SHINOBI EXAM

"We got it!" Naruto exclaimed, feeling triumphant as they secured the scroll. However, his celebration was short-lived. Toss and the Sound Ninja named Qin were not about to let their guard down. Toss threw a feint, and Qin unleashed several senbon to intercept Sasuke's shuriken, barely managing to fend off the attack.

However, their teammate Zaku was not so lucky. Several flaming shuriken found their mark, embedding themselves in his back and legs.

"Ah—!" Zaku screamed in pain. But instead of helping, Toss and Qin used him as a shield, further enraging the Genin of Konoha's Team 7.

Naruto, raised with Konoha's moral teachings and Kakashi's guidance, was outraged. He couldn't understand such a betrayal. Fueled by anger, he charged straight at Toss, shouting, "You bastard! That's your teammate!"

Toss met Naruto's charge with a sonic punch, the soundwaves throwing Naruto several meters away. His ears rang painfully, and bright red blood trickled from his ear canals.

Gaara watched silently from a distance, arms crossed. His face betrayed no emotion, but the shifting sand at his feet betrayed his growing unease. Temari and Kankuro noticed as well, exchanging nervous glances.

Naruto, however, was not one to give up easily. Despite the pain, he stood back up. His spirit burned fiercely, his belief in fighting for what was right unshaken.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Naruto shouted, creating five clones. Alongside his original self, he launched another assault on Toss.

Toss smirked, prepared for Naruto's tactic. With his sonic punch, he destroyed two clones instantly, leaving the remaining four. Undeterred, Naruto formed seals again, creating another wave of Shadow Clones.

Toss continued his assault, breaking through wave after wave of clones. By the time he had eliminated 24, Naruto had strategically closed the distance. The real Naruto, hiding among the clones, took advantage of the confusion.

"Got you now!" Toss sneered, thinking he had identified the original. He delivered a powerful sonic punch to one of the Narutos, believing it to be the real one.

But Naruto grinned. "You've been fooled, you idiot!"

In that moment, the real Naruto emerged from behind the clones and landed a powerful uppercut to Toss's chin, sending him flying into the air.

Toss wasn't defenseless. Even as he fell backward, he unleashed a soundwave attack that struck Naruto's chest. Both combatants took damage, exchanging blows with fierce determination.

Naruto staggered but refused to fall. His remarkable recovery abilities allowed him to endure the internal injuries caused by Toss's attack. Wiping blood from the corner of his mouth, he glared at Toss with unrelenting resolve.

Meanwhile, Sasuke faced off against Zaku, and Sakura took on Qin. Though the odds were stacked against Team 7, they fought with determination and skill, embodying the teachings of Konoha.

Naruto's unwavering spirit caught Gaara's attention. The red-haired Sand Ninja watched the battle closely, his expression unreadable. Kankuro leaned in and whispered, "Should we help?"

Gaara ignored him, lost in thought. He couldn't understand Naruto's actions. Why would someone fight so fiercely for the sake of others? Why would someone care so deeply about a supposed enemy? Gaara, who had always fought for himself and relied solely on his own strength, was perplexed.

Naruto's actions stirred something within Gaara—a curiosity, perhaps even a desire to understand.

Elsewhere, Senju Itama observed the chaotic battle, his young mind overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of the Chūnin Exam. The clash between the Uzumaki and Uchiha clans left him speechless.

He couldn't shake the earlier revelation about the Uchiha massacre. The idea that an Uchiha would destroy their own clan was incomprehensible.

Suddenly, Itama felt a tightening around his waist. Startled, he looked down to see a massive brown python coiled around him. Its scales glistened menacingly as it constricted him.

Before anyone could react, the snake's form shifted. It transformed into an unnaturally long, slimy arm, wrapping tightly around Itama's waist. The arm stretched over ten meters, its owner hidden among the trees.

Itama's cry of alarm drew attention, but the others were too preoccupied with their own battles to notice immediately.

The mysterious figure, shrouded in the shadows, smirked. "How many surprises can this exam hold, I wonder?"

---

Naruto continued his battle against Toss, his determination unwavering. With each exchange of blows, he grew stronger, fueled by his desire to protect his friends and uphold the values of Konoha.

Sasuke, enraged by the betrayal of the Sound Ninja, unleashed a series of calculated attacks. His Sharingan glinted dangerously as he pushed Zaku to his limits.

Sakura, despite her inexperience, fought with surprising tenacity against Qin. Though outmatched, she refused to back down, relying on her wits and quick reflexes to hold her ground.

The battlefield was chaotic, each clash a testament to the Genin's resolve and the intensity of the Chūnin Exam.

And in the shadows, the mysterious figure watched, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

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