Chapter 51

Hiruzen took the floor and began to speak about the true purpose of the Chūnin Selection Exams, explaining why they were held in cooperation with other villages.

According to the Hokage, the exams served to strengthen relations between countries and foster the growth of shinobi. But he also admitted that, deep down, they were covert miniature wars between villages.

Naruto stopped paying attention as soon as he started talking politics. None of that interested him.

When the speech ended, Hayate Gekkō, the examiner in charge of the preliminary round, appeared.

Hayate explained that, due to the large number of participants who had passed the second test, it was necessary to reduce the number before moving on to the next stage. So, a preliminary round would be held: one-on-one battles, where only half would advance.

There were many complaints, but Hayate remained unfazed. He continued his explanation with his usual monotone and characteristic cough.

Participants could withdraw if they wished, but during the matches there would be no rules. They would only end when one of the combatants died, surrendered, or was incapacitated.

While Hayate spoke, Naruto kept his eyes on two particular Jōnin.

One was the Jōnin from Kusagakure: Zōsui.

The other, clearly in disguise, was Orochimaru.

Zōsui was staring directly at Karin.

Naruto frowned when he noticed and, without thinking, pushed Karin behind him, instinctively protecting her.

Zōsui had come looking for her. Thanks to the examiners, he had already learned that the other two members of her team were dead.

She was the only one who had survived.

And now, after failing to find her in the Forest of Death, he had stayed behind to observe the matches. Finding her here had clearly been a surprise.

Naruto had no doubt: if that guy dared to move a finger, he'd kill him right then and there, in front of everyone.

As he thought this, a voice near him broke through his thoughts.

"I withdraw," said Kabuto Yakushi, raising his hand.

Hayate nodded and let him leave without giving it much importance.

Unlike in the original story, Naruto didn't bother asking why he withdrew.

He didn't give a damn what Kabuto did, whether he stayed or left.

Aside from Kabuto, no one else withdrew.

Finally, Hayate initiated the preliminary round.

With Kabuto out, there were now 20 participants, meaning there would be a total of 10 matches.

Only the winners could move on to the third test.

Hayate pointed to the wall, where a screen was located.

On it appeared the names of the first match: "Yoroi Akadō vs Sasuke Uchiha."

Naruto grinned when he saw it.

Sasuke, standing beside him, scoffed in amusement.

"Finally, I get to fight..." she muttered aloud, glancing at Naruto.

"Make sure to finish quickly. I want to go get ramen" Naruto told her.

He hadn't forgotten his promise to Karin.

Karin, next to him, still visibly frightened by Zōsui's presence and gaze, perked up at Naruto's words.

"Yeah, finish quickly! I want to try that authentic ramen Naruto talked about too!"

Sasuke and Yoroi stepped into the arena.

"Begin!" declared Hayate Gekkō in his usual tired tone.

Yoroi didn't waste time. With a confident grin, he threw half a dozen shuriken at full speed.

Sasuke, her two-tomoe Sharingan spinning in her eyes, deflected each one precisely using a single kunai.

"Is that all?" Sasuke asked coldly, not even bothering to take a defensive stance.

Yoroi frowned. "No more games" he muttered.

His left hand sparked with faint bluish energy.

He rushed at Sasuke with his arm extended, trying to touch her with his chakra-absorbing technique.

From a corner, Naruto watched the match and smiled when he saw Sasuke's Sharingan glowing again.

Sasuke sidestepped just before impact and drove a sharp elbow into Yoroi's ribs, hard enough to send him skidding back several meters.

"That was slow," she mocked with a small smirk.

Yoroi didn't back down. He formed a hand seal.

Two water clones emerged at his sides.

All three Yoroi rushed at Sasuke at once.

Sasuke spun on her heel and released a sudden burst of electricity from her feet:

"Chidori Nagashi!"

All three Yoroi, the clones and the original, were shocked by the electrical current. Only the clones burst into water.

The real Yoroi dropped to his knees, his muscles trembling.

Sasuke calmly walked toward him. Anyone who saw her face would have noticed how bored she looked.

"I expected more excitement for my first fight in the Chūnin Exams."

Yoroi looked up with fury, forming a seal with one hand.

"Let's see how you handle this, Uchiha..." Yoroi murmured weakly.

Sasuke blinked. Suddenly, the sky turned red. A massive fireball was descending on her.

"A Genjutsu?" she murmured, unbothered. Then she smiled arrogantly.

She reactivated her Sharingan and, with a simple motion, dispelled the illusion instantly.

"Did you really just try to use Genjutsu on an Uchiha?" Her tone was nearly mocking. "I don't know if you're stupid or just desperate."

Yoroi yelled in rage and launched a kick. Sasuke ducked and drove a punch straight into his abdomen.

The impact kicked up dust as Yoroi doubled over, gasping.

Sasuke took a few steps back. A large amount of chakra began to gather in her right arm.

The chakra, shaped with Nature Transformation, turned into electricity.

Her arm started to spark.

The high concentration of electrical energy produced a sound like a thousand birds chirping.

...

From the stands, Might Guy leaned toward Kakashi, frowning.

"Kakashi... did you teach her the Chidori? That technique is dangerous... and powerful! Don't tell me..."

"I trained her personally," Kakashi interrupted, never taking his eyes off Sasuke.

Guy frowned even more, then smiled in admiration.

"Just as expected from my eternal rival! We've both trained our students spectacularly!"

Kakashi turned to him.

"I forgot to ask... who are you?" he said, pretending not to know him.

...

In the arena, Sasuke charged at Yoroi.

The sound of the Chidori echoed through the coliseum, like a thousand birds screeching in unison.

Yoroi, still stunned, barely managed to look up before he felt Sasuke's electric hand strike his chest, swerving at the last second to avoid a fatal blow.

Sasuke's hand ended up embedded in his right shoulder.

Yoroi collapsed to the ground, unconscious, his clothes scorched and his body numb from the impact.

Hayate Gekkō approached, examined the loser briefly, and raised his voice:

"The winner is Sasuke Uchiha!"

From the observation platform, Sakura jumped and shouted excitedly:

"Sasuke-kun is amazing! I knew he would win!"

Sasuke remained silent, stepping back as the Chidori faded from her arm. She calmly walked out of the arena, her expression unreadable.

But inside... inside, Sasuke couldn't help but wonder if Naruto had seen her. And if he had... what had he thought?

Sasuke glanced up for a moment and locked eyes with Naruto, who was smiling brightly at her.

Her heart skipped a beat, and she blushed slightly.

She quickly averted her gaze and kept walking.

"Idiot... Why do you have to smile at me like that...?" she thought shyly.