledge, but it was still a significant challenge to face after the ordeals of the forest.
"The preliminary matches will be one-on-one battles," Hayate Gekkō, the proctor for this phase, explained between coughs. "Winners advance to the finals, losers are eliminated. The matches will be decided by random selection."
He gestured toward a large electronic screen on the wall. "This display will show the pairings for each match. There are no rules - you fight until one of you dies, is knocked unconscious, or admits defeat."
A tense silence fell over the arena as it sank in.
"If anyone feels they are not in condition to continue," Hayate added, "now is the time to withdraw."
To everyone's - but Indra's - surprise, Kabuto Yakushi raised his hand, citing exhaustion from the forest. Indra watched him leave with narrowed eyes, knowing the silver-haired "genin" was actually Orochimaru's spy.
When no one else withdrew, Hayate nodded. "Then let's begin. The first match will be..."
The screen flickered to life, names scrolling rapidly before settling on two:
SASUKE UCHIHA vs. YOROI AKADŌ
"Would these two competitors please step forward," Hayate requested. "Everyone else, please move to the viewing area."
As the genin filed toward the balconies, Indra caught Sasuke's eye. No words were exchanged, but a silent understanding passed between them.
This was Sasuke's chance to prove himself - to show that the curse mark wouldn't control him.
From his position on the balcony, Indra watched as Sasuke faced his opponent - a masked Konoha genin who specialized in chakra absorption.
It was a particularly dangerous match-up for someone with Sasuke's condition, as using the Sharingan would risk activating the curse mark.
The battle began intensely, with Yoroi quickly gaining the upper hand by draining Sasuke's chakra. For a moment, it seemed Sasuke might lose.
Then, inspiration struck - using a move he had seen Rock Lee perform, Sasuke executed a perfect Lion's Barrage, defeating Yoroi without relying on his Sharingan or ninjutsu.
As medical-nin carried the unconscious Yoroi away, Sasuke climbed the stairs to join the spectators, a satisfied smirk on his face.
He nodded to Indra as he passed, a silent acknowledgment of the challenge overcome.
The matches continued in rapid succession:
KANKURO vs. MISUMI TSURUGI
Winner: Kankuro, revealing his opponent had been fighting a puppet while the real Kankuro was disguised as the bandaged bundle on his back.
INO YAMANAKA vs. SAKURA HARUNO
Result: Draw, after both girls knocked each other unconscious simultaneously.
TEMARI vs. TENTEN
Winner: Temari, who completely overwhelmed Tenten's weapon-based attacks with her wind jutsu.
As each match concluded, the tension in the arena grew. Everyone knew their turn could come at any moment, and the randomness of the selection added an element of unpredictability that kept nerves on edge.
The electronic board flickered again:
INDRA UCHIHA vs. CHINEN HAYATE
A ripple of surprise ran through the spectators. Teammates facing each other was uncommon but not unprecedented in the Chunin Exams.
"Well, this is awkward," Chinen muttered, running a hand through his wild hair. "I was hoping to at least make it to the finals before getting my ass kicked."
Indra glanced at his teammate, noting the nervous humor that barely masked genuine apprehension. "Don't sell yourself short," he replied quietly. "This is your chance to show what you've learned."
They descended to the arena floor, facing each other as Hayate Gekkō explained the rules once more. Chinen rolled his shoulders, settling into a fighting stance, while Indra stood relaxed, his hands at his sides.
"Begin!" Hayate called, jumping back to give them space.
Chinen didn't hesitate, immediately launching a barrage of shuriken while diving to the side. "Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" he called, sending multiple small fireballs to follow the shuriken.
Indra dodged with minimal movement, his Sharingan active - not out of need, but to make Chinen look good. "Not bad," he commented. "Your timing has improved."
"I've been practicing," Chinen replied, already forming new hand seals. "Earth Style: Stone Spikes!"
The ground beneath Indra erupted with jagged stone protrusions. He leaped upward, using the Wind Step technique to create invisible platforms that allowed him to hover momentarily above the attack.
From the balcony, gasps of surprise could be heard. "He's walking on air!" Naruto exclaimed, leaning dangerously far over the railing.
"Not exactly," Kakashi explained, his visible eye analyzing the technique. "He's creating solid platforms of wind chakra - very advanced chakra control."
Indra landed lightly on the far side of the arena, acknowledging Chinen's growth with a nod. "You've been holding back during training."
"Had to keep some surprises," Chinen grinned, though sweat already beaded on his forehead from the chakra expenditure. "Otherwise, how would I ever catch up to you?"
The battle continued with Chinen displaying an impressive array of techniques and tactical thinking.
He used the arena's limited space cleverly, setting traps and creating situations that would disadvantage most opponents.
But Indra wasn't most opponents. He moved with fluid grace, always one step ahead, his Sharingan predicting Chinen's moves before they happened.
Yet he deliberately avoided ending the match quickly, giving his teammate the opportunity to demonstrate his skills to the watching jōnin and officials.
Finally, as Chinen's chakra began to visibly deplete, Indra decided it was time to conclude the match. With blinding speed, he appeared behind Chinen, a kunai at his throat.
"Yield," he said quietly. "You've shown enough."
Chinen froze, then slowly raised his hands in surrender. "I give up," he announced, loud enough for the proctor to hear.
"Winner: Indra Uchiha," Hayate declared.
As they walked back to the balcony together, Chinen shook his head ruefully. "I never stood a chance, did I?"
"You did better than most would have," Indra replied honestly. "The examiners will have noted your performance."
"Thanks for not embarrassing me out there," Chinen said with a wry smile. "I know you could have ended it in seconds."
Indra merely nodded, his attention already turning to the electronic board as it displayed the next match:
GAARA vs. ROCK LEE
A hush fell over the arena. Everyone who had witnessed Gaara's abilities in the forest knew this would be no ordinary match.
As Lee enthusiastically bounded into the arena, Gaara appeared across from him in a swirl of sand, his expression unchanged from its perpetual blank stare.
"This won't end well," Indra murmured to himself, knowing what was coming.
The match that followed was both awesome and horrifying for most.
Lee, initially outmatched by Gaara's absolute defense, removed his weights to reveal speed that even the Sharingan struggled to track.
When that proved insufficient, he opened five of the Eight Inner Gates, achieving power that momentarily overcame Gaara's sand armor.
But in the end, it wasn't enough. Gaara's sand crushed Lee's left arm and leg, and only Guy's intervention prevented a fatal blow.
As medical-nin rushed Lee away on a stretcher, Gaara returned to the balcony, passing close to Indra.
"Your turn will come," he whispered, his voice carrying an almost erotic excitement that sent chills down the spines of those nearby.
Indra merely smiled, his eyes following Lee's stretcher. "I look forward to our game," he replied softly, causing another visible shudder to run through Gaara.
'Man he's weird. If I didn't know any better, I'd geniunely think he's swinging for the other team.' Thought Indra to himself. The thought though - of a crazy gay Gaara after him, made him internally shudder.
'Nope, don't think of that. That's more terrifying than what he just did to poor Lee.'
The final matches were quickly decided:
NARUTO UZUMAKI vs. KIBA INUZUKA
Winner: Naruto, after a surprisingly strategic battle ending with an accidental but effective "fart" that disrupted Kiba's sensitive sense of smell.
NEJI HYUGA vs. HINATA HYUGA
Winner: Neji, after a fight that nearly killed his cousin, stopped only by the intervention of the jōnin.
SAYAKA HOSHIKAWA vs. YARI KIN
Winner: Sayaka, who demonstrated exceptional speed and precision, disabling her opponent.
SHIKAMARU NARA vs. YAN YAMI
Winner: Shikamaru, using his shadow possession technique to force his opponent to but a kunai against his neck - using a stick he found in the forest as his own mirror.
With the preliminary matches concluded, the winners gathered in the arena once more.
Hayate explained that the final tournament would take place in one month, giving them time to recover and prepare new techniques.
Each finalist drew a number to determine their opponent in the first round.
The brackets were set:
Match 1: Naruto Uzumaki vs. Neji Hyuga
Match 2: Indra Uchiha vs. Gaara
Match 3: Shino Aburame vs. Kankuro
Match 4: Sasuke Uchiha vs. Sayaka Hoshikawa
Match 5: Shikamaru Nara vs. Temari
Indra's eyes widened slightly at the pairings. Facing Gaara in the first round was unexpected - but actually better now that he thinks about it.
When the invasion happens, he can perhaps take out the Jinchuuriki before things escalate too much - impressing Renjirō who would possibly be present.
The fight between Sayaka and Sasuke didn't really matter, since it won't happen, but Indra knew he had to for now act the part as if it did.
As they were dismissed, Indra caught Sayaka's eye. She gave him a small nod, a "understanding"passing between them without words - again, not really, since Indra's plans were completely different.
Outside the tower, teams began dispersing back to their villages or quarters. Indra found himself walking alongside Sasuke, both lost in thought about the coming month of training.
"Sayaka will be a challenging opponent," Indra observed casually. "Don't underestimate her because she's my teammate."
Sasuke's expression remained neutral. "I never underestimate anyone. But I'm more concerned about your match. Gaara is... unstable."
"I'm aware," Indra replied with a slight smile. "But instability can be exploited."
After a moment's hesitation, Sasuke spoke again. "I could help you prepare. My Sharingan might spot weaknesses in his defense that you missed."
Indra glanced at him, genuine surprise evident in his features. "You'd do that?"
"Of course," Sasuke said simply. "That's what brothers do, isn't it?"
A small smile - genuine and unguarded - crossed Indra's face briefly before his usual composure returned. "I suppose it is. But don't worry. I have my own plans." Indra stated as he patted Sasuke's shoulder and began walking again.
He indeed had plans.
He needed to speak to a certain Sannin after all.
-----------------------
(Author note: Hello everyone! I hope you all enjoyed the chapter!
So, finally Phase 2 of the Exam is done, now we are getting to the more juicy stuff.
So, do tell me whether you like Gaara and Indra's confrontation in the beginning and the fact that they will be facing each other instead of Sasuke against Gaara.
Well, I hope to see you all later,
Bye!)