Naruto put both his swords up and retrieved the objects to hold them as one. Sheathing his sword, he walked over to Neji on the medic's stretched and he stared down at the Hyuuga, placing Neji's headband on his chest. "I fight so others can achieve their dreams. I fight for others. Lee who wishes to be a splendid Shinobi without Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, Hinata who wants to become the Hyuuga Clan Head so that she can remove that disgusting seal from your forehead. I fight to give them that chance, and so they know that they have someone that believes in them. I fight because Fate has no hold over those that choose to throw off its shackles, just as Lee and Hinata have done" Naruto said before turning and heading over to the fighter's box, limping a bit as he did so.
It started off as a low whisper, but as Naruto got to the entrance to the stair well, he heard it and smiled. Cheers of his name, applause, the people screaming out for the great match he gave them. It was… nice, different, and it sounded great.
Naruto headed up to the fighter's booth and looked at Sasuke. "See you in the next round." He told him before moving to sit down and rest. He was in a lot of pain, despite only really being poked by Neji.
Naruto closed his eyes and breathed, listening to the crowd as Sasuke no doubt put up an impressive fight. However, when he heard what sounded like a thousand screaming birds, his eyes opened and he stood up, just in time to watch as Sasuke drove a lightning covered fist through an orb of sand.
Sasuke smirked as he held his hand in the orb, showing that he too was able to penetrate Gaara's defense. The Chidori was an impressive technique, and though he had hoped to not have to use it, Gaara's defense had finally called for it.
"Is that it?" Gaara asked, the sand moving him out of the orb and away from Sasuke. In another universe, the Uchiha might have been late, causing Gaara to listen to the voices in his head and become distracted, he might have had to kill fools with disgusting blood that only riled the voices up, and Uzumaki Naruto might not have shed so much blood and satisfying Gaara's own bloodlust for a time. With all these things not happening, Gaara was able to make his defense stronger and even move himself towards the back of the orb, allowing him to move out of it and away from Sasuke's attack. "If that is the extent of your power Uchiha, then allow me." Gaara said holding his hand up, palm out and his thumb downwards, his fingers curled. "Sand Burial!" He then began to slowly close his hand making the sand squeeze down on the Uchiha's arm. Bones could be heard popping, as the Uchiha screamed out in pain.
Blood began to soak the sand, and Genma moved to step in. "CHIDORI!" Sasuke yelled out, shooting the lightning technique to try and loosen the sand. He drew his hand back and fell back, up to his elbow a blood broken mess.
Gaara looked upset by the Uchiha escaping and moved his sand after the fallen boy. Sand began to crawl up his legs, with Sasuke moving to try and get away from it. But he was exhausted, hitting his current limit on the Chidori. Soon Sasuke was backed into a wall of the sand and it encased him. Sasuke had heard about what it did to Lee, hell Kiba had said what Gaara had done to the Ame Ninja. He swallowed his pride. "Proctor, I forfeit!" Sasuke shouted, not so obsessed with his own power that he thought he could continue to take on Gaara.
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"Winner: Sabaku no Gaara!" Genma shouted, moving to intervene, moving faster when he saw Gaara still applying pressure to Sasuke.
Just as Genma started to move, and the Uchiha cried out in pain, a black chain of energy lashed down on the cocoon that surrounded Sasuke. The sand fell apart, like it was nothing as Naruto landed beside the fallen Sasuke, glaring over at Gaara. In either of Naruto's hands were black chains of chakra, much different from the golden ones he used during the preliminaries.
"Save it Gaara." Naruto said, watching as his fellow Jinchurikii no doubt was pissed at being denied his kill.
Gaara glared at the blonde, but turned and began to walk away. He had felt the very chakra in his sand get destroyed. Not absorbed, but destroyed, like it had been blasted away. The blonde Uzumaki was proving to be a better prey than the Uchiha was.
Naruto turned to Sasuke as the medics came out. 'You alright Teme?" Naruto asked.
Sasuke glanced up at Naruto. "Fractured arm, maybe broken. Hurts like hell," he winced a bit as he was put on the stretcher. "But it hurt worse training with Kakashi-sensei. Watch yourself in the next round Dobe."
Naruto nodded and backed away, letting them take Sasuke away. Naruto then turned and headed back to the fighter's box, contemplating on how effective his chains had been. It was something he had been working on, instead of absorbing the chakra, destroying it. It was harder, but more effective.
Up in the Kage's box, Orochimaru contemplated starting the Invasion. He could nab the Uchiha now, when he was weakened and kill Sarutobi. But at the same time, the Kyuubi brat was showing… promise. He could see more if he let the exams continue just a little bit longer. Temari had failed her mission he had sent her on. Kabuto had checked and yet, three weeks later she wasn't pregnant. If the Kyuubi brat fought Gaara, then he would be weakened… and he could be captured.
He stayed the signal to start the exam. He knew Kabuto would understand his reasons.