Berserk

Neji's Byakugan revealed bulging veins around his eyes, betraying the extreme shock in his heart.

Through his Byakugan, he clearly perceived the terrifying power contained within Naruto's Rasengan—a force so overwhelming that it filled him with despair.

Even more astonishingly, he could sense a strand of Chakra from nature surrounding Naruto, as if it had melded with him.

Most unbelievable of all, Naruto's earth-shaking attack had not revealed the slightest sign of Chakra depletion. It completely defied common sense.

Neji's throat felt dry. He swallowed involuntarily as an unprecedented sense of danger surged through him.

Just as he gritted his teeth and prepared to fight with everything he had in one final struggle, Naruto casually raised two fingers. Beneath his lowered sunglasses, his blue eyes sparkled with amusement.

In the blink of an eye, an even larger Rasengan condensed at Naruto's fingertips. Its power was so immense that even the match referee, Gekko Hayate, broke out in a cold sweat. He clenched both hands, ready to call a halt to the battle at any moment. He knew that even he would have difficulty enduring an attack like this.

In the stands, Neji's teacher, Might Guy, and Kakashi wore solemn expressions as they watched the arena intently, ready to rush in and rescue him at any moment. Sakura, Ino, and Hinata had forgotten to cheer for Naruto. They hoped Naruto would win, yet they did not want to see Neji injured.

Sasuke knitted his brows tightly, his expression complicated as he stared at Naruto in the arena. He muttered, "I thought I could get a little closer to him. Why does it feel like the distance is only growing?" Kiba was completely won over by Naruto's strength, while Gaara remained expressionless, though unknown thoughts churned within him. Shikamaru narrowed his eyes, seemingly analyzing the battle.

Hiruzen Sarutobi also wore a solemn expression. Beside him sat Orochimaru, disguised as the Kazekage, with an equally grave look. Each of them was making his own calculations.

In the center of the arena, Neji's expression gradually changed from unwillingness to acceptance. He let out a deep sigh, a trace of helplessness in his voice. "I forfeit." Take an attack like that? Give me a break.

When Naruto heard this, the corners of his mouth curved into a smile. He had discovered that teasing children was actually rather fun. Of course, he had no intention of releasing this Rasengan. He had only been trying to scare Neji.

When Hiruzen Sarutobi saw the smile on Naruto's face, the corners of his mouth lifted in satisfaction.

Gekko Hayate, Kakashi, and Might Guy all breathed a sigh of relief almost at the same time. Their taut nerves finally relaxed.

The corners of Sasuke's mouth rose slightly, complicated emotions flickering in his eyes. He said softly, "This guy, he really is..."

Sakura, Ino, and Hinata first breathed sighs of relief, then excitedly cheered. They were happy for Naruto's victory, and even happier that he had ended the battle this way.

The atmosphere instantly erupted. An uproar broke out among the spectators, with applause and cheers intertwining and resounding throughout the arena.

The signal for the second match sounded, and Shikamaru and Temari slowly entered the center of the arena.

Temari's gaze unintentionally swept over the handsome figure in the stands—Naruto. Her cheeks flushed without her realizing it, and an indescribable shyness welled up in her heart.

However, the moment the referee announced the start of the battle, she cast all distracting thoughts aside. In their place was a state of complete concentration.

Temari took a deep breath and gripped the enormous iron fan with both hands. As Chakra surged within her, a powerful force of Wind Release erupted in an instant.

The gale howled, carrying a razor-sharp cutting force as it rushed straight toward Shikamaru.

Witnessing this astonishing assault, the spectators broke into a cold sweat for Shikamaru. Many had already foreseen his defeat.

Shikamaru, however, remained calm and thoughtful.

He knew that clashing head-on with Temari's Wind Release would be foolish, so he swiftly activated his signature technique—Shadow Imitation Technique.

Amid the raging waves of Wind Release, Shikamaru made use of every object available in the arena, skillfully dodging each attack while searching for a chance to counterattack.

Finally, during a gap in one of Temari's attacks, Shikamaru seized his opportunity.

His shadow was like a nimble tentacle, silently winding around Temari's shadow.

At that moment, Temari's movements were completely restricted. Shikamaru used the Shadow Imitation Technique one last time, making her crash into the stands and lose her ability to fight.

Shikamaru's wisdom was displayed to perfection at that moment. When the referee announced his victory, the spectators erupted into thunderous applause and cheers, thoroughly impressed by his intelligence. Naruto also developed a strong interest in Shikamaru.

The curtain rose slowly on the third match amid the eager attention of the crowd. Gekko Hayate's steady, powerful voice cut through the uproar and announced the official start of the battle.