c16: Reappearance of Chidori
Following Naruto's astonishing match, the audience grew even more eager for the next scheduled fight. However, because Sasuke had still not arrived alongside Kakashi, the order of the tournament had to be altered. Other matches were postponed, and stepping into the arena instead was the perpetually unmotivated Nara Shikamaru to face the fierce, calculating Temari of the Sand.
This was disappointing news for spectators who had waited specifically for the Uchiha heir. Some even voiced irritation from the stands, but as the battle progressed, Shikamaru's tactical brilliance gradually drew everyone's focus. Still, the Shadow Imitation Technique was notoriously limited in one-on-one combat. As long as a target could escape the range or disrupt the angle of the shadow, Shikamaru had little offensive leverage. But Temari's Wind Release techniques were overwhelmingly powerful, and Shikamaru's strengths lay in survival, trap-setting, and exploiting the environment. As he manipulated the sunlight, trenches, and debris to extend his shadow, even Temari found herself increasingly on guard. Yet the gap in raw power remained, and although Shikamaru ingeniously forced her into a corner, he surrendered due to chakra depletion. Even so, he walked away with the admiration of the crowd.
Fortunately, Sasuke finally arrived with Kakashi at the last possible moment, which electrified the impatient audience. The Uchiha name was so renowned that not only the spectators and Konoha shinobi but even Naruto looked forward to witnessing the clan's power firsthand. Though Sasuke had awakened his Sharingan only recently, very few Sharingan wielders remained after the Uchiha massacre, making the match even more anticipated. Naruto also wanted to observe carefully the abilities of the Sharingan he had only heard about in previous battles.
Gaara's strength was anything but ordinary. Rock Lee had opened five of the Eight Gates and still only managed to inflict minimal damage. A jinchūriki even one who had not yet fully tamed their tailed beast was not an opponent to be taken lightly.
At the start of the match, Gaara's sand defense and long-range attacks proved troublesome for Sasuke. Yet what shocked everyone especially Maito Gai was that Sasuke had clearly incorporated Lee's Taijutsu and movements into his own, surpassing the speed of Gaara's automatic sand shield. According to Kakashi, the Sharingan could see through ninjutsu, genjutsu, and even taijutsu patterns, allowing its user to analyze and replicate techniques almost instantly. To Naruto, this seemed like unfair cheating, but eye techniques were not something one could train into existence; the Uchiha bloodline was simply unique.
With Sasuke's accelerated movements and relentless taijutsu barrage, Gaara had no chance to counter. For the first time since his debut, Gaara found himself pressured into retreat. Finally, driven into a corner, Gaara's emotions spiked. Sand surged around him in multiple layers, forming the dense and iconic Shield of Sand an ultimate defense shaped by Shukaku's chakra. Sasuke's blows could no longer penetrate the increasingly hardened barrier, and Gaara prepared a counterattack with sand that could crush or immobilize Sasuke at any moment. If the stalemate continued, Sasuke would eventually lose.
At this point, most of Konoha wondered how Sasuke would respond, while the Sand shinobi realized Gaara's instability was already disrupting their carefully laid invasion plans. Sasuke abruptly leapt back, prompting some to think he was retreating or conceding, but then he lowered his stance. Lightning began to emanate violently from his hand as he activated Kakashi's most famous technique Chidori. This move was indeed extremely powerful, although Kakashi himself could use it only a limited number of times due to its immense chakra consumption and the precision needed for the nature transformation. Yet for Sasuke, this was the strongest jutsu he possessed at the time. The sound of piercing lightning filled the arena, and with a sudden burst of speed, Sasuke dashed forward his Chidori tearing through Gaara's absolute defense.
For the Sand ninja, this was nearly unthinkable. In truth, had Gaara not possessed the protection of Shukaku's partial transformation, he would have been gravely injured. But the brief emergence of Shukaku's monstrous form terrified Sasuke, and if Gaara had not desperately suppressed the tailed beast's awakening, Sasuke might have faced lethal danger on the spot.
At this moment, Yakushi Kabuto activated the genjutsu signal prepared by Orochimaru, and instantly the majority of the audience and almost all the Genin fell unconscious under the illusion. The more experienced jōnin, including Kakashi, Gai, and Asuma, released themselves from the spell with ease. At the same time, the man impersonating the Fourth Kazekage the true Kazekage already murdered by Orochimaru betrayed the alliance with Konoha and launched an assassination attempt on the Third Hokage. The Sound Four appeared on the rooftop and erected the Four Purple Flames Formation, trapping the Hokage and Orochimaru within the blazing barrier. Simultaneously, waves of Sunagakure and Otogakure shinobi infiltrated Konoha, and massive summoned beasts rampaged through the streets. Everything was part of a meticulously planned operation known as the "Konoha Crush."
The mission of the Sand ninja centered around using Gaara as the vessel of Shukaku. Once Gaara released the One-Tail's power in full, the ensuing chaos would destabilize the village, giving Orochimaru the opening he needed to abduct Uchiha Sasuke. However, Sasuke's earlier Chidori had penetrated Gaara's defenses, causing his unstable mind and body to falter. Gaara's condition prevented Shukaku's full manifestation, forcing the Sand siblings to retreat so Gaara could recover enough to transform.
Sasuke was immediately ordered to pursue Gaara alone. Naruto glanced toward the Third Hokage, sensing that although the situation was dangerous, Hiruzen's immense experience meant Orochimaru could not kill him instantly. Right then, Kakashi dispatched a four-member support squad consisting of Naruto, Sakura, Shikamaru, and his tracking ninken Pakkun to pursue Sasuke. Since Kakashi entrusted the mission to them personally, Naruto had no choice but to prioritize supporting Sasuke. The situation with the Third Hokage would have to be dealt with afterward.
The team three shinobi and one ninken followed Sasuke's scent trail at full speed, but before long Pakkun detected a large group moving quickly behind them. Counting by scent and footsteps, he reported twenty-one pursuing shinobi. If this many enemies caught up, Naruto's team would fall into a dangerous position. Even if Naruto defeated them, the fight would delay them from reaching Sasuke in time. At this moment, Sakura suggested an ambush, while Shikamaru reasoned that someone needed to act as bait to draw the pursuers away.
Yet if Naruto stayed behind, he could easily defeat or stall the enemies, but Sakura and Shikamaru lacked the strength to reach Sasuke and make any difference. Conversely, if either Sakura or Shikamaru acted as bait, they would almost certainly be killed. Although there was a theoretical chance of escape, the odds were extremely low. Just as Shikamaru prepared to volunteer himself despite the danger, Naruto interrupted decisively: "None of you need to act as bait. I'll handle the ambush."
Naruto then created two shadow clones. Shikamaru immediately understood the intent Naruto's clones might not defeat all twenty-one enemies, but they could stall them long enough for the team to advance. Still, Shikamaru voiced his concern: "But using shadow clones splits your chakra. That'll put you at a disadvantage when we catch up to Sasuke." Naruto answered confidently, "Don't worry. This amount of chakra is nothing."
In that moment, Naruto felt more strongly than ever the weight that came with strength. True power wasn't just for receiving acknowledgment, it was for protecting comrades. To shield the people he cared about from harm, he had to become stronger. Yet even now, Naruto felt his strength remained insufficient.
After Naruto concealed his clones for the ambush, the trio continued their pursuit under Pakkun's guidance. But Naruto felt an inexplicable pressure rising inside him. The uneasiness didn't stem from the pursuing shinobi or from Gaara it was something else, something ominous creeping closer, though he couldn't identify it. Even so, the immediate priority was ensuring Sasuke's safety and stopping Gaara's transformation. Only after completing that mission could he rush back and see whether he could still intervene in the crisis surrounding the Third Hokage.
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