"Match… begin!"
"Sakura Haruno!"
Naruto stepped into the arena with steady confidence, the cheers of the crowd washing over him like a familiar tide. Yet the moment he came face-to-face with Sakura Haruno, his steps faltered ever so slightly.
For a brief instant, dizziness clouded his thoughts.
Once, he had been deeply in love with her. Back then, Sakura had been the center of his world, the reason he pushed himself forward no matter how many times he was rejected or ignored. But now, standing across from her in the Chunin Exams arena, she felt strangely distant—like someone he knew well, yet no longer truly understood.
"Sakura-chan," Naruto said with a sheepish grin, scratching the back of his head. "I didn't expect you to be my opponent."
Sakura looked equally surprised, but her expression quickly hardened with resolve. "I didn't expect this either, Naruto. But I won't hold back."
Naruto laughed lightly. "Yeah, I figured. You've gotten way stronger training with Kurenai-sensei, haven't you?"
"But I definitely won't lose either!"
They stood facing one another, feeling like strangers who had once been incredibly close. The silence between them was awkward, heavy with memories neither of them chose to voice.
At the proctor's command, the battle began.
Without hesitation, Sakura activated her most effective technique.
"Genjutsu: Diabolical Illusion—Cherry Blossom View!"
In an instant, cherry blossoms bloomed all around Naruto. Petals cascaded from the sky, swirling gracefully as if carried by a gentle spring breeze. The air shimmered with illusion, painting a beautiful yet dangerous scene.
But Naruto was ready.
His training with Kakashi-sensei and the perverted sage had not been in vain. A confident smile curved his lips as his chakra surged.
"Genjutsu at this level won't work on me anymore," he said calmly.
"Sakura-chan…"
"Genjutsu—release!"
Buzz—
The illusion shattered instantly. The falling blossoms vanished, the distorted scenery collapsed, and Naruto's vision snapped back into perfect clarity.
Sakura's eyes widened in shock. "What?!"
Up in the stands, Kakashi's visible eye curved into a smile. "Naruto really has grown, thanks to his training with Jiraiya-sama."
Hinata clasped her hands together nervously. "Go, Naruto-kun…"
Sasuke clicked his tongue in annoyance.
Refusing to panic, Sakura quickly performed another hand sign, activating a technique she had only recently mastered.
"Genjutsu: Three Cherry Blossoms!"
Naruto saw Sakura crouch as if gathering petals. Cherry blossoms erupted once more, scattering across the ground in dazzling color.
But this time, the illusion concealed something far more dangerous.
While Naruto's attention appeared focused on the falling petals, Sakura lunged forward, her chakra-enhanced fist aimed straight at his chest.
Bang!
The impact echoed through the arena.
But Sakura's punch never landed.
Naruto had caught her fist effortlessly with one hand.
"How is this possible?!" Sakura gasped.
Naruto smiled faintly. "Your genjutsu really has improved, Sakura-chan."
"But so has my perception."
A faint halo of chakra radiated outward from Naruto's body, forming an invisible spherical barrier around him.
Kakashi activated his Sharingan, and his expression shifted in disbelief.
"…No way."
Kurenai frowned. "Kakashi, how did Naruto detect Sakura's attack through that genjutsu?"
Asuma and Might Guy leaned forward, equally puzzled.
Kakashi exhaled slowly. "I knew Naruto trained with Jiraiya-sama… but I didn't expect him to learn this technique."
"Barrier Technique: Celestial Veil Formation."
Asuma's cigarette nearly slipped from his lips. Kurenai stiffened, and even Might Guy's usual enthusiasm faltered.
"What?!"
Hinata turned anxiously. "Kakashi-sensei, what kind of technique is that?"
Kakashi didn't look away from the arena. "It's one of Jiraiya-sama's secret techniques. Once activated, visual-based attacks and genjutsu become nearly useless."
"Within the barrier's range, chakra perception takes priority. As long as the user can sense chakra, no illusion can deceive them."
He paused, clearly impressed. "This is an extremely advanced and complex barrier technique. Even most jonin wouldn't dare attempt to learn it."
"And Naruto mastered it in a single month."
Asuma sighed. "Well, considering the blood of the Uzumaki Clan flows in his veins…"
Kakashi's thoughts drifted briefly to his teacher's wife. He shook his head, a quiet ache in his chest.
Among the spectators, most genin and chunin had no idea what had just occurred.
But the Third Hokage stared in astonishment.
"Bu çocuk… gerçekten bunu başardı mı?"
"Jiraiya'nın Göksel Örtü Formasyonu…"
Beside him, Kazekage Rasa's eyes widened, his breathing growing heavy.
"Uzumaki Naruto…"
"Just as expected of someone who forced me to reconsider my plans."
Such talent was truly enviable.
He instinctively wanted to lick his lips, but restrained himself. The fanatic glint in his eyes only deepened.
Sasuke clenched his fists. "Damn it… he's gotten even stronger."
Hinata, on the other hand, looked radiant.
"Naruto-kun… you're amazing."
With Sakura's genjutsu rendered ineffective, the outcome became inevitable.
Naruto stepped forward and gently pressed a kunai against Sakura's throat.
"You've lost, Sakura-chan."
Her face went pale, but she nodded.
"…So my efforts still weren't enough."
Naruto shook his head quickly. "That's not true. I can resist genjutsu because of special training. Most ninja would've been helpless."
"You're already really strong."
For the first time, Sakura smiled softly at him.
"Thank you, Naruto."
Naruto froze for a heartbeat, her smile overlapping with memories long buried.
"Haha… no problem!"
Shiranui Genma announced, "Winner—Uzumaki Naruto!"
The arena erupted in applause.
Naruto waved energetically, soaking in the cheers.
Kakashi sighed. "He's exhausting."
Sasuke scoffed. "Idiot."
The first round of the Chunin Exams finals concluded.
With Rock Lee and Hyuga Neji unable to continue, four competitors advanced:
Uzumaki Naruto.
Uchiha Sasuke.
Gaara.
And Temari, by Shikamaru's forfeit.
Without delay, the second round began.
"The first match of round two," Genma announced, "Uchiha Sasuke versus Temari!"
Sasuke frowned. "Hmph. Not Naruto or Gaara?"
Naruto grinned. "If you win, you'll face one of us in the finals."
"Unless you lose to Temari."
"Impossible," Sasuke replied coldly.
As he walked forward, he paused.
"See you in the finals."
Naruto's fists clenched excitedly.
"Yeah! Finals!"
Sasuke and Temari took their positions.
"Begin!"
Temari wasn't at her best.
Her victory over Shikamaru felt hollow, achieved by chance rather than dominance.
Facing Sasuke, she declared coldly, "I'll use you to prove my strength."
Sasuke responded with a storm of shuriken.
Temari snorted and unfurled her massive fan.
"Wind Release: Net!"
A violent gale erupted, scattering the shuriken effortlessly.
Her strength could not be underestimated.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)