Meanwhile, on the spectator balcony, Naruto and his friends were chatting, while down in the arena, two Genin with vastly different auras faced each other:
Rock Lee with his burning spirit of youth, and Gaara of the Sand with his cold and bloodthirsty gaze.
Their fight started even before Hayate could finish saying the word 'start' perfectly.
As a ninja whose entire ability relied on sand – to attack, defend, and even move – Gaara was clearly not very skilled in close-range physical combat or pure taijutsu.
Facing Rock Lee's almost invisible speed, Gaara could initially only rely on his automatic sand shield to defend passively. He seemed to struggle, unable to launch a significant counterattack for the time being.
Defensive walls made of rough sand constantly appeared around Gaara's body, forming domes or instant shields whenever Lee's fists or kicks threatened. However, these sand walls, which could form an absolute defense even without Gaara's conscious control, would usually shatter to pieces from Rock Lee's barrage of attacks in the next second. Gaara could only catch glimpses of Lee's green blur when his attacks were about to hit, but he couldn't track Lee's location or movements at any other time.
Lee's speed was truly beyond comprehension.
"So-so amazing! That Kappa head... he's really strong!" Temari exclaimed from the spectator balcony, her eyes wide with disbelief.
She tried hard to follow Lee's movements, but the green figure moved so fast that all she could see were confusing green flashes. "I can't even see him clearly!"
In the match field, Rock Lee had transformed into a ghostly shadow that continuously moved agilely around Gaara.
He relentlessly launched punches and kicks from various directions, but every time his attacks were about to hit the target, chunks of sand would fly out from the gourd on Gaara's back, forming instant shields that blocked Rock Lee's attack paths.
This frustrated Lee, as none of his attacks managed to directly injure Gaara.
"Heh, that kappa head. How naive!" Kankuro, sitting next to Temari, curled his lip cynically, his tone full of undisguised disdain as he watched Rock Lee's seemingly futile actions.
Kankuro chuckled. "Gaara's sand can defend automatically, without Gaara needing to consciously control it. The sand will always protect him. That bushy-brow kid is just wasting his energy. When his physical strength starts to decline and his speed slows due to exhaustion, Gaara can easily crush him to death with just a flick of his finger!" Kankuro explained confidently.
Rock Lee in the arena began to feel the truth of Kankuro's words.
His breath started to come in gasps, and every attack he launched felt like it was just hitting an endless wall of sand. He felt overwhelmed by Gaara's absolute defense.
Seeing his beloved student start to struggle, Might Gai, standing among the supervising Jonin, finally spoke up. His voice was loud and full of spirit. "LEE!"
Rock Lee was slightly startled and looked towards his teacher. "Gai-sensei?" Lee looked at Gai with a somewhat confused expression, still panting.
"Should... should I release it now? But... didn't you say that we should only do this when we truly need to protect our most important comrades?!" he asked, a hint of doubt in his voice.
"Lee, now is the time!"
Gai replied firmly, a wide smile on his face. He raised his right thumb high in the air towards Lee, his clean white teeth shining under the arena lights.
"Let your teacher see the results of your hard training all this time, Lee! And let the beautiful Konoha lotus bloom again with all its might in this arena!" Gai exclaimed, his voice trembling with emotion and pride.
Hearing his teacher's encouraging words, the doubt in Lee's eyes instantly vanished, replaced by a greater flame of spirit.
"Yes... Gai-sensei!" Lee replied in a loud and joyful voice. He then nimbly jumped onto one of the giant palm statues that decorated the arena, sat down, and started fiddling with something on both of his ankles.
"What are they talking about?" Temari frowned, not understanding what was meant by 'crushing him' or 'lotus.'
"And what is that kid doing up there?"
After fiddling for a while, Rock Lee finally stood up straight, holding two objects that looked like ordinary leggings in each of his hands.
However, there was something strange about the leggings; they looked heavy.
"Those... those are training weights?" Kakashi muttered from the Jonin stands, his eyes slightly narrowed.
"He really still had weights that heavy strapped to both his legs while he was fighting Gaara at that speed earlier?" Asuma exclaimed in disbelief.
Temari was also slightly surprised at first, but then she shook her head with a dismissive attitude.
"Too bad, they're just two ordinary training weights. What's going to happen even if he takes them off? He still won't be able to really hurt Gaara's sand defense!"
"Exactly, there are only two weights. How heavy can those weights be?" Kankuro chimed in, his lip still curled in disgust.
"Do you really think you can beat Gaara just by taking off those two small weights?! Gaara's true strength is not something you can easily understand!"
Not to mention Temari and Kankuro on the spectator stands, even Gaara, who had been silently observing Lee's every move in the arena, slightly frowned, showing an expression of disgust and disdain at this sight.
He didn't take the two weights Lee was holding seriously at all. To him, it was just a cheap trick to try and intimidate him. Lee looked at the two weights in his hands, then smiled thinly.
"Sorry to keep you waiting." He then casually released the two weights from his grip.
BOOOOM!!! CRACK!!!
The two weights fell from Lee's hands and landed with a very loud thud on the stone floor of the arena.
The entire arena seemed to tremble violently from the impact.
Thick dust billowed up. And even more shockingly, large cracks resembling spider webs immediately spread out from the point where the two weights fell, shattering the surrounding arena floor to pieces.
The group of people watching, including Temari and Kankuro, immediately opened their mouths wide in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"Wh-what... what is that?!" Temari shrieked, her face pale.
"We-were the weights he was using all this time that heavy?!" Kankuro couldn't even speak; his mouth hung open, his disdainful expression vanishing instantly.
Naruto, who was watching from above, also gaped in disbelief.
"Hana-neechan! Those weights... they're insanely heavy! How could he move that fast with weights that heavy on his legs?!" Hana in his mind just smiled amusedly at Naruto's reaction and everyone's shock.
"Fufufu~ That's the result of training hard beyond limits, my prince. The burning spirit of youth can indeed produce miracles." However, Hana's smile faded slightly; there was a bitter tone in her voice as she continued, "But sadly, Naruto-kun... the world of shinobi is sometimes never fair."
"Unfair? What do you mean, Hana-neechan?" Naruto asked, confused. Hana just sighed softly.
'Look at Gai. He is a master of taijutsu, someone who has reached the highest peak in the art of physical combat. Even with such power, when he opened the Eighth Gate, the Gate of Death, and overwhelmed the legendary Madara Uchiha, in the end... without Minato and Kakashi's help with their teleportation and Kamui abilities, what could Gai have done alone against Madara's Gudō Dama that could negate all attacks?' Hana thought.
"Never mind," Hana said, her voice returning to a cheerful tone. "Now, let's focus back on this exciting match, my prince!"
The match between Rock Lee and Gaara continued, unfolding exactly as Hana knew it would from her memory.
Lee, after taking off his weights, now moved with truly terrifying speed, making it difficult for Gaara's sand to follow. He managed to land several solid hits on Gaara's body, for the first time breaking through his absolute defense. However, Gaara was not an easy opponent.
With his cold resolve and the power of the Bijuu inside him, he continued to endure. Lee, driven by his spirit and desire to prove himself, was finally forced to use his forbidden technique, opening the Eight Inner Gates up to the Fifth Gate, the Front Lotus and Reverse Lotus. The arena shook violently from the clash of their power. Lee moved like a storm, breaking through Gaara's sand defense repeatedly.
However, in the end, Lee's body could not withstand the strain of using the Eight Gates.
Although he managed to seriously injure Gaara, he himself finally collapsed, exhausted and suffering from severe internal injuries.
Gaara's sand then cruelly crushed Lee's left arm and leg before Gai could stop it.
That extraordinary fight ended in a tragic defeat for Rock Lee.
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... .... .... .... ..... .... .... .. .... ...
After the epic battle between Rock Lee and Gaara ended tragically, the atmosphere in the arena became slightly gloomy.
Several subsequent fights, according to Hana who was observing from within Naruto's mind, felt lackluster and not very worthwhile to watch closely.
"Well, after seeing Lee's burning spirit of youth like that, the other fights just feel bland," Hana murmured with a slightly disappointed tone.
"It's like watching cheap fireworks after a world-class fireworks show."
Naruto, who was still a little affected by the end of Lee's fight, could only nod in agreement inwardly.
Then came the match between Hinata Hyuga and Neji Hyuga.
Naruto, of course, gave the loudest cheers for Hinata from the spectator balcony.
"HINATAAA! YOU CAN DO IT, DATTEBAYO! DON'T GIVE UP!" he shouted repeatedly, making some other spectators turn to look at him.
However, as Hana had predicted (and as happened in the original story), the outcome of the fight remained the same.
Hinata, despite showing incredible courage and resistance after being cheered on by Naruto, eventually had to acknowledge Neji's cold and merciless superiority.
Hinata's defeat was quite pathetic, and she had to be carried out of the arena on a stretcher in critical condition.
Anger immediately ignited in Naruto's chest at Neji's treatment of Hinata.
He clenched his fists tightly. When Neji walked past the balcony where Team 7 was sitting, Naruto couldn't hold back.
"HEY, YOU, NEJI!" Naruto shouted loudly, his eyes flashing with anger.
"Listen carefully, in the final exam, I swear I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget!"
Neji only glanced briefly with a cold and disdainful look.
"Fate cannot be changed, loser. You and she are the same."
He then walked away just like that.
"What a jerk!" Naruto grumbled inwardly.
Hana in his mind could only sigh softly at her prince's sometimes impulsive yet kind-hearted behavior.
'My prince... he always defends the weak. That trait of his is truly admirable, but sometimes it also makes him reckless. Neji is not an easy opponent.'
After all the preliminary round matches were over, the successful candidates – Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Shino, Temari, Kankuro, Gaara, and one Genin from Oto who managed to defeat their opponent – were gathered back in the center of the arena. The Third Hokage then announced that a draw would be held to determine each person's opponent in the final round.
One by one, their names were called to draw lots. Tension hung in the air.
When it was Naruto's turn, he took a small scroll with mixed feelings.
"Uzumaki Naruto will fight..." Hayate opened the scroll Naruto had taken, "...Hyuga Neji!"
Naruto's eyes immediately met Neji's cold gaze from across the arena. A determined grin etched itself on Naruto's face.
"I knew it! This is our destiny to fight!"
The order of the other fights was no different from what Hana remembered from the original anime.
Sasuke would fight Gaara, Shikamaru would fight Dosu and the winner would fight Temari, Kankuro would fight Shino.
The Third Hokage then explained, "The final round of the Chunin Exams will be held exactly one month from now. This time is given so that all of you finalists have enough opportunity to recover from the injuries of the preliminary round, and more importantly, to prepare yourselves as best as you can. This also gives the village time to spread the news about this final match, so that it can attract greater publicity and be attended by the Daimyo and important clients from various countries."
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
In the afternoon, as Naruto walked home to his simple apartment, he saw something unusual.
The vacant house right next to his apartment unit, which had been uninhabited for a long time, now appeared to be getting cleaned. Several people were seen busily carrying out dusty old furniture and cleaning the front yard.
"Oh? Finally someone wants to live in that vacant house, huh?" Naruto muttered curiously.
He quickened his pace, wanting to know who his new neighbor would be. Just as he almost reached the front of the house, the front door opened, and a girl with bright red hair and glasses came out, appearing to be overseeing the cleaners' work. Naruto's eyes widened immediately.
"KARIN?!" he exclaimed in surprise and delight.
The girl turned, and a thin smile etched itself on her face when she saw Naruto.
"Ah, Naruto! What a coincidence we met here."
"What are you doing here, Karin? Don't tell me you..."
Karin chuckled softly. "It seems so. Starting today, it looks like we'll be neighbors, Naruto."
"Really?! Wow, that's great, dattebayo!" Naruto exclaimed enthusiastically.
"But how come? I mean, after what happened at the tower..."
Karin explained, "After Iruka-san took me, I met with the Hokage-sama. I told him everything that happened to me, about my team getting lost, and how I ended up in Konoha. He was very kind and understanding."
She paused for a moment, her eyes wandering. "After undergoing several examinations to ensure I wasn't lying or dangerous, the Hokage-sama decided to allow me to stay in Konoha and even registered me as a Konoha Genin."
"That's amazing, Karin!" Naruto said sincerely. "Welcome to Konoha!"
Karin blushed slightly.
"Thank you, Naruto. And... thank you also for saving me in the forest that time. If it weren't for you and your team..."
Naruto waved his hand. "Ah, don't worry about it! Don't be so formal! Isn't it natural for fellow... relatives to help each other?"
Naruto winked, trying to give her a hint. Karin was startled for a moment.
So Naruto already knew that she was also from the Uzumaki clan? She didn't expect Naruto to realize it so quickly, or maybe the Third Hokage had told him? However, seeing Naruto's sincere smile, Karin could only smile in relief and nod in agreement. "Yeah... you're right, Naruto. Thank you."
Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't too worried about potential diplomatic issues with Kusagakure, Karin's previous village.
A small village like that wouldn't dare to mess with Konoha. Even Danzo Shimura, who usually disagreed with him, surprisingly supported Hiruzen's decision this time and even suggested actively searching for and bringing back the remaining members of the Uzumaki clan who might still be scattered, to strengthen the village.
"Hey, Karin!" Naruto said suddenly. "Since you just moved in and probably haven't had time to cook, how about you have dinner at my place? I'll cook something delicious for you! My cooking skills are really good now, you know! I guarantee you won't be disappointed!" Naruto patted his chest proudly.
Karin seemed hesitant for a moment. "Eh? Won't it bother you, Naruto?"
"Of course not! Come on!" Without waiting for further response, Naruto gently pulled Karin's arm towards his apartment.
Inside Naruto's small but quite tidy apartment (thanks to Hana's regular nagging), Naruto skillfully began preparing the ingredients for cooking.
Karin sat at the small dining table, watching Naruto move nimbly in the kitchen.
"Look at my prince, he's already like an ideal husband~" Hana whispered in Naruto's mind, her tone full of teasing.
"Cooking for a beautiful girl he just saved. How sweet~"
Naruto's face instantly turned slightly red. "Hana-neechan! Don't start again! I just feel sorry for her because she's alone!"
"Oh really? Just sorry? But look at Karin-chan's face, every time you look or smile at her, her cheeks immediately flush. It seems someone's starting to have a crush on you, my prince~" Hana teased again, giggling.
Naruto tried hard to ignore Hana's teasing, trying to focus on his cooking so it wouldn't burn.
He could feel Karin's gaze occasionally directed at him, and it made him a little... nervous?
They finally had dinner together in a fairly friendly and warm atmosphere.
Naruto's cooking turned out to be really good, and Karin praised it many times, making Naruto even prouder.
They talked a lot about light things, about Konoha, and about Karin's hopes for starting a new life. As the night grew later, Karin finally said goodbye.
"Thank you so much for the dinner, Naruto. Your cooking is really delicious," she said a little shyly at the door.
"And thank you for making me feel welcome here."
Naruto gave a warm smile, his characteristic sincere smile.
"You're welcome, Karin. Welcome to Konoha. I hope you can live comfortably and happily here. If you need any help, don't hesitate to tell me, okay!"
Karin nodded, her face turning red again. "Okay. See you tomorrow, Naruto."
"See you!"
After Karin left, Naruto closed the door and let out a sigh of relief. Quite a long day.
"Your smile is really dangerous for girls, Naruto-kun," Hana's voice suddenly sounded, her tone full of amusement. "Just look at how Karin-chan was, it's like she's about to melt."
Naruto's face, which had just returned to normal, blushed again.
"HANA-NEECHAN! I TOLD YOU TO SHUT UP!" he shouted in his heart, half annoyed and half embarrassed.
Hana just laughed out loud in her seal, enjoying her prince's shy expression which she thought was very adorable.