Naruto's POV (Courtyard of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
As Naruto stepped into the arena's light, the total weight of the moment settled onto him. He wore a golden scarf wrapped around his neck as he marched in. It swayed in the wind as he did so. Although it sounds arrogant, the matches were mainly fun before now. Perhaps competitive, but never severe. He had enjoyed fighting such unique people, conquering the drama between them, and finding a way to triumph. Yet there was no doubt that this fight would be different in Naruto's mind.
Even the crowd seemed aware that the next match was to be observed closely. There was a dull roar of chatter, almost certainly people discussing their bets or their favorite to win. Even his mere emergence caused a burst of noise. Not applause, the audience seemed firmly against him as a jinchuriki, but since Gaara was also such, it was likely the spectacle of such. Sasuke's and Fuu's bout had shown them what it took to defeat a jinchuriki. So, for two to clash is a treat.
Naruto was determined to give them as they wished. Gaara was a unique case, someone he doubted he could win over with his words. It seemed Gaara was obsessed with power. Naruto wondered if it was due to him believing jinchuriki was superior…
Gaara appeared in the arena with a mere gust of wind. Naruto expected nothing less and matched his glare with his own. Kakashi sensed the tension building between the two. Naruto could see he seemed hesitant. Kakashi likely feared for Naruto facing Gaara.
Naruto couldn't resent him for such. Gaara seemed content to enjoy the moment. No longer hiding his presence, he seemed to radiate a wave of intent to kill. It washed over Naruto, and slowly, the arena was in waves. Those like Naruto and Kakashi stood firm, somewhat flinching at the action but not of fear. Some civilians in the audience screamed out in terror. Others fainted on the spot.
It likely would've been worse, but Naruto felt his pride flare. He wouldn't let Gaara terrorize him or anyone else. He had no intent to kill but every intent to be the victor of this match. Naruto allowed his confidence to show with ease. An aura of his own subconsciously activated and clashed with Gaara's. Unlike the Suna shinobi, it was peaceful yet competitive. A contrast to the violent malice of Gaara's.
The two auras left the crowd safe but tense as they allowed their mere presence to clash with each other.
"Now now, ne~!" Kakashi chided lightly. "No need for the killing intent. You're not the only killer present~! Behave~!"
Gaara chuckled happily as he suddenly stopped it, and Naruto followed his lead. "Forgive me, human; I merely got absorbed in the moment. Naruto Uzumaki, today is the day. I will test your worth; if you are a liability to our ascension, I will slay you where you stand. Fret not, Uzumaki; today will be one for history!"
Kakashi and Naruto blinked in sync. Kakashi walked over to the blonde and lowered himself to his ear. "If you want to surrender, I wouldn't think less of you. This guy is some sorta psycho." Kakashi whispered playfully. Yet Naruto could detect earnest concern in his tone.
"Nah," Naruto whispered back with a smile. "Guy needs someone to knock him into place. Besides, we're apparently brothers."
"Riiiiiight~," Kakashi said with mock understanding. With a twirl, he turned to address the crowd, his voice booming as the crowd roared, approving of the match to come. "Naruto Uzumaki VS Gaara of the Sand begins! NOW!" Kakashi puffed away with that.
"Why do you care if your so-called "brothers" and "sisters" are strong or weak? You resent humans for being divisive and cruel yet intend to judge your supposed own kind? Sounds like a hypocrite to me. No better than those who take advantage of the weak!" Naruto rebutted with a frown. He smiled for a moment when he saw Gaara lose his own smirk. But it remained shortly after as he chuckled.
"An amusing point, Uzumaki, but I recognize that power in this world is all that matters. The very world is full of humans who resent our superior existence. We cannot afford to be weak; should any of us prove to be, I will offer them mercy by killing them before someone else does. Perhaps their replacement will prove to be a better option. I recognize it as cruelty, but it is necessary cruelty. I cannot afford to be the brother of a weakling." Gaara replied fanatically.
"We aren't any different than the rest of humans!" Naruto snapped with a growl. At impressive speed, he had Riptide drawn and even flowed with charka. "You call us different to make yourself feel better about society rejecting you! Ever consider proving them wrong!"
"Oh, I will, Naruto Uzumaki. I'll prove them and you wrong…" Gaara promised menacingly. He seemed upset at Naruto's words. "Now shut up and fight before I kill you." As soon as he finished, he raised his hands dramatically. A massive wall of sand raised behind him. Easily the size of a two-story building, it rose into a wall before it started to surge toward Naruto like a tsunami. "Sand Tsunami!"
The wave was more significant than the one he had used against Kiba. It tore any obstacle in its path from the ground and crushed it within the constantly motion sand.
"This is merely a trifling from me, Uzumaki! Your humanity is a weakness! Now scramble for your pitiful life!" Gaara roared as the wave was within several feet of the blonde…
Sasuke's POV (Contestant Section of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
It was a shame Sasuke had to wait for his turn. Sasuke was confident Gaara would have proved a difficult opponent, perfect for his goal of building infamy. Naruto was a bit more of a toss-up; he didn't seem to show everything he had in store. But also used the little he had shown to defeat some solid opponents.
Considering the lack of challenges either had received, it was for the best that he got to witness this. They would struggle and clash in what was sure to be a show-stopper. In the process, they would expose their entire kit. Sasuke felt slightly ashamed, but it was less than honorable. But it was a small cost to ensure his plan went smoothly.
It took him a lot of work to determine who would win. Gaara seemed to be the betting favorite, and it was easy to see why. From his research into him, Sasuke discovered a mission record that was nothing less than shocking from a Genin: Twenty-two C-Ranks, Fourteen B-Ranks, and an A-Rank on record. Two of the B-Rank and the A-Rank were completed solo.
It painted a grim picture of a monster who shouldn't have been sent to the exams. A familiar practice from Sasuke's experience. History had shown that it was not uncommon for one of the villages to send an "overqualified" Genin to the Chunin Exam. They would dominate and gain their village quite the boon. Sasuke the Kazekage had made a plan to do so.
Could Sasuke truly see Naruto Uzumaki stand before such a man? Naruto wasn't someone he knew well. From what he heard, he was a goofy, unreliable shinobi. These exams were actual, but they had clearly estimated him. Naruto had made the work of Tenten, Kurotsuchi, and Samui easy. While Sasuke bet he or Gaara could do so, it suggested Naruto was a powerful shinobi.
He certainly seemed confident, standing unflinchingly toward a wave of death. Indeed, the idiot didn't think he could block or deflect such. It must've weighed literally tons. Sasuke knew he must avoid such a thing, so why did Naruto face it?
Sasuke sensed Naruto was similar to him—not in personality, not entirely anyway. But the same is true of the sense of drive; he sensed it in the blonde. Naruto would go as far as he would in his goals. But would it be enough?
Naruto's POV (Courtyard of Iron Arena - Land of Iron)
Naruto breathed in deeply as death approached. The sand made a shockingly loud sound as the small pellets surged forward and consumed anything in front of it. He lowered his center of balance and sheathed Riptide as if not planning to attack but draw his blade. His left hand was in a hand sign, and his right clutched to the blade at his back. He allowed chakra to flow wildly. The wave was mere inches away, even with considerable speed, Naruto was sure he could not dodge it. It didn't matter, though, he was ready now. Time to show one of his new tricks, a technique he created using all his teachers' aid.
Naruto whispered as he initiated the technique. "Draw of the Maelstrom: Slicing Storm." He drew Riptide quickly, and as he did, the wind spun around the blade as if a twister had formed. As he slashed, the storm was unleashed. With a boom, countless wind blades surrounding a much larger one flew forward into the wave. Despite the speed and mass of the sand, it offered little resistance to the attack. Naruto watched pridefully as the cutting force and power punched through the wave, splitting it into two parts. It failed to reach Gaara, who smiled on the other side of the collapsing wave, the split allowing the two to eye each other. The sand crashed around the two. Now, the center of the arena had become a large ring of sand surrounding the two. "You'll have to do better than that, Gaara," Naruto said with a smile, excited to finally begin this long-awaited fight. "This human won't be going down easy!"
Gaara chuckled wildly. "Anything less would be disappointing, brother."