His body trembled violently, barely maintaining its transformed condition. The sand armor that once made him look terrifying was now cracked and scattered, giving his monstrous figure an almost pitiful appearance.
Baki's face drained of color.
"No… that can't be possible…"
"Did Gaara really get beaten into this state by that brat while still partially transformed?!"
"How is that even possible?!"
Temari and Kankuro stood frozen, shock written plainly across their faces.
"When Gaara enters his transformed state, no one in the same generation can rival him…"
"Is Uzumaki Naruto the real monster here?!"
A suffocating silence descended upon the arena.
Every spectator stared blankly at the battlefield.
"This doesn't look like a Chunin Exam match anymore…"
"This isn't a fight between two Genin!"
"Even among Jonin, I've never seen a battle this intense…"
"Are those two even human?!"
Whispers and disbelief spread rapidly among the observing Jonin.
Might Guy wiped sweat from his brow and asked in shock, "Kakashi… has Naruto really become this strong?"
Kakashi's visible eye curved slightly as he smiled wryly.
"I wouldn't dare take credit for that," he replied calmly. "Naruto's strength comes from his own hard work… and of course, Jiraiya-sama's guidance."
Asuma Sarutobi exhaled slowly, unable to hide his astonishment.
"In just over a year, Naruto's strength has advanced to this level. It's unbelievable."
"When I taught him Wind Release techniques, he was already among the top Genin. At that time, he could have rivaled a Chunin. But now…"
He paused.
"Forget Chunin. Even Jonin might not be his match."
Kurenai frowned slightly.
"This has already far exceeded the scale of the Chunin Exams…"
Not far away, the Twelve of Konoha watched in stunned silence. Each of them was overwhelmed by the terrifying gap that had opened between them and Naruto.
Meanwhile, Gaara stood unsteadily at the center of the shattered arena.
His body was riddled with injuries. The pain was unbearable. Only his identity as a Jinchuriki allowed him to remain standing.
If he had been anyone else, he would have collapsed long ago.
His breathing was ragged. His fury was indescribable.
"U…zu…ma…ki… Na…ru…to…"
"I will kill you with my own hands!"
"Even if I must become a true demon, I will tear you apart!"
The moment those words left his mouth, Baki's expression changed drastically.
"Oh no… is Gaara about to use that technique?!"
"If that happens, the One-Tail will descend completely onto this arena!"
Temari cried out in panic, "What do we do, Baki-sensei?!"
"Our original plan required Gaara to fully transform at the proper time! If he loses control now, everything will be ruined!"
Cold sweat rolled down Baki's face. He glanced instinctively toward Kazekage Rasa.
But Rasa did not react.
Gritting his teeth, Baki made a decision.
"No… we can't wait any longer!"
"Even if Kazekage-sama says nothing, we must initiate the operation!"
"Temari! Kankuro! Inform the units immediately!"
"Yes, Baki-sensei!"
At once, signals were discreetly sent.
Taking advantage of the Chunin Exam festivities, Hidden Sand ninja who had infiltrated the Land of Fire began mobilizing. From multiple directions, forces quietly advanced toward Konoha.
At the same time, Otogakure—secretly allied with Sunagakure—dispatched elite troops as well.
A coordinated assault was already in motion.
And Konoha remained completely unaware.
On the battlefield, Gaara suddenly burst into manic laughter. His face twisted unnaturally.
He slowly raised his hands and began forming hand seals.
Naruto narrowed his eyes.
"He can still fight?"
"Anyone else would have been knocked out a hundred times by now…"
"He really is a monster…"
Gaara sneered.
"Uzumaki Naruto… now I'll show you what a real nightmare looks like!"
"Secret Art… Tanuki Sleep!"
At last, the dark circles beneath Gaara's eyes relaxed.
His eyelids closed.
For the first time in his life, Gaara fell into a true, deep sleep.
But—
From within his body, another pair of eyes snapped open.
Those eyes were terrifying.
They resembled the pupils of a demonic tanuki.
"Hahahahaha!"
A sharp, triumphant laugh erupted from within Gaara's body, echoing across the arena and chilling everyone present.
Then his body began to swell.
Sand surged violently, gathering around him like a raging storm. His form expanded grotesquely, evolving rapidly beyond his partial transformation.
Human shape—
Possessed form—
And finally—
Complete form.
BOOM—
With an earth-shaking roar, the One-Tailed Shukaku fully manifested.
The gigantic monster landed in the arena with a thunderous crash.
The once-grand examination arena now looked laughably small, like a teapot trying to contain a mountain.
Wherever people looked, there was panic.
Spectators screamed and fled in terror, clutching their heads.
Before such a creature, humans were no more than ants.
Shukaku rose to its full height, towering over everything.
High above, Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression turned grave.
"So… this is…"
"The true form of the One-Tail!"
"Hokage-sama, this cannot continue!"
"If we allow this to go on, the entire arena will be destroyed!"
Hiruzen stood abruptly.
"Anbu!"
"Yes, Hokage-sama!"
"Prepare to suppress the One-Tail! Protect all civilians immediately!"
"Yes!"
But at that moment—
Kazekage Rasa let out a faint, mocking chuckle.
"Hokage-sama… why so impatient?"
"The battle is not yet over."
Hiruzen's heart sank when he saw the cold, sinister look in Rasa's eyes.
"Kazekage-sama… this has already exceeded the scope of the Chunin Exams."
Rasa's smile widened.
"The Tailed Beasts are power incarnate. The Chunin Exams are meant to display the strength of each village."
"Why shouldn't we showcase this power?"
"Hokage-sama… you are far too naive."
Hiruzen's brows furrowed deeply.
At that moment, Shukaku's massive gaze shifted downward.
Even though it had been sealed within Gaara, it had always been aware of the outside world.
And it knew exactly who stood before it.
Uzumaki Naruto.
The Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails.
The being it hated most.
"Hahahahaha!"
"I've only just emerged, and already I've found someone worth killing!"
"Nine-Tails brat… prepare to die!"
A massive claw slammed down.
Naruto leapt away just in time, but half the arena exploded beneath the impact.
Debris flew everywhere.
Panic spread uncontrollably.
Shukaku laughed wildly.
"These helpless humans are nothing but ants!"
"Perhaps I should crush them all!"
Tailed Beasts were embodiments of destruction.
And this one had been suppressed inside a Jinchuriki for years.
Now that it was free, it wanted nothing more than slaughter.
The Jonin acted immediately.
"Protect the civilians!"
Kakashi gave the command without hesitation.
Defensive ninjutsu erupted across the arena.
BOOM—
The clash of chakra shook the air.
Naruto watched as Shukaku wreaked havoc.
Rage boiled inside him.
"You bastard! Who do you think you're trying to kill?!"
He activated his defensive technique instantly.
"Single-String Light Formation!"
A radiant barrier flashed into existence.
Amid the chaos, few were paying attention to Naruto—but he didn't care.
He had to stop this monster.
Unfortunately—
The difference in scale was overwhelming.
Shukaku released a burst of chakra.
CRACK—
Naruto's formation shattered instantly.
He staggered back, gasping.
Before him stood a monster large enough to destroy everything.
"…Damn it."
"Something this massive… even the Three-Treasure Seal might not work…"
For a brief moment, hesitation flickered in his eyes.
Then it vanished.
If he couldn't stop Shukaku—
Konoha would be destroyed.
And everyone here would die.
Naruto clenched his fists tightly.
Even if it meant risking everything—
He would not step back.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)