An Itachi Fanfiction [EDITING]

Preliminary Rounds - Part 2

The next few matches passed in a blur of strategy, chaos, and increasingly exhausted Genin.

Shikamaru somehow managed to outsmart Kin using nothing but shadows, wires, and pure laziness-fuelled genius.

Naruto defeated Kiba in what was possibly the most humiliating way imaginable.

I still refused to believe the fart was accidental.

Then came Neji Hyūga versus Hinata Hyūga.

That match...

That one hurt to watch.

Neji's words echoed through the arena with cruel certainty.

"People can't change who they truly are."

My fingers tightened painfully around the railing.

For a moment, my eyes instinctively flickered upward toward my father disguised among the spectators.

That same belief.

That same darkness.

The idea that people were trapped by their blood.

By their nature.

By what they were born into.

Naruto shouting encouragement to Hinata somehow felt louder than the entire stadium.

And when Neji finally struck her down—

I moved instantly.

But even kneeling beside her, there was very little I could do.

Internal chakra damage.

Too severe.

"She needs a professional medic," I admitted quietly.

Watching Hinata carried away left a bitter feeling sitting heavily in my chest.

Then Hayate called the next match.

And suddenly, the atmosphere in the room changed.

"Gaara versus Rock Lee."

Even before they stepped into the arena, tension spread through the room.

I glanced instinctively toward Gaara as he descended the stairs.

Calm.

Silent.

Emotionless.

But there was something unsettling beneath the surface.

Something restrained.

Beside me, Kankurō folded his arms tightly.

He looked nervous.

Not for Lee.

For Gaara.

That alone said enough.

Across the arena, Lee bowed respectfully before taking his stance.

Meanwhile, Gaara simply stared at him.

Not mockingly.

Not confidently.

Just...

Watching.

Like he was trying to understand something.

The match began.

Lee attacked immediately with Taijutsu.

Fast.

Incredibly fast.

And yet—

Gaara never moved.

The sand around him rose instinctively, blocking every strike before it could land.