"Rasengan!"
"Chidori!"
Fierce collision sounds and dazzling bursts of light erupted continuously in the seventh checkpoint, which also had the most spectators in the arena. This was because the guardian of the seventh checkpoint seemed to be holding nothing back.
The Akatsuki members in other checkpoints had all suffered some injuries and losses, but Itachi was completely unscathed. As Naruto and Sasuke's strength grew, so did his own.
Of course, Tsukuyomi and Amaterasu had yet to be used, and Susanoo was still maintained in its initial skeletal form.
"Hoo... Damn it, we can't win at this rate."
Naruto felt that his chakra was more than half depleted, and his physical reaction speed had significantly decreased, making some of his movements sluggish.
If even Naruto was like this, Sasuke was in an even worse state. That last Chidori was his final resistance. His Sharingan could no longer be maintained and reverted to its normal black eyes.
Sasuke propped himself up with one hand on the ground, gasping for breath. He knew his chakra was exhausted, but he was unwilling to give up, at least not to fall before Naruto.
Itachi, on the other hand, seemed to be enjoying himself, having forgotten that this was the Chunin Exams, and continued to push his own limits to challenge Naruto and Sasuke.
"Is this all the capacity you have?"
Ever since witnessing the bond between Naruto and Sasuke with his own eyes, Itachi had come to regard Naruto as one of his own, encompassing both of them in his words.
The two did not respond to Itachi, both seizing every second to recover some chakra. However, they knew in their hearts that this was a battle they could not possibly win.
All they could do now was stall for time, hoping the proctor would open his eyes and intervene with this guy!
At this moment, several whistling sounds pierced the air.
"Need some help, Naruto?"
Naruto's eyes widened as he looked at the blue-haired boy who suddenly appeared before him, his voice trembling, "Shi, Shi, Shiroto! What are you doing here?"
Shiroto smiled and said, "I've already passed the checkpoint. I've come to support you."
Hearing that Shiroto had cleared the checkpoint alone, Naruto couldn't help but mutter to himself: It must have been luck, running into the weakest opponent. If it were him, Naruto Uzumaki could have done it too!
Along with Shiroto, Gaara also arrived, having recovered some chakra by then.
"Is this the Naruto Uzumaki that Shiroto and Kurama talk about? He looks a bit silly."
Although Gaara had heard Naruto Uzumaki's name many times, this was the first time he was seeing him in person. Gaara silently observed the spiky-haired boy before him.
"Enough idle chat, our opponent is not simple," Sasuke said coldly.
As soon as he finished speaking, more whistling sounds echoed.
"Naruto, you're so slow!"
Shikamaru, Ino, Neji, and Ten Ten all rushed to the seventh checkpoint. As for Rock Lee and Choji, they had already been sent to the medical bay for emergency treatment.
"Shikamaru, Neji, you both passed?"
"Of course."
Now Naruto was restless. Were all his friends this formidable? Was his own Team 7 the weakest team?
It wasn't just Naruto; even Sasuke was starting to doubt himself. His usually arrogant expression turned grim, and his hand unconsciously clenched.
Upon seeing the consecutive arrivals of genin to provide support, Itachi finally snapped back to reality. He deactivated Susanoo, cast a deep glance at Naruto and Sasuke, and then disappeared into the depths of the alley without looking back.
Naruto opened his mouth, pointed at Itachi's retreating back, and said, "What, what is this? He ran away?"
"It seems you've all passed."
Shikamaru observed the utterly devastated surroundings, his mouth twitching slightly. The destruction was far more severe than their own battlefields. It seemed Naruto's strength had improved considerably again.
What a troublesome situation!
At this moment, the purple barrier that had confined the area completely vanished, and Hayate's voice echoed from the microphone.
"The second exam has concluded. Congratulations to all surviving teams for advancing to the third exam. Please proceed to the center of the castle within 15 minutes. No latecomers will be admitted!"
"It's over! We've passed, Sasuke! That's great!" Naruto happily grabbed Sasuke and jumped.
"Idiot! Let go!" Sasuke winced as his wounds were pulled, but more than the pain, he was embarrassed by Naruto grabbing his hand and dancing. He really wanted to beat this idiot to death!
Shiroto, standing beside them, nodded in satisfaction at Naruto and Sasuke, then shifted his gaze to Shikamaru and Neji, particularly Shikamaru.
"I heard people from the Nara clan are very intelligent. Should I also have a highly intelligent partner..."
...
Ten minutes later, teams began to file into the castle hall.
"So lucky, we passed without doing anything!"
"Wasn't this second exam a bit too easy?"
The teams that hadn't entered the checkpoints arrived in the hall with relaxed expressions. Upon seeing those wrapped in bandages, they displayed schadenfreude.
However, some teams were grinding their teeth.
"Damn it, we didn't even get a chance to show off. Lord Orochimaru must be disappointed in us!"
"Don't worry, Jirobo. Our target is Uchiha Sasuke in the third exam."
The Sound Ninja squad, who also hadn't entered the checkpoints, felt they were disgracing Lord Orochimaru. The three of them secretly vowed to teach Uchiha Sasuke a lesson in the third exam.
Sasuke: Are you guys crazy? I didn't do anything, and I'm going to get beaten?
As time passed, all the advancing teams gathered in the center of the castle, including Rock Lee and Choji, who were lying on stretchers, heavily casted and bandaged.
They had received emergency treatment, and further treatment would be needed in Konoha.
"Congratulations to all who have advanced to the next round. Considering some team members have sustained severe injuries, the third exam will be held in three months."
"Now, please enter the golden magic circle."
As he spoke, a giant golden magic circle projected before everyone, its mysterious and intricate golden symbols filling their vision.
Surprise, curiosity, and a desire to explore appeared on everyone's faces.
"What is this? Some kind of barrier?"
"I don't recognize any of the symbols. Is this also ninjutsu?"
Some showed curiosity, others tension and unease. As all the advancing teams stepped onto the magic circle, Hayate's voice rang out again.
"Don't bite your tongue!"
Whoosh!
All the teams, including Hayate, instantly vanished. However, in the very next second, Hayate reappeared in his original spot.
"What about the teams that failed to advance? Aren't you sending them back?" Tsunade asked.
"Let them run back themselves. Losers don't get that perk, and neither do some winners."
...
In the very center of the arena, a flash of golden light appeared, and all the teams that had advanced to the third exam materialized there, greeted by thunderous cheers.
"This, this is... Konoha!"
Naruto's initially confused gaze brightened, and then, before tens of thousands of spectators, he shouted his name loudly.
"My name is Naruto Uzumaki! One day, I will gain everyone's recognition!"
It wasn't just Naruto; even Sasuke was deeply moved. He saw Fugaku sitting in the spectator seats, looking at him with admiration.
At this moment, Sasuke's eyes also reddened slightly.
The Konoha clans, including the Hyuga, Nara, Akimichi, Yamanaka, Inuzuka, and Aburame, were all seated in the audience, cheering for the ninjas who had given them a spectacular battle.
However, the Inuzuka and Aburame clans looked somewhat displeased, even gritting their teeth.
Naruto and Sasuke's kiss was seen by them as a deep bond between comrades, and most of them reminisced about their youthful days.
As for Kiba's actions, it was considered reckless, and the Aburame clan also suffered collateral damage.
But the most awkward were the teams who had advanced without doing anything. At this moment, they wished they could dig a hole and bury themselves.
They truly had no face to enjoy the cheers and applause here.
...
In the vast starry sky, three figures dressed in magnificent robes were gradually approaching the ninja world.
"Kinshiki, take me to that woman's alternate dimension first."
"Momoshiki-senpai, aren't we going to the ninja world first?"
Momoshiki said with a cold expression, "I need to see what that woman has been doing all these years first. Also, I don't need a junior like you to tell me what to do."
"Let's go, Kinshiki."
"Yes, Lord Momoshiki."
Kinshiki's Byakugan focused, and a void vortex appeared behind them. Then, the two vanished into the universe.
"Since Little Momo went to the alternate dimension, I'll go play in the so-called ninja world."
Urashiki narrowed his eyes, waved his hand to cast Yomotsu Hirasaka, and stepped into the spatial portal, disappearing...