Gekkō Hayate nodded.
He then looked up.
The names on the large screen above the Dojo began to jump.
It was the familiar change again.
Nara Shikamaru vs. Kin Tsuchi
Ding-a-ling——
Kin Tsuchi stepped onto the field without hesitation.
"After waiting so long, it's finally my turn."
As the girl with long black hair entered, a clear ringing sound accompanied her.
Compared to the battle-ready Kin Tsuchi.
Shikamaru was taken aback, then looked utterly exasperated.
"What a bother..."
Before he could finish speaking.
Ino slapped him on the back.
Staggering...
Shikamaru tumbled straight down.
He didn't even resist.
This unique way of making an entrance made everyone raise an eyebrow.
"Well... taking revenge isn't good, Ino."
Glancing sleepily at his opponent.
Shikamaru slowly got up, yawned, and showed no drive whatsoever.
"Hmph~!"
"If you don't want to fight, you can just forfeit."
Kin Tsuchi sneered.
She then brushed aside the hair at her temple.
The bell behind her ear immediately let out a crisp ringing.
Shikamaru dug at his ear.
He glanced at Gekkō Hayate.
"Can we start?"
Gekkō Hayate was taken aback.
Huh?
Aren't you going to exchange trash talk?
"Ahem... well then, the match begins."
Whoosh——
The moment Gekkō Hayate's words fell.
Shikamaru immediately flung a Kunai.
Kin Tsuchi opened her mouth, then swallowed her words.
She tilted her head, easily dodging Shikamaru's Kunai attack.
Her pretty face was full of confusion.
This isn't right!
The pattern from the previous matches wasn't like this!
Thinking this, Kin bent down, intending to retrieve a ninja tool from her pouch.
But then... Kin suddenly realized she couldn't move!
How... when?!
Up on the second-floor viewing stand, Orochimaru narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Interesting... the Nara clan's brat, is it?"
After Gekkō Hayate announced the start of the match.
Shikamaru had thrown a Kunai.
Kin's attention was completely drawn to it.
She hadn't noticed at all.
The shadow following beneath the Kunai's shadow.
Looking at Shikamaru, who hadn't even formed the Nara clan's special hand seal, an absurd thought crossed Orochimaru's mind.
These brats... including Sasuke and Sakura, seem to have a faint, indistinct shadow... as if they were all taught by the same person.
And that person... was the peerless treasure he had recently discovered, Uzumaki Naruto!
At this moment.
The remaining spectators were dumbfounded.
Fast... too fast!
This fight was over the moment it was declared.
No one expected this outcome; it ended too quickly and abruptly.
Looking at Shikamaru, hands in pockets and eyes sleepy.
His shadow stretched from his feet, connecting to Kin's shadow...
Shadow Imitation Technique.
Orochimaru shook his head imperceptibly.
He instinctively glanced at Naruto.
Then his gaze fell on Kin's back.
That head of jet-black, lustrous long hair looked quite smooth.
'Fine, let's decide on this for now.'
Meanwhile, Shikamaru shot a glance at the oblivious Gekkō Hayate.
Kin, her face pale, mimicked the exact same action.
Her eyes, the only part she could freely move, involuntarily shifted, looking towards that tall, slender figure.
Seeing that faint, ambiguous smile.
Kin felt as if she had fallen into an icy abyss.
It's over!
Orochimaru: "Heh heh heh... it's not over yet. You still have a chance."
Inside the Chat Room.
Orochimaru's message.
Ignited in Kin a fierce will to survive... and also, a renewed hope to gain Orochimaru's recognition.
"Uzumaki... Naruto..."
"I definitely can!"
"If gentle doesn't work, then force it!"
"No... I need to prepare, these bells need to be modified."
"Once I capture Uzumaki Naruto..." Kin's mind conjured an image of Naruto obediently listening to her and Orochimaru praising her endlessly, filling her with motivation.
Unconsciously, she brushed her long hair, a faint blush crossing her fair face.
Uzumaki Naruto, huh?
Very handsome... and a man recognized by Lord Orochimaru...
The black-framed large screen continued:
"Ahem... Kin Tsuchi is unable to continue."
"Nara Shikamaru wins!"
After saying this, Gekkō Hayate paused, then looked up at the second-floor viewing stand.
"Well then, there's no need to wait for the final match... you two, please enter the arena."
Crunch——
Choji ate the last potato chip.
Patting his bulging stomach, he smiled at Shikamaru who had just returned. "Should I take this seriously?"
"But this place... is a bit small, hard to really go all out."
Hearing this, Shikamaru looked at Naruto.
"Be careful. Gaara seems very unstable."
Choji blinked.
Naruto chuckled lightly. "Forget it. If the stimulation is too great, he might lose control of the power inside him."
"After all... he hasn't slept for many days."
"Huh?!" Choji's eyes widened.
Shikamaru frowned.
That was a lot of information.
"What a bother... Choji, just forfeit when it's about time."
Choji nodded, then looked at Naruto again.
Naruto also nodded.
"Go on. Finish this sooner, we can eat earlier."
Eat?!
Choji's eyes lit up.
He then turned to look.
He saw Gaara on the opposite second-floor viewing stand, coincidentally also looking this way.
A large amount of fine sand gushed from the sand gourd on his back.
Hum——
Immediately after.
On the Dojo, behind the fine sand, Gaara's figure slowly materialized.
He stood with arms crossed, expression calm.
Only, his hands were slightly pale.
Clearly, he was not calm inside.
Having witnessed one strong opponent after another appear from Konoha's side.
He felt incredibly excited.
As long as he defeated... even killed all these Konoha Genin, his own existence...
But in the next instant, Gaara frowned again.
Whether it was Temari or Kankuro.
The Konoha side had held back.
Of course, his inner conflict didn't show on his face.
Just then.
Boom——
Choji entered the arena.
Interrupted, Gaara slowly raised his eyes.
Looking at Choji, whose physique was a size larger than his own.
"The match... begins."
Gekkō Hayate breathed a sigh of relief.
Finally... finally... finally, he could clock out!
He silently stepped back.
And remained quiet.
Gaara and Choji stared at each other for a moment.
"If you don't make a move, you won't get a chance." Gaara broke the silence.
Choji patted his stomach. "I'm hungry, so shall we finish this quickly?"
Seeing the kind smile on the chubby boy's face, Gaara said nothing.
Sensitively, he detected a flicker of pity in the boy's eyes.
Gaara frowned.
Whoosh——
The next instant.
A large amount of sand surged from the gourd on his back, rushing towards Choji.
Thud——
Partial Multi-Size Technique!
Choji's left hand grew larger than his entire body, easily blocking Gaara's sand attack.
At the same time, he shifted his body slightly.
Boom——
He threw a punch.
His right hand rapidly enlarged mid-air...