Naruto's Opponent

(This book has moved to a new platform, updating three days faster than here. You're all welcome to vote and show your support... you can get a recommendation ticket by signing in on the personal center of the mobile app~)

Rock Lee was eventually carried off the stage by Konoha's medical ninja.

No one knew what he was thinking as he lay on the stretcher, eyes closed and silent.

Sasuke's Sharingan genjutsu was too powerful. His three tomoe had been honed through over two thousand battles with Naruto over the years. Rock Lee himself had too little experience facing strong genjutsu. Everyone around him, without exception, was not skilled in genjutsu.

Might Guy could only pray in his heart that his prized disciple could overcome this trial.

"Sasuke, I have some ointment from home..." Hinata produced a small bottle.

Sasuke hesitated, then thought better of it and accepted the bottle, nodding. "Thank you." Although he wasn't seriously injured, they were teammates who had spent a considerable amount of time together, so he couldn't refuse her kindness.

Hinata felt a little satisfied and turned to look at the flickering screen, asking Naruto beside her, "Who will Naruto fight?"

Naruto grinned. "I don't know. Maybe Kiba again?"

Kakashi broke out in a sweat nearby. That's probably not good news for Kiba...

Beep, the screen had frozen.

『Tenten vs. Choji』

This match ended without much suspense.

Although Choji retracted his head and limbs into his "Partial Expansion Jutsu" body, limiting the damage from Tenten's ninja tool attacks... Choji hadn't quite mastered the secret techniques of the Akimichi Clan yet. Simply put, when using the Human Boulder, he still needed to stick his head out occasionally to identify directions and turn. Plus, using it for too long made his head spin...

Tenten, with her agile movements, maintained a safe distance from Choji. As someone from Might Guy's team, her taijutsu was exceptional. She effortlessly dodged and weaved, throwing out scroll after scroll, unleashing a torrent of ninja tool attacks.

Choji, however, kept crashing around, unable to even touch the edge of Tenten's clothes.

Long swords, sharp blades, meteor hammers, whispers, red crosses, shurikens, kunai, senbon...

The final result was speechless. Choji crashed headfirst into a wall and fainted...

Asuma, watching from the stands, was utterly speechless and silently held his forehead.

"Match six, Tenten wins."

Beep, 『Gaara vs. Toss』

"What rotten luck..." Toss, the bandaged Sound Ninja, stood with his hands hanging down opposite Gaara.

Gaara stood with his arms crossed, coldly stating, "It is indeed your bad luck to encounter me..." He was in a foul mood because his opponent wasn't the fox he'd been anticipating, nor was it the fox's companion.

Instead, it was this insignificant piece of trash from the Sound Ninja.

As for the village and the Sound Ninja? Sorry, Gaara only knew that his sand was thirsty for blood... lots and lots of blood... that person's blood... Other than that, nothing else mattered.

Toss also said coldly, "What I mean is, none of us three got to fight that Sasuke... it's really bad luck." He was supremely confident in the device on his arm that controlled sound waves, and didn't believe he would lose.

Gekko Hayate silently watched the two finish their mutual taunting, coughed twice, and announced, "The match begins."

Swish, Toss charged forward.

Gaara remained motionless, standing there coldly, at leisure.

That kind of attack can't possibly break Gaara's defense... Kankuro and Temari, watching from the stands, were full of confidence, observing the Sound Ninja's attack below as if watching a show.

Toss threw a punch at Gaara, Bang! As expected, his fist was blocked by sand that had suddenly condensed! All the force of his blow was completely absorbed by the sand.

What!? Sand?

Toss was shocked, but instinctively activated the device on his arm!

Hummm...

An invisible, inaudible sound wave, manipulated by Toss's chakra, snaked its way into Gaara's ear!

Gaara immediately stumbled backward, his crossed arms loosening, a look of bewilderment flashing across his face. A trickle of blood flowed from his ear canal.

Feeling the warm dampness by his ear, Gaara reached up and wiped it away. It was red liquid. His green eyes narrowed... What is this?

"Impossible!?" Kankuro exclaimed in shock, instinctively gripping the railing with both hands. What did this person do? How could he injure Gaara under his absolute defense?!

"This is... blood? My blood?!"

Gaara muttered to himself neurotically, then suddenly clutched his head and roared in pain.

"Aaaargh..."

Kankuro and Temari exchanged glances, seeing the worry in each other's eyes. "This is bad..." If whatever was inside Gaara went berserk, the situation would be difficult to handle.

Is this person... not normal? Toss was filled with doubt, but his movements were not slow. He seized the opportunity and delivered a powerful whip kick towards Gaara's throat!

Bang! Fine sand splashed. The attack was blocked by sand that had once again condensed!

Toss narrowed his eyes. During the sand's defense, Gaara hadn't even looked at him, maintaining the posture of covering his head, as if... the sand was acting on its own.

But this time was different... Just as Toss tried to retract his leg, the sand "grabbed" his leg.

"Hehehehehe..." Gaara had lowered his hands. Blood vessels were visible in the whites of his eyes, his expression was manic and deranged, his eyes glinting with fierce light, and killing intent surged.

"Just die already…"

Sand gradually spread from Tosu's legs to his lower body, then slowly covered his upper body…

Tosu was greatly alarmed, knowing that if this continued, it would be the end of everything! He frantically channeled his chakra into the device on his right hand! Full power sonic wave! Buzzzz! An invisible drill fiercely bored into Gaara's ear!

However…

"He covered both ears with thick sand! Slowing down the sonic wave's power!?"

Tosu despaired, then his vision went black as the sand completely engulfed him.

"He's dead…" Kankuro and Temari breathed a sigh of relief. With this, Gaara shouldn't go berserk.

At this moment, Naruto shouted, "Hey! Tanuki!!"

Gaara's brow twitched, a wicked, crazed expression appearing as he looked at Naruto on the second floor.

Naruto stared intently at Gaara's emotionless eyes, his hands gripping the railing tightly, gritting his teeth… Yet, he couldn't bring himself to ask Gaara to spare that person's life.

Because, if they were being honest, weren't both people below covered in blood? Anyone who died deserved it, and their death would be a fitting end.

But…

"Don't rush me. I'll take you and your companions… one by one…" Gaara stared at Naruto over there, but his hand reached out towards the "Sand Coffin" that enveloped Tosu in front of him. His face contorted, and with a bang, he clenched his fist, "I'll crush them like this!"

"Ah!!!"

A scream came from within the "Sand Coffin." The sound of sickening bone-crushing, flesh being squeezed, and blood splattering… The Sand Coffin rapidly deflated, and blood sprayed out…

Everyone present turned their heads, a chill running down their spines.

Such ruthless methods, along with that obviously abnormal psychological and mental state…

He was simply a complete lunatic.

Naruto's eyes blazed with anger. He could hardly imagine this guy actually becoming a Kage of a village! Someone who indiscriminately slaughtered… could become the Kazekage? Could gain the approval of others?

"Naruto, that state of his is the normal state for most Jinchuriki…" the Nine-Tails said faintly in Naruto's mind.

"I know… but I'm still angry… Why must they be like this… shut themselves off? Relying on killing to gain a sense of existence… that's too reckless!"

Gekko Hayate's expression also changed slightly. After the relevant personnel handled Tosu's body, he announced Gaara's victory.

Gaara resumed his indifferent expression and left the arena without a word.

The electronic screen continued to flicker, leaving only four contestants.

Beep, 'Kiba vs. Ino'

However, there were a few people who had no intention of watching this match at all… and two of them were Naruto and Hinata.

Because after the results of Kiba and Ino's match came out, the only remaining contestants… were the two of them.

Naruto vs. Hinata?

"Um… well…" Naruto scratched his face, glancing at Hinata beside him. He saw that Hinata was stiff, her gaze fixed straight ahead, her head lowered as she nervously twisted her hands together.

Sasuke, on the side, was almost speechless…

Kakashi, staring with his dead fish eyes, felt a surge of powerlessness and thought, What is Lord Hokage doing…

Neji, on the other side of the stands, also noticed this.

He clenched his fist slightly, his white eyes seeing the two people diagonally opposite him who didn't know what to do. He narrowed his eyes… these two, hmph, they were truly infuriating.

"The Hyuga Clan will marry out their Main Family daughters? How laughable…"

Kiba and Ino's match quickly concluded, and as expected… Kiba won the duel.

At this moment, the Third Hokage slightly lowered the brim of his hat and took several puffs of his pipe.

That Hiashi fellow… how will he deal with this? Heh heh… Naruto, who will become Hokage in the future, won't be marrying into your Hyuga family… But do you have the nerve to place the 'Caged Bird Seal' on the Hokage's wife?

The Third Hokage was completely in the mood of waiting to watch a good show.

However, he also believed that this gave Hiashi an opportunity to reform the Hyuga Clan's traditions.

Back then, after seeing Naruto's memories, the Third noticed Naruto's special attention to Hinata in the Ninja Academy, so he intentionally assigned Hinata to Team 7 when forming the Genin squads.

It was considered going with the flow.

As for what the future held, he would leave it to these young people.

Beep, 'Naruto Uzumaki vs. Hinata Hyuga'