Water mist filled the center of the stadium, and the audience erupted in an uproar.
They had come to witness the results of the ninja battle, but Terumi Mei's jutsu blocked their view, leaving them frustrated.
"Wind Release—Typhoon Breakthrough!"
Namikaze Minato decided to show his hand. Possessing Wind-nature chakra, he was highly proficient in Wind Release.
He unleashed the jutsu, and the powerful gust blew away the mist Terumi Mei had created, revealing Minato standing alone at the center of the stadium.
"Earth Style—Hiding Underground? Earth Release—Ground Ripple!"
Minato formed hand seals. The earth beneath him rippled like waves.
Underground, Terumi Mei felt the disturbance. No longer able to hide, she was forced to emerge.
A kunai flew through the air—Minato vanished in a flash. In an instant, he reappeared with the kunai pressed against Terumi Mei's back.
"…I lost."
Terumi Mei had no choice but to admit defeat.
Cheers erupted from the Konoha crowd.
After all, they were Konoha villagers—and what they wanted to see was a Konoha ninja standing victorious.
"The Yellow Flash… so terrifying!"
"That speed, that teleportation! His reaction time isn't even human—he's already at Kage-level… what a monster!"
A greasy voice interrupted, drawing glances from the surrounding audience.
Master Genji gave Zenkichi a quick look, but his face remained neutral, though faint disappointment flickered in his eyes.
It didn't matter whether Terumi Mei or Yagura lost. Truthfully, they had only come to Konoha to participate.
The one Kirigakure truly had high hopes for… was always Zenkichi.
"Let them have their moment," Master Genji thought. "They'll regret it soon enough."
"You lost!"
A cheerful voice rang out. The young Kurenai Yuhi, sitting not far from Zenkichi, waved at him triumphantly.
To her, this guy—who made her father act all awkward and wear those tacky silver sunglasses—was a source of endless resentment.
"I see now. Konoha… really is strong."
Zenkichi replied calmly, lips curling with mild indifference.
"I lost," Terumi Mei muttered as she returned to him, disappointment written across her face.
"Don't be too hard on yourself. Losing to Namikaze Minato is no disgrace."
Zenkichi consoled her. Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique was indeed incredible.
If this were a game, Minato would easily be the top assassin in the canyon.
No doubt.
"Not a shame to lose to Namikaze Minato? Does that include you?" Terumi Mei asked, eyes sparkling with interest.
Zenkichi shrugged. "Of course not. No one can beat me easily—not even Minato."
At that moment, the second match of the day was announced.
After some behind-the-scenes decisions, the next match was set: Yagura vs. Hiashi Hyuga.
Zenkichi leaned forward with interest. "Let's go, Yagura! Show them the terrifying power hiding in that little body of yours."
Yagura's eye twitched slightly. He was starting to regret provoking Zenkichi.
Yagura and Hiashi Hyuga stood in the center of the arena, facing each other with calm expressions.
Zenkichi watched closely, especially curious about Yagura's strength without the aid of the Three-Tails.
"Water Release—Great Water Jet!"
As the match began, Yagura didn't hesitate. A massive surge of water burst from his mouth, forming a towering wave that crashed toward Hiashi.
Hiashi's expression sharpened. He leapt into the air and used chakra to tread on the water, swiftly charging toward Yagura.
The Hyuga clan specialized in taijutsu. Their Gentle Fist style, combined with the Byakugan, was their signature.
Though their Byakugan could see over great distances, the clan excelled at close-quarters combat.
"Eight Trigrams: Vacuum Palm!"
Hiashi rapidly approached and fired a burst of compressed chakra from his palm—like an invisible cannonball—straight at Yagura.
"Water Release—Water Formation Wall!"
Using the water now flooding the arena, Yagura quickly formed seals and summoned a thick wall of water that rose to meet Hiashi's attack.
It blocked the chakra burst with a splash.
"Water Release—Five Feeding Sharks!"
Yagura pressed his palm against the water. Five liquid sharks surged upward and charged toward Hiashi with vicious speed.
"Eight Trigrams: Rotation!"
Hiashi remained calm. He spun on the spot, releasing chakra in a dome-like shield that repelled the sharks with force. They shattered into harmless spray.
"The Hyuga clan… Konoha's strongest!"
Hiashi gritted his teeth at the thought but didn't dare speak it aloud.
After all, the Uchiha clan was considered the strongest in Konoha these days. The Hyuga were strong, but they couldn't compare.
"Kirigakure and the Hyuga have clashed many times over the years," Zenkichi observed. "The Hyuga's Rotation is powerful—nearly impenetrable—but it's not without flaws."
Yagura stared at Hiashi mid-spin. His sharp eyes flickered with insight.
The Eight Trigrams Rotation couldn't guard against attacks from below.
Yagura formed seals again.
Suddenly, the water beneath Hiashi surged. A high-pressure water spear shot up from the surface—right toward him.
"What a huge chakra… and that Water Release is terrifying!"
Zenkichi's eyes lit up.
Yagura's ability to become the Fourth Mizukage wasn't just because of the Three-Tails. In fact, being a Jinchūriki might've been a hindrance to that goal.
"A small frame… with the soul of a monster," Zenkichi muttered, shaking his head.
Terumi Mei, nearby, glanced at him and resisted the urge to hit him.
If she didn't already know Zenkichi's strength, she might have thought he was admiring Yagura too much.
But after everything, she knew better.
Boom!
Yagura's sneak attack caught Hiashi off guard.
Luckily, the Hyuga clan had refined their techniques over generations. The Eight Trigrams Rotation had built-in contingencies.
Hiashi launched himself into the air, halting his spin and narrowly dodging the incoming water spear.
If he'd been a second slower…
Hiashi might've survived—but Hanabi probably wouldn't have been born.
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If you don't Gerrit, Forget about it... Hehe.