Naruto raging whirlpool

Naruto sighed in relief. 'So, you managed to make it...' Sasuke looked at Naruto. "By the look on your face, it seems you won your match." His attention then shifted to the frog-like creature behind Naruto.

"Of course I did. You better not lose, or you'll be left behind," Naruto retorted, turning away. 'I'll be waiting, Sasuke.' Ash followed behind Naruto.

"That won't be a problem. I didn't come here unprepared," Sasuke said confidently.

"Gaara, get down here," Genma's call pierced the tense air, summoning Gaara to the battlefield. Since Sasuke's arrival, a fierce intensity had settled in Gaara's eyes—a sight Temari hadn't witnessed in a while, a sure sign that a dangerous conflict was about to take place. Sensing the brewing storm, Temari silenced Kankuro's attempt to speak, understanding that now wasn't the time to engage with Gaara.

As Gaara made his way down to the field, Naruto, Ash, and Shikamaru ascended simultaneously. Upon reaching the top step, Naruto spotted two ninja conversing with Gaara, blocking his path. Gaara's unrestrained smile stained the hall with bloodlust, his sand swiftly approaching the obstructing ninja. With a swift motion, Naruto executed the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu and rushed towards the two ninja, pulling them out of harm's way.

"What do you think you're doing, Gaara?" Naruto confronted Gaara, standing his ground. The two ninja he had just saved offered no assistance and hastily retreated from the dangerous situation.

"Naruto, what are you doing? Get out of there!" Shikamaru's voice echoed from across the hall.

Gaara's face was filled with excitement, hungering for carnage. Naruto took a step back, shaken by the intensity. Yet, he rallied his determination and took a step forward. Walking past Gaara, he stood by Gaara's side. "Calm down, Gaara. Save it for Sasuke."

Gaara seemed to regain his senses and walked past Naruto, heading to the arena to face off against his target. After Naruto's match with Neji, Gaara no longer saw him as someone he could deal with easily. He wished to be in top condition for his match against Sasuke.

Shikamaru froze as Gaara walked past him, descending the stairs. When Ash's gaze met Gaara's, he realized he was no match for him. Determined, Ash set a new goal for himself: to surpass Gaara. Naruto sensed Ash's determination through their bond. 'We have a hard path ahead of us.'

As Gaara made his way to the arena, his presence commanded attention. His strides echoed around him with purpose, the tension thickening, anticipation hanging in the air like a corpse on a noose. Naruto and Ash shared a silent understanding, recognizing the weight of the impending confrontation. They braced themselves for the trials ahead, knowing that the coming battle would not only test Sasuke's strength but also their own resolve to face Gaara if Sasuke failed to defeat him. With a shared determination, they steeled themselves for the challenges to come, ready to face whatever obstacles stood in their way. Sasuke's fate hung in the balance, and they were prepared to stand by him, whatever the outcome.

As Gaara stepped into the arena, his presence seemed to fill the space, casting a shadow over the crowd. Across from him stood Sasuke, his expression unreadable but his stance exuding confidence. The air crackled with anticipation as the two adversaries locked eyes, each sizing up the other with a mix of curiosity.

Genma, standing to the side of the two genin, lifted his arm and dropped it with a swift motion. "Begin!" Genma flickered away, leaving the field to the two genin.

---

Fight continues as in canon

Sasuke stood on the wall, channeling a Chidori in his palm, the sound of a thousand birds crackling around him. Lightning flickered as he sprinted down the wall, gaining momentum. He leapt to the ground and continued his charge, aiming directly at Gaara's unbreakable shield of sand. Sasuke's Chidori pierced through Gaara's formidable shield, but his triumph was short-lived as Gaara's sand swiftly ensnared his arm.

Sasuke's speed had increased at an incredible rate since his training began, enabling him to pierce through Gaara's sand. Naruto, watching from the waiting area, looked at Sasuke with envy. 'Damn it, I want a cool jutsu too.' Ash felt the same; what he could do so far wasn't worth mentioning.

In the dark confines of the sand barrier, Gaara felt something he never had before. "What's... this warm stuff... Mother... What did..." *drip* "AHHh, UAAAAAA!!! BLOOD.... IT'S MY BLOOOOD!!" Gaara screamed in agony. Never once had he bled before in his life. Ever since he was a child, his sand had protected him from all harm, including self-inflicted harm. Gaara had never once seen his own blood. The sand holding onto Sasuke tightened its grip on his arm.

Sasuke struggled to free his arm, yet he made no progress. "Ugh," he groaned, unable to bear the pain. He once again used the Chidori, a stream of lightning blasting the sand crushing his arm and loosening its grip on him. As he pulled his arm out, a sand arm construct with blue vein-like lines coursing through it revealed itself through the same gap Sasuke's arm was in