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Arena Floor
Sasuke narrowed her eyes at Naruto, who stood with arms crossed and a cocky smirk.
"Oh? Don't tell you actually won your match?"
Naruto puffed his chest out.
"Hah! Of course I—uh... well, no."
Sasuke's expression imdiately flattened.
Seriously?
Naruto scratched his cheek, slightly deflated. "I an, it's not like I really lost either."
"That was Neji, okay? I was this close!"
He held up two fingers, barely apart, for emphasis.
"It was luck! He just got lucky, that's all!"
Up in the stands, Shikamaru facepald.
Please... just stop talking.
He glanced up at the railing where Neji stood smiling faintly.
Shikamaru wanted to warn Naruto, to tell him to stop before the real boss of their generation decided to end him again.
But so battles... weren't his to fight.
---
Sidelines
anwhile, Kakashi was having a hushed conversation with the proctor, Genma Shiranui.
"Our entrance might've been a bit dramatic," Kakashi admitted with a sheepish shrug. "But... Sasuke hasn't missed his chance to fight, right?"
Genma shot him a look.
"Oh please, you're the one who infected him with the chronic tardiness disease."
Kakashi gave a guilty chuckle. "Touché."
Genma sighed, then smirked. "Relax. His match was delayed. He's still in."
Kakashi smiled under his mask. "Excellent. That's excellent news."
Sasuke had already shifted her attention toward the stands where a certain sand gourd carrier stood watching her with intense, silent hunger.
Naruto, sensing the tension, sobered.
"Don't lose to that guy."
"...I won't," Sasuke replied flatly.
Then ca a pause. A quiet mont between them.
"Hey, Sasuke!" Naruto suddenly called out, fist clenched.
Sasuke blinked.
"I still want to fight you. But until then... beating Neji is your job now."
Sasuke nodded seriously.
No words.
Just mutual understanding.
A man had entrusted his dream to another man.
...Except, this one wasn't a man anymore.
Hmph. Idiot.
And yet—
> "When a man entrusts his dream to his girl... that's love."
Password accepted.
Dream successfully transferred.
---
Genma looked up at the arena's highest stand and shouted:
"Gaara! You're up. Get down here."
As Shikamaru gave Naruto a nudge, he pointed at the stands.
Naruto followed his gaze... only for his smile to freeze. Up on the ledge, Neji was smiling.
Calm. Cold. Direct.
He heard everything.
Naruto's heart skipped.
"Shikamaru... you think he heard all that?"
Shikamaru shrugged. "Who knows? But I do know we should go. And we're taking the stairs this ti."
Naruto paled. "Yes, sir. Let's move!"
---
On the Stairwell
As the boys descended, a quiet thump echoed from above.
They turned the corner just in ti to see Gaara approaching.
The gourd on his back shifted ominously. At the bottom of the stairs, two grass-nin waited.
They stepped forward, blocking his path.
"Stop there."
Gaara looked up slowly.
The two ninjas smiled thinly.
"So high-ranking sponsors are watching today. A bloodbath wouldn't look good for the betting odds."
"So... do us a favor. Lose the match, would you?"
Gaara chuckled.
Low. Hollow. Dangerous.
Sand began to seep from his gourd.
Seconds later—
SPLAT.
The scream never finished.
Naruto and Shikamaru recoiled, their throats dry.
That sll... iron. Blood.
Gaara walked between them in silence, not even sparing them a glance. Only after he passed did they start breathing again.
Shikamaru whispered, "If those guys hadn't stopped him first..."
Naruto nodded, pale. "We'd be dead."
They sank into their seats in the spectator section, still rattled.
"That guy doesn't flinch at killing," Shikamaru muttered. "He really ant it that day in the hospital."
Down below, the match was monts from the beginning.
---
Elsewhere in the Audience
Kakashi finally reached the rest of the Konoha crew.
"Hey, Gai. Lee. You made it."
Lee flashed a big thumbs-up. "Youth is eternal! Thanks to Neji, I'm almost fully recovered!"
Kakashi smiled. "Glad to hear it."
But before he could say more, Sakura rushed up.
"Kakashi-sensei!"
He turned sheepishly.
"Sorry, sorry. I know you were worried."
"I was, but..." Sakura hesitated, and then her gaze sharpened.
"That mark on Sasuke's neck what is it?"
Kakashi froze.
Not far away, Neji stiffened. Tenten noticed. "Neji? What's wrong?"
He waved her off, quickly composing himself. "Nothing. Just a reflex."
Tenten frowned, unconvinced.
Kakashi gave a light cough, then answered Sakura with a reassuring smile.
"It's been handled. You don't have to worry."
Sakura nodded, easing slightly.
Neji let out a breath.
'I'm a blind guy. I use sealing jutsu. This is fine. Totally normal. This is not a sketchy massage clinic.'
Deep breaths. Stay calm.
But just then—
He felt it.
All around the stadium, threads of movent. Chilling intent. Precise timing.
It's starting.
Neji's smile faded.
Orochimaru... don't disappoint .
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