Suigetsu's face contorted with frustration as he watched the aftermath of Sasuke's brutal victory. He turned to his sensei, his voice rising in indignation.

  "What the hell, Utakata-sensei? Why did we have to hold back when that Leaf guy just straight-up murdered someone?"

  Utakata sighed deeply, his eyes never leaving the arena floor where medics were removing Kamikiri's body. "It's complicated, Suigetsu. We're known as the 'Bloody Mist' for a reason, and we're trying to shake that image."

  He paused, blowing a few bubbles from his pipe before continuing. "The Leaf, on the other hand, has a reputation for being the 'nicest' ninja village. They can afford to have one or two psychopaths without it tarnishing their image much."

  Suigetsu scoffed, crossing his arms. "That's bullshit. We're ninja, not politicians. Who cares about image?"

  "Everyone cares about image," Haku interjected softly. "It affects mission requests, alliances, even the price we can charge for our services. The Mizukage is trying to rebuild our village's reputation. We can't afford to be seen as bloodthirsty killers anymore."

  Hotaru nodded in agreement. "Besides, Suigetsu, you're already scary enough without actually killing anyone. Save it for when it really matters."

  Meanwhile, in the Leaf section, a tense atmosphere had settled over Team 7. Naruto turned to Sasuke, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a serious frown.

  "Sasuke," he began, his voice low. "Don't you think you went a little far back there?"

  Sasuke's eyes remained fixed on the arena, his expression unreadable. "You should keep your hands clean, Naruto. It'll be good for the image of the village."

  He turned to face his teammate, his gaze intense. "Leave it to me and a few others to remind some that rejecting the open hand means the other one has a kunai in it."

  Sakura's frown deepened at Sasuke's words. She opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by an angry growl from Ino.

  "Great job, Sasuke," the blonde kunoichi snapped. "Now I have to deal with the crazy bitch who's spouting death threats."

  Indeed, Kotohime was still struggling against her sensei's grip, her eyes wild with rage as she screamed threats at Sasuke and promises of vengeance for her fallen teammate.

  Lee stepped forward, concern etched on his face. "Ino-san, perhaps it would be wise to forfeit this match. Your opponent seems... unstable."

  Ino's eyes flashed with determination. "No way," she declared. "I'm not backing down. I'm a kunoichi of the Leaf, after all. I can handle this."

  She turned to face the arena, her posture straight and confident. "Besides, someone needs to show that not all Leaf ninja are psychos."

  As the contestants made their way to the arena floor, the Hokage watched from his elevated position, a deep frown etched on his weathered face. The events of the exam were taking an unexpected and troubling turn.

  On one hand, Sarutobi couldn't deny that Sasuke's actions, while extreme, were not entirely out of line for a ninja. The boy had given fair warning in a previous encounter, and in the harsh world of shinobi, such ruthlessness could be seen as a strength.

  Yet, the casual way in which Sasuke had taken a life, especially in what was supposed to be a friendly competition between allies, sat uneasily with the Professor. It spoke of a darkness growing within the last loyal Uchiha, one that could prove dangerous if left unchecked.

  His eyes drifted to Naruto, who was watching his teammate with a mixture of concern and disapproval. In some ways, Sarutobi was glad that Naruto had someone who could be his own 'Danzo' - a darker counterpart to balance out his idealism and optimism.

  The thought of his old friend and rival brought a fresh wave of concern. Sarutobi hoped that Naruto and Sasuke's relationship would prove healthier and more stable than his own with Danzo. He suspected that his old friend's loyalty was far more fragile than even he realized, a thought that brought him no comfort.

  As Ino and Kotohime faced each other in the arena, the tension in the air was palpable. Kotohime's eyes were still wild with rage, her body trembling with barely contained fury.

  "I'm going to kill you," she hissed at Ino. "And then I'm going to kill that Uchiha bastard."

  Ino stood her ground, her stance ready but not aggressive. "You can try," she replied coolly. "But I wouldn't recommend it."

  The proctor looked between the two kunoichi, his expression wary. "Are both contestants ready?" At their nods, he brought his hand down. "Begin!"

  Kotohime wasted no time, lunging at Ino with a feral scream. Her attacks were wild and uncoordinated, driven more by rage than strategy. Ino dodged and weaved, her movements graceful and controlled in contrast to her opponent's berserker assault.

  "Is this all you've got?" Ino taunted, ducking under a wild swing. "I thought Sound ninja were supposed to be tough."

  Her words only served to enrage Kotohime further. The Sound kunoichi's hands flew through a series of signs. "Sound Release: Sonic Screech!"

  A high-pitched wail erupted from Kotohime's mouth, the sound waves visible as they rippled through the air towards Ino. The Leaf kunoichi barely managed to dive out of the way, the attack leaving a shallow groove in the arena floor where she had been standing.

  In the stands, Sakura leaned forward, her eyes narrowed in concentration. "That technique," she murmured. "It's similar to what Dosu used in the forest."

  Naruto nodded. "Yeah, but way less controlled. Kotohime's letting her emotions get the better of her."

  Sasuke remained silent, his eyes fixed on the battle below.

  Back in the arena, Ino was on the defensive, forced to constantly move to avoid Kotohime's relentless sonic attacks. Each near miss left her ears ringing, making it harder to focus.

  "What's wrong, Leaf bitch?" Kotohime sneered. "Not so confident now, are you?"

  Ino's mind raced as she dodged another sonic attack from Kotohime. The Sound kunoichi's relentless assault was pushing her to her limits, but Ino refused to give up. As she rolled to avoid a particularly vicious blast, something caught her attention.

  The sonic waves weren't emanating directly from Kotohime's body. Instead, they seemed to start a short distance away from her, creating a small safe zone around the Sound ninja.

  A plan began to form in Ino's mind. If she could get close enough, she might be able to neutralize Kotohime's most dangerous technique.

  "Is that all you've got?" Ino taunted, trying to keep her voice steady despite her racing heart. "I've seen Academy students with more impressive jutsu!"

  Kotohime snarled in response, her eyes wild with rage. "I'll show you impressive, you Leaf bitch!"

  As another sonic attack ripped through the air, Ino formed a series of hand signs. "Clone Jutsu!"

  Three identical copies of Ino appeared, scattering in different directions. Kotohime's eyes darted between them, trying to determine which was the real one.

  "What's wrong?" the Inos chorused. "Can't tell which one's real?"

  Kotohime growled in frustration, unleashing a barrage of sonic attacks at the clones. As the illusory Inos popped out of existence one by one, the real Ino used the distraction to close the distance between them.

  Just as she reached the edge of what she hoped was Kotohime's safe zone, Ino felt something wrap around her arms and legs. To her horror, she realized Kotohime's hair had come alive, snaking out to ensnare her.

  "Got you now," Kotohime sneered, her hair tightening its grip on Ino.

  The Leaf kunoichi struggled against her bonds, but the living hair was surprisingly strong. It coiled around her throat, cutting off her air supply.

  Kotohime's eyes gleamed with malicious delight. "I'm going to enjoy this," she purred. "Breaking you slowly, bone by bone. And when I'm done with you, I'll do the same to that Uchiha bastard."

  The hair tightened further, and Ino let out a muffled scream of pain. Black spots danced at the edges of her vision as she fought for breath.

  In the stands, Asuma tensed, ready to intervene. "This has gone too far," he muttered, preparing to forfeit the match on Ino's behalf.

  But before he could move, a hand gripped his arm. Asuma turned to see Shikamaru, his eyes fixed on the arena below.

  "Wait, sensei," Shikamaru said, his voice low and intense. "Ino's got this."

  Asuma frowned, torn between his desire to protect his student and his trust in Shikamaru's judgment. He looked back at the arena, where Ino hung limply in Kotohime's grasp.

  Then he saw it. Despite the pressure on her throat, Ino's hands were moving, forming a familiar sign.

  "The Mind Transfer Jutsu," Asuma breathed, his eyes widening in realization.

  Down in the arena, Kotohime was too caught up in her sadistic glee to notice the danger. She leaned in close to Ino, savoring her victim's pain.

  "What's wrong, Leaf girl?" she taunted. "No more clever comebacks?"

  With the last of her strength, Ino completed the hand sign. "Mind... Transfer... Jutsu," she wheezed.

  Kotohime's eyes widened in shock as Ino's consciousness slammed into her own. For a moment, both kunoichi stood frozen, locked in a battle of wills.

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  Then Ino's body went limp in the hair's grasp, while Kotohime's form shuddered and slumped.

  After a few seconds, Kotohime's body straightened, her eyes now holding Ino's familiar determined glint.

  "Ugh," Ino-in-Kotohime's-body muttered. "I hate dealing with crazy bitches."

  She struggled for a moment, trying to disentangle herself from the now-slack hair. It was a strange sensation, feeling the hair move in response to her thoughts, but not quite having full control over it.

  "This is so gross," Ino grumbled, finally managing to free herself. She glanced at her own body, still suspended by Kotohime's hair, and winced. "I'm definitely going to feel that later."

  Reaching into Kotohime's weapon pouch, Ino pulled out a kunai. She eyed the long, dark hair that had nearly choked her to death moments ago.

  "You know what?" she said to herself. "I think it's time for a change in hairstyle."

  With quick, decisive movements, Ino began to shear away Kotohime's hair. Clumps of dark strands fell to the arena floor as she worked, leaving Kotohime's head completely bald.

  In the stands, the spectators watched in confusion and growing amusement. Naruto turned to Sakura, his brow furrowed.

  "Uh, Sakura-chan? What's Ino doing?"

  Sakura shook her head, a mix of exasperation and admiration on her face. "Exactly what you'd expect Ino to do in this situation. Getting revenge and making a statement at the same time."

  Back in the arena, Ino finished her impromptu haircut. She tossed the kunai aside and raised her hand.

  "Proctor!" she called out in Kotohime's voice. "I, Kotohime of the Sound, surrender this match!"

  The proctor blinked, clearly taken aback by the sudden turn of events. He glanced between the bald Kotohime and the limp form of Ino, still suspended by the now-harmless hair.

  "Uh... very well," he said after a moment. "The winner by surrender is Yamanaka Ino!"

  A ripple of surprised murmurs and scattered applause went through the crowd. Ino allowed herself a small smirk of satisfaction before walking to the far side of the arena.

  "Release," she muttered, forming the hand sign to end her jutsu.

  In an instant, Ino's consciousness snapped back to her own body. She gasped, suddenly aware of the aches and pains from Kotohime's assault. Carefully, she disentangled herself from the limp strands of hair and stood on shaky legs.

  Across the arena, Kotohime was stirring. She blinked, confusion evident on her face as she tried to piece together what had happened. Her hand went to her head, feeling the smooth skin where her long hair had been.

  "What... what did you do?" Kotohime whispered, her voice rising in horror as realization dawned. "What did you do to my hair?!"

  Her eyes locked onto Ino, rage replacing confusion. With a feral scream, Kotohime launched herself across the arena, hands outstretched as if to strangle the Leaf kunoichi.

  Before she could reach Ino, however, a large figure appeared between them. Kotohime's jonin sensei, Kagerō, caught her mid-leap, his massive hand easily restraining her.

  "That's enough," he rumbled, his deep voice carrying a note of disappointment. "You've embarrassed yourself and our village enough for one day."

  Kotohime struggled against his grip, still trying to reach Ino. "Let me go! I'll kill her! I'll kill them all!"

  Kagerō sighed heavily, then with a quick, precise strike to the back of her neck, knocked Kotohime unconscious. He slung her limp form over his shoulder and turned to face the proctor.

  "My apologies for my student's behavior," he said, bowing slightly. "I will ensure she faces appropriate disciplinary action when we return to our village."

  The proctor nodded, clearly relieved that the situation had been defused. "Very well. Please see to it that she receives medical attention as well."

  As Kagerō carried Kotohime out of the arena, Ino allowed herself to relax slightly. She looked up at the stands, where her teammates and sensei were watching with a mix of pride and concern.

  Ino made her way back to the Leaf section, her steps a bit unsteady but her head held high. As she reached her teammates, Choji immediately offered her a bag of chips - his ultimate gesture of support and concern.

  "You did great, Ino!" Choji beamed, his round face split by a wide grin.

  Shikamaru nodded, a rare smile tugging at his lips. "Nice strategy. Troublesome, but effective."

  Asuma-sensei placed a hand on her shoulder, pride evident in his eyes. "Well done, Ino. You showed excellent tactical thinking and kept your cool under pressure. I'm proud of you."

  Ino basked in the praise, feeling a warm glow of satisfaction despite her aching body. She was about to respond when a green blur appeared before her.

  "Ino-san!" Lee exclaimed, his eyes shining with admiration. "Your youthful display of skill and determination was truly inspiring! Your quick thinking and innovative use of your clan's techniques showcase the burning passion of youth that resides within you!"

  Ino blinked, momentarily taken aback by Lee's exuberant praise. Then, a mischievous glint entered her eye. "Why, thank you, Lee," she purred, leaning in slightly. "You know, if you win your match, I might just do something special for you."

  Lee's eyes widened, a blush creeping across his cheeks. "S-something special?" he stammered.

  Before Ino could elaborate, Lee's face set in determination. He clenched his fist, fire burning in his eyes. "Yosh! If I do not win my match, I will do five hundred laps around Konoha on my hands! And if I cannot do that, I will do one thousand push-ups with Gai-sensei sitting on my back! And if I cannot accomplish that, I will-"

  "Okay, okay," Ino cut him off, laughing. "I get it, Lee. Just do your best, alright?"

  As Lee nodded vigorously and returned to his team, Sakura approached, a smirk playing on her lips.

  "Not bad, Ino-pig," she said, her tone a mixture of genuine praise and their usual friendly rivalry. "Though I have to say, you might have made an even worse enemy than Sasuke did. That Sound girl looked ready to murder you on the spot."

  Ino waved her hand dismissively. "Please, Bun-butt. That situation was already beyond saving. Besides, we know Sound is related to Orochimaru somehow. Better to humiliate them and show we're not pushovers."

  Her eyes narrowed as she glanced towards the Sound section. "Speaking of which, have you noticed that bandaged girl has been glaring holes at you this whole time?"

  Sakura frowned, following Ino's gaze. Indeed, the bandaged Sound kunoichi was staring at her with an intensity that was unsettling. "Yeah, I noticed. She's the only one who didn't fight me earlier in the forest. I wonder what her deal is."

  Before they could speculate further, the electronic board lit up again, displaying the names for the next match: Inuzuka Kiba vs Akadō Yoroi.

  "Alright!" Kiba whooped, pumping his fist in the air. "Finally, our turn to show what we've got, eh Akamaru?"

  The small white dog yipped in agreement from atop Kiba's head.

  As Kiba made his way down to the arena, Yoroi followed silently, his face hidden behind dark glasses and a mask.

  "Be careful, Kiba-kun," Hinata called out softly.

  Shino adjusted his glasses. "Indeed. We know little about our opponent's abilities. It would be wise to exercise caution."

  Kiba grinned back at his teammates. "Don't worry, guys. Akamaru and I have got this in the bag!"

  Down in the arena, Kiba and Yoroi faced each other, the contrast between them stark. Kiba stood confidently, Akamaru perched on his head, while Yoroi's posture was tense, his hands flexing at his sides.

  The proctor looked between them. "Are both contestants ready?" At their nods, he brought his hand down. "Begin!"

  Kiba wasted no time, immediately dropping into a crouch. "Let's show 'em what we've got, Akamaru! Ninja Art of Beast Mimicry: All-Fours Jutsu!"

  Chakra visibly surged around Kiba as he took on a more feral appearance, his nails lengthening into claws. Akamaru leapt from his head, a small pill in his mouth.

  "Here we go!" Kiba called out, tossing a similar pill into his own mouth.

  In the stands, Kurenai leaned forward, a small smile on her face. "Watch closely," she said to the other rookies. "You're about to see why the Inuzuka clan is so formidable in combat."

  As they watched, Akamaru's fur turned a deep red, and with a puff of smoke, the small dog transformed into an exact copy of Kiba.

  Yoroi took a step back, his body language showing surprise despite his concealing clothing. "What the-"

  He didn't get to finish his sentence as both Kibas launched themselves at him, moving in perfect synchronization. Their speed was impressive, forcing Yoroi onto the defensive immediately.

  "Fang Over Fang!" the Kibas shouted in unison, their bodies spinning rapidly as they became whirlwinds of slashing claws.

  Yoroi managed to dodge the first pass, but the Kibas quickly changed direction, coming at him again from different angles. This time, one of them caught him in the side, sending him tumbling across the arena floor.

  "Yeah!" Naruto cheered from the stands. "Go get 'em, Kiba!"

  Sakura nodded, impressed. "He's really improved since our Academy days. That coordination with Akamaru is something else."

  Sasuke remained silent, his eyes narrowed as he watched the fight unfold.

  Back in the arena, Yoroi was struggling to his feet, his breathing heavy. "Not... not bad," he panted. "But don't think you've won yet."

  As the Kibas came in for another attack, Yoroi's hands began to glow with chakra. He reached out, managing to grab one of the Kibas by the arm as they passed.

  Immediately, the Kiba he had grabbed let out a yelp of pain, his movements becoming sluggish. Yoroi's grip tightened, and the glow around his hand intensified.

  "What's he doing?" Ino asked, leaning forward to get a better look.

  Shikamaru's eyes narrowed. "It looks like he's draining Kiba's chakra somehow."

  In the arena, the free Kiba snarled and launched himself at Yoroi, forcing him to release his grip on the other. The two Kibas retreated, putting some distance between themselves and their opponent.

  "You okay?" one Kiba asked the other.

  The other nodded, shaking his arm as if to rid it of pins and needles. "Yeah, but that was weird. Felt like he was sucking out my chakra or something."

  Yoroi chuckled, flexing his glowing hands. "Figured it out, did you? That's right - my Chakra Absorption Jutsu allows me to drain an opponent's chakra through physical contact. Your little transformation trick won't save you if I can get my hands on you."

  The Kibas growled in unison, circling Yoroi warily. "We'll see about that," they said.

  In the stands, Kurenai's brow furrowed with concern. "This could be trouble," she murmured. "Kiba and Akamaru's style relies heavily on their chakra-enhanced techniques. If that Yoroi can drain their chakra, they'll be at a severe disadvantage."

  Hinata's hands clenched in worry. "Kiba-kun..."

  Shino adjusted his glasses. "Kiba is aware of the danger now. He will adapt his strategy accordingly. Why? Because that is what we have trained to do."

  Down in the arena, the Kibas had indeed changed their approach. Instead of rushing in recklessly, they were now moving more cautiously, feinting and dodging to keep Yoroi off-balance.

  Yoroi, for his part, seemed content to let them come to him, his hands still glowing with chakra as he waited for an opportunity to grab them.

  "What's the matter?" he taunted. "Lost your nerve?"

  The Kibas snarled in response but didn't take the bait. They continued their careful circling, looking for an opening.

  Suddenly, one of the Kibas stumbled slightly, his movements becoming less fluid. Yoroi immediately pounced on the perceived weakness, lunging forward with his glowing hands outstretched.

  But it was a trap.

  As Yoroi committed to his attack, the stumbling Kiba suddenly regained his footing, ducking under Yoroi's grasping hands. At the same time, the other Kiba leapt over his partner, using him as a springboard to launch a powerful kick at Yoroi's exposed back.

  The kick connected solidly, sending Yoroi sprawling face-first onto the arena floor. Before he could recover, both Kibas were on him, pinning him down.

  "Proctor!" one of the Kibas called out. "He's down! Call the match!"

  The proctor moved in to check Yoroi's condition. After a moment, he nodded. "Akadō Yoroi is unable to continue. The winner is Inuzuka Kiba!"

  A cheer went up from the Leaf section as the Kibas released their hold on Yoroi. With a puff of smoke, one of them transformed back into Akamaru, yipping happily as he leapt into Kiba's arms.

  "We did it, boy!" Kiba laughed, scratching behind Akamaru's ears. "Who's a good ninja dog? You are!"

  As medical ninja came to check on Yoroi, Kiba made his way back to the stands, grinning from ear to ear.

  "Nice job, Kiba!" Naruto called out, giving him a thumbs up.

  Hinata smiled shyly. "That was amazing, Kiba-kun. You and Akamaru worked so well together."

  "Indeed," Shino added. "Your strategy was sound and your execution flawless. Why? Because you recognized the threat and adapted accordingly."

  Kurenai placed a hand on Kiba's shoulder, pride evident in her eyes. "Well done, Kiba. You've shown excellent growth and tactical thinking."

  Kiba beamed under the praise, his chest puffing out with pride. "Thanks, everyone! But really, Akamaru deserves just as much credit. We're a team, after all."

  Akamaru barked in agreement, wagging his tail happily.

  As the excitement from Kiba's match died down, attention turned back to the electronic board, waiting to see who would be called next.

  Kankuro of the Sand vs Tenten of the Leaf