Sasuke took a few steps back, widening the distance between himself and Gaara.
With a sharp flick of his wrist, several shuriken shot forward, spinning through the air like deadly projectiles.
However, Gaara's sand reacted instantly, forming a sand clone in front of him to block the attack.
But something strange happened—Sasuke's shuriken twisted mid-air, moving as if they had a will of their own. They curved around the sand clone in an unnatural arc, slipping through its defenses and heading straight for Gaara!
Yet, the sand armor covering his body dulled the impact, leaving him with only minor scratches.
Even so, Gaara's expression darkened.
"How is that possible? My sand clone should have blocked them..."
From the stands, Kankuro and Temari were equally stunned. Gaara was known for his absolute defense, yet Sasuke had bypassed it with ease!
"Hmph, your sand armor is impressive," Sasuke smirked. "Now, let's warm up a little."
In an instant, his figure blurred—then vanished!
Gaara barely had time to react before a heavy punch smashed into him from behind.
Boom!
The impact sent him flying, spiderweb-like cracks forming across his sand armor.
"Tch... this guy... he's actually this fast?" Gaara gritted his teeth, chakra surging as his sand armor rapidly repaired itself.
In the stands, Kakashi and Might Guy were just as shocked.
"That speed... it's just like Lee's... no, even faster!"
Might Guy frowned. "Kakashi, when did Sasuke's taijutsu become this strong?"
Kakashi scratched his head. "I have no idea. Didn't he train with you?"
Over the past month, Sasuke had studied under both Might Guy and Kurenai Yuhi. Kakashi himself had already taught Sasuke nearly all his ninjutsu, but he hadn't expected Sasuke's taijutsu to advance so drastically.
Might Guy clenched his fists. "This isn't normal. Sasuke wasn't this powerful in taijutsu before... how did he improve this much in just a few weeks?"
Rock Lee watched intently.
"Sasuke, you truly are a genius. In just one month, your taijutsu has already surpassed mine... but defeating Gaara with taijutsu alone won't be easy."
In the arena, Sasuke raised a finger at Gaara, smirking provocatively.
"Hey, what's wrong? Weren't you going to kill me?"
Gaara's eyes darkened. Sasuke's speed and strength were beyond his expectations.
"If you won't make a move, I will!"
Sasuke vanished once again, reappearing in front of Gaara with another powerful kick.
Boom!
Gaara was sent flying before he could react.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Each time he tried to counter, Sasuke was already ahead of him, delivering another crushing blow. His sand couldn't keep up—it was too slow!
His sand armor cracked and crumbled under the relentless barrage.
"Damn it! He's too fast!" Gaara coughed up blood, fear creeping into his eyes.
If it weren't for his sand armor absorbing some of the impact, he might have already lost.
"Damn Uchiha!" Gaara roared. His chakra flared, and the surrounding sand surged wildly, reacting to his rage.
The sand rushed toward Sasuke, attempting to trap him.
But Sasuke only sneered. "Hiding, huh? Let's see how long you last."
The muscles in his left arm tensed, and his fist glowed with power.
Boom!
With one terrifying punch, Sasuke shattered the thick sand barrier Gaara had formed around himself!
Gaara coughed up more blood as he was sent flying once again.
A wave of sand caught him, softening the impact. But he was panting, exhausted.
Sasuke casually walked forward. "Is that all you've got, Gaara?"
The crowd erupted in cheers.
"That's the power of the Uchiha!"
"Yeah! He's crushing that Hidden Sand ninja!"
"Finish him, Sasuke!"
In the stands, Might Guy frowned.
"Something's wrong... his movements are still so fluid, and he's barely losing stamina."
Kakashi's eyes narrowed. "What are you getting at?"
"Even when Lee opened the gates, he started slowing down after a while. Sasuke... he's still going strong."
Down below, Gaara gritted his teeth and formed a series of hand seals.
The sand surged and began wrapping around him, forming a massive, impenetrable sphere.
"Gaara's absolute defense..." Kankuro smirked in relief. "Now he's untouchable."
Temari sighed. "That was too close. I really thought Sasuke had him."
But Sasuke only laughed. "Absolute defense? Don't make me laugh."
His Sharingan spun as lightning crackled around his palm.
"Let's put that to the test."
Zzzt!
A high-pitched chirping filled the air as Sasuke charged forward at lightning speed, Chidori blazing in his hand.
Gaara's sand shell sprouted spikes in an attempt to stop him, but Sasuke's Sharingan easily saw through the pattern.
With a flash of lightning, he disappeared—
CRACK!
Sasuke's Chidori pierced straight through the sand shell!
Inside the darkness of the cocoon, Gaara stared in disbelief.
A sharp pain shot through his shoulder.
Blood... his blood.
"This... this can't be real... I'm bleeding?!"
For the first time in his life, Gaara felt pain. His breathing grew erratic. Something inside him began to stir...
Sasuke sensed it immediately. His hand was trapped inside the shell—something monstrous was gripping him!
"Tch... so, he's transforming?"
Without hesitation, Sasuke activated his Celestial Forge Style.
A burning energy ignited within him as his Celestial Points flared to life.
His muscles swelled with raw power, the air around him vibrating from the sheer force.
With a burst of Chidori Current, Sasuke blasted himself free, tearing his arm from the monstrous grip.
The sand shell crumbled, revealing Gaara's twisted form—half of his body had transformed into a monstrous, sand-covered limb.
A massive tail unfurled behind him.
"Uchiha... Sasuke..." Gaara's voice was no longer human. "You are my prey..."
Gasps filled the stadium.
"What the hell?! Gaara's turning into a monster!"
"That's... not a normal transformation!"
From the stands, Kakashi's face darkened.
"So, it's true... Gaara really is a Jinchūriki."
Jōnin and civilians alike watched in stunned silence.
"The power of One-Tail Shukaku..."
Temari and Kankuro were visibly nervous.
But Sasuke only smirked. "That's it? Pretty ugly if you ask me."
Gaara roared and lunged at him with monstrous speed, his massive limb crashing down—
BOOM!
The entire arena shook.
But Sasuke was already gone.
He reappeared in an instant, his Celestial Forge Style fully unleashed.
"Celestial Flow—Open!"
The power within him surged, his body moving at speeds beyond human comprehension.
With a single punch, Sasuke sent Gaara flying.
BOOM!
Gaara slammed into the stadium wall, shattering it completely.
Silence.
The entire crowd held its breath.