#10

Without Mufasa's direct involvement, the Chunin Exam unfolded just as expected.

However, two standout moments shook the pre-selection stage of the third exam.

It wasn't just a minor shift—it was Sand Ninja's undeniable display of strength.

Kankuro stuck to his usual puppet master tactics, manipulating Karasu with expert precision. His opponent, Kin Tsuchi from the Sound Village, underestimated him and attempted to wrap around Kankuro's body to crush him. But in an instant, Kankuro switched places with his puppet, leaving Ken squeezing a hollow shell. With a swift counter, Karasu's hidden weapons struck, ending the match decisively.

Temari, on the other hand, faced off against Tenten. The kunoichi from Konoha gave it everything she had, launching a relentless barrage of ninja tools. Tenten soared into the air, releasing twin scrolls—Manipulated Tools: Heavenly Chain Disaster. An array of kunai, shuriken, sickles, and even weighted chains rained down upon Temari.

But Temari only smirked.

"You think you can beat me at my own game?"

She snapped open her giant war fan, revealing its third purple circle.

Now she was serious.

"Wind Style: Sickle Weasel—Thousand Blade Tempest!"

A violent storm erupted from her fan, sending razor-sharp wind slicing through the air. Hidden within the tempest were countless senbon, a modification Mufasa had secretly made to her weapon to enhance its lethality.

Tenten's weapons were shredded mid-flight. Her kunai, shuriken, and chains were blown apart like leaves in a hurricane. The sheer force sent her tumbling, her body pelted by wind blades and senbon.

Before she could hit the ground, Temari casually swung her fan again, catching Tenten's falling form with it.

Kankuro cheered from the sidelines. Gaara, however, had his gaze locked onto Rock Lee—the Konoha ninja who had dared to challenge him before.

"You're next."

Their sensei, Baki, stood in the background, observing proudly. These were the future of the Sand Village. Their strength was undeniable.

While the spectators marveled at the fights, the more experienced ninja were deep in thought.

Up on the balcony, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, narrowed his eyes.

Tenten's weapons lay scattered across the battlefield, broken beyond repair.

"When did the Sand Village start producing ninja tools of this caliber?" he murmured to himself. "Are these personal modifications, or has their entire arsenal improved?"

For high-ranking shinobi, weapons played a secondary role—jutsu and strategy were their main strengths. But for the chunin and genin, reliable ninja tools could mean life or death. A village with superior weaponry could shift the tide of battle in their favor.

"I'll have to discuss this with the Kazekage."

At this point, the thought of Orochimaru lurking behind the scenes never even crossed his mind.

Then came the match that left the entire arena breathless.

Gaara vs. Rock Lee.

Lee launched a full-force assault, his speed blinding. But no matter how fast or powerful his strikes were, they couldn't penetrate Gaara's automatic sand defense.

Gaara stood completely still, arms crossed, his expression unreadable.

The impact of Lee's kicks and punches barely ruffled the sand barrier.

The audience murmured in awe. This wasn't just a strong defense—it was absolute.

Kankuro smirked at Naruto, arms crossed. "See that? Gaara's sand automatically protects him. It's like an impenetrable shield. He doesn't even need to move."

Naruto's jaw dropped. "What?! That's totally unfair!"

Gaara, growing impatient, finally made his move.

With a flick of his finger, his sand surged forward, smashing into Lee and sending him flying into the wall. He barely managed to recover, flipping to the top of a giant statue in the arena.

Lee turned to his sensei for permission.

"Guy-sensei?"

Might Guy gave him a firm nod. "Do it, Lee."

With a grin, Lee reached down and unstrapped the heavy weights from his ankles. When they hit the ground, the entire arena shook from the impact.

Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief.

Then, in an instant, Lee vanished.

Or at least, that's what it looked like to most spectators. His speed had reached a whole new level—so fast that Gaara's sand struggled to keep up.

For the first time, Gaara was forced into a defensive position.

Inside his mind, a voice growled.

"Need my help?" Shukaku, the One-Tail, rumbled.

Gaara clenched his fists. "Not yet."

With a slow, deliberate movement, he removed the gourd from his back and aimed it at Lee.

"Sand Style: Sandstorm Gatling."

A rapid barrage of sand bullets erupted from the gourd, each one as deadly as a kunai. Lee's lightning-fast reflexes allowed him to dodge most of them, turning into a blur of movement across the battlefield.

But Gaara kept firing, tracking Lee's movements, adjusting his aim.

A sharp cracking sound filled the air.

Lee stumbled, his arms and legs peppered with small but deep wounds. Blood dripped from where the sand bullets had torn into him.

He collapsed to the ground, exhausted.

The match was over.

Gaara stood victorious, while Lee lay motionless on the ground. The medics rushed in.

The arena was silent for a long moment.

Then, finally, the crowd erupted with cheers, gasps, and murmurs of disbelief.

The sand shield, with its automatic defense, combined with the gourd's rapid-fire capability and immense power at long range, made Gaara nearly untouchable.

His offense and defense were nearly impenetrable.

How was anyone supposed to fight against a monster like this?

The entire arena fell into silence.

Even Naruto, who was usually reckless and loud, felt a chill run down his spine as he realized the overwhelming power of his future opponent.

Kakashi placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder, his voice steady but firm. "You've got a month to train. Work hard, master new techniques, and you'll have a chance."

For the next month, the training grounds of Konoha were filled with the sounds of intense preparation. Every genin who made it to the finals knew they had to push beyond their limits.

Meanwhile, hidden among the spectators, Orochimaru—disguised as a sound ninja—watched Gaara's display with gleaming eyes. A slow, unsettling grin stretched across his face as he flicked his tongue out, savoring the sight before him.

"I didn't expect Sand Ninja to have such a terrifying weapon…" he murmured to himself, excitement creeping into his voice. "This just keeps getting better."