The Matchup List Under the Butterfly Effect

Next, in the ninth match, Gaara faced Rock Lee!

This battle did not differ much from what Awen remembered. Even when Rock Lee opened five of the Eight Gates to fight Gaara, Naruto remained silent throughout. Hinata's bloodstains were still on his hands, and his heart was in turmoil.

Strength. Kurama had always told him to become stronger. One event after another flashed vividly through his mind, and even greater crises awaited him in the future. Even after he became Hokage, there would be no peace. If he was too weak, then Hinata might once again become that bleak yet beautiful blood-red rose, just as she had when facing Pain.

"What's wrong, Naruto? You've been downcast since earlier. You don't even seem interested in watching the matches," Kakashi asked, having kept an eye on Naruto.

Sasuke snapped out of his shock at Rock Lee's outburst and looked toward Naruto. Rock Lee's battle with Gaara had now ended, with Rock Lee's defeat.

"Kakashi-sensei, I suddenly feel so weak. I want to become stronger!" Naruto replied.

"Is that so?" Kakashi paused before saying, "Naruto, is this because of what happened in the Forest of Death? But in pursuing power too fiercely, don't lose yourself because of it!"

"Wanting to work hard and become stronger doesn't conflict with what you said, does it, Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto retorted.

Sasuke narrowed his eyes. Naruto was pursuing power, and so was he. What Orochimaru had said about Itachi Uchiha had served as a warning. He could not keep immersing himself in peace and tranquility. He was an avenger.

Kakashi recalled what Naruto had done earlier and said, "Right, Naruto, what was that technique you used before? It was so fast, completely different from the Body Flicker Technique. How did you do it?"

"Uh..."

Naruto was instantly dumbfounded. What technique was Kakashi talking about? The one from earlier?

Suddenly, the voice of the long-silent Nine-Tails reached Naruto's mind.

"Hahaha... You succeeded! That was what I told you about—Instant Transmission. You did it!"

Naruto lowered his head, looking deep in thought, but secretly replied, "Kurama, what did you say? Instant Transmission?"

The Nine-Tails said, "It is also a form of space-time transfer. When you became enraged just now, you drew upon my chakra. In that instant, your original sensory ability expanded. Using Hinata Hyuga herself as a coordinate, you arrived directly at her side. This is Flying Thunder God Movement, an advancement based on the Flying Thunder God Technique. As long as there is an energy-bearing target within your sensory range, you can use Flying Thunder God Movement to reach a designated location."

"But I didn't even know how I did it just now..." Naruto asked incredulously. He had been too angry then; his mind had gone blank, and he had used it directly. Why did this technique resemble the protagonist's Instant Transmission from the neighboring Dragon Ball so much?

"Hmph..." The Nine-Tails snorted. "An idiot is an idiot. Didn't succeeding just now prove that you can do it? Take it slowly from now on. There is a saying in Awen's world: haste makes waste."

"Mm, thank you, Kurama!" Naruto thanked the Nine-Tails.

Returning to reality, Naruto looked around. Once he confirmed that no one was paying attention to them, he quietly explained the matter of Flying Thunder God Movement to Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura.

"I was never able to master the coordinate movement of the Flying Thunder God Technique, so I changed my approach..." Naruto even came up with an excuse, emphasizing in the end that he had truly stumbled into it by accident.

Kakashi's dead-fish eyes widened in shock. Of course he knew about the Flying Thunder God Technique. He had been surprised before that Naruto had learned it, though Naruto used it in an exceptionally bizarre way, like someone who had only learned half of it. He had never expected Naruto to come up with a different idea.

Sakura was utterly confused and only understood part of it. Sasuke, meanwhile, stared at Naruto in shock. Naruto had learned an even stronger ninjutsu, and he would only grow stronger. More importantly, Naruto possessed the same desire for power as he did. From here on, the gap between them would only grow wider.

In the final match, Choji Akimichi faced Dosu Kinuta. Dosu Kinuta ultimately won, and with that, everyone who would enter the final stage of the Chunin Exams had been chosen.

Sasuke, Kankuro, Shino Aburame, Shikamaru Nara, Temari, Naruto, Neji, Gaara, and Dosu Kinuta!

Sakura and Ino had drawn their match, so nine people advanced to the final exam.

Gekko Hayate spoke at this moment. "Congratulations to all of you for successfully advancing to the third stage of the exam."

Hiruzen Sarutobi stepped forward and said, "Next, I will explain the official format of the matches. As I said before, you will compete before everyone. Each of you represents the fighting strength of your respective country. I hope you can all perform at your best. Therefore, the official matches will be held one month from now."

Mitaraishi Anko took out a box and drew the matchup numbers from it. However, things began to deviate somewhat. For example, Sasuke was here, so something changed during the drawing.

Dosu Kinuta drew number eight, Naruto drew number one, and Sasuke stood beside Naruto, so he drew number seven—the number Temari was supposed to have drawn in Awen's memories. Temari now drew number five, Kankuro drew number three, Gaara drew number nine, Shikamaru Nara drew number two, Neji Hyuga drew number six, and Shino Aburame drew number four.

In other words, the order of the matches had undergone enormous changes as well. The match order for the exam one month later was as follows.

First match: Naruto versus Shikamaru Nara!

Second match: Kankuro versus Shino Aburame!

Third match: Temari versus Neji Hyuga!

Fourth match: Sasuke versus Dosu Kinuta. Whoever won between Sasuke and Dosu Kinuta would then face number nine, Gaara!

Looking at the matchup chart, Naruto was the first to be dumbfounded. He glanced at Sasuke beside him again. Everything was a mess. In Awen's memories, Sasuke had not participated in drawing numbers because of the Curse Mark, so number four had ultimately been Sasuke's.

But now, because of Naruto's interference, things had changed. Dosu Kinuta and Naruto, the first and second to draw, had not changed; they were still number eight and number one. However, Sasuke was still here, so he participated in drawing a number. This shifted the original sequence entirely backward, and Naruto's opponent changed from Neji Hyuga to Shikamaru Nara.

"What is this dead last thinking? He looks so strange," Sasuke muttered as he watched Naruto's expression shift from surprise to sadness to conflict, completely baffled.

Naruto's heart was in complete chaos. He finally understood the butterfly effect!

What a pain. I'm actually fighting Naruto... Shikamaru Nara grumbled inwardly.

Kankuro was very glad that he had not ended up in the same matchup bracket as Gaara.

"Though it isn't that Naruto fellow, Sasuke Uchiha is also suitable prey..." Gaara's mind was filled with crazed thoughts.