In the blink of an eye, the narrow alley swarmed with dozens of Narutos, identical in appearance, filling the space like a tide.
"Konohamaru, watch carefully. I can finish this guy in no time."
"Idiot."
"Moron."
Sakura and Sasuke both pressed a hand to their foreheads. That blockhead Naruto still had no idea how wide the gap was between the two sides.
"So many!" Kankuro and Temari were both taken aback.
Maybe this kid isn't totally useless after all.
Temari glanced warily at Gaara. Before he had a chance to get angry, she snapped, "Step aside."
That kid might be reckless, but they weren't. If Gaara really lost his temper, things could spiral out of control.
Unfortunately, Naruto's one-track mind left no room for second thoughts. He charged straight in, full speed ahead.
"Tch."
Kankuro quickly loosened the straps on Crow, intending to clean things up before Gaara got seriously provoked.
But it was already too late. A surge of sand burst from Gaara's gourd, rising like two giant hands and sweeping through the alley. In an instant, most of Naruto's clones were reduced to nothing.
"Ga... Gaara..." Temari hesitated, pulling Kankuro into the trees with her in a hurry.
She wasn't sure if Gaara would attack them too.
"So you control sand? Seems like you're pretty strong. Then let me, the future Hokage, take you down."
Naruto showed no fear and rushed forward again. Gaara's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of irritation flashing across his face. With a flick of his wrist, a thick wave of sand rose into the air and obliterated the remaining clones in one sweep.
"What?!" A collective gasp rippled through the crowd.
To eliminate all of Naruto's clones so effortlessly... Sasuke's assessment of Gaara shifted sharply once again.
Then, sand began slithering around Naruto's legs like serpents, climbing his body.
"Sand Binding Coffin."
Gaara raised his hand, and the sand began to encase Naruto, layer by layer.
"Ga... Gaara, isn't this a bit much..." Temari tried to intervene. That technique wasn't meant to restrain; it was lethal.
"Hmm?" Gaara gave her a sharp glare. Temari immediately fell silent.
"What is this? I... I can't move!" Naruto's voice grew anxious.
"Naruto!"
At this point, even Sasuke and Sakura could no longer stay out of it.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball erupted from Sasuke's mouth, roaring toward Gaara.
Just when Sasuke thought he had landed a hit, a wall of sand surged up from Gaara's feet, shielding him completely from the flames.
"Tch."
Thankfully, Sakura managed to drag Naruto free from the sand's grasp just in time.
Seeing this, Sasuke let out a quiet breath. "Looks like we don't have to wait for the Chunin Exams after all."
He drew two shuriken into his hands.
"Come at me," Gaara said calmly, his expression as blank as ever.
With a scoff, Sasuke flung the shuriken and dashed in right behind them.
Clang. Clang.
The shuriken were predictably deflected, but Sasuke had already closed the distance, his fist flying straight toward Gaara's face.
Just before impact, the same sand surged up again, intercepting the blow.
"What?!"
Where did that sand come from?
Not only Sasuke, but even Naruto and Sakura couldn't understand. Sasuke's attack had landed almost simultaneously with the shuriken. How could Gaara have reacted in time?
Then, more sand poured from the gourd, wave after wave, surging toward Sasuke like a living tide.
"Tch. Manipulating sand? What a nuisance," Sasuke muttered.
"I'll help you, Sasuke!" Naruto yelled and threw himself toward Gaara without hesitation.
Watching from the shadows, Neji let out a sigh. "Ah... true love indeed."
Guess I'll take care of Sakura then.
Bang. Bang.
Naruto and Sasuke kept attacking, but Gaara didn't even glance at them.
Can't even break through his defense? And he hasn't even made a move yet! Rage flared in Sasuke's chest. His pride as an Uchiha felt trampled underfoot.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
A fierce stream of fire shot toward Gaara, only to be extinguished midair by another barrier of sand.
Neji's expression turned colder. Sasuke had let his hatred cloud his judgment. Using a jutsu like that in the middle of the village was reckless beyond reason.
Completely self-centered.
"Is that all?" Gaara's voice was low and menacing. Two clumps of sand blasted out, slamming Naruto and Sasuke against the wall like ragdolls.
"This is the extent of your strength?"
Then, his gaze shifted toward Sakura, who had yet to make a move.
A slender hand of sand extended, clawing toward her.
Sakura froze in terror. She hadn't experienced the Land of Waves mission. This was the first time she'd ever felt death brush so close.
"Mom... Dad... goodbye." She closed her eyes, tears slipping from the corners as she slumped helplessly to the ground.
Boom.
A gust of wind blew past. But the searing pain she had braced for never came.
Sakura opened her eyes instinctively.
A dark-haired, refined-looking boy stood in front of her, his fist still extended. The sand had been shattered.
"It's him... from that time..."
"Giving up before it's over. That's not what a real shinobi does." Neji turned slightly, his voice calm as he spoke to her.
In the trees, Temari and Kankuro were shaken.
What had they just seen?
A boy, not much older than them, had appeared out of nowhere and shattered Gaara's sand with a single punch.
"Since when does the Leaf have genin this strong?" Cold sweat ran down Kankuro's back.
"That guy... those eyes. Byakugan. He's from the Hyuga Clan," Temari said quietly.
For some reason, a strange unease took root in her heart. Their mission might not go as planned.
"Who are you?" Gaara asked, voice low. It was the first time someone his age had so easily blocked one of his attacks.
"Shouldn't you give your name before asking someone else's?" Neji replied without flinching.
"This kid... he actually dares talk to Gaara like that?" Kankuro was stunned.
Gaara stared deeply at Neji. "Gaara of the Sand."
Neji grinned slightly. "Hyuga Neji."
In the next instant, his figure vanished.
Gaara's sand suddenly rose on its own.
"What?!" Gaara's eyes widened.
Impossible.
"Is Gaara... being attacked?" Temari whispered, completely caught off guard. She hadn't even seen Neji move, yet the sand around Gaara had already begun reacting.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
No one could follow Neji's movements. All they saw were shockwaves bursting from the sand surrounding Gaara.
"So fast!" Naruto exclaimed.
Sasuke gritted his teeth, bitterness rising in his chest. He was a member of the Uchiha Clan, yet he was so utterly outmatched.
At this rate, how could he ever avenge his clan?
"A-Amazing..."
Sakura stared blankly at the distant, flustered Gaara. Her lips parted slightly. She felt a wave of bitterness. She was still so far behind.
But soon, her gaze firmed. She recalled the slender figure that had just shielded her. A flush rose on her cheeks.
I'll catch up to you, Hyuga Neji. I swear it.
"He's too fast. Gaara can't see his movements at all," Naruto muttered in shock.
Yet deep down, he couldn't help but feel a tinge of disappointment. When he fought Gaara, the latter hadn't moved, because he didn't need to. Now, Gaara still didn't move because he had no choice but to take the hits.
Boom.
Suddenly, a sharp sound tore through the air, reaching Gaara's ears. He instinctively turned toward it.