The first four matchups all ended in near-instant knockouts.
In less than ten minutes, the preliminary round had already reached the fifth match.
But this round finally dragged on—so long that many spectators couldn't help but start yawning.
Because this matchup was... Yamanaka Ino VS Haruno Sakura.
Just like how Naruto mastered Wind Style: Great Breakthrough, Sakura had also improved compared to the original timeline—but that was about it.
She had learned a Genjutsu technique from Hatake Kakashi—a D-rank skill called Naraku Seeing Technique, which causes the opponent to see a terrifying illusion drawn from their own fears.
During the survival exercise, Sakura had been instantly defeated by Kakashi using this very Genjutsu.
If her opponent had been Minako, Sakura might have won.
Unfortunately, her opponent this time was Yamanaka Ino, skilled in secret Yin-style techniques.
Ino easily broke through the Naraku Seeing Technique.
Likewise, Ino was the heir of a secret-ninjutsu clan and had already mastered the Yamanaka clan's Mind Body Switch Technique.
However, the Yamanaka clan specializes in support, and the technique itself has no offensive capabilities.
Though she successfully possessed Sakura's body with the technique, she was forcefully expelled by a second personality hiding in Sakura's mind.
One Genjutsu was countered, and one clan secret technique was repelled.
The two former best friends seemed born to be rivals—ultimately forced to rely on the academy's basic techniques to determine a winner.
Clone Jutsu, shuriken throwing, kunai swordplay, taijutsu... both girls had solid fundamentals, clearly top students.
But in the eyes of the jonin, it looked like a childish game of pretend ninja—utterly boring.
Even Izayoi and the others found them too weak.
Only Minako resonated with the fight: so even top students were just like her.
In the end, just like in the original story, both girls collapsed from exhaustion and passed out on the field—eliminated before the main tournament.
By the time they woke up, the fight had already reached the ninth match.
Match 6: Tenten VS Temari.
This one was a total stomp.
Temari's Wind Style completely countered Tenten's arsenal. Tenten had no chance.
Match 7: Nara Shikamaru VS Sawano Genichi.
Genichi was one of Inuzuka Kiba's teammates. Like Sakura, he came from a ninja family—his father was a standard chunin, and he carried a surname.
Genichi wasn't bad—he had mastered a C-rank Water Style jutsu: Water Wave.
Though a basic Water Style move, it was highly versatile. If one had enough chakra, it could be as effective as the B-rank Water Wall.
Unfortunately, he lacked battle experience and didn't come close to Shikamaru's intellect.
When he launched his Water Style jutsu, spewing water to obscure his opponent's view, the outcome was already decided.
Shikamaru bit down on a kunai, then used Shadow Imitation Technique to immobilize Genichi.
Taking the kunai from his mouth, he made Genichi surrender.
Just as Genichi lost, the eighth match began—Minako VS Hyuga Neji.
Facing a member of the prestigious Hyuga clan—last year's top student no less—Minako didn't even bother stepping into the ring. She simply raised her hand and surrendered.
Match 9: Uzumaki Naruto VS Inuzuka Kiba!
"Alright! It's that idiot Kiba—I've totally got this one in the bag!"
Seeing his opponent's name, Naruto immediately put a foot up on the railing and shouted excitedly.
Kiba, also grinning at first, immediately broke out in frustration: "Idiot Naruto! That's MY line!"
In the arena, Kiba stared arrogantly at Naruto.
"Dead last—say something nice to me now, and I'll make your loss look decent. Or better yet, just surrender!"
In Kiba's mind, Naruto was still the same loser from months ago.
There was no way Naruto could withstand the tag-team of him and Akamaru.
But Naruto just smirked and declared, "Watch how I beat you in one move!"
"Hahaha—beat me in one move? Dead last, you still dreaming?" Kiba burst out laughing, then said to Akamaru, "Let's teach this loser a lesson!"
"Woof!" Akamaru barked in response.
"Ninth match—begin!"
As soon as Hayate Gekkō announced the start, Naruto formed the Ram seal and shouted, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Several days had passed since the Five Elements Seal had disrupted Naruto's chakra. Now it was much more stable.
While he still couldn't summon hundreds of clones, conjuring a few dozen was no problem.
POOF! POOF! POOF!
Puffs of white smoke erupted as over twenty Narutos surrounded Kiba and Akamaru.
"This is... Shadow Clone Jutsu? How are there so many?!" Kiba was stunned.
The other genin and even the jonin in the viewing area were just as shocked.
Especially the more experienced jonin—they instantly recognized that this wasn't ordinary Shadow Clone Jutsu, but the forbidden technique: Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!
"Wind Style..."
Before Kiba could snap out of his shock, Naruto and his clones had already begun weaving hand signs.
Seeing the signs, the jonin on the balcony grew serious—they already knew what was coming.
By the time Kiba realized, Naruto and all his clones shouted together: "Great Breakthrough!"
Whoooosh—!
A violent gale surged forth like invisible, grasping hands.
Kiba and Akamaru were hurled into the air, tossed around by the wind like leaves in a tornado.
Even the watching genin and jonin had to brace themselves. Some held tight to the railings, others shielded their eyes from the wind.
When Kiba's jonin sensei saw his students about to crash into the wall mid-spin, he immediately flashed down to catch them, ending the match.
"Ninth match—winner: Uzumaki Naruto."
Feet planted firmly, hands shielding his face, Hayate Gekkō made the call.
"Hahaha—dumb Kiba, see how awesome I am now?!" Naruto laughed triumphantly, arms akimbo.
He had just one-shotted someone who used to completely dominate him—his heart soared with satisfaction.
His mind swelled with pride, imagining scenes of punching Izayoi, kicking Uchiha Sasuke, and having Bushy Brow kneel and admit defeat.
His laughing face twisted into something perverse, drool even slipping from the corner of his mouth.
Only when Hayate Gekkō reminded him did Naruto snap out of it and swagger back to the viewing area like he owned the place.
The screen began flashing again.
As the names stopped, everyone perked up.
On the screen, two names appeared:
Izayoi VS Rock Lee.