At this time, Hayate announced the next pair of opponents.
"The next match participants are Gaara, versus Takumi!"
"Is it finally starting?"
Countless spectators took a deep breath.
And Takumi, with style, jumped down from the second-floor contestant waiting area.
He stood on Hayate's left side, waiting for Gaara's arrival.
This battle was destined to be a focal point.
On one side was Sunagakure's Jinchuriki.
On the other was Konoha's recently famous genius youth, Takumi.
Who would win between the two became the suspense of this match.
"What's there to guess? My Hubby Takumi will definitely win!"
Kurotsuchi had eyes only for Takumi.
"But that one called Gaara doesn't seem like someone to underestimate either." Kitsuchi added.
"What Gaara?"
"Just an insomniac kid, how could he possibly beat my Hubby!"
Kitsuchi looked at her helplessly, sighing and shaking his head.
'What a disaster!'
Then he looked with a grave expression at Gaara, who was slowly walking onto the field.
'I never thought Yondaime Kazekage had such nerve, actually bringing his village's Jinchuriki to Konoha.'
'Isn't he afraid the Jinchuriki might have an accident on the way?'
'A Jinchuriki is an important combat force for every village.'
'Every country hopes to eliminate or kidnap the Jinchuriki of other villages.'
If there's a chance...
Kitsuchi would absolutely not pass up the opportunity to kill Gaara.
As for where the Ichibi would resurrect afterwards, that wasn't something he would consider.
Because just losing the Ichibi would put the Land of Wind in an extremely bad situation.
One could say they would be vulnerable.
And at this time…
In the VIP seats.
Orochimaru, transformed into Yondaime Kazekage and sitting next to Hiruzen, also watched the battlefield below with great interest.
Of course, he wasn't interested in Jinchuriki or such things.
After all, if he wanted, he had many ways to get a Jinchuriki.
He was more interested in Takumi, who had repeatedly thwarted him.
He was still somewhat puzzled why the Cursed Seal didn't work on Takumi.
Unfortunately, there wasn't enough time, and he had no way to take him away.
Otherwise, he would definitely study him properly.
Orochimaru secretly felt regret, a look of pity in his eyes.
Hiruzen, next to him, turned his head to look at Orochimaru.
Noticing the pity in his eyes, he felt baffled.
'What is this damn Kazekage looking at?'
'You raised your own child like this, and now you feel pity?'
'Do you think you deserve to?'
'Just look at the children I've taught, the difference is like heaven and earth compared to yours!'
Hiruzen silently complained in his heart, and his expression began to become smug.
Then, he turned to look at the battlefield below.
'Go defeat him, prove your strength, Takumi-kun!'
'You must let the others see the young power of our Konoha!'
Finally, after a wait of half a minute…
Gaara, who had been walking slowly and deliberately, finally arrived on Hayate's right side.
This highly anticipated focal match made the entire arena fall silent.
The tens of thousands of spectators in the stands were eagerly waiting… waiting to see a spectacular and thrilling battle scene.
During Takumi's previous match against Neji, he displayed powerful strength, directly crushing Neji.
But this also meant many spectators lacked a concrete measure of Takumi's specific strength.
In contrast, the battle between Gaara and Lee revealed quite a bit about Gaara's strength.
And Lee's speed, which was impossible for the naked eye to follow, was full of pressure for ordinary people.
Seeing that even the strong Lee lost to Gaara, naturally, they felt worried for Takumi.
"Gaara is so strong, can Takumi do it?"
"The Shinobi from the Land of Wind are too powerful, I wonder if Takumi can handle it?"
"Takumi, do your best!"
"Takumi! Let them see the power of our Konoha's Shinobi!"
…
The spectators worried, prayed, and cheered in their hearts.
The group of rookies also clenched their fists.
The atmosphere in the arena was tense to the extreme!
"Both parties prepare, form the Seal of Confrontation."
Hayate looked at the two. After they formed the Seal of Confrontation, he immediately stepped back to give them space.
Neither of them made the first move, standing still in their places.
A breeze swept across the ground, also lifting the hems of their clothes, fully displaying the demeanor of masters.
"Your strength is great, but I am greater."
Gaara broke the silence first.
His eyes, surrounded by dark circles, were full of seriousness.
"Is that so?"
Takumi chuckled lightly, "Who is greater, we'll know after we fight."
"The Hyuga Clan's Rotation is both offensive and defensive, but by trying to do both, its defensive power doesn't reach the ultimate level."
Gaara slightly raised his chin, showing a trace of pride, "But I am different. I have an absolute defense."
'Is it Susano'o?'
At this time, Takumi couldn't help but laugh.
Hearing his laugh, Gaara's face immediately darkened.
The previous battle against Lee had indeed left him somewhat disheveled.
His proud absolute defense couldn't keep up with Lee's speed.
If it weren't for the Sand Armor covering his body blocking Lee's attacks, he would have probably already been beaten into a rampage.
'Laughing like that, how damnable!'
The killing intent in Gaara's eyes was fully revealed.
No killing in the Chunin Exam?
He didn't care.
His purpose in coming here wasn't to become a Chunin.
It was to cause massive destruction in Konoha.
If he could kill the rising star like Takumi here, he would only be met with cheers from his own village.
And not the slightest bit of blame.
With this in mind, he abruptly reached out his hand. The cap of the sand gourd on his back flew off, and a large amount of sand flew out from the gourd.
Then, under Gaara's control, it spread out towards Takumi, covering the sky.
"Sand Coffin!"
'Die here!'
Gaara shouted in his heart.
But how could Takumi be caught by such slow sand?
The sand tightened violently.
But Gaara felt the sensation was somewhat off.
"He's not there?"
He immediately looked left and right, searching for Takumi's figure.
"What are you looking at?"
Suddenly, a voice came from behind him. Gaara's expression changed drastically.
As he turned around, he controlled the sand to surround his back.
Yet he still caught nothing.
'This speed!'
'It's as fast as that bowl-cut kid!'
Gaara's heartbeat accelerated.
'No!'
'I must solidify my defense, otherwise, I'll be toyed with like last time!'
Under his control, the sand immediately wrapped around him completely, like a sphere.
"Hiding now?"
Takumi revealed his form, raising an eyebrow lightly.
'You're confident in your defense?'
'Today I'll break your defense head-on.'
Boom!!!
Takumi threw a fierce punch, directly piercing through the sand sphere's defense.
"Huh?"
Takumi frowned.
Although he had pierced the defense, the sand sphere tightly gripped his arm.
Inside the sphere, Gaara, looking at the fist so close, broke out in a cold sweat on his forehead.
'W-what is going on!?'
'It was pierced so easily!?'
But Gaara was only shocked for a second before immediately revealing a triumphant smile.
"Watch me tear your arm off!"
He was just about to control the sand to twist and break Takumi's arm, but a blinding white light burst before his eyes.
Boom!!!!
A huge explosion sound echoed throughout the arena.
A violent explosion occurred inside Gaara's sand sphere!
His body was thrown out like broken porcelain, covered in cracks.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Takumi pressed his advantage, his heavy fists punching Gaara's body one after another.
Sand continuously peeled off from Gaara's body, and Gaara seemed to be on the verge of losing consciousness!
"This! Gaara is being beaten like this!?"
"What kind of power are that guy's fists! Gaara's absolute defense was pierced through so easily!"
"If this continues, Gaara might be beaten to death!"
In the viewing stands, Temari, Kankuro, Baki...
And a large group of Sunagakure's Shinobi were all dumbfounded!
The pride of their Land of Wind, the feared Gaara, was actually being beaten without any ability to fight back!
'He was so imposing just moments ago, now he's in such a sorry state!'
'Just how strong is this Takumi!?'
Seeing Gaara's eyes start to roll back, Takumi immediately stopped, letting Gaara's body fall heavily to the ground.
"His defense is indeed good, able to withstand so many of my attacks."
"But what good is strong defense if you can only take hits and not fight back?"
Takumi couldn't help but shake his head.
Gaara's defense was truly astonishing, but so what?
Lacking powerful offensive capability was Gaara's fatal flaw.