"You've already done great, Tayuya. It's fine if you can't win."
Ino patted her shoulder encouragingly.
"Yeah, just fight however you like," Sakura added with a carefree smile. "None of us can beat him anyway, so no pressure."
"Making it to the third round is proof enough of your strength," Tenten said, pumping her fist for emphasis.
"Don't worry," Choji added with a grin. "Naruto will probably go easy on you."
Tayuya twitched her lips. How is that supposed to make me feel better?
They meant well, but their words were anything but comforting.
She knew she couldn't win against Naruto, yet the sting of helplessness still lingered.
Taking a deep breath, she stepped onto the field.
Across from her, Naruto stood in his trademark green jumpsuit, beaming with confidence.
Tayuya bit her thumb and slammed her palm to the ground.
Summoning Jutsu!
With a burst of smoke, three Nuki Oni materialized, towering and snarling.
Naruto grinned. "Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
A massive explosion of chakra filled the arena—and when the smoke cleared, hundreds of Narutos stood shoulder-to-shoulder, each striking a dramatic pose.
Tayuya's fingers tightened around her bamboo flute.
When watching from the stands, his clones had seemed impressive.
Now, facing them head-on, they felt suffocating.
Demonic Flute: Illusionary Warriors Manipulating Melody!
The haunting notes rang through the air. Her three Nuki Oni roared in unison, charging forward at full speed.
Naruto's army of clones met them head-on.
Boom!
The Nuki Oni on the left swung its massive club, crushing six or seven clones in a single blow.
But Naruto's clones were fearless.
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
"Dynamic Entry!"
"Leaf Strong Whirlwind!"
The green-clad shadows swarmed the giant's legs, kicking relentlessly.
Their combined attacks disrupted its balance—its own size turning into a weakness.
Before the Nuki Oni could lift its club again, it stumbled forward and crashed to the ground with a thunderous boom.
"Samehada!" Naruto shouted.
The living blade flew into his hand, leapt skyward, and came crashing down on the Nuki Oni's head.
The beast roared in pain—only to be bitten by the Samehada's jagged maw as it greedily absorbed chakra.
The other two Nuki Oni met the same fate.
Clones darted between their legs, sweeping, tripping, kicking—overwhelming them in waves.
Within moments, the battlefield turned chaotic.
Tayuya stared, utterly stunned.
No one had ever fought her summons like this.
Most opponents either avoided them entirely or blasted them with ninjutsu.
Shino had used giant insects.
But Naruto? Naruto used fists.
It was crude. Brutal. And horrifyingly effective.
"That's… savage," Kiba muttered, half-impressed, half-appalled.
"Classic Naruto," Shino said calmly. "He's turning quantity into power."
"Quantity? This is an army," Shikamaru groaned, running a hand through his hair. "When you've got infinite chakra, the rules don't apply to you."
Sasuke's eye twitched.
Even among the Uchiha, chakra reserves were considered elite. But Naruto's were on an entirely different level—absurd even by clan standards.
Tenten leaned forward. "It's over. The Nuki Oni can't hold out much longer."
She was right.
Summoned beasts, bound by contract rather than control, rarely fought to the death. When too injured, they instinctively dispelled themselves.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
In three puffs of smoke, the Nuki Oni vanished.
Dozens of Narutos turned toward Tayuya at once, smiling in eerie synchronization.
"...I—I surrender!" she yelped, hands raised.
She was terrified they'd charge her next. Facing one Naruto was bad enough—but an army of green jumpsuit maniacs? No thanks.
"Winner, Uzumaki Naruto."
Kitazawa nodded, satisfied. Two of his system missions were now complete; all that remained was to finish the exam and collect the rewards.
"The third match of the third round—Tenten versus Hyuga Neji."
Kitazawa's voice cut through the fading cheers.
"Huh? Why me again?" Tenten groaned, facepalming.
"It's just a spar," Neji said evenly, already stepping into position.
Tenten sighed, then smiled wryly. "Fine. But don't complain if I actually land a hit this time."
She formed hand seals.
Shadow Clone Jutsu!
Two identical Tenten appeared beside her, each armed and ready.
The Byakugan couldn't tell them apart—each clone carried its own chakra system, identical to the original.
A clever tactic.
If she'd already mastered the Shuriken Shadow Clone, she might have stood a real chance.
"Weapon Barrage!"
The Tenten on the left unfurled a summoning scroll, flicking her wrists as countless weapons flew out in a metallic storm.
Hyuga Neji's pale eyes flashed open.
Byakugan!
In an instant, his vision expanded. With effortless grace, he sidestepped kunai and shuriken, weaving through the air of the arena like a flowing stream.
He dashed forward, closing the distance in seconds.
"Ninja Tool: Binding Meteor!"
The Tenten on the right pressed her palm to another scroll. Chains burst forth, glinting as they whipped toward Neji.
Neji's response was calm and precise.
With a single open palm strike, he deflected the chains, sending them spinning harmlessly away.
A blur of motion—he stepped forward, and before the clone could react—
"Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms!"
Each strike landed with pinpoint accuracy.
At the eighth strike, the clone dissolved into smoke.
The air trembled.
"Heavenly Chain Disaster!"
The last Tenten unrolled an enormous scroll that spun through the air. From it, a downpour of weapons cascaded toward Neji like a shining rain of steel.
Neji turned sharply, his hands flowing like water.
"Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms!"
He struck each incoming weapon midair, redirecting the barrage in a flurry of precise movements.
As a gap opened, he inhaled deeply, eyes locking onto the real Tenten.
"Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm!"
A compressed shockwave blasted forward.
Tenten hastily raised her scroll as a shield, but the invisible force struck her chest, sending her skidding backward across the arena.
"The original," Neji confirmed softly, already in pursuit.
In the blink of an eye, he was upon her, palm strikes flying like lightning.
The other clones barely managed to move before—
"I surrender!" Tenten shouted, raising her hands.
The strikes halted a hair's breadth from her body.
Neji exhaled, lowering his hand. With practiced precision, he released her sealed tenketsu and offered a hand to pull her up.
"Thank you," Tenten said with a rueful smile.
The crowd erupted into light applause.
Dispelling her clones, Tenten and Neji walked side by side off the field.
The third round of sparring continued.
In total, sixteen students remained—only two fewer than before. The order of battle changed, but the lineup remained the same: Konoha's brightest.
One match after another passed in steady rhythm, the sun climbing higher above the arena.
By the time the eighth and final match began, the outcome was already clear.
Yakumo easily overpowered Hana with her illusionary prowess.
"The third round ends here," Kitazawa announced. "Everyone, take ten minutes to rest. Once time's up, I'll announce the rankings and groupings for the mission phase."
This monthly exam wasn't over—the real test was still ahead.
The final ranking would be determined not just by theory and combat, but also by the mission results.
"Kitazawa-sensei," came Sasuke's voice.
Everyone turned as he stood, hand on the Sword of the Thunder God.
"I want to challenge Naruto."
Naruto's eyes lit up. "Sasuke! I've been waiting for this!"
He grinned widely. "Let's have another battle of youth!"
Sasuke smirked. "This time, the outcome will be different. I'll win."
After his victory over Kimimaro—using both Chidori Senbon and Chidori Nagashi—his confidence was absolute.
In both close and long-range combat, he was ready for anything Naruto could throw.
Kitazawa folded his arms and nodded. "Alright. Everyone else, clear the field."
Excitement rippled through the stands.
"I wonder who'll win this time," Ino murmured. "They've both leveled up a lot."
"Sasuke-kun will win for sure!" Sakura said firmly, her eyes shining with adoration.
"I'm betting on Naruto," Kiba declared. "That guy's got endless chakra. The longer it goes, the better he gets!"
"I agree," Tayuya muttered, recalling her own defeat. "I fought him once. It's not human."
Shino adjusted his glasses. "If we judge by experience, Naruto tends to have the advantage… but predictions mean nothing until the battle starts."
"Let's just watch," Tenten said.
Hiruzen smiled faintly. "Sasuke has that typical Uchiha temperament… proud and relentless."
Kakashi, watching quietly, felt a pang of nostalgia. Sasuke reminded him so much of Obito—fiery, determined, always pushing forward despite everything.
"In the Genius Class," Kosuke commented, "only Sasuke has the potential to truly match Naruto. Rivalry like theirs is a gift."
"Yes," Hiruzen agreed, stroking his beard. "These bonds… are what make them grow."
He smiled softly. Naruto has found his place.
Sasuke's gaze hardened. "Naruto. Skip the warm-up. Go all out from the start."
"As expected of my eternal rival!" Naruto shouted, flashing a grin.
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
In an instant, hundreds of clones materialized, lining up in two long rows.
Sasuke's hand tightened around the sword of the thunder god.
He vanished.
A burst of lightning followed, scattering through the field.
The moment he reappeared among the clones, the sword crackled with lightning.
Chidori Nagashi!
Bolts of blue-white electricity spread in waves, frying the nearest clones in a dazzling explosion.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Shadow Clones screamed and burst into smoke one after another.
Those preparing Wind Release: Gale Palm and Wind Release: Shuriken stumbled mid-attack, their coordination shattered by the surging current.
Naruto's pupils contracted slightly.
In a heartbeat, he grabbed the Samehada and leapt forward.
"Let's go!"
The massive sword came crashing down with a deafening boom, splitting the earth beneath them.
Sasuke barely dodged, retreating as dust and rubble exploded skyward.
He steadied his breath, blade flashing.
Leaf Style: Willow!
Sasuke twisted, sword thrusting like a bolt of lightning.
A wave of invisible chakra rippled forward—a subtle binding genjutsu hidden within his strike.
Naruto's body froze for a split second—but inside his mind, a familiar roar erupted.
Nine-tails snarled and lashed its tails, shredding the illusion apart.
Freed, Naruto smirked.
But in that single instant of stillness—Sasuke had already moved.
Sasuke's Sword of the Thunder God sliced in from Naruto's blind spot—a flash of lightning, a whisper of death.
But at the very last moment, the Samehada snapped open its jagged maw and lunged at Sasuke's arm.
If he didn't withdraw, he'd lose more than just chakra—he'd lose flesh.
Sasuke's mind raced. He couldn't risk trading blows; the Samehada devoured chakra like a glutton. Even a glancing exchange would cost him dearly.
Instead of retreating, he twisted his wrist mid-strike—the blade's arc shifting with impossible precision—and redirected his thrust toward Naruto's thigh.
"Violent: Leaf Hurricane Strong Whirlwind!"
Naruto reacted instantly, his leg glowing with blue chakra as he kicked forward with explosive force.
Sasuke's grip tightened—the shock of impact reverberated up his arm. The sword trembled. His advantage was gone.
In the same instant, Sasuke sprang backward and flung three kunai with a flick of his wrist.
Naruto swung the Samehada like a club, swatting the spinning blades aside with ease.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
His Shadow Clones—who had been paralyzed moments ago by Sasuke's lightning—reformed their ranks. A gust howled through the arena, merging into a spiraling wave of wind that surged toward Sasuke.
Naruto paused, halting his own movement. He knew better than to charge into an attack powered by his own clones—even his chakra could backfire.
Sasuke didn't hesitate.
"Chidori Senbon!"
Electricity flared in his left hand, condensing into hundreds of sharp needles. He hurled them skyward, and a glittering storm of lightning rained down, shredding half of Naruto's clones instantly.
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Naruto grinned and slammed his palms together. Fifty more clones erupted from smoke, spreading out like a tide.
"Wind Release: Shuriken!"
Dozens of wind-infused shuriken screamed through the air.
Sasuke's eyes widened slightly—the barrage was too fast, too dense to fully evade.
He vanished in a blur, his Sharingan spinning wildly. Each shuriken that neared him was deflected with his sword.
Sasuke became a storm of motion, the Sword of the Thunder God flashing in arcs of blue lightning, batting away each projectile with effortless grace.
But behind him—
"Rasengan!"
Naruto appeared like a ghost, his body propelled forward by a burst of wind chakra.
Sasuke spun on instinct, raising his sword to block.
The collision was deafening. The Rasengan's swirling force ripped through the air, its rotation threatening to tear the blade from his grip.
He felt it—the sword slipping, his control faltering.
Sasuke released his hold and dove sideways just as the Rasengan drilled into the ground, carving a crater beneath them.
The shriek of lightning pierced the air.
"Chidori!"
Sasuke lunged, his right arm glowing with blinding light.
The strike connected, piercing Naruto clean through the waist.
Except—
Bang!
Naruto exploded into smoke.
A clone.
Sasuke smirked. As expected.
If that had been the real Naruto, Kitazawa would've intervened already.
The wind roared behind him.
Sasuke turned sharply—two long rows of Shadow Clones stood at the ready, all channeling wind chakra.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!"
"Wind Release: Shuriken!"
A wall of slicing wind and spinning blades surged toward him.
Sasuke's Sharingan spun faster.
"Chidori Senbon!"
He unleashed another blinding storm of lightning needles, tearing through the clones in rapid bursts of light. Then, before the smoke cleared, he dashed straight into the chaos, retrieving the Sword of the Thunder God.
Lightning coursed down the blade—crackling, alive.
He spun, cutting through clone after clone, each one bursting into smoke as the air filled with the scent of ozone.
"Violent: Leaf Hurricane Strong Whirlwind!"
Naruto charged in again, his kick aimed with perfect timing.
Sasuke read the motion but too late realized Naruto wasn't aiming for him.
The kick connected with the Sword of the Thunder God, sending it spinning through the air.
The shock numbed Sasuke's arm. Naruto's momentum carried him forward—wide open.
Opportunity.
"Chidori!"
The thousand birds screamed once more as Sasuke thrust his arm forward.
His hand pierced—but not flesh.
Scales.
Samehada had intercepted the strike, its jagged surface crackling with lightning.
Sasuke's expression tightened.
"Rasengan!"
Naruto turned sharply, a spinning sphere of chakra in his hand—smaller than usual, but pulsing with dense energy.
Kitazawa's advice echoed in his mind: Don't overpower him—control it.
"Not so fast!" Sasuke snapped, raising his left hand.
Lightning surged again—anotherChidori.
Naruto's eyes widened. "You can use it with both hands?!"
The Rasengan and twin Chidori collided—blue wind and white lightning merging into chaos.
Sasuke gritted his teeth, the shock twisting his arm painfully. The force was immense, his muscles screaming in protest.
And then—
His right-hand Chidori crackled wildly, expanding outward—transforming into Chidori Nagashi.
The explosion of lightning swallowed Naruto whole.
He cried out, body convulsing as sparks danced across his skin.
But the Samehada lunged again, sinking its fangs into Sasuke's shoulder.
Lightning scattered, chakra drained in torrents.
Naruto was blasted backward, rolling across the ground—yet even before the dust settled, he forced himself up, breathing hard.
Sasuke wasn't as lucky.
Drained by the Samehada's bite, he collapsed to one knee, electricity flickering out around him.
The sword lay a few meters away, still humming faintly with residual lightning.
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