Invasion

"That lazy bum! What was he thinking? He just forfeited like that!" Ino shouted furiously.

"Can't help it. That's Shikamaru for you. He probably thought continuing the fight would be too much trouble," Choji said calmly as he ate from a fresh bag of chips.

The Hokage's viewing stand

"How interesting," the old Hokage said with a smile.

"Indeed, Lord Hokage. There are quite a few geniuses among your rookies this year. Of course, the Nara Clan's hereditary laziness has been passed down perfectly as well," the Kazekage said, making Hiruzen Sarutobi laugh.

In the arena

After a brief discussion, the organizers decided to give Sasuke Uchiha ten minutes. If he still hadn't arrived when his time was up, he would be disqualified.

One second before Genma officially announced Sasuke's disqualification, Kakashi and Sasuke arrived using the Body Flicker Technique.

"We're not late, are we?" the laid-back Jonin asked.

"This match was already postponed. One second later, and he would've been disqualified," the referee said.

"Ah, sorry, sorry. We forgot to set an alarm, and then a black cat blocked our path, so we had to take the long way around," the Copy Ninja said. Every Chunin and Jonin present who knew about Kakashi's chronic tardiness couldn't help facepalming.

"Enough. The final match of this round: Sasuke Uchiha versus Gaara of the Sand Waterfall. Are both contestants ready? Then... begin!" Genma announced loudly.

Sasuke instantly burst forward with astonishing speed, matching Rock Lee's earlier performance, and launched a fierce assault on Gaara. Yet he still couldn't break through Gaara's sand defense.

The spectator stands

Rock Lee had just entered the Stadium when he walked over to Guy, who was talking with Kakashi about what he had taught Sasuke.

"So you improved his speed and taught him Strong Fist? But even Rock Lee couldn't beat Gaara with that combination. Do you think Sasuke can?" Guy asked.

"I don't expect Sasuke to win with Taijutsu, but I guarantee he's got something else up his sleeve," Kakashi replied.

"Guy-sensei, I just got here. How did the earlier matches go? What happened in Naruto's match against Neji?" the boy in green asked.

"Ah, that was quite a spectacular match!" Guy said, instantly drawing the attention of the nearby Genin and Kakashi.

"Naruto won! And it wasn't even close. My dear student couldn't withstand Naruto's blazing flames of youth!" the green-clad Jonin said. Lee was instantly stunned, while Kakashi looked impressed.

Just then, clear birdsong rang out throughout the Stadium.

"Kakashi, you actually taught him that technique?" Guy asked in shock. Kakashi merely nodded.

In the arena, moments earlier

Everyone could see that Sasuke was far faster than the boy from Sunagakure, but no matter how fast he moved, he couldn't break through that layer of Sand Armor.

"You're too boring, Uchiha. I've lost interest in you. I want to fight someone else, someone worthy of proving my existence," Gaara said flatly. The sand around him easily blocked Sasuke's kick at his back.

The sand around Gaara swirled into a massive sphere, sealing him inside.

What does he mean? He doesn't want to fight me? He thinks I'm not worthy? I'm an Uchiha, an elite. Who the hell does he think he is? Today, I'll show him who he's messed with! Sasuke thought. He then ran up the wall and rapidly formed hand seals, gathering crackling lightning in his palm.

Konoha's number one brooding boy charged at the sand sphere. Countless sand spikes instantly thrust out from its surface, trying to impale him. But Sasuke nimbly dodged every spike and drove the lightning in his palm deep into the sphere, as easily as a hot knife through butter.

"What's that on my shoulder... blood? My blood! Aaaah!"

Gaara's screams came from inside the sand sphere. Sasuke smiled and leaped back to where he had been, ready to admire the results of his attack, only to see something that made his skin crawl-an eye peered out through the hole in the sphere. It wasn't his opponent's eye. It was an eye filled with evil.

Sasuke was just about to charge in for another attack when the spectator stands suddenly erupted into chaos. Vast swaths of the audience fell asleep, and countless ninja from Sunagakure and Otogakure leaped into the arena.

Gaara's older brother and sister immediately rushed down, grabbed the red-haired boy, who had already lost his mind, and leaped out of the Stadium.

Genma landed beside Sasuke and deflected several kunai thrown at him. "Sasuke, go after those Sunagakure Genin! Don't let them escape! The Chunin Ninja Exams are over. This is an invasion!"