Moonlight Gekko glanced at Naruto. "Since the finals will be one-on-one arena matches that must all be completed within a single day, seven teams and twenty-one contestants are simply too many."
"Alright, the preliminary round will begin shortly. The rules are simple—random one-on-one battles. The two selected participants will appear on the screen."
"All ninjas who cleared the Forest of Death, prepare yourselves!"
Naruto glanced around and noticed that, apart from Team 7, Konoha had done exceptionally well this year. Teams 3, 8, and 10 had all advanced. In addition, there was Kabuto Yakushi, leading two Konoha teammates named Misumi Tsurugi and Akako Kai—they, too, had passed.
Out of seven teams, five came from Konoha. As expected of a great hidden village. The remaining teams included the formidable trio from Sunagakure, standing proudly among the top seeds, and the last group—Dosu Kinuta, Zaku Abumi, and Kin Tsuchi—from the Sound Village. Smaller villages like Kusagakure, Takigakure, and Amegakure had been wiped out entirely.
Just as Moonlight Gekko was about to announce the start, Kabuto calmly stepped forward. "I withdraw from the matches," he said. It was his right, and no one could stop him. That left twenty competitors remaining.
Naruto was almost trembling with excitement. Written exams and jungle survival couldn't compare to the thrill of a proper showdown. This was his chance to show his progress in front of everyone.
Even the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was personally overseeing the matches, and the Jonin instructors from each team were there as well. It wasn't only a test—it was a stage.
All teams followed their instructors into the spectator stands surrounding the arena. The large electronic board shimmered before them, displaying a list of names as they flickered rapidly.
Naruto clasped his fists and prayed. "Me! Me! Pick me already!"
Hinata, on the other hand, quietly wished Naruto and Sasuke would fight later so they could recover more fully. Sasuke's face remained calm, though his heart was far from still.
The screen stopped.
The first matchup appeared.
Sakura Haruno vs. Kin Tsuchi!
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Sakura-chan?! It's been a while since I've seen her fight. I wonder what new jutsu she's learned under Kurenai-sensei. I heard she's talented in genjutsu."
Though their team had drifted apart since the start, Naruto's loyalty toward his Konoha comrades hadn't changed. He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted, "Go for it, Sakura-chan!"
Hinata smiled softly. She wasn't jealous—if anything, she was amazed at how quickly Naruto had recovered compared to Sasuke, who still looked pale.
Sakura clenched her fists. "Kurenai-sensei, I'm ready!"
Kurenai smiled warmly. "Go ahead. Show everyone how much you've grown!"
"Yes! Sasuke-kun, watch me!" Sakura declared with determination. Sasuke didn't respond—but she had half-expected that.
Sakura walked toward the center of the training ground. Her opponent, Kin Tsuchi of the Sound Village, stepped forward as well. Kin and her teammates, Zaku and Dosu, had been dispatched by Orochimaru to test Sasuke. But thanks to Hinata's Byakugan, Team 7 had avoided them entirely in the Forest of Death. Now, fate brought one of them here.
Kin, like her Sound teammates, fought with ruthless precision and arrogance. She specialized in manipulating sonic vibrations through hidden instruments—threads connected to bells that interfered with her opponent's senses, leaving them vulnerable to follow-up attacks.
Unfortunately for her, her opponent was Sakura Haruno—protégé of Kurenai Yuhi, Konoha's genjutsu expert. Though not on the level of the Uchiha's Sharingan illusions, Kurenai's art was still formidable. Sakura, having trained under her, was far from an ordinary genin.
As Kin activated her threads and began her sound-based assault, the air shimmered faintly. But Sakura remained calm and broke through the illusion instantly. Her own eyes gleamed with focus.
"Genjutsu Release!"
The threads snapped, Kin's coordination faltered, and Sakura struck back. "Genjutsu—Sakura Nami Technique!"
Illusory cherry blossoms filled the opponent's vision, swirling and cascading gracefully. The pink petals warped Kin's perception of reality until she fell into a dizzying trance. Within seconds, Kin's body went slack—she had lost control of her senses completely and collapsed.
Sakura moved swiftly, holding a kunai to Kin's neck. "You lose," she said quietly.
Moonlight Gekko raised his hand. "Winner—Sakura Haruno!"
Applause broke out from Kurenai's direction. Asuma smirked. "Kurenai, it seems your student truly lives up to your name."
Kurenai smiled, proud yet humble. "Sakura's genjutsu isn't as refined as mine, but her potential is undeniable."
Sakura's face flushed with triumph. "Sasuke-kun, did you see that?" she whispered hopefully. Sasuke said nothing, but her victory still meant something. To prove her own worth was enough.
Kiba cheered loudly. "Way to go, Sakura!" Shino nodded approvingly. Naruto clapped wildly. "Nice one, Sakura-chan!"
Hinata turned to Ino. "Sakura's genjutsu is incredible."
Ino smiled faintly. "Yeah... she's really grown stronger. I'm actually happy for her."
Sakura's victory was a perfect start for Konoha.
The screen flickered again.
"The next match—Hinata Hyuga versus Tenten!"
Naruto nearly jumped from his seat. "Hinata! Go get 'em!"
Hinata blushed deeply, nodding shyly. "I... I'll do my best, Naruto-kun."
Naruto stood confidently with his arms crossed. "Don't worry. You're part of Team 7. We don't lose to anyone!"
Rock Lee immediately leaned over the railing. "Naruto, don't underestimate Tenten! She's strong. In weapon control and summoning tools, no one in our age group surpasses her!"
Might Guy laughed jovially. "That's right! Tenten burns with the same youthful fire as us! Kakashi, this will be a refreshing duel between our students!"
Kakashi raised a lazy hand. "Yeah, yeah. But I think we'll still come out on top."
As the two kunoichi stepped onto the field, Tenten eyed Hinata carefully. "So, you're the Hyuga heiress I've heard about. Neji's mentioned you." She formed a confident smirk. "Even if you're his relative, I won't go easy on you!"
Hinata bowed politely. "Please take care of me."
At Moonlight Gekko's signal, the match began.
Tenten jumped high into the air, her hands flying in perfect synchronization. Her scrolls opened with a snap, releasing an endless flurry of weapons—kunai, shuriken, senbon, throwing needles, fuma shuriken—forming an overwhelming rain of steel.
The spectators gasped in awe. Even the elite Jonin exchanged impressed glances.
"She truly possesses unmatched mastery over ninja tools," Asuma remarked.
But Hinata was composed. She activated her Byakugan, her insight spreading in all directions. With precise movements, she unleashed her Gentle Fist Eight Trigrams Palm to counter each attack.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
The impact rang through the arena as Hinata's chakra-wrapped palms deflected every projectile. Not a single blade touched her. Though her defense wasn't exactly Kaiten, it was seamless, refined, and flawless.
Neji, watching from above, frowned. "That technique… it doesn't belong to the Hyuga clan."
Rock Lee looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?"
"It's something she must have developed herself," Neji said quietly. Lee chuckled. "That's just like her! Naruto once told me she's smart and creative—it's no surprise she made her own jutsu."
Might Guy's tone grew serious. "Impressive. It's a modified Gentle Fist technique—an evolved form that combines defensive precision with adaptive palm strikes. Truly remarkable talent."
Below, all of Tenten's weapons clattered to the ground in a perfect circle around Hinata, who stood untouched. Even Tenten's confident smile faded. "Such perfect defense..."
The crowd murmured in awe. Hinata's calm, radiant presence shone brighter than ever in that moment.