Neji Hyuga no longer needed to grope for the mysteries of the Gentle Fist in isolation as he did in the original story; instead, his father—the exceptionally skilled Jonin Hizashi Hyuga—taught him everything he knew, laying an incredibly solid and systematic foundation for his mastery of taijutsu and the Byakugan.
Meanwhile, Sasuke's path of growth was vastly different; not only did he receive meticulous guidance from his genius older brother, Itachi, but he also benefited from the experience and techniques of "Shisui of the Body Flicker."
Furthermore, having Namikaze Naruto constantly ahead of him served as a driving force, spurring him to strive to catch up and pushing him to train with full intensity day after day.
The combination of these factors meant that the Sasuke standing in the arena possessed a depth of foundation that his counterpart from the "original story"—at the same stage of development—could never hope to match.
In the arena, the fierce battle between Neji Hyuga and Sasuke lived up to all expectations; it was a textbook example of a ninja confrontation that perfectly showcased the essence of shinobi combat.
The strategic battle for information, the clash of ninjutsu, ingenious tactical planning, and split-second on-the-fly adaptations were all vividly demonstrated in every exchange of offense and defense.
The high-speed, lethal back-and-forth between the two left the entire audience breathless, deeply awestruck by such a spectacular contest.
The battle had now reached a white-hot climax.
Observing the situation, Takuno made an objective assessment: Neji Hyuga held the overall advantage thanks to his steady performance and precise Gentle Fist technique.
However, a crucial factor prevented Neji from sealing the victory.
He lacked a powerful, decisive finishing move—a "trump card" ninjutsu capable of instantly ending the fight.
This made it difficult for him to completely overwhelm Sasuke, whose own strength was on par with his.
To make matters more difficult, Sasuke's teammate was Hinata Hyuga; consequently, he possessed an extraordinary level of familiarity with the Gentle Fist system—the pride of the Hyuga clan. This realization made it nearly impossible for Neji to succeed in his attempt to secure victory by targeting pressure points with his signature technique, the "Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms."
Nevertheless, this high-level showdown was drawing to a close.
Both combatants tacitly understood that prolonging the stalemate would only devolve into a meaningless war of attrition regarding chakra and stamina.
While the outcome was central to the third stage of the Chunin Exams, the criteria for evaluation were by no means limited to victory or defeat.
The intelligence, strategic acumen, and composure under pressure displayed during the fight were equally critical factors in determining eligibility for promotion to Chunin.
Simply put, even if a candidate ultimately lost the match, they could still qualify for promotion provided they demonstrated comprehensive ability and combat proficiency matching—or even exceeding—the standard expected of a Chunin.
Take Nara Shikamaru from the original story, for instance; despite ultimately forfeiting the match, his brilliant strategy made him the only ninja to pass that particular Chunin exam.
In this regard, both Neji and Sasuke had already won over the examiners and the audience alike with their extraordinary performances during their fierce clash.
The strength and tactical prowess they displayed were undoubtedly far superior to the standard benchmarks for an average Chunin.
There was no doubt that both had fully proven their qualifications to become Chunin.
And so, the moment had arrived to decide the final victor of this spectacular battle!
The air in the arena seemed to freeze.
Sure enough, a blinding flash of lightning suddenly erupted from Sasuke's body!
Countless arcs of violent blue electricity surged forth, emitting a sharp, piercing shriek.
It was a sound like the shrill, frantic cries of a thousand birds—the "Chidori".
This soul-rattling noise instantly drowned out the clamor of the arena, making everyone's eardrums buzz.
This violent lightning did not disperse chaotically; instead, it converged furiously toward the palm of Sasuke's tightly clenched right hand.
The highly concentrated lightning-natured chakra formed a dazzling sphere of light, its core harboring a terrifying, destructive power. This was none other than the A-rank jutsu renowned throughout the ninja world: Lightning Release: Chidori!
The fluidity with which Sasuke executed the technique far exceeded the spectators' expectations.
Although the stability of the light and the speed of its condensation revealed that his mastery had not yet reached absolute perfection, there was not the slightest trace of awkwardness or hesitation in his movements.
This clearly demonstrated that he had not simply rushed to learn Chidori at the last minute, as in the original story.
It was evidently the result of a solid foundation laid well before the Chunin Exams.
His greatest challenge now was to seize the fleeting, perfect moment to unleash this lethal strike—which required a brief period of charging—amidst the rapidly shifting dynamics of combat.
Facing this surging, destructive energy, Neji's pupils contracted sharply; his bloodline-inherited Byakugan clearly perceived the terrifying power contained within the Chidori.
An intense sense of imminent danger instantly gripped him.
Realizing he could no longer hold anything back, he acted without a moment's hesitation.
Neji took a deep breath; as his chest heaved, he lowered his center of gravity and instantly assumed a unique, rock-solid defensive stance.
His palms moved in a circular motion, and chakra surged, ready to erupt from all three hundred and sixty-one of his tenketsu—his chakra points.
The moment Neji adopted this stance, Hiashi, the clan leader watching from the stands, widened his eyes in astonishment and gasped, "That posture... could it be?!"
Sensing the jutsu Neji was about to unleash, Hiashi's sharp gaze immediately shifted to his younger brother, Hizashi; his eyes were filled with disbelief and deep concern.
Hizashi felt his older brother's gaze and replied with an expression that was complex yet calm.
"Clan Head, please believe me—I did not teach this to him. It was Neji... who—relying on his own innate talent and an ultimate understanding of the Gentle Fist—mastered 'Rotation' on his own!"
Hiashi remained silent; deep down, he wanted to believe his brother's explanation, and he was genuinely awestruck by the astonishing, world-class talent displayed by his nephew, Neji. Yet, a heavy reality weighed upon his heart like a massive boulder: would the conservative and obstinate elders of the clan believe this explanation?
Would they use this as a pretext to target Hizashi, who already bore the "Caged Bird" seal?
At the thought of the pointless clan turmoil likely to ensue, Hiashi felt a wave of intense powerlessness and a splitting headache.
Just as Hiashi fretted over the turbulent undercurrents within the clan, the fateful showdown in the center of the arena reached its climax!
A cold glint flashed in Sasuke's eyes; seizing the split second when Neji's defensive stance was just taking shape, he transformed into a streak of blue lightning that tore through the air. Accompanied by the ear-piercing shriek of the Chidori, he launched a ferocious charge!
Meanwhile, chakra swirled violently around Neji like a storm, instantly forming a sphere of absolute defense—Heavenly Rotation!
BOOM!
The ultimate thrust of the Chidori versus the absolute defense of Rotation!
Two diametrically opposed yet immensely powerful forces slammed into each other in a raw, unadorned collision!
In an instant, a blinding light—brighter than the sun—exploded outward!
Amidst a deafening roar of energy, the light instantly swallowed the entire Chunin Exam arena!
All that remained in everyone's field of vision was a searing, pure white...
The blinding glare forced every spectator to instinctively raise their arms to shield their eyes.
The air seemed to still hold the lingering, shrill echoes of the Chidori's cry and the high-speed whirring of Kaiten.
The scorching white light not only dazzled the eyes but also left everyone's hearts hanging in suspense—who would emerge victorious from this heart-stopping clash?
Takuno, naturally, was unaffected by the light; his gaze pierced right through the sea of radiance.
Seeing the outcome, he couldn't help but feel a touch of surprise—so this was the result?
The light faded, revealing the shocking scene that lay within the arena. The two combatants, exhausted from their fierce clash, lay sprawled upon the ground—earth churned up and scarred by the shockwaves of their battle.
Neji's simple white attire was marred by patches of charred, blackened burns—marks left by the violent, lightning-charged Chidori.
Fortunately, thanks to split-second reflexes, he had managed to dodge the most lethal strikes at the very last moment.
Sasuke, on the other hand, appeared in an even more wretched state; his clothes were utterly ruined.
Shredded by the peerless, tearing force of the high-speed spinning rotation, his garments hung in tatters like a beggar's rags, while his exposed skin was covered in a network of fine lacerations and bruises.
In the end, this highly anticipated duel concluded in an unexpected draw.
Takuno's gaze was deep and contemplative as he pondered the outcome.
He had expected Sasuke—who had mastered the ultimate Lightning Release jutsu, Chidori—to secure victory through sheer, overwhelming offensive power.
Yet, he had ultimately underestimated Neji.
This genius from the Hyuga clan's branch family demonstrated a mastery and finesse regarding their secret technique, Kaiten, that far exceeded expectations.
Furthermore, Neji was a year older than Sasuke; years of grueling, daily training had forged a rock-solid foundation in taijutsu and a vast, potent reserve of chakra.
It was this disparity in fundamental strength, combined with the flawless defense of Kaiten, that withstood Sasuke's lethal strike at the critical moment, ultimately resulting in this breathtaking draw.
It was, all things considered, an impressive performance.
Though the match ended without a clear victor, the clash of power, technique, and sheer will displayed here was so spectacular that it transcended the simple binary of winning and losing.
In the stands, the spectators who had witnessed the entire spectacle remained stirred, their hearts still pounding with the thrill of what they had seen. It is unclear who started the applause, but thunderous, enthusiastic clapping soon erupted spontaneously across the entire arena, echoing long and loud.
Everyone felt that witnessing such a showdown made their trip to Konoha truly worthwhile.
With the first match proving so spectacular, they now found themselves eagerly anticipating the battles to come.
High up in the VIP stands, the atmosphere was heavy and solemn.
The Fourth Kazekage sat rigidly in his seat of honor; beneath his wide-brimmed hat, his gaze was locked onto the arena below as if drawn by a magnet.
Having witnessed that heart-stopping clash—and specifically the power of the Sharingan displayed by Sasuke—the greed surging within him threatened to burst through the dam of his reason.
His hands involuntarily gripped the armrests so tightly that his knuckles turned white; a burning, undisguised desire was etched clearly in his narrowed eyes, as if he longed to claim that forbidden power for himself.
This display of intense agitation did not escape the notice of the Fourth Hokage, Minato, who was seated beside him.
Minato's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly as a flicker of suspicion crossed his mind.
This battle had absolutely nothing to do with the ninja of Sunagakure; why, then, was the Kazekage behaving so uncharacteristically? His reaction seemed far too extreme.
What unsettled Minato even more was that the Kazekage kept his face strictly veiled throughout the event, and his voice seemed deliberately lowered—an affectation that felt unsettlingly contrived.
An indefinable sense of something being "off" lingered in Minato's mind.
Despite keenly observing the Fourth Kazekage's odd behavior, Minato's thoughts ultimately failed to reach the truly shocking truth.
The real Kazekage, Rasa, was already dead; the figure sitting beside him was merely a disguise—a human-skin mask worn by Orochimaru, a master of impersonation and forbidden jutsu. After a brief, perfunctory exchange regarding the battle that had just concluded, the two fell silent, refocusing their attention on the arena to watch the matches that followed.
The Chunin-level shinobi who took the stage next certainly displayed impressive skills and engaged in fierce combat; there were moments that truly dazzled the eye, drawing waves of cheers from the audience.
Yet, compared to the opening bout—a clash of destinies between genius ninja that pitted the Sharingan against the Byakugan—the subsequent matches paled slightly in comparison, lacking that soul-stirring impact.
Finally, after a series of preliminary bouts, the main event—the match the entire arena had been waiting for—began.
The proctor's resounding voice echoed clearly through every corner of the arena:
"Next match: Namikaze Naruto versus Gaara!"
All eyes instantly converged on the two youths stepping into the arena.
Minato's gaze remained fixed on his son, tracking that striking figure with his shock of golden hair.
Observing Naruto's calm expression, Minato felt the corners of his mouth lift into a smile—one filled with both trust and tenderness.
This specific matchup was a deliberate choice, the result of careful consideration.
He had not used his authority to secure an easy opponent for his son for the sake of safety; instead, without hesitation, he had designated Gaara—the most dangerous and powerful contender in the tournament—as Naruto's opponent.
Minato had his own reasons for this decision.
Unlike the preliminary match between Gaara and Rock Lee, where he could intervene at a moment's notice, the finals took place under the spotlight, watched by the feudal lords of the Five Great Nations and countless spectators.
As the Kage hosting the Chunin Exams, he could not simply step in to halt a potentially lethal blow from Gaara as easily as he had before.
Of course, if it truly became necessary, he would still choose to intervene—but it was far better to avoid such a situation entirely.
Thus, to ensure the safety of all the contestants to the greatest extent possible, he had to entrust the task of "defusing" this most volatile "bomb" to the person he trusted above all others. This decision was a mark of respect for the rules and a demonstration of control over the situation—but above all, it was an expression of absolute trust in his own son.
He believed that his son, Namikaze Naruto, possessed the strength to defeat Gaara.