Bleach x Naruto: Shinigami in Konoha

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Minato smiled and replied, "Everyone has come from far away. If there are too few people welcoming you, people will say Konoha has been negligent."

Ōnoki snorted coldly as he sat down, accepting this explanation. Both sides understood the underlying tensions—there was no need to probe too deeply.

"I've heard of Konoha's legendary Yellow Flash for years. I didn't expect him to be so handsome in person," Terumi Mei said with a teasing smile.

Minato replied gracefully, "Likewise, Mizukage-dono is both young and beautiful."

Before the matches even began, the Kage had already exchanged subtle diplomatic jabs. While it appeared to be the four great nations aligning against Konoha, the truth was more nuanced. Konoha remained the most powerful of the Five Great Shinobi Nations. Yet there were undercurrents—conflicts between Iwagakure and Kumogakure, primarily due to the Third Raikage's ambushes during the last war.

For the sake of the alliance, A—now the Fourth Raikage—chose not to dwell on old grievances, choosing instead to keep his sights on Konoha. None of them wanted to see Konoha grow into a hegemon.

Off the field, Sasuke had already been informed of his opponent, and just as in the original timeline, it was the Sand's Jinchūriki—Gaara of the Desert.

Sasuke left after the preliminary rounds, unaware of the full results. After asking Itachi, he learned that Rock Lee had faced Gaara in the prelims—just as in the original canon—and suffered serious injuries. The medical team judged that Lee might never be able to become a shinobi again.

"The first match of the final Chūnin Exams: Gaara of the Sand vs. Sasuke Uchiha of Konoha!"

In the center of the arena, Shiranui Genma announced with a senbon in his mouth.

Gaara, with his large gourd strapped to his back, stepped calmly from the tunnel. Sasuke emerged from the opposite passage, his Sharingan already active.

Facing Gaara, Sasuke wasn't sure how to approach things. This version of Gaara was still controlled by his inner demon. Talking might not work—perhaps beating him into the ground first was the better option.

Ah, if only Naruto were the one facing him. But Naruto didn't yet have Kurama's cooperation. Could he even connect with Gaara now?

Sasuke scratched his head as he walked out. Every ninja in the stands—especially the ones from Konoha—watched closely, eager to witness the rumored progress of Uchiha Sasuke.

As Gaara spotted him, his eyes narrowed, killing intent flooding the air.

"I can smell it... your blood is far richer than the trash before you," Gaara hissed.

At the same time, sand poured from the gourd on his back, and the sharp tang of blood filled the arena.

Sasuke realized there was no point in talking anymore. This wasn't someone who could be reasoned with. His best chance was to knock some sense into him—literally.

"Begin!"

With Genma's shout, Gaara's sand surged forward like a wave, but Sasuke's form blurred and vanished. When he reappeared, he was already several meters above the arena.

"Is that all you've got? Can't even touch my sleeve, and you call this a fight? Come on, don't you have anything real?" Sasuke taunted coldly.

Gaara's killing intent surged even further. More sand erupted from his gourd and surged toward Sasuke in all directions, aiming to trap him.

"I said: show me something real."

Sasuke vanished again, reappearing behind Gaara in a blink. He whispered near his ear, then struck with a kick. The surrounding sand tried to intercept, but having just been used in the previous attack, it was too slow. Gaara was sent flying.

The crowd gasped at Sasuke's speed. Minato, observing silently, raised his estimation of the boy.

This child… already possesses jōnin-level ability, Minato mused.

"Your sand tries to protect you... but you're just weak," Sasuke added with cutting scorn.

Thanks to his sand armor, Gaara wasn't hurt—but his mental state rapidly deteriorated. Clutching his head, he trembled, as if battling something internal.

"Don't worry, Mother… I'll give you your feast soon…" Gaara whispered to himself, his voice unsteady.

Sasuke recognized the signs—Gaara was sleep-deprived, mentally unstable, driven mad by being a Jinchūriki. Anyone would break under such pressure. Worse still, his father, the Fourth Kazekage, treated him as a failed experiment. He sent assassins to eliminate him, even manipulating Gaara's uncle Yashamaru to betray him.

When Gaara accidentally killed Yashamaru during a psychotic episode, he completely lost trust in others—becoming a self-absorbed monster.

"Die! Shield of Shukaku!"

Gaara muttered to himself, then snarled and swept his hand at Sasuke. Countless high-speed sand bullets blasted forward.

But Sasuke danced between them with ease.

"So… this sand is your 'mother'? Seems she loves you very much—always shielding her precious child," Sasuke said dryly, testing a new approach.

The effect was explosive. Gaara, already on edge, snapped.

"Shut up!!! You bastard… I'll kill you!"

Sasuke's words had touched a nerve. Those were words Gaara once clung to as comfort, but they now only enraged him.

With a roar, Gaara pressed both hands to the ground. Sasuke watched closely but didn't interfere.

Suddenly, massive amounts of sand burst up from beneath the arena, summoned by Gaara's chakra.

"Quicksand Cascade!"

Gaara's arms spread wide as he looked at Sasuke with hatred.

The new wave of sand had no blood stench—this was freshly created. It surged like a tsunami across the arena, leaving no escape routes.

Spectators gasped. While they admired Gaara's strength and Sasuke's agility, many believed this time—Sasuke couldn't possibly evade.

He'd have to fly to escape.

And yet, Sasuke once again shattered expectations.

Facing the oncoming wall of sand, he leapt skyward.

Useless, Gaara sneered. That wave will consume you mid-air.

But Sasuke didn't fall back down. Instead, he seemed to stand in the air, stepping forward as if on invisible platforms.

JOIN MY PATREON TO READ ADVANCED 30+ CHAPTERS. Two members on my patreon get a free book each month. A lucky draw,it can be you.

Currently at CHAPTER 106 on Patreon.

Five chapters every two days on Patreon.

One chapter everyday on webnovel.

patreon.com/FrancisMW

"I look forward to welcoming you as member"

ENJOY THE BENEFITS.