Author Note:
Here's the BONUS CHAPTER as promised—thanks for the support, and let's keep this energy going!
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Puff!
With perfect comedic timing, Asuma crash-landed between his two already-unconscious teammates, forming a neat row of defeated bodies on the forest floor.
A clean sweep. The entire team collapsed like dominos.
Shizune, seeing clearly who she'd just kicked, scratched her cheek in mild embarrassment.
"…Ah. That was Asuma's team. Maybe we could've gone a little easier."
"We're all Konoha Shinobi,"
Kurenai said quickly, glancing down at the trio.
"They'll be fine sleeping here for a while."
Guts landed beside her with a soft thud, brushing off a few leaves as he raised his head.
"Let's move."
Sure enough, despite beating another team, his progress bar didn't move an inch.
Thought so. At this point, it seemed like only fighting someone like Kakashi could possibly push his growth further.
The three of them vanished again into the trees, heading straight for the central tower.
Less than an hour later, a patrolling proctor squad stumbled upon the fallen trio.
"Is that… Asuma Sarutobi?"
The examiner crouched beside him, frowning as he took in the sight.
"…Third Hokage's kid. Out cold. He won't be waking up for at least two days."
Meanwhile, at the central tower—
"Congratulations, Guts-kun,"
Orochimaru said with a soft clap and a wicked grin while licking his lips.
"I knew you'd be the first."
Guts stared back, resisting the urge to shiver.
That smile was never good news.
This creep better not be eyeing me the way he looked at Uchiha Sasuke later…
They'd made it in 58 minutes, setting a new record in Konoha's Chūnin Exam history.
Orochimaru ushered them inside the tower, letting them wait for the other teams to arrive.
Up in the observation gallery, Tsunade was already seated, waiting. She beamed as the trio entered.
"Impressive. You're making me proud," she said, giving them an approving nod.
Namikaze Minato stepped up beside her with a smile.
"As expected of your students, Lady Tsunade."
"Though… it's a shame Jiraiya isn't here to see this. He used to brag about his 'star pupil' all the time.He's off 'gathering inspiration' for his dumb book again." Tsunade snorted.
Over the next five hours, more teams filtered in:
Might Guy's squad.
Ebisu's team.
Shiranui Genma's unit.
Kakashi, Obito, and Rin.
Guts didn't recognize one of the teams—and didn't care to.
Once the last team arrived, Orochimaru strode onto the battlefield.
"All twelve candidates have arrived," he announced.
"The next phase is a simple one-on-one elimination. Matches will be randomized."
As he spoke, the screen behind him began to flicker.
First match: Might Guy vs. Uchiha Obito
"Everyone else, off the field," Orochimaru said calmly.
Guy and Obito remained, standing a few meters apart.
Tsunade leaned toward Minato.
"That one—Obito—is he the only Uchiha this year? Has he awakened the Sharingan yet?"
Minato gave a wry chuckle.
"He didn't awaken it. But let's just say Obito tends to surprise you in unexpected ways."
Orochimaru raised a hand.
"Begin."
Obito immediately jumped back, starting hand seals—albeit a bit clumsily.
"Fire Style: Fireba—"
"Yaaaah!!"
Before he could finish, Guy let out a wild cry, sounding like Bruce Lee's spiritual successor, and charged in like a missile.
WHAM!
A spinning whip kick landed squarely on Obito's cheek, sending him flying in a messy arc.
Puff!
He crashed into the dirt, face-first, groaning.
A heavy silence followed.
"…Winner: Might Guy,"
Orochimaru announced flatly.
"YEAH!!!"
Guy shouted, striking a heroic pose with both arms raised.
"Pfft—HAHAHA!"
Guts couldn't hold it in. He burst into laughter.The timing. The sound. Obito's spin. It was just too perfect.
Minato sighed with a smile and disappeared in a yellow flash, reappearing beside Obito to scoop him up and return him to the stands.
Rin rushed over with a first-aid kit, gently bandaging Obito's swollen cheek.
The screen flickered again.
Second Match: Guts vs. Ebisu
"…Seriously?"
Guts muttered, twitching slightly.Of all the people…
He wasn't looking down on Ebisu—at least not intentionally. But fighting someone who never won anything in the original timeline? Hard to get excited about that.
Suppressing a yawn, he made his way lazily to the center of the field.
Ebisu, seeing Guts' bored expression, grit his teeth. His eye twitched.Being underestimated was one thing—but being dismissed like that?
Orochimaru raised his hand without much interest. He knew this fight wouldn't be anything special.
"Begin!"
Orochimaru's cold voice echoed through the arena.
Ebisu moved quickly—faster than Obito had in the last round. His hands flew into a practiced sequence of hand signs as he shouted,
"Fire Style: How—"
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The next second, a blur shot forward. A violent impact rang out like thunder.
Everyone's eyes widened as Ebisu's face contorted mid-jutsu, twisted into something so mangled it looked like an abstract painting brought to life.
CRACK!
With a sickening crunch, his body hurtled across the battlefield and crashed into the massive stone statue at the side of the examination room.
The arm he had just raised to complete the technique shattered against it like porcelain.
Silence.
Then gasps broke out across the viewing stands.
Even Kakashi, who had remained stoic until now, found his mouth agape.
The scene mirrored the last match in structure—a fast takedown before a jutsu could finish—but the atmosphere was entirely different.
Might Guy's match with Obito had been clumsy, comedic, like something out of a slapstick skit.
But this—this was brutal, clean, and overwhelming.
Where Guy made people laugh, Guts made them freeze.
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