Hokage:The female ninjas are going crazy

The second match was postponed due to Uchiha Sasuke's late arrival.

In the third match, Kankuro chose to forfeit rather than face Aburame Shino, advancing Shino to the next round without a fight.

Unexpectedly, the tournament skipped ahead to the fourth match:

Nara Shikamaru vs. Temari.

Shikamaru, using his exceptional IQ and a masterful display of his Shadow Imitation Technique, cleverly gained the upper hand in the battle. However, just as he had the opportunity to secure victory...

He chose to forfeit.

---

Yakushi Kabuto: "If Shikamaru had hidden a bomb in his pants, the result might have been more explosive than that!"

Deidara: "Six out of ten."

Sarutobi Asuma: "He had full control over his opponent, but without a viable way to finish the match, he surrendered. A loss like that was completely unexpected."

Sarutobi Hiruzen: "Even so, Shikamaru has shown that he truly inherited the Nara clan's intelligence. I believe he deserves to be promoted to Chūnin as a special case. His mind will be a great asset to Konoha."

Shikamaru: "Huh? I lost, and you're still promoting me? How troublesome…"

Naruto Uzumaki: "Hey, now that I think about it, I won my match and I'm still a Genin. Shikamaru lost and gets promoted?!"

Iruka: "Don't be discouraged, Naruto. I know you'll become a Chūnin in the future! After all, you want to be Hokage, right? Becoming a Chūnin will be easy for you."

Naruto Uzumaki: "Yeah, being a Chūnin isn't a big deal anyway!"

At that time, Naruto was full of confidence. Sure, he hadn't made Chūnin this time, but there would be other chances. There was no way he'd remain a Genin forever—right?

---

Then came the final match.

Uchiha Sasuke arrived dramatically with Kakashi at his side.

No one expected that Sasuke had learned Kakashi's Chidori. With the power of the Lightning Blade, he clashed fiercely with Gaara and ultimately defeated him.

But just as Gaara fell into unconsciousness, the tailed beast sealed within him began to stir. In the stands, a thick plume of smoke erupted—signaling the beginning of a far more sinister plan.

The Fourth Kazekage, seated beside the Third Hokage, suddenly revealed his true identity:

It was Orochimaru in disguise!

With a kunai at the Third Hokage's throat, Orochimaru launched the Konoha Crush Plan.

Though aged, Sarutobi Hiruzen wasn't going down without a fight. Enclosed in a barrier created by the Sound Ninja, the Third Hokage clashed with his former student.

Orochimaru used the Forbidden Technique: Impure World Reincarnation to summon the First and Second Hokage.

Despite the odds, Sarutobi launched a final, desperate move—the Reaper Death Seal!

Unfortunately, the long preparation time meant he could only manage to seal Orochimaru's arms, not his life.

Thus, the invasion ended with the death of the Third Hokage, a bittersweet outcome that left the village scarred.

---

Senju Tobirama: "So that's how you died, Monkey. Honestly, the versions Orochimaru summoned of us weren't even complete. I barely have any memory of it."

Senju Hashirama: "So the two of us never actually beat Sarutobi together? Hahaha! He really was the strongest Hokage of that generation!"

Tobirama: "Brother, that joke wasn't funny. We weren't even using one-tenth of our full strength."

Orochimaru: "Oh my, Second Hokage-sama, you've figured me out. Indeed, I had only just begun to master your forbidden jutsu. Still, it was more than enough to deal with Hiruzen-sensei."

At this point, Sarutobi Hiruzen remained silent.

This tragedy—his final stand—had been broadcast live across the ninja world.

As the Hokage, he had laid down his life to protect the village.

But all he managed to do... was seal Orochimaru's arms.

No matter how noble the act, it was hard to defend the result. Even Hiruzen blushed in shame.

---

Shimura Danzō: "Heh! That old fool Hiruzen was embarrassing, but it made me feel good! If I had gone instead, I could have taken care of Orochimaru without breaking a sweat. That's what he gets for always trying to hold me back!"

---

Elsewhere, Gaara, still reeling from his defeat, was being escorted out by Temari and Kankuro.

But Sasuke, unwilling to let Gaara escape, gave chase with unshakable confidence.

Seeing this, Kakashi quickly sent Naruto, Shikamaru, and others to support Sasuke.

On the way, Aburame Shino intercepted Kankuro in a battle that had previously been skipped. Through expert use of his bugs, Shino achieved yet another flawless victory, maintaining his 100% win record.

Meanwhile, Naruto caught up with Sasuke and confronted Gaara, who had begun transforming into his tailed beast form—Shukaku.

Sasuke was completely outmatched. His earlier confidence shattered as he was brutally overpowered.

When Sakura threw herself in front of Sasuke to protect him, she was nearly killed.

That's when Naruto—furious and protective—tapped into the power of the Nine-Tails.

In a moment of sheer will, he summoned over 2,000 Shadow Clones and unleashed his signature move:

The Uzumaki Naruto 2,000-hit Combo!

The relentless assault overwhelmed Gaara.

But it wasn't over yet. As Gaara fell deeper into unconsciousness, Shukaku emerged in full form.

Naruto, undeterred, summoned Gamabunta, the mighty Toad Boss.

Together, Naruto and Gamabunta fought the monstrous One Tail.

---

Sasuke, watching from the sidelines, was devastated.

He had trained tirelessly under Kakashi, yet Naruto had already surpassed him—and by a wide margin.

"How... How can that loser be so strong...?"

Fueled by desperation, resentment, and confusion, Sasuke's inner turmoil deepened.

---

With Gamabunta's help, Naruto executed a final move: Rocket Headbutt!

The powerful strike struck Gaara with raw emotional impact—awakening him from the Jinchūriki trance.

Shukaku was sealed once more.

In the aftermath, Naruto learned the truth behind Gaara's behavior.

Both had suffered the same lonely childhood as Jinchūriki.

But where Naruto chose to win others' acceptance and become Hokage, Gaara chose strength and fear as his tools of survival.

---

Naruto: "I understand what it feels like... to be alone…"

"But now, I've found people who are precious to me…"

"So even if I have to kill you... I'll protect them no matter what!"

---

Naruto's words, backed by his strength and sincerity, struck deep into Gaara's heart.

For the first time, Gaara understood the meaning of love.

Whether it was giving love or receiving it, that bond held real power.

He remembered the sand that protected him—the manifestation of his mother's love.

---

Gaara: "Temari... Kankuro… I'm sorry…"

---

At the Third Hokage's Funeral

All of Konoha stood in mourning, clad in black.

Naruto, confused, asked a question:

"Why would anyone risk their life for someone else?"

Iruka, moved by the question, recalled his own past.

It was the Third Hokage who saved him from despair after his parents' death.

---

Iruka: "If someone dies alone, they vanish from this world."

"But the people who pass on leave behind something valuable."

"Family… friends… lovers… teachers… comrades in the village…"

"That bond, that connection, is what we hold dear."

"And because of that, we treasure one another."

---

Naruto nodded. He seemed to understand… but also didn't. Not completely.

Still, something stirred inside him.

---

"The sparks that fall on Konoha…"

"...will one day ignite into a great flame."

"Someday… someone new will rise as Hokage…"

"...and continue to light the path forward for the village."