Just at the moment when Kankuro was about to retaliate against Shamrock, and Shamrock was also ready to attack again, it seemed as if both were about to clash—when suddenly, Shamrock's Observation Haki flared, warning him of a threat approaching from behind. A faint disturbance in the air, sharp and precise.
Without hesitation, Shamrock placed his hand on the hilt of his sword at his right side, unsheathed it in one smooth motion, and turned around in the same instant, his blade flashing as it cut through the incoming projectile. The impact burst apart with a dull, grainy sound, scattering particles into the air. As soon as Shamrock destroyed it, he immediately understood—it was nothing but a compact ball of sand.
Sand…?
Shamrock's eyes narrowed slightly as his gaze followed the trajectory of the attack. His eyes soon landed on a young boy with red hair and two prominent dark circles around his eyes. He was none other than Gaara.
Gaara stood upright on the branch of a nearby tree, completely still, his figure framed against the light as grains of sand subtly shifted around him. His cold gaze was fixed directly on Shamrock.
The moment Gaara had noticed the conflict between Shamrock and Kankuro, he had already acted. Drawing sand from the gourd on his back, he condensed it into a dense sphere, compressing it tightly before launching it like a bullet straight at Shamrock.
But Shamrock had detected it the instant it moved—and defended against it just as quickly.
Shamrock looked towards Gaara, his expression darkening, his eyes sharp with clear anger. Being attacked from behind—sneak attacked like that—did not sit well with him at all. A faint tension crept into his grip on the sword, his jaw tightening slightly.
He didn't care who this person was. He didn't know Gaara, and at this moment, he had no intention of finding out.
Without a second thought, Shamrock swung his sword. The motion was swift, but heavy with force—his blade cutting through the air with a sharp, explosive sound. From that single, powerful swing, a flying sword slash was generated, tearing forward at an extremely fast speed, distorting the air in its path as it rushed straight towards Gaara.
The wind pressure alone caused nearby leaves to tremble violently, some even ripping free from branches as the slash advanced.
Gaara, however, showed no hesitation. The moment the attack approached, sand surged upward from below, gathering instantly in front of him. It compressed and solidified into a dense barrier, forming a shield that stood between him and the incoming strike.
As the sand shifted and hardened to protect him, Gaara's gaze remained steady, locked onto Shamrock.
He must be Shamrock Uzumaki…
Gaara analyzed silently, recalling the information he had received beforehand—that Shamrock would be participating in the Joint Chunin Exam.
So this is him…
His eyes flickered slightly as he observed the nature of the attack.
It wasn't wind chakra. There was no trace of it.
Instead, the sheer intensity and speed behind the sword swing alone had created that slash—a compressed shockwave, cutting through the air like a blade. Just that raw force had manifested into a powerful wind-like attack.
Just from a sword swing…
It was said that the Uzukage, with a single swing of his sword, could destroy half of a large forest.
And now, watching this attack approach—Gaara understood exactly why.
And when Shamrock's flying sword slash struck the barrier created by Gaara, the impact echoed sharply through the surroundings, sending a burst of compressed air outward. The slash was powerful—though Shamrock had not used his full strength behind it—but even then, it carried immense force.
Yet Gaara's defense was just as formidable.
The dense wall of sand held firm, unmoving, not even budging under the impact. The grains tightened and reinforced themselves at the moment of contact, absorbing the force completely as if swallowing the attack whole.
For a brief moment, the air between them grew still.
But that single exchange had already told them enough.
Both of them now had a rough idea of each other's strength—and at the same time, a silent eagerness began to rise within them. A desire to push further, to test the limits of the opponent standing before them.
As the purpose of the sand barrier was fulfilled, the structure slowly began to collapse. The tightly packed grains loosened and flowed downward, retreating back toward the gourd on Gaara's back in a smooth, controlled motion. With each passing second, Gaara's figure was gradually revealed once again.
Standing there, unmoved.
At the same time, Shamrock's expression sharpened. He began using his Observation Haki with full intensity now, focusing completely, extending his senses toward Gaara.
Let's see…
As his perception reached deeper, scanning Gaara's presence, Shamrock immediately felt it—
An intense, violent, and overwhelmingly negative chakra, swirling within Gaara like a suppressed storm. It was heavy, suffocating… and unmistakable.
Shamrock's eyes narrowed.
That kind of chakra could only belong to one kind of being.
A Tailed Beast.
And since such a being could only exist sealed within a human…
…Jinchuriki.
The conclusion formed instantly in Shamrock's mind.
Gaara… is a Jinchuriki.
Even after realizing this, Shamrock showed no sign of backing down. If anything, his resolve only grew sharper. The presence of a Jinchuriki before him did not deter him—it challenged him.
And Gaara was no different.
A clear fighting intent radiated from him, heavy and oppressive—but not just that. Mixed within it was a faint, chilling trace of killing intent, subtle yet unmistakable. The air around him felt colder, heavier, as if even the atmosphere was reacting to his presence.
And that alone was enough.
Shamrock's grip on his sword tightened slightly, his lips curling into a faint, almost imperceptible smirk.
Good…
Both of them stood facing each other, their auras clashing silently. The tension between them became palpable, pressing down on everyone nearby like an invisible weight.
Sensing this, Uta and the other three immediately moved aside from Shamrock, creating a wide enough space for the two to fight freely. Their movements were quick but controlled, eyes never leaving the battlefield.
At the same time, they kept their attention on Kankuro and Temari.
If they try anything…
A silent understanding passed between them as their focus shifted, their guard rising. They were prepared for the possibility that Kankuro or Temari might attempt a sneak attack if Gaara found himself at a disadvantage.
So, without a word, Uta and the others directed their intent toward them, watching closely.
Kankuro and Temari, however, had already understood the situation.
To them, Shamrock was now Gaara's prey.
And if they dared to interfere—whether to assist or to stop Gaara—they knew exactly what would follow. The wrath of Gaara was not something either of them wanted to face.
A faint unease flickered through Kankuro's expression, while Temari remained silent, her eyes sharp but cautious.
Without any protest, both of them slowly retreated a few steps backward, putting more distance between themselves and the centre of the confrontation.
They had also felt it—the intent from Uta and the others. They understood their concerns clearly.
But even then, one thing was certain.
Kankuro and Temari had no intention of interfering in this battle.
This fight… belonged solely to Gaara and Shamrock.
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