Sasuke Uchiha vs Yoroi Akadō.
A low murmur ran through the observing shinobi. Everyone knew the rumors by now — Sasuke had been bitten during the Forest of Death. The strange seal spreading across his neck had been seen by several. Supposedly, Kakashi had applied a suppression seal, but... would it hold?
Sasuke himself walked forward with controlled purpose. Beneath the collar of his dark shirt, a faint black seal pattern coiled faintly against his skin, suppressed for now by the seal Kakashi had placed that morning.
I will control this, he told himself coldly. I will not become a puppet to that snake.
Across from him, Yoroi Akadō cracked his knuckles with a slow, hungry grin.
"Uchiha Sasuke... you're not looking so healthy," Yoroi taunted. His hands shimmered faintly with bluish chakra — a sure sign of his chakra-absorption technique. "Don't worry. You won't need chakra where you're going."
On the balcony, Orochimaru, hidden in the shadows, leaned forward in interest. Show me, little Uchiha... Show me the taste of that curse...
Down in the arena, Genma Shiranui raised one hand lazily, senbon shifting between his lips.
"Begin."
Yoroi moved first, fast — a hunter smelling weakness.
Sasuke darted sideways, chakra flowing through his legs as he avoided Yoroi's grasp. He struck with a sharp elbow to the ribs, then followed with a spinning heel kick aimed for the side of Yoroi's head.
But Yoroi was faster than he looked. He absorbed the blow with minimal damage and lunged again — hands glowing — grabbing Sasuke's arm.
Suddenly, Sasuke felt it — an icy, horrifying pull deep within. His chakra was being siphoned, fast.
And worse... the cursed seal pulsed.
No — stay down, Sasuke thought, gritting his teeth. He flared chakra through the suppression seal Kakashi had placed — trying to force the cursed mark dormant again.
But Yoroi was relentless, both hands now on Sasuke's arm, grinning.
"You feel it, don't you?" Yoroi hissed. "I'm taking everything."
Sasuke's vision blurred. His limbs trembled. The cursed seal began to burn — black markings creeping across his shoulder and up his neck.
His body screamed for release.
Up above, Orochimaru's grin widened. Yes... fight it, boy. Let it out...
Down below, Sasuke gave a ragged gasp. His suppression seal wavered under the drain.
No choice…
With a sudden surge of instinct, Sasuke stopped resisting. The cursed chakra burst free — markings flaring across his shoulder and cheek. His skin darkened slightly. Power flooded his limbs — a dark, burning force — painful, intoxicating.
Yoroi's eyes widened. "Wha—?"
With a roar, Sasuke twisted, snapping Yoroi's grip. Moving almost too fast to track, he launched a brutal knee into Yoroi's gut, then a spinning kick that sent the man skidding backward across the arena floor.
Genma's eyes narrowed, watching the cursed marks with concern — but the fight continued.
Sasuke crouched low, breath coming fast, eyes gleaming with an unnatural light.
So much power... but it's not mine, he thought distantly. But now was no time to hesitate.
Yoroi charged again in desperation — arms outstretched.
But this time Sasuke moved with unnatural grace. Ducking low, he surged forward and delivered a punishing Lion Combo — the full taijutsu sequence Kakashi had taught him.
His fists and feet struck with brutal precision — enhanced by the cursed seal's unnatural force.
With a final driving kick, Sasuke sent Yoroi crashing unconscious into the arena wall, where he slumped motionless.
Silence.
Genma Shiranui flicked a glance at the cursed marks still curling along Sasuke's neck and jaw, then raised a hand.
"Winner — Sasuke Uchiha."
A collective breath was released across the room.
In the observation deck, Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with delight. Good... very good. The curse begins to take hold...
Down below, Sasuke stood still for a long moment — fighting for control.
Gradually, he forced the cursed chakra down, the black marks receding as the suppression seal reasserted itself.
But he knew. Everyone knew.
The cursed seal was not gone.
Naruto Uzumaki vs Temari of the Sand.
A quiet murmur rippled through the observation deck. It wasn't surprise—Naruto had already distinguished himself by reaching the tower first during the Forest of Death, defeating a full Takigakure team single-handedly. But now, he faced a Suna-nin: Temari, well-known for her devastating wind jutsu.
Naruto rose silently from where he stood, adjusting the charcoal-grey cloak that hung from his shoulders. His right arm flexed subtly, a brief check on the seal woven into his skin. Hidden beneath it, his chokutō awaited.
Across the arena, Temari stepped forward with a confident stride, snapping her massive iron fan open with a sharp flick. The metal gleamed under the arena lights as she smirked at her opponent.
"You ready, Konoha boy?" she called out.
Naruto didn't respond. His gaze remained flat and steady.
Up in the stands, Kankurō leaned toward Gaara and muttered, "She's got this. He won't even get close."
Down in the arena, Genma Shiranui stood between the two combatants, a senbon lazily tucked in the corner of his mouth. He lifted one hand.
"Begin."
Temari didn't hesitate. With a wide swing of her fan, she launched a razor-sharp Wind Scythe directly toward Naruto. The air howled as the attack tore through the space between them.
Naruto shifted sideways with fluid ease, his cloak rippling in the wake of the attack. But Temari pressed the assault.
"Try this!" she shouted, whipping her fan in a tighter arc. Great Sickle Weasel Technique. A roaring vortex of slicing winds erupted, tearing chunks from the stone floor as it surged toward Naruto.
Dodging wasn't an option this time—not completely. And Naruto lacked elemental jutsu to counter such an assault.
But he had another path.
Without a word, his fingers flicked through a practiced motion. A pulse of chakra unsealed the chokutō in a flash of light. The slender blade gleamed coldly in his grip.
Naruto inhaled once, centering himself. Then he released a pure surge of chakra outward from his body.
The invisible wave collided with the incoming wind. Air shrieked. Dust spiraled violently, obscuring the arena in a storm of sound and grit.
When the debris cleared, Naruto stood untouched, blade steady, his gaze calm.
Temari's grip on her fan tightened slightly, surprise flashing across her face. "No ninjutsu? Just... chakra?"
Naruto gave no answer. Instead, he moved—swift as a shadow.
A clone flickered into existence beside him, acting as a feint. Temari instinctively shredded it with another burst of wind, but Naruto was already closing the gap.
With a precise vertical slash, his blade struck Temari's fan, knocking it from her grip. The kunoichi stumbled back, her stance broken.
Naruto halted with his blade hovering an inch from her throat.
Genma Shiranui appeared beside them, eyes half-lidded.
"Winner—Uzumaki Naruto," he said, the senbon bobbing slightly as he spoke.
Naruto flicked the blade clean, resealing it with a pulse of chakra. Without a word, he returned to his place against the wall, expression unchanged.
High above, Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with dark curiosity. That level of chakra control... impressive for one so young.
Gaara vs Rock Lee
Moments later, the screen shifted again.
Gaara of the Sand vs Rock Lee.
Excitement buzzed through the crowd. The notorious Suna prodigy against Konoha's fastest taijutsu specialist.
Lee bounced on his heels, beaming. "I've been waiting for this!" Gai-sensei gave him a sharp, proud nod from the balcony.
Across the ring, Gaara stood still as stone, arms folded. Sand whispered faintly around his feet.
Genma's voice cut through the air, calm as ever. "Begin."
Lee vanished.
Pure speed—no chakra enhancements, no tricks. A blur.
Gaara's sand rose instinctively, intercepting the first strike, but Lee pressed harder. His blows rained from every angle, driving Gaara back step by step.
For a brief, thrilling moment, Lee outpaced the sand.
Naruto leaned forward slightly from his place on the wall, eyes sharp. He's forcing Gaara to react... impressive.
Below, Lee's foot hooked Gaara's ankle, sweeping him off balance. A powerful kick struck the gourd on Gaara's back, cracking it visibly.
Gai gave the signal.
With a dramatic motion, Lee tore away his ankle weights. They crashed to the floor like falling meteors.
Lee moved again—faster now than almost any eye could follow.
With perfect timing, Lee launched Gaara into the air and executed a blinding Reverse Lotus.
But as they spun, Gaara's expression shifted. Sand cocooned around him mid-spin, cushioning the impact. When they landed, Gaara stepped free, unscathed.
Lee crouched, panting heavily.
Gaara smiled coldly. "My turn."
The sand surged forward.
Lee fought desperately, dodging, striking, but exhaustion caught up with him. Tendrils of sand wrapped around his ankle, his wrist.
As the sand began to constrict, Lee cried out in pain.
In a flash of green, Gai appeared, severing the sand tendrils and pulling Lee to safety.
Genma Shiranui exhaled softly.
"Winner—Gaara."
The room remained hushed long after the match ended. Even Naruto could sense it—that monstrous killing intent radiating from Gaara.
He wasn't even serious yet.