The Shadow of the Dancing Leaf is a high-speed taijutsu maneuver that involves suddenly vanishing from the opponent's field of vision. The user lowers their posture, slipping beneath the enemy's line of sight and giving the illusion they've disappeared. While a seasoned shinobi can quickly track the movement with a slight shift of the eyes, the brief lapse in visibility is often all the opening the user needs.
Sasuke Uchiha, having copied the technique with his Sharingan, unleashed the Shadow of the Dancing Leaf, closing the distance with full force and crouching low to the ground. Due to his shorter stature and Akado Yoroi's towering build, Sasuke's concealment was even more effective.
Yoroi's eyes widened when Sasuke vanished from sight. Before he could react, Sasuke's foot came crashing upward into his jaw.
Using his arms and left leg to support himself, Sasuke launched a vicious kick upward with his right foot, catching Yoroi under the chin and sending him airborne. Wasting no time, Sasuke sprang off the ground, positioning himself behind the now-inverted Yoroi mid-air.
But the sudden movement had come at a cost.
The cursed mark on his neck, already strained, began to sear with pain—like a fire igniting from within. The burning spread from his neck across his body, wracking him with unbearable agony.
Watching from the stands, Kakashi Hatake, Anko Mitarashi, and the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, all simultaneously noticed the cursed seal begin to glow and expand, twisting into ominous black flame-like patterns that slithered down Sasuke's skin.
In disguise among the proctors, Orochimaru watched intently, his excitement barely concealed. The cursed mark he'd branded Sasuke with was reacting—awakening. And it was glorious.
"As the last of the Uchiha, how can I allow myself to fall here!?"
"I carry the burden of revenge… I won't be consumed by this thing!"
Fueled by hatred toward his brother, Sasuke's willpower surged. His fingernails dug into his palms as he clenched his fists, anchoring himself in that moment.
And to the astonishment of everyone—especially Orochimaru—the black flames of the cursed seal began to recede.
The markings that had spread like wildfire started pulling back, fading into Sasuke's skin. The out-of-control chakra was suppressed. Even those who had seen many battles, like Kakashi and the Third Hokage, couldn't hide their disbelief.
But Orochimaru only licked his lips, thrilled.
"This is the power of the Uchiha Clan… Such a body… this kind of vessel... it's worth everything."
Back in the arena, with the cursed seal subdued and his breath returning to him, Sasuke didn't let up. He launched into his signature combination—Lion's Barrage (Shishi Rendan).
Using the aerial advantage and the opponent's disorientation, Sasuke unleashed a fierce combo of blows, feints, and powerful strikes. As Yoroi began to fall, Sasuke twisted mid-air and delivered a punishing heel drop directly to his opponent's chest—the final, crushing blow.
Yoroi hit the ground and didn't get up.
"Looks like the winner is Sasuke Uchiha," Hayate Gekkō said, coughing lightly as he looked at the unconscious Yoroi sprawled across the arena floor.
"Sasuke, do you need medical assistance?" he asked, seeing Sasuke struggling to catch his breath.
Before Sasuke could answer, Kakashi suddenly appeared beside him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. Smiling behind his mask, he replied for him, "No need. The medics can't help with what he's dealing with. Leave him to me."
Hayate nodded.
Kakashi leaned in, speaking low so only Sasuke could hear. "I'll find a room inside the tower. We need to seal the cursed mark—immediately."
Sasuke hesitated, his eyes flicking to the arena floor as Hayate prepared to announce the next match. "Wait… Let's at least stay until the matches are over. I want to see who else makes it to the final round—and get a read on their abilities."
The preliminaries were a rare opportunity for shinobi to gather intel. With each match displayed before their eyes, weaknesses, fighting styles, and even jutsu specialties could be observed. Shikamaru, Rock Lee, and Neji Hyūga hadn't fought yet. Sasuke couldn't leave without gauging them.
"No," Kakashi said flatly, without room for argument. Seeing the disappointment on Sasuke's face, his tone softened slightly. "I get it. But if this seal worsens, not even I can save you. If that happens… you won't just miss this exam—you won't be able to fight again. Ever. Don't be reckless."
Sasuke clenched his fists but said nothing. In the end, he followed Kakashi out of the arena.
With Sasuke gone, the matches continued.
Everyone's eyes turned to the board as the names shuffled once again. Finally, two names appeared:
Temari vs. Hinata Hyūga
"Finally!" Temari muttered with a smirk. Then, spotting Hinata across the arena, her eyes narrowed coldly. "This one's going down. I'll make sure no one underestimates the Sand again… especially after Kankurō's loss."
Determined to avenge her teammate, Temari leapt down into the arena, her iron fan already in hand.
"Go for it, Hinata!" Kiba barked encouragingly.
"Be careful, Hinata," Shino added calmly. "She's likely here to make a statement."
Hinata nodded timidly. "Thank you, Kiba, Shino…" She glanced shyly at Shikamaru, only to find him deep in thought, face unreadable. Disheartened, she descended the stairs and took her place across from Temari.
Hayate coughed, raising a hand. "Begin."
Hinata slid into the classic Gentle Fist stance, her Byakugan activating.
Watching from the stands, Neji Hyūga narrowed his eyes, jaw clenched. His cousin was fighting publicly as a representative of the main house—and that fact stung.
"N-Neji…"
A hand rested firmly on his shoulder. It was Might Guy, eyes serious.
"You promised me, Neji. No lashing out because of the main branch. Stay calm."
Neji's glare faded slightly, and he turned away from the match. "…I understand."
Guy's concern wasn't for diplomacy—it was for Neji himself. As a branch family member branded with the Caged Bird Seal, Neji's ties to the Hyūga hierarchy were inescapable. If he lashed out—especially in an official event like this—the consequences would be severe.
Down below, the fight had begun.
Hinata moved first, aiming to close the distance and strike with her Gentle Fist. Her palm strikes, infused with chakra, were deadly even without brute strength, targeting internal organs and chakra pathways.
But Temari had already unstrapped the massive iron fan from her back. Using its steel surface, she blocked Hinata's strikes and quickly leapt back to widen the gap.
Mid-air, she unfolded the fan, revealing one violet circle—the first star. With a swift motion, she swept the fan forward.
A gust of wind erupted, slicing toward Hinata with surprising force. Hidden within the wind were invisible wind blades—a trap designed to punish anyone who underestimated her jutsu.
Ordinary opponents might've been cut down immediately, but Hinata's Byakugan saw through the swirling vortex. Spotting the hidden blades, she flipped out of the way just in time.
But evading the jutsu had a price.
Hinata had lost her approach. Temari now had the space and momentum to dominate with long-range attacks—her specialty.
The next move would be hers.
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