"First match! Uchiha Sasuke vs. Akadō Yoroi!"
As Gekkō Hayate announced the first pairing, Naruto's face twisted with unease.
"Sasuke's up first?"
He knew Sasuke's condition was far from ideal. It wasn't a good time for him to be stepping into the arena.
The jōnin who had come to observe all turned their eyes toward Sasuke.
Shigure was kneeling beside him, using medical ninjutsu to stabilize his condition.
"That Genin can actually use the Mystical Palm Technique!"
Several veteran shinobi were visibly surprised. While Shigure was fairly well-known in Konoha, few had expected him to possess such advanced medical skills.
Medical ninjutsu was not something one could learn easily—it required extraordinary chakra control.
The fact that Shigure could perform the Mystical Palm Technique meant his chakra control was on par with seasoned medical-nin. The realization left many impressed.
Might Guy glanced at Kakashi and said, "So this is your student? But Kakashi, Uchiha Sasuke doesn't look well at all."
Kakashi sighed helplessly. He knew Sasuke's condition was precarious. He could only hope the boy could push through.
On the side, both Kurenai and Asuma frowned in concern.
Sasuke forced himself to his feet. "I can fight!"
He gave Shigure a determined look.
Shigure nodded. "Then make it quick."
Sasuke responded with a short nod, covering his abdomen as he made his way toward the arena.
Across from him, Akadō Yoroi smirked at the sight. Sasuke's weakened state gave him confidence.
"Hmph, looks like you got messed up in the Forest of Death." Yoroi sneered. "You'd better give up now, kid."
Sasuke only raised his head, eyes narrowing as he let out a cold snort. He had no intention of dignifying the taunt with words.
Hayate glanced at Sasuke's state. The longer this dragged on, the worse it would be for him. He wasted no time.
"Begin!"
From the stands, Kiba muttered, "Sasuke looks like he doesn't even have the strength to fight… is he really gonna hold out?"
Shino replied calmly, "It's probably harder to make him give up than to keep fighting."
Shikamaru sighed. "Troublesome guy's still as stubborn as ever."
As former classmates, they all knew Sasuke's pride wouldn't let him quit. But in his current condition, victory seemed impossible.
Yet the moment Hayate gave the signal—
—Sasuke exploded forward with blinding speed.
The sudden burst stunned everyone who had just been pitying him seconds ago.
Bang!
Yoroi barely managed to block the first strike with his armored gauntlet—only for Sasuke's form to vanish instantly.
"So fast!" Rock Lee's eyes widened. That speed rivaled his own.
"Lion Combo!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
A flurry of devastating blows rained down, each movement flowing into the next as if choreographed. Yoroi was pummeled before he could react, ending with a crushing slam to the ground.
The battle was over in less than five seconds.
Gasps filled the hall.
Sasuke stood over his fallen opponent, breathing hard. His eyes shifted toward Hayate. "Did I win?"
Hayate blinked in surprise before kneeling to check Yoroi's condition. The man was unconscious.
"The winner—Uchiha Sasuke!"
Shigure appeared instantly at Sasuke's side, guiding him back to the observation area and resuming treatment. The Mystical Palm Technique dulled his pain and stabilized him.
All eyes lingered on Sasuke. No one had expected such a decisive victory from him in his condition.
Guy nodded in approval. "Kakashi, I didn't realize your student's taijutsu fundamentals were this refined."
Kakashi smiled under his mask. "He wasn't this strong at first. A lot of this progress… comes from training with Shigure."
Both Naruto and Sasuke had been pushing themselves relentlessly over the past month, their strength growing at an astonishing pace.
"Next match! Uzumaki Naruto vs. Inuzuka Kiba!"
Naruto glanced briefly at Sasuke before leaping down into the arena. Kiba, with Akamaru by his side, stepped in from the opposite side.
"Naruto!" Kiba called, grinning. "Didn't think I'd be facing you. Honestly, I was just hoping I wouldn't run into Shigure. Guess I got lucky!"
He still thought Naruto was the dead-last of their class. He had no idea how much had changed.
Naruto simply looked at him with calm determination.
Hayate signaled. "Begin!"
Naruto didn't waste words. He clapped his hands into a seal.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
Bang!
Five clones appeared in a puff of smoke, rushing forward to surround Kiba and Akamaru.
Kiba's eyes widened. "Shadow Clone? You actually mastered that jutsu?"
From the stands, Kurenai frowned. "Kakashi, it's reckless to let a Genin use such a chakra-draining technique."
But Kakashi only chuckled. "I never taught it to him."
Not Kakashi?
Everyone was stunned. If it wasn't Kakashi's doing, then whose influence was it?
Asuma frowned. "The Inuzuka clan's ninjutsu isn't weak. Even if Naruto has mastered the Shadow Clone Technique, that alone won't be enough to win…"
But before he could finish speaking, Naruto's clones charged.
Kiba smirked, planning to rely on his taijutsu and Akamaru's support to quickly knock out the clones. Yet the moment the first clone's strike landed—
Bang!
Kiba's eyes widened. Instead of dispersing, the clone grabbed his arm and locked it down.
"What—?!"
Another clone moved in, then another. In an instant, both of Kiba's hands were pinned, leaving him wide open.
The remaining shadow clones swarmed him, fists and feet flying in coordinated strikes.
"Damn it! Naruto, don't get cocky! Akamaru, let's go—"
But before Kiba could complete his command, bam!—Naruto himself erupted from the ground beneath him, landing a crushing uppercut that launched Kiba into the air and dropped him flat on his back.
The fight was over in less than five seconds.
As the clones dispersed, Naruto stood tall, looking down at his unconscious opponent before quietly turning to walk back to his team.
On the sidelines, Gekkō Hayate's lips twitched. So this is Shigure's teammate… no wonder.
Defeating an Inuzuka heir that decisively… it wasn't something a "dead last" Genin should have been capable of.
"The winner—Uzumaki Naruto!"
"Kiba!"
Hinata and Shino immediately leapt down from the stands to check on him.
Asuma stared in disbelief. "How is this possible? Naruto was the weakest of his class… but now he just crushed an Inuzuka in seconds. What exactly has Kakashi been teaching him?"
From the crowd, murmurs spread in shock. Naruto's growth was undeniable.
Hayate raised his voice. "Next match—Shigure versus…"
...
TN:
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