Chapter 177
"Sakura has tried really hard, but unfortunately, Karin's chakra reserves are just too massive. Let's not forget where we're standing..."
"This is the Land of Whirlpools. Never underestimate the strength of the Uzumaki Clan."
The commentator's tone suddenly turned serious, and his words stirred the crowd from the Whirlpool Country. Yes, this was their land.
For some reason, Naruto, sitting in the audience, felt a strange warmth blooming in his chest—a sense of belonging. Even though he had already mastered Sage Mode, the attitude of Konoha's villagers hadn't really changed.
They still saw him as the Nine-Tailed Demon Fox, a living weapon. Even with Jiraiya's help and the revelation that he was the Fourth Hokage's son, a gap still existed in their hearts.
"The rules of the tournament have changed! To determine the winner faster, the next round will be a free-for-all! The rules are simple: last one standing wins," the commentator announced after a brief pause.
"Without further delay, let the match begin!"
As soon as the commentator's voice fell, the battlefield began to shift.
Previously, the venue was divided into small arenas for multiple matches. But that layout wasn't suitable for a large-scale brawl.
Boom—! The small fields, once like squares on a chessboard, began to move. Their mechanical bases restructured in sync, reminiscent of a military parade.
The audience was treated to a stunning mechanical transformation, marveling at the seamless assembly of the terrain.