Chidori and Rasengan collided mid-air. Convective storm forming.
Evenly matched—at first. But in the subsequent burst—Toneri had the edge.
BANG.
Chidori scattered. Rasengan's aftershock sent Sarada flying.
"SARADA!"
Heart-wrenching cry. Karin jumped from the stands.
But one figure—faster. Before Sarada hit the ground—two hands caught her small body. Steady.
In Sarada's unfocused vision—a face she'd never seen.
Cool. Handsome. Undisguised concern.
Inexplicable emotion rose in her heart. Almost instinctively—she called out that blood-bound term.
"Papa...?"
Drip. As if a soft droplet fell on his heart. Sasuke's eyes flickered. "Yes."
Sarada's heart—mixed emotions. Small hand clutched his collar. Trembling voice. "Why did you abandon Mom... abandon me..."
How could the past between adults be explained in just a few words?
Fatherly love's absence—undeniable fact. All he could do now: make up for it with everything.
Couldn't let an innocent child be hurt again.
Sasuke looked gently at her. Solemn. "I've returned to your side now. From now on—I'll always be here."
"Did you see my performance?"
"I saw it."
"Then... am I a daughter you can be proud of?"
"At such a young age—using Sharingan and Chidori so skillfully. You're far more impressive than I was back then. You're truly my daughter."
"Hehe. That's wonderful."
Having received her father's promise and recognition—Sarada showed a happy dimple. Weakness and exhaustion surged. She fell unconscious.
"Phew." Sasuke—deep breath.
Toneri walked forward. Small face—surprise. "Sasuke-san is Sarada's dad?"
Sasuke—sarcastic. "Sorry, Toneri. I'm that 'scumbag' who abandoned his wife and daughter you mentioned."
Toneri scratched his head. Embarrassed. "Sorry. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions."
"I don't blame you. Even I find this whole thing absurd."
Karin came forward. Anxious. "Sasuke, I..."
Sasuke didn't show blame. But this public venue—not the place for domestic matters.
Calm. "I know everything. Let's go back and talk it through slowly."
Karin nodded. "Okay."
Just like that. Sasuke carried Sarada. Karin followed. They walked off the field.
Toneri watched their backs. Sighing. "The adult world is really complicated."
Thinking of a certain woman harassing him for years—chill ran down his spine.
"I have to be careful. Absolutely can't let her get any of my genetic material. Not even a single hair."
Tobi's lively voice pulled people back to reality.
"Odooo What kind of shit lies hidden behind this seemingly heartwarming father-daughter reunion? Afterwards—special interview with Uchiha Sasuke! Please look forward to Rain Hidden TV's late-night talk show 'Rain Country Style.' Children under twenty—watch with parental supervision"
Whooom.
Matchup board rotated.
Second match roster appeared.
—RYŌ TENBIN ŌNOKI VS. KONOHAMARU SARUTOBI—
Contestant seating.
Konohamaru laughed. "Hey, what bad luck! I drew the joker!"
Hanabi smiled. "Scared?"
Konohamaru clenched his fist. "No. I'm actually fired up, kore! Hey, Hanabi—if I beat Ōnoki-senpai, about what I mentioned when we were drinking last time... could you consider it?"
Hanabi smiled without speaking. But under his expectant gaze—finally said: "Do your best~"
Konohamaru's motivation—maxed out. "Alright! Watch my performance, kore~!"
Dueling ground.
Ōnoki and Konohamaru. Face to face.
"Ōnoki-senpai, it's an honor to be your opponent!"
Ōnoki raised his hand. Seal of Confrontation. "Hiruzen's grandson is quite polite. However, this time I'm determined to win. So I won't hold back."
Konohamaru returned the seal. "Then I can only regretfully inform you—this time, you still won't be able to retire!"
"Ho ho. Then let this old man see what the Leaf's strongest rookie is made of~"
"Pardon me."
Konohamaru grabbed smoke bombs. Smashed them on the ground.
BANG.
—Ninja Art: Shuriken Shadow Clone!
Behind the smoke—overwhelming barrage. Shuriken shooting forth.
Ōnoki's thoughts raced. "Starting with smoke cover. Could his real body be using Transformation Jutsu—hiding among these shuriken..."
Keeping that in mind. Palm pressed to ground.
—Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!
Clang clang clang.
Rising earth wall blocked frontal shuriken.
Behind the wall—Ōnoki's peripheral vision swept left and right. Watching shuriken flying past from both sides. "Is it the left or the right..."
BANG. BANG.
From both shuriken streams—one each transformed into Konohamaru. Simultaneously forming seals.
—Fire Release: Twin Dragon Explosion!
WHOOOM.
Two fire dragons struck together. Trying to catch him off guard.
Ōnoki's lips curved. "Oh? Attacking from both sides? Youth is wonderful."
—Earth Release: Rock Arm!
BOOM. BOOM.
Giant rock hands rising from left and right ground. Blocked Fire Release. Heavily slammed forward.
BANG. BANG.
Two puffs of shadow clone smoke—disappeared beneath rock palms.
Crack. Crack.
Cracks appeared in the earth wall before Ōnoki.
"Hmm? Both sides were feints. The real body used my earth wall to hide instead. So this is the real surprise attack."
BOOM.
Konohamaru burst through the wall. Striking Ōnoki's body with Rasengan.
But. Ōnoki's body softened into mud. Explosive tags emerging from within.
"This is... an Earth Release trap clone!"
BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM.
After the explosion—substitution log fell to the ground.
Konohamaru appeared in a safe location. Unable to find Ōnoki's whereabouts.
He formed hand seals.
—Barrier: Canopy Method Formation!
Whoosh.
Invisible detection barrier swept across the field.
Konohamaru's eyes narrowed. "Can't sense his chakra. Is it Dustless Bewildering Cover?!"
Whoosh.
Ōnoki's real body appeared.
—Earth Release: Western Earth Core Rise!
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. BOOM.
What rose—not the ground beneath Konohamaru's feet. But the ground to his west. This way—where he stood became a collapse.
Whoosh.
Ōnoki's form floated in the air. In his hands—Dust Release cube already formed. Aiming at Konohamaru trapped in the sunken area. "Now you have nowhere to run!"
—Dust Release: Detachment of the Primitive World Technique!
Whoosh.
Almost the instant the Dust Release light struck down—
Konohamaru bit his finger. Pressed his palm to the ground.
—SUMMONING JUTSU!
Enma appeared. Transforming into the colossal Adamantine Staff. Smashing through the western rock walls.
Konohamaru narrowly avoided the Dust Release beam. Nick of time.
"As expected of a veteran. Can't let my guard down for a moment. Well then—I should go all out too, kore~!"
POOF.
Outside the field—Konohamaru's shadow clone disappeared in white smoke.
Crackle.
Orange eye markings appeared on Konohamaru's eyelids.
In his pupils—the toad's distinctive horizontal pupils.
A Hyūga clan member exclaimed. "HEY! THAT FACE PATTERN—COULD IT BE?!"
Naruto's lips curved. "Here it comes."
SARUTOBI KONOHAMARU.
SAGE MODE.
ACTIVATED.
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