Sakiya's battle was nothing short of spectacular—
And incredibly short.
Her unusual techniques and unexpected strategies caught everyone off guard.
By the time the match ended, every participant in the arena had taken note of her overwhelming strength.
Even the Third Hokage had been watching closely.
He had already heard from Kakashi that Sakiya was one of the strongest in the new generation. While he trusted Kakashi's judgment, he wanted to see it for himself.
That's why this first match had been arranged by him.
He had already suspected something was off about Yoroi. This match served two purposes:
A test to gauge Sakiya's strength.
A subtle punishment for Yoroi.
The results spoke for themselves.
Sakiya had put on a show worthy of Konoha's pride.
And as for Yoroi? After the Chunin Exams, the Hokage would ensure a full investigation into his activities.
The Third Hokage opened the report in front of him.
It contained everything Konoha had gathered about Sakiya.
His eyes scanned the pages.
"Light Release? Using chakra to generate light… creating airborne illusions that deceive the enemy.
Also capable of light refraction? Even Kakashi finds it difficult to counter?"
He took a slow drag from his smoking pipe, eyes locked onto the proud girl in the crystal ball.
After a long silence, he muttered to himself:
"Another genius ninja, huh? Geniuses always seem to have their quirks…"
His thoughts drifted.
To Orochimaru, whose brilliance led him astray.
To the pervy yet powerful Jiraiya.
To Tsunade, whose gambling habits were legendary.
To Minato, whose talent was only rivaled by his terrible naming sense.
The Third Hokage exhaled, his gaze turning distant.
In that moment, he felt as if he were peering into the future—
And what he saw was a new generation, rising strong.
"The young leaves of Konoha… thriving once again."
_______________________________
Yoroi lay motionless on the ground, a massive lump forming on the back of his head.
Four medic-nin, their expressions dark, carried him away on a stretcher.
Sitting in the stands, Kabuto frowned.
"Since when did Konoha's medical-nin start dressing like that?"
Meanwhile, Sakiya returned to the audience, grinning with satisfaction.
The next match was about to begin—
Sasuke vs. Jintō.
A complete one-sided battle.
Jintō was utterly crushed.
Sasuke, with his sharp tactics, outplayed his opponent using nothing but basic taijutsu and shuriken skills.
Winner: Sasuke.
Next up—
Naruto vs. Zaku.
Zaku never stood a chance.
Naruto overwhelmed him with sheer numbers, his Shadow Clone Jutsu hammering Zaku into the ground.
Winner: Naruto.
Shikamaru vs. Tōru.
Using the terrain to his advantage, Shikamaru set up an elaborate trap—
And outsmarted Tōru completely.
Winner: Shikamaru.
Shino vs. Kiba.
The answer was clear.
Bugs are stronger.
Winner: Shino.
Sakiya continued watching, but she already knew how the rest of the battles would go.
Then came the next match—
One she had been waiting for.
Ino vs. Sakura.
This fight was exactly the same as in the original timeline.
Sakiya couldn't help but smirk.
"If this tournament system isn't rigged, I'd be shocked."
As Ino stepped toward the arena, she suddenly heard a familiar voice.
"My lifelong rival—don't you dare lose!"
She glanced back.
Sakiya stood there, grinning mischievously.
A confident smirk crept onto Ino's face.
"Hmph! As if I'd ever lose!"
With a flick of her hair, she leapt gracefully into the arena.
Sakura, who had been walking beside Ino the whole time, suddenly felt...
A little irrelevant.
But there was no time to dwell on it.
She stepped forward, taking her place across from Ino.
Sakura gave a warm smile.
"We've known each other for a long time, huh, Ino?"
Ino ran a hand through her hair, covering one eye.
"What's wrong, Sakura? Feeling nostalgic already?"
Sakura—still with her long hair at this point—smiled gently.
But behind that smile was a firm resolve.
"No, Ino.
I just want to say—let's fight!
I know I've always been weak.
But don't hold back because of our friendship.
Give it everything you've got!"
Ino hesitated for a moment.
She looked into Sakura's determined eyes and saw something different.
Then she grinned.
"Oh? So even you've awakened, huh?"
Sakura took out a kunai, her eyes burning with a newfound determination.
The battle was about to begin.
_________________________________________
[I've always been the weak one… always protected by them.]
[But this time… I want to be the one protecting them.]
[I can't stay weak forever!]
[It starts with this battle!]
"Ino! Here I come!"
Sakura tightened her grip on her kunai, taking a strong stance.
Across from her, Ino tensed, her focus sharpening.
"Hmph!"
At the same moment, both girls dashed forward, their movements mirroring each other.
Their kunai clashed—each one dodging and weaving, avoiding the other's attacks with fluid precision.
They were evenly matched in speed, their movements synchronized as if they had trained together for years.
But Ino was ready.
She formed a hand seal with one hand, her mind focused.
*[Sorry, Sakura.]
Her eyes snapped open.
"Ninja Art: Mind's Eye!"
At the same time, Sakura's kunai came slashing toward her.
Ino tilted her head slightly, dodging by mere centimeters—feeling the blade's edge brush past her cheek.
And in one swift motion, she knocked Sakura's kunai out of her grasp, sending it clattering to the ground.
Sakura flinched from the impact, pain shooting up her arm.
Taking advantage of the opening, Ino spun around and drove her foot straight into Sakura's stomach.
Sakura staggered back, coughing up bile as she crashed to the ground, sliding nearly five meters.
In the audience, several people winced at the sight.
Naruto shifted uncomfortably, hesitating to say something.
Ino clenched her fists.
This was harder than she thought.
But she couldn't hold back.
If she went easy on Sakura, it would be the biggest insult to her as a rival.
Sakura groaned, slowly forcing herself up, wiping the corner of her mouth.
Her eyes still burned with determination.
"Come at me again, Ino!"
Ino tightened her grip, feeling something shift inside her.
Sakura had changed.
She wasn't the same girl from before.
Ino took a deep breath, no longer hesitating.
She formed a seal.
"Mind Transfer Jutsu!"
She focused all her energy on a single point—her spirit extending outward, invading Sakura's mind.
This technique moved in a straight line—if Sakura couldn't dodge, she would be caught for sure.
The jutsu hit.
For a moment, Ino felt herself slipping into Sakura's consciousness.
But then—
Something was wrong.
Why… were there two Sakuras?
A sudden force shoved her back, snapping her mind back into her own body.
Ino's eyes widened.
Sakura… had a hidden dual personality.
Her jutsu had been forcibly interrupted.
Ino swayed slightly, exhaustion creeping into her body.
The drawback of her technique had finally caught up to her.
[If I fail to land my jutsu, I suffer just as much…]
Sakura noticed Ino's fatigue immediately—this was her chance!
Without hesitation, she rushed forward, throwing a powerful punch straight at Ino.
But—
Ino didn't retreat.
Instead, she stepped in closer, slipping into Sakura's blind spot.
With precise timing, she used the momentum of Sakura's own attack—redirecting it effortlessly.
Before Sakura could react, her feet left the ground.
The world spun around her.
SLAM!
Sakura hit the ground hard, pain shooting through her body.
For a moment, it felt like her bones might shatter.
Lying there, she felt something stirring inside her.
[Should I just give up…?]
[Why am I even fighting?]
[Why do I keep struggling…?]
A memory surfaced—
Naruto and Sasuke, always standing in front of her.
Protecting her.
Carrying the fight.
And she… always watching from behind.
Sakura's eyes snapped open.
With gritted teeth, she pushed through the pain, forcing herself to rise.
But just as she lifted her head—
A kunai pressed against her throat.
Ino let out a soft sigh.
"You lost, Sakura."
Sakura froze.
Then—her body relaxed, sinking back down.
She stared up at the ceiling, tears forming in her eyes.
Yet–
She smiled.
"Ino..."
Her voice was quiet.
"I still can't beat you..."
Ino smirked, crossing her arms.
"Of course not. What, did you think you actually had a chance, idiot?"
Then, after a pause—
"...But you did great."
Sakura laughed weakly, her chest rising and falling with exhaustion.
For a long moment, she simply lay there, catching her breath—
Until she noticed two shadows standing over her.
Slowly, she turned her head.
Naruto and Sasuke.
Both standing beside her.
Each with a hand extended toward her.
Naruto: "You did awesome, Sakura!"
Sasuke (grumbling): "Tch. That was pathetic. Don't embarrass us next time."
Sakura felt her chest tighten—but this time, it wasn't from pain.
Tears slipped down her cheeks, but her lips curled into a genuine, radiant smile.
She reached out.
She grasped both of their hands.
And in that moment—
Everyone watching could feel it.
Those three...
Their bond.
Their unbreakable connection.
Their fate, intertwined.
_____________
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