"Did she really blow apart the Sand Binding Coffin?!"
Kakashi Hatake frowned beneath his mask, his visible eye narrowing in thought.
"Was that a Protective Gentle Fist…? A fusion of the Eight Trigrams Palm and the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm?"
He watched the lingering chakra turbulence in the arena with keen interest.
"The chakra was released outward, forming a compressed air barrier that repelled the enemy's attack…"
Naruto Uzumaki's eyes sparkled with excitement as he clenched his fists.
"That's incredible, Hinata! That was amazing!"
But Sasuke Uchiha shook his head slowly.
"No… that's not the whole story."
Kakashi sighed softly.
"That technique was Hinata's trump card. But it also used up every last bit of her chakra. I'm afraid…"
As if to confirm his words, Hinata staggered the moment the technique ended. Her breathing became shallow and uneven, and her legs nearly gave out beneath her. She barely managed to stay standing.
Gaara's expression twisted with rage when he realized his technique had failed.
"I'll kill you," he hissed.
In an instant, an even greater volume of sand surged upward, blotting out the sky and swallowing the arena in its shadow. The sand roared like a living beast as it rushed toward Hinata, intent on burying her completely.
Hinata no longer had the strength to resist. Her chakra was exhausted, her body unresponsive. She could only watch as the sand closed in around her.
"Sand Waterfall Funeral!"
Gaara clenched his fist, preparing to deliver a brutal, fatal blow.
At that exact moment—
Kakashi appeared.
Like a flash of silver, he emerged in front of Hinata, scooping her out of the encroaching sand with one arm and leaping backward in a single fluid motion. The crushing sand collapsed where she had been standing moments before.
Naruto didn't hesitate for even a second.
He jumped down into the arena and sprinted toward her, his voice filled with panic.
"Hinata! Are you okay?! Are you hurt?!"
Hinata looked up at Kakashi and then at Naruto, who was running toward her without a single thought for his own safety. Her heart pounded wildly in her chest. Despite her exhaustion, a warm feeling spread through her entire body.
She nodded weakly.
"I'm… I'm fine…"
Then, gathering her courage, she added softly,
"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei… and also…"
"Naruto-kun…"
Kakashi landed on the ground and turned to face Gaara. After a brief exchange of glances with Shiranui Genma, he spoke calmly but firmly.
"We surrender."
Shiranui Genma nodded.
"Winner: Gaara of the Sand."
Denied the kill he so desperately wanted, Gaara let out a furious roar, like a wounded beast.
"One day… sooner or later…"
"I will kill you with my own hands!"
"No prey I choose has ever escaped me!"
Naruto clenched his fists, trembling with anger.
"This is just the Chunin Exams! Hinata didn't do anything to you! Why are you trying to kill her?!"
He glared at Gaara with pure fury.
"Gaara, you monster! If I ever meet you again, I'll never forgive you!"
Turning to Hinata, he said fiercely,
"Don't worry, Hinata! I'll definitely get revenge for this!"
Gaara's eyes flicked toward Naruto, cold and murderous.
"So… you want to protect her?"
"Then I'll kill you first."
Naruto stepped forward without hesitation.
"Then try it!"
The match was over.
Although Gaara's ferocity shocked everyone present, Hinata's performance left an equally deep impression. She had fought bravely, creatively, and with unyielding resolve against an overwhelmingly powerful opponent.
Hiashi Hyuga stood silently for a moment before bringing his hands together in applause.
"Hinata… you did very well."
Hanabi Hyuga wiped her tears, her voice trembling.
"Sister… you're already so strong…"
Even the elite jonin in the audience applauded sincerely.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded thoughtfully.
"Gaara is indeed terrifyingly powerful. But Hinata's talent, strength, and will have been fully proven. She far surpasses the average ninja."
Even Baki, Temari, and Kankuro exchanged glances.
"That girl is strong…"
"If she hadn't faced Gaara, she would have seriously disrupted our plans…"
"Konoha truly hides many talents. It must never be underestimated."
At that moment, Shiranui Genma announced the next match.
"The next battle will be between—"
"Rock Lee!"
"And his opponent—"
"Hyuga Neji!"
Naruto rushed to Hinata's side as medical ninja attended to her.
"Hinata, are you really okay?" he asked anxiously.
She smiled softly.
"I'm fine. I'm just… a little sad that I lost."
Naruto shook his head vigorously.
"You were incredible! That sand monster was just ridiculous!"
Sasuke nodded in agreement.
Kakashi spoke calmly.
"The Chunin Exams aren't about winning or losing alone. They evaluate strength, willpower, intelligence, judgment, and adaptability."
"Even if Hinata lost, that doesn't mean she won't become a Chunin."
"In fact, even winning doesn't guarantee promotion."
Naruto's face lit up.
"So that's how it works! Then Hinata will definitely make it!"
Kakashi smiled.
"Based on her performance—her strength, resolve, and ability to independently create ninjutsu—if it were up to me, I would promote her without hesitation."
Hinata blushed.
"Thank you, Kakashi-sensei…"
Just then, Team Seven realized who would be fighting next.
"Rock Lee versus Hyuga Neji!"
Naruto's heart surged with excitement.
"Lee?!"
"And his opponent is that jerk Neji!"
"Yes! This is perfect! We can finally settle that promise from last year!"
He shouted loudly,
"Lee! You've got this! Beat him!"
Rock Lee turned back, gave Naruto a thumbs-up, and flashed a radiant smile.
"Ah! Of course, Naruto!"
Hinata looked toward Neji, her expression conflicted.
"Neji-nii…"
Might Guy laughed heartily.
"I never imagined Lee and Neji would face each other!"
"No matter the outcome, remember one thing—"
"Youth must burn brightly!!!"
"Yes, Teacher Guy!" Lee shouted enthusiastically.
Neji sighed helplessly.
The crowd buzzed with anticipation. Many believed Hyuga Neji was the strongest ninja in the entire Chunin Exam.
As for Rock Lee, despite his strong preliminaries, few truly understood his strength.
Lee stepped forward, clasped his hands together, and assumed his stance.
"Neji, this day has finally come!"
"I've always wanted to fight you head-on to prove my strength!"
"And to prove that even with taijutsu alone, one can become a great ninja!"
"You may be a genius, but I believe effort can surpass genius!"
Neji replied coldly,
"You haven't changed, Lee. Still saying unrealistic things."
"Accept it. Fate was sealed the moment you were born."
"You are destined to lose. I am destined to win."
Lee smiled gently.
"Then let this battle decide!"
"Hmph. Stubborn," Neji muttered.
"Begin!" Genma ordered.
The moment the word left his mouth—
Rock Lee's chakra exploded.
A violent, overwhelming aura surged from his body as his chakra skyrocketed to terrifying levels. Veins bulged across his face and limbs as the ground beneath him cracked, sand and stone flying in all directions.
Neji stared in shock.
"What… is this…?"
Even Might Guy frowned deeply.
"He's using it from the very beginning?!"
Tenten gasped.
"That technique… Teacher Guy taught that to Lee…"
"Is it really okay to use it right away?!"
Might Guy shook his head.
"Lee knows Neji too well."
"In training, Lee never once defeated him. Neji's Gentle Fist perfectly counters taijutsu."
"The moment Neji strikes, he seals Lee's chakra points."
"So Lee is betting everything on a single decisive moment."
Naruto stared in awe.
"Bushy-Brow Sensei! What is that move?!"
Might Guy spoke gravely.
"It is the ultimate taijutsu technique…"
"The Eight Gates Formation!"
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)