Chapter 204 Broken Uchiha

The attack did manage to cause some damage to Gaara, even with his absolute sand defense. But that didn't mean the battle was over. Gaara quickly responded with sand binding and a Sand coffin, launching a counterattack.

Both he and Sasuke had taken varying degrees of injury during the fight. Yet, the true intensity of the battle was only beginning to show.

Though Sasuke possessed immense talent as he was from the Uchiha clan and reincarnation of Indra, it was no match for the raw chakra of the tailed beast sealed inside Gaara, Shukaku. Ultimately, Sasuke, eager for victory, was overpowered by Gaara's bottomless chakra.

While Sasuke wasn't injured as severely as Lee, he still couldn't stand. His chakra reserves were nearly depleted. Unlike Gaara, who could draw on the tailed beast's chakra within him, Sasuke had no such advantage. In a battle of endurance, it was only a matter of time before he succumbed.

When Genma Shiranui called the match, announcing, "Gaara wins," Sasuke's eyes still flickered with frustration. He wanted nothing more than to prove himself, to show everyone that he was capable of facing Itachi. But the reality was painfully clear—he was nowhere near the genius Itachi had become when he was as old as him. Sasuke couldn't even defeat Gaara at this stage, let alone the elite Anbu like Itachi.

Sakura rushed to Sasuke's side, her face full of worry as she followed Kakashi, who had already moved to check on him.

Genma's voice echoed once more, confirming the outcome: "Gaara, win." The medical team, standing by, immediately stepped forward with a stretcher to take Sasuke away.

"It's okay, Sakura. He's just exhausted," Kakashi reassured her with a calm smile.

Sasuke lay there, bloodied and battered, his body unconscious from chakra depletion. His condition was grave, but Kakashi estimated that it would take about a week for him to wake up. Despite the rough recovery, this forced rest might actually work in Sasuke's favor—especially since he was so fixated on avenging his clan and confronting Itachi.

As for being Chūnin, Kakashi believed there was no doubt that Sasuke would be promoted next year. After all, Sasuke's performance—especially alongside Uzumaki Naruto, who had the worst marks in the theory in Ninja Academy—had been nothing short of impressive. If not for Gaara, Sasuke would have undoubtedly claimed victory. But such is the way of fate, and there's no one to blame.

As Sasuke was carried to the hospital, Sakura trailed behind the medics, her steps quick but her heart weighed down with worry. She couldn't bear to see him like this—so broken, so vulnerable. Yet, beneath the surface of her concern, a tiny spark of hope began to take shape.

This is my chance, she thought, glancing at his unconscious form. Once he's stable, I can visit him every day, take care of him, and show him how much he means to me.

Her mind began to race, painting a vivid picture of her sitting by his hospital bed, holding his hand as he opened his eyes to see her first. He'll finally see how much I care, she thought, her cheeks flushing at the imagined scenario. Maybe he'll even smile at me, just once...

A pang of guilt followed. What am I thinking? Sasuke's hurt because he pushed himself too hard in that fight.

But no matter how much she tried to scold herself, the image of her tending to Sasuke, her hand gently brushing a strand of hair from his face, refused to fade. She could almost hear his voice, low and soft, thanking her for being there.

Her cheeks turned an even deeper shade of pink. Stop it, Sakura! Focus! Sasuke's in pain, and all you're doing is fantasizing. Just... wait until he's okay, and then—then I can show him how much I care.

As the medics hurried into the hospital doors, Sakura stopped at the entrance, her fists clenched at her sides. She knew she'd visit him as soon as she was allowed. Until then, she would keep her head high, push aside her daydreams, and make sure she was strong enough to support him.

Sasuke-kun... please be okay.

What Sakura didn't know, however, was that the Ninja Hospital would never allow her to stay by his side. In the eyes of the adults, her deep fixation was nothing more than the innocent friendship of children. It was likely only Tatsuya who truly understood her feelings, seeing through the surface-level emotions.

It wasn't that the three beautiful women around Tatsuya had emerged by coincidence. Among them, Kurenai had been harboring fantasies about Tatsuya since she was passed from the ninja academy. Now, she had become the woman behind him, just as she'd always wished. After the match, the arena was quickly repaired, and the next round of the competition was set to begin.

"Fourth round: Hyuga Neji vs. Kankuro."

Although Hyuga Neji didn't possess the terrifying Yin and Yang Hakkeshō Kaiten like Hinata, his version of the technique was still formidable—just not as powerful as hers. Kankuro's puppets were certainly well-crafted, but in Tatsuya's eyes, they still paled in comparison to Sasori's creations. After all, Kankuro was just a child, and Tatsuya wasn't taking the battle too seriously.

As he watched the puppet being controlled by chakra, Tatsuya's mind drifted back to the time he returned to Konoha from the Kingdom of Wind. Chiyo's body remained in the desert, but she had once commanded an army of puppets to take on the man who had threatened Konoha's White Fang. Tatsuya couldn't help but wonder—if Chiyo could see Konoha's White Fang and the Black Fang now, sitting so peacefully while watching a Konoha child face off against a Sand Shinobi puppet master in the arena, what would she think?

It was clear that, as Tatsuya had expected, Neji ultimately emerged victorious. But when compared to the Uchiha Sasuke vs. Gaara match, this battle seemed almost lackluster.

Kankuro had potential, but he was no match for Hyuga Neji's abilities. In the previous match, a Sand Shinobi had claimed victory for Konoha's rival, but now Konoha had claimed a win of its own.

With Hyuga Hizashi still alive, the Hyuga clan was united, and the harmony between the main and branch families was evident. After the battle, Neji returned to his seat, where Hinata and Hanabi greeted him. 

"Neji-niisan," she said softly, admiration clear in her voice. "That was incredible. You represented the Hyuga clan so well."

Hanabi smirked beside her. "Yeah, Neji-niisan! The way you countered his puppet was amazing. No wonder Father says you're stronger than me."

Neji inclined his head slightly, his tone calm. "It was simply an application of what I've been taught by my father. Kankuro relied too heavily on his puppet, leaving openings no Hyuga would overlook."

Hanabi's eyes gleamed with competitive energy. "One day, I'll face you in a match and show you what I'm capable of!"

Neji gave a faint smirk. "Confidence is good, Hanabi, but strength is proven through hard work. When you're ready, I'll accept your challenge."

Hyuga Hiashi and Hizashi nodded in affirmation, proud of Neji's performance. However, Neji still felt there was more for him to learn. He couldn't shake the feeling that he still didn't fully understand the principles behind the Yin and Yang Hakkeshō Kaiten that Hinata possessed.

Meanwhile, Lee—wrapped in bandages and leaning on crutches—watched Neji's match with unwavering determination in his eyes. Despite his injuries, his spirit burned brightly.

"One day," Lee thought to himself, clenching his fist, "I will defeat Neji. I will prove that hard work can surpass genius!"

Guy, standing beside him, noticed Lee's focused expression and grinned. He gently patted Lee's shoulder, his voice brimming with energy. "Lee! This is what it means to embrace the power of youth! Rest your body now so you can come back stronger than ever!"

Lee's eyes sparkled with determination as he straightened up, even leaning on his crutches. "Yes, Guy-sensei!"

Guy punched his fist into the air. "That's the spirit, Lee! We will train hard, and with every challenge, our youth will grow stronger! Let's show them the power of our unyielding hearts!"

Lee's grin matched Guy's enthusiasm. "I will not rest until I've become the strongest ninja! My spirit will never be defeated!"

Nearby, Kakashi observed the duo with a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "Guy, maybe tone it down a little? Lee's recovery isn't going to speed up just because you're shouting about youth."

Guy turned to Kakashi, striking a dramatic pose. "Kakashi! This is not just shouting—it's motivation!"

Lee joined in with equal fervor. "Yes, Kakashi-sensei! Guy-sensei's words fuel my spirit! I will endure and grow even stronger!"

Kakashi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, as long as you're taking your rest seriously, I suppose it's fine. Just… try not to injure yourself while you're recovering, Lee."

Lee gave a firm nod, his face serious. "I understand, Kakashi-sensei. But once I'm fully healed, I will redouble my efforts to become a splendid ninja!"

Guy clasped Lee's shoulder dramatically. "That's the spirit, Lee! Together, we will climb the peaks of youth and crush our rivals!"

As the two posed dramatically, Kakashi shook his head with a small chuckle. The bond between master and student was as inspiring as it was absurd.

"Round 5: Karui vs. Aburame Shino!" The announcer called, signaling the start of another battle involving Konoha.

The spectators, gathered in the best viewing spots, eagerly awaited the clash between Konoha's new generation this year. The evenly matched competitors filled everyone with anticipation, but more importantly, it quelled any thoughts of starting a war.

The Land of Fire, with its fertile land and countless talented individuals, would only continue to produce more exceptional shinobi. Anyone foolish enough to provoke them would soon find themselves facing not only Tatsuya but the fiery young ninjas who wouldn't hesitate to defend their home.

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