Chapter 22
The final stage of the Chunin Exams began under a grand atmosphere.
Daimyo, civilians, the Kazekage, and many important figures filled the arena, their voices blending into a loud, excited buzz.
Genma stepped forward to the center of the field.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let's begin the Chunin Exam finals. Our first match is Ino Yamanaka vs Temari."
The fight started immediately.
Ino moved quickly, combining kunai attacks with her hair manipulation to restrict Temari's movement. For a moment, it looked like she might gain control of the battlefield.
But Temari smirked.
With a single swing of her fan, powerful wind swept across the arena, tearing through Ino's attacks. The overwhelming AoE pressure left no room to counter.
Ino was defeated.
---
Next was Hinata versus Kankuro.
Hinata moved with precision, her Gentle Fist strikes aimed at disabling chakra points. Her speed and control made her difficult to deal with even against a puppet user.
But Kankuro stayed on the defensive.
His puppet blocked her attacks while launching hidden poison needles from multiple angles. The battlefield slowly turned against her.
In the end—
Hinata fell.
Naruto clenched his fists tightly.
"Ino… Hinata…"
Pain suddenly surged through his body as the curse mark on his neck flared violently. His expression darkened, but he forced himself to stay still.
---
Naruto's match came next.
"Naruto Uzumaki vs Shikamaru Nara."
Shikamaru sighed as he stepped forward.
"Troublesome…"
The fight began, but it didn't last long.
Naruto's overwhelming physical strength and chakra output crushed any strategy Shikamaru attempted to form. His shadow techniques couldn't keep up with Naruto's speed.
Within moments—
Shikamaru surrendered.
---
The final match was Sasuke versus Gaara.
Sasuke stepped onto the field, his presence sharp and focused. Gaara stood silently, sand already moving around him like a living shield.
The battle was intense.
Sasuke's speed and precision pushed Gaara back, something no one expected. Then—
"Chidori!"
Lightning screamed in Sasuke's hand as he pierced through Gaara's defense and struck him directly.
Gaara screamed.
His control shattered.
---
Before anything else could happen—
Chaos erupted.
Orochimaru made his move.
A powerful genjutsu spread across the arena, putting civilians and weaker shinobi to sleep instantly. At the same time, Sand and Sound ninja launched a full-scale attack on Konoha.
Naruto's eyes widened.
"The invasion…"
High above, a barrier formed.
Orochimaru and the Third Hokage were trapped inside.
"Fufufu… sensei, it's time you die."
"Edo Tensei."
The First and Second Hokage were summoned, their bodies moving like puppets as they attacked Hiruzen relentlessly.
The battle was brutal.
And in the end—
Orochimaru killed the Hokage.
Konoha lay in ruins.
Sasuke left the village.
Years passed in moments.
Orochimaru stood before Sasuke, smiling.
"Fufufufu…"
He took over Sasuke's body.
"I finally have the power of the Sharingan."
In Sasuke's body, Orochimaru laughed maniacally as the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan spun in his eyes.
"Let me witness the power of the Uchiha!"
A massive Susanoo formed around him as he rose into the sky.
"Fufufufu… this god-like power is mine!"
---
Then—
Everything went dark.
Silence.
A pair of azure blue eyes opened in the void.
Orochimaru froze.
"SO THIS WAS YOUR DREAM, OROCHIMARU?"
Naruto's voice echoed from all directions.
"NOW WAKE UP TO REALITY. NOTHING EVER GOES AS PLANNED IN THIS CURSED WORLD."
Cracks spread across the illusion.
Reality shattered like glass.
---
Orochimaru's head fell from his body.
His own Kusanagi sword was in Naruto's hand.
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"Ge-Genjutsu…? When…? How…?"
Naruto looked at him calmly.
There was no smile.
"Well… see you again, Orochimaru."
He turned away slightly.
"Have a long sleep."
Naruto waved his hand.
Orochimaru's eyes went lifeless.