The arena buzzed with excitement after Naruto's explosive victory. But the air shifted as Genma's voice rang out:

"Next match, Uchiha Sasuke versus Sabaku no Gaara!"

A new tension settled over the stadium. Everyone knew these two were special.

Gaara calmly descended from the stands, his gourd rattling behind him. His pale green eyes were cold, distant.

Sasuke appeared moments later, hands in his pockets, walking casually to the center, exuding quiet confidence.

Up in the stands, Hiruzen leaned forward slightly, curious.

Beside him, "Kazekage" Orochimaru smiled beneath his disguise, anticipation crackling like a live wire.

'Now… show me, Sasuke-kun.'

Genma looked between the two boys.

"Begin!"

Immediately, Gaara unleashed a wave of sand.

Sasuke dodged with a blur of speed that shocked the crowd, he was fast. Much faster than before.

Even Lee, watching from the stands, clenched his fists in frustration.

"He's moving… like me," Lee muttered.

Gai nodded, arms crossed, impressed.

"His speed is at least equal to your weights-off speed, Lee. Kakashi has trained him well."

On the field, Sasuke flashed around Gaara in bursts of pure movement, landing sharp, precise hits that staggered him.

The sand shield tried to defend, but Sasuke's taijutsu was too sharp. A punch slipped through, cracking Gaara's cheek.

Gaara recoiled, eyes widening slightly in shock, and blood dripped from his face.

The crowd gasped.

Gaara… injured?

In the stands, Temari gripped her fan tighter.

"Kankuro… Gaara's bleeding."

Kankuro's face was grim.

"He's never been hurt before."

Sasuke didn't waste the moment. He blurred forward again, drawing a kunai coated in lightning chakra.

"Chidori!" he roared, but at the last second, he shifted the chakra.

Instead of the sharp piercing noise of the Chidori, the lightning gathered into a focused, humming blade of raw violet electricity.

Everyone froze, even the experienced Jonin.

In the stands, Kakashi narrowed his eyes.

'So you learned it, Sasuke.'

The blade crackled dangerously, this was Shiden, a new jutsu Kakashi had given him before.

Gaara's sand shot forward instinctively to block, but the blade sliced through it like butter.

Sasuke slashed once across Gaara's chest, sending the redhead staggering backward, clutching at a long gash.

The wound didn't bleed much, sand poured from it, but Gaara's real body underneath was clearly hurt.

For the first time, Gaara's stoic mask cracked.

His eyes twitched. His breathing grew faster.

Up in the stands, Orochimaru shuddered in excitement.

Marvelous, he thought, suppressing a grin.

Shiden… a personal evolution of Chidori already? And he's only this young… Kakashi, you've outdone yourself. But everything about that boy will be mine.

Meanwhile, some Jonin in the stands who knew Chidori murmured in awe.

"Was it that jutsu?"

"It wasn't Chidori!"

"I've never seen anything like it!"

Even the Suna shinobi, watching from the stands, stiffened in alarm.

On the field, Gaara growled, an ugly, guttural sound.

"You… you hurt me…"

His sand erupted violently, forming a half-shielded monstrous arm.

Sasuke clicked his tongue in irritation. He's losing control.

Gaara screamed and slammed the massive sand arm down.

Sasuke backflipped, chakra sparking from his feet as he dodged, then used the stadium wall to launch himself back at Gaara.

Once again, Shiden crackled in his hand.

The violet lightning hummed through the air, cutting through Gaara's attacks.

Sasuke appeared before him in a flash and aimed a precise Shiden slash at Gaara's monstrous sand arm — severing it completely.

Gaara staggered, clutching his face, now truly frightened.

In the stands, Kankuro stood up in panic.

"This isn't good, he's losing it!"

Temari cursed under her breath.

But it was already too late.

Gaara screamed again, sand pouring out of his gourd uncontrollably, starting the partial transformation into Shukaku.

Cracks formed on Gaara's skin, revealing tan markings underneath.

Genma immediately raised his hand.

"STOP! THIS MATCH IS OVER!"

ANBU in the stands moved instantly, sensing the danger.

But at that moment, a massive boom echoed in the distance, a pre-planned attack on the village had begun.

Orochimaru smiled under his Kazekage mask.

The time has come.

Smoke bombs exploded across the stadium. Spectators screamed and fled as Sand and Sound ninja emerged, weapons drawn.

The Chunin Exams had become a battlefield.

As the chaos unfolded Genma immediately prepared to attack Gaara who was still transforming but, Maki from the Sand Village stepped forward and stopped him from attacking.

Maki looked at Gaara and he knew their plan had failed and he could only let Gaara get out of Konoha so as not to fall into Konoha's hands.

"Gaara, hurry up and leave from here," Maki commanded him as he prepared to fight the Konoha ninja who was coming for them.

Gaara who was still a little disoriented heard Maki's order and bolted from the Arena in the direction of the forest not far from there.

Sasuke who saw this immediately wanted to chase but Maki stood before him and pointed a kunai at him.

"Don't take a step further brat!" Maki spoke with killing intent in his tone. In his opinion, such a genius from Konoha shouldn't be left alive.

Sasuke wasn't scared of him and prepared to fight him but Genma stopped him.

"Go chase Gaara, leave him to me." Genma still maintaining his cool pose spoke to Sasuke.

Sasuke nodded. Trusting the Konoha shinobi he bolted in the direction where Gaara left.

Maki tried to stop him but Genma attacked him with some Senbon. Blocking his way.