Naruto Uzumaki VS Gaara

Sealing Space...

Crimson chakra surged like a tide of blood. The Nine-Tails' massive fox body lay coiled within the water prison, its nine tails lashing uneasily as its bell-sized eyes stared fixedly at Naruto, whom it had dragged inside. It looked as though it had seen a ghost.

"Everyone says I look like a monster, but I think you're the real one!"

For once, the Nine-Tails' voice lacked its usual violence. It even sounded somewhat stunned.

It had lived for over a thousand years. It had met the Sage of Six Paths and fought the Otsutsuki, yet it had never seen such a bizarre Jinchuriki.

Naruto dug at his ear and leaned impatiently against a stone pillar, too lazy to even raise his eyelids. "You again? Aren't you annoying? Why do you keep looking for me? If you're really bored out of your mind, I'll get you the complete collection of Empresses in the Palace, along with The Knockout. You can watch them from morning till night. Sound good?"

The Nine-Tails froze. All nine tails stopped at once, and its ears shot upright. "Those were the things you tossed to me before?! They really were interesting! That cop named An Xin was way too stubborn, and that Zhen Huan was even more ruthless than I am!"

As it spoke, its face suddenly fell. The tip of its tail curled awkwardly, and it rarely showed such embarrassment. "But I didn't come to ask you for those things today."

"I'm very confused now. In my eyes, you're even more mysterious than that old Six Paths fellow."

The Nine-Tails leaned forward, its enormous head nearly pressing against Naruto's face. "First, you blocked all of my influence. Then you somehow produced a Sharingan capable of suppressing me. Your strength has risen like a rocket, and you seem to know everything. Could you be the reincarnation of the Sage of Six Paths? But that old fossil was stiff as a board. How could he possibly be as punchable as you?"

Naruto immediately straightened his back, shoved both hands into his pockets, and raised his chin high, looking utterly high-spirited. "Just relax and enjoy your vacation inside my body. Food, lodging, and entertainment are all included. Isn't that great?"

"As for the Sage of Six Paths?"

He snorted, his eyes full of disdain. "That old man is nothing special. My goal is to unify the Ninja World, become immortal and indestructible, and make the entire world kneel beneath my feet."

"HAHAHAHA!"

The Nine-Tails burst into deafening laughter, making the entire sealing space tremble. "Big talk! Why don't you knock that stinky tanuki downstairs flat first?!"

After laughing, it grew awkward again. It scratched its head with a claw, its voice as soft as a mosquito's hum. "Oh, right. I sensed that cat's presence... I have something to ask of you."

Naruto raised a brow and deliberately drew out his words. "Oh? The mighty eldest brother among the Tailed Beasts actually has a favor to ask me?"

He looked the Nine-Tails up and down, teasing it. "You want to beat up Shukaku that badly? Fine. Since you've been so well-behaved while watching dramas lately, I'll try to make it cry and help you vent."

"Who wants to beat it up?! I just can't stand the way it acts like it's above everyone else!" The Nine-Tails roared as if its fur had bristled, though its tail honestly swayed. "Remember! Beat it half to death! Don't leave it any dignity!"

Naruto ignored it. The Sharingan flashed through his eyes, and he instantly left the sealing space.

In reality, the arena had become so quiet that a pin drop could be heard.

Gaara floated in the center of the arena, yellow sand slowly rotating around him to form an impenetrable barrier.

He kept his head lowered, his red hair covering most of his face. Only those sandy-gold eyes stared relentlessly at the arena entrance like a venomous snake, his entire body radiating a chill cold enough to freeze someone to death.

Everyone held their breath.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

Just as Temari's fingers were about to crush the Three-Star Fan, a lazy voice drifted over at an unhurried pace.

"What are you rushing me for? In such a hurry to reincarnate?"

Naruto walked onto the arena with both hands in his pockets, swaying casually as he went.

He did not even glance at Gaara. He first patted the dust from his clothes, then adjusted his forehead protector. He looked so unconcerned that it was as though he had come to buy groceries at a market rather than fight to the death.

The entire audience: "..."

The sand around Gaara abruptly swelled, producing a piercing scraping sound.

Gekko Hayate covered his mouth and coughed violently several times before hastily raising his hand. His voice trembled noticeably. "Both contestants are in position! Naruto Uzumaki VS Gaara of the Hidden Sand Village—begin!"

The instant his words fell, Gaara spoke. "Blond brat, I'll ask you one last time. Are you ready to become my toy?"

Naruto finally looked at him, a mocking smile curling across his lips. "A toy? Sorry, I only play with living things. Dead things are too boring."

"And—" He swept his gaze over Gaara from head to toe, his tone contemptuous to the extreme. "With sand-playing skills like yours, you're like a preschooler playing house. How do you even have the nerve to come out and embarrass yourself?"

"You're courting death!"

The killing intent in Gaara's eyes surged as he swung his right hand sharply.

"Sand Burial!"

Rumble—!

Countless streams of yellow sand erupted from the ground like a tsunami, instantly forming a sand wall dozens of meters high that bore down on Naruto from every direction.

Wherever the sand passed, hard stone slabs were ground into powder, and even the air was compressed until it let out piercing explosions.

Cries of alarm instantly erupted from the stands.

"It's over! Naruto's surrounded!"

"Is this the power of Sand Burial? That's terrifying!"

"Last time, this move crushed three Hidden Rain Village ninjas directly into meat paste!"

Kakashi's Sharingan instantly contracted into three tomoe, while Might Guy clenched his fists tightly, ready to rush down at any moment.

Just as the sand wall was about to swallow Naruto—

Clang!

A crisp blade cry tore through the sky.

Naruto drew the Nine-Life Demon Tail Blade from behind his back in a reverse grip, its black blade gleaming with a cold light.

With a twist of his wrist, wind-nature chakra surged into the blade like a tide. A three-foot-long azure blade aura instantly extended from it.

"Break!"

Naruto leaped into the air and slashed down.

Rip—!

The terrifying blade aura cut through the dozens-of-meters-high sand wall like tofu, forcibly splitting it down the middle. The yellow sand filling the sky instantly collapsed, turning into fine grains that drifted down.

Naruto landed steadily on the ground and sheathed his blade. The movement flowed like clouds and water, completed in a single smooth motion.

The entire arena fell silent.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, their mouths hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.

What... had that been?

One slash... had split Sand Burial?!

"Holy shit! Holy shit! Holy shit!"

"Am I seeing things? That was Sand Burial! It got split apart with one slash?"

"That sword is insane! How many trump cards does Naruto even have?!"

Rock Lee sprang to his feet, the green flames of youth burning even brighter. "Amazing! This is the power of youth, Naruto! You truly are my fated rival!"

Hinata tightly clutched the corner of her clothes. The heart hanging in her chest finally eased a little as her eyes filled with admiration for that blond figure in the arena.

Kakashi lowered the Icha Icha Paradise in his hand, his expression grave. "Wind-nature chakra... he can actually wield it to such a perfect degree. His chakra control has already surpassed the vast majority of Jonin."

Might Guy nodded solemnly. "And that blade... is definitely no ordinary weapon."