"The third match—Rock Lee versus Kiji!"
As Iruka announced it, Rock Lee and Kiji stepped into the arena.
Kiji wasn't from the original canon, but among Konoha's Genin, he carried a bit of fame—
a rare Taijutsu specialist.
Not pure Taijutsu like Lee, but close enough.
"Leaf Whirlwind!"
Lee shot forward like a fired cannon.
Kiji's eyes narrowed.
He slipped aside in a blur and countered with a clean, compact punch.
"Leaf Hurricane!"
Lee twisted, blocking the punch with his elbow—
The impact echoed loudly across the training field.
Kiji's eyebrows rose.
Lee's speed and power were nearly on par with his own.
Kiji instantly drove a knee toward Lee's abdomen.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
Lee met the strike with a low sweeping kick, deflecting the knee and using the momentum to leap upward.
He spun—once, twice—and brought his heel down toward Kiji's neck.
Kiji reacted fast, raising his arms to guard as he stepped back.
But Lee didn't let up.
"Konoha Gale!"
Lee twisted midair, the second spinning kick slamming against Kiji's guard and blasting him backward—before Kiji could regain distance, Lee's third and final kick collided with devastating force.
Kiji went flying.
"LEE, WELL DONE!"
Master Chen sprang to his feet, eyes sparkling.
The Konoha Gale was his own technique—seeing Lee execute it perfectly filled him with unabashed pride.
"Thank you, Master Chen!" Lee called out, giving him a brilliant thumbs-up.
"You have added even more green to my youth!"
"Lee is amazing!" Naruto pumped his fists. "I wanna have a youthful showdown with him too!"
The rest of the Genius Class collectively sighed.
"Winner—Rock Lee!"
Iruka cut in before the pair started shouting vows of eternal youth again.
Iruka barely paused.
"The next match—Inuzuka Hana versus Fū Yamanaka!"
Fū Yamanaka—A future Jōnin and Root operative in the original timeline.
But in this altered world, Root was gone, and Fū had become a respected Chūnin.
"Sis, watch out for the Yamanaka Secret Techniques!"
Kiba warned anxiously.
"I know."
Hana smiled reassuringly.
"Kiba, relax. Your sister's not like you."
Ino waved him off.
"She has three Ninken. Our clan's mind techniques are meant for one target."
She wasn't wrong.
Mind Body Switch → one target.
Mind Transfer → at most two.
Hana + three Ninken = four targets.
A natural counter.
"I'll get my Ninken soon!"
Kiba barked defensively.
Hana entered the arena alongside her three Haimaru brothers.
"Begin!"
Quadruple Fang Over Fang!
Hana and her Ninken spun into four white tornadoes and rushed Fū with terrifying momentum.
Fū's face blanched.
He had underestimated her—she was "just" a student, right?
Wrong.
Very wrong.
He shifted away just in time, then unleashed a wave of shuriken, forming a crossfire around Hana.
But the four spinning tornadoes smashed through the trap effortlessly.
Fū's forehead broke into a cold sweat.
He couldn't risk the Mind-Body Switch Technique.
He didn't even know which tornado held Hana.
So he did the only thing he could—
He ran.
A few moments later, the tornadoes slowed—
Hana, still young, couldn't maintain the technique long.
"Now!"
Mind-Body Switch Technique!
Just as Fū released the jutsu—
"Awooooo!"
A thunderous howl shook the arena.
Inuzuka Style: Human–Beast Combination Transformation—Two-Headed Wolf!
A massive white two-headed wolf materialized in front of Fū.
The remaining two Ninken flanked it, ready to strike.
Fū instantly canceled the Mind Body Switch—
but it was too late.
The mental shockwave collided with the defending Ninken instead.
The giant wolf raised a massive paw—
Stopping only a hair's breadth before smashing into Fū's face.
He exhaled shakily.
"I… surrender."
Hana released the transformation, returning to her normal form.
Iruka raised his hand.
"Winner—Inuzuka Hana!"
Iruka blinked in surprise before announcing the result again for clarity.
"Did… did Sis really learn that secret technique?"
Kiba stared blankly at the arena.
His pride took a direct hit.
Until now, he could barely beat Hana using his Three-Headed Hellhound—
which, embarrassingly, was just a modified version of her original Two-Headed Wolf technique.
But now?
Now it was questionable if he could win at all.
Tayuya's expression froze.
Haku got stronger, Jugo got stronger, Hana got stronger… and she herself?
No big progress to show.
She clenched her teeth quietly.
"It seems the Inuzuka Clan has gained another prodigy," Shibi commented calmly.
Tsume smirked proudly.
"Still can't compare to the geniuses from your clan. But this Genius Class really lives up to its name."
Even she, the famously tough Inuzuka matriarch, was impressed.
Hana and Kiba had exceeded her expectations, and sending Hana into the Genius Class was clearly the right choice.
"That's true."
Hiashi and several clan heads nodded in agreement.
"Tsunade-sensei," Kitazawa said with a playful blink.
"That's three wins and one loss already."
"I KNOW! You don't have to announce it every time!" Tsunade's face darkened.
Not caring at all that dozens of elite ninjas were watching.
Kitazawa, unfazed, nudged her thigh lightly with his own.
"You should really consider what price you'll pay when you lose."
"Don't get cocky!" Tsunade hissed.
"This is just the fourth match!"
Kitazawa had arranged the fight order based on the previous rankings—starting from 18th place and climbing upward.
After Hana, the next was Choji, whose opponent was a Chūnin from the Akimichi Clan.
Two massive Akimichi barreling around the arena using Giantification and Human Bullet Tank—
Kitazawa suddenly thought of a yo-yo from his past life.
In the end, Choji lost control and nearly crashed into the spectators, only for Choza to stop him with one hand.
Iruka raised his voice:
"The sixth match—Sakura Haruno versus Ebisu!"
"Ino, if I lose here, I'll never catch up to you!" Sakura said, tightening her fists.
"If you lose here, you can't touch my ranking!"
Ino shouted back—her unique form of encouragement.
"Your opponent's a Special Jōnin," Shikamaru reminded her.
"Don't underestimate him."
Sakura nodded and stepped into the arena.
"Hello, cute little sister," Ebisu greeted with a mentor-like smile.
After watching the previous matches, he no longer underestimated the Genius Class.
Still, Sakura looked far too young to possess Special Jōnin-level strength.
"Be careful, Uncle Ebisu."
"…Uncle?"
His smile cracked.
But the next instant—Sakura attacked with a B-rank Water Release. At nine years old.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!
A giant water dragon roared into existence.
Ebisu nearly screamed.
A nine-year-old casting Senju Tobirama–level Water Techniques?!
He body flickered away on reflex.
As soon as he reappeared, he launched six shuriken, precisely controlling their trajectories to trap Sakura.
Sakura countered with her own six shuriken—
Clang! Clang! Clang!
She blocked half of them, but her accuracy couldn't match Ebisu's.
Still, she slipped through the opening using a quick sidestep.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
Ebisu countered immediately.
The blazing ball rushed toward her—Sakura gasped, retreated, and rapidly formed hand signs.
Water Formation Wall!
A whirling barrier of water rose, steam exploding outward as fire met water.
Ebisu didn't hesitate.
He charged straight through the steam.
Shadow Clone Technique!
Two clones emerged alongside him.
They all attacked together.
Sakura countered instantly.
Water Release: Water Bullets!
She unleashed rapid-fire water shots.
One Shadow Clone was erased on the spot.
Ebisu closed in, the remaining clone striking from the flank—
"Water Release: Heavenly Weeping!"
Sakura opened her mouth—three needle-like water senbon shot out at point-blank range.
The Shadow Clone shoved Ebisu aside and was obliterated.
Ebisu blocked the remaining senbon with a kunai, but—
Sakura was already at his chest, kunai poised.
"I surrender."
Ebisu exhaled and raised a hand.
"The young geniuses these days… are terrifying."
Sakura let out a long breath.
"It's thanks to my sensei."
"Your sensei is Kitazawa, right?" Ebisu asked.
"No. My Water Release master is Maruboshi Kosuke."
"...Maruboshi… Kosuke?"
Ebisu froze.
Wasn't that the legendary Eternal Genin?
The man who had trained under Second Hokage Senju Tobirama?
No wonder…
Losing to that bloodline of instruction—he felt no shame at all.
"It seems Sakura really is capable of inheriting her teacher's Water Release."
Hiruzen nodded with deep satisfaction.
"Her chakra reserves are still a little lacking," Kosuke murmured with regret.
"As long as she can handle the techniques, that's already impressive."
Hiruzen chuckled. "You're expecting too much. Among children her age, her Chakra is already extraordinary."
"Provided you don't include Naruto and the others," Kakashi added lazily.
"This generation is truly overflowing with geniuses," Chen sighed in admiration.
"To witness a scene like this…" Hiruzen stroked his beard, smiling warmly. "Even if I died tomorrow, I would have no regrets."
Konoha now had pillars in every age group. His once-worrying future was gone.
Just a few years ago, Tsunade hadn't returned, Kitazawa hadn't risen, and Naruto's group still seemed unpolished. Back then, the future of Konoha looked genuinely bleak.
Iruka's voice cut through the conversation:
"The seventh match—Inuzuka Kiba versus Kotetsu Hagane!"
"Oh no…"
Kiba froze.
Kotetsu Hagane had arrived with Izumo Kamizuki.
Izumo had the Curse Mark of Earth.
Which meant—Kotetsu probably has it too.
Kiba entered the arena stiffly.
Kotetsu didn't look confident either—Izumo's victory didn't guarantee his own.
"Why don't you have a Ninken yet?" Kotetsu asked curiously.
He and Izumo had seen Kiba at the Student Council selection.
Back then, Kiba had used himself as a dog.
"…"
Kiba bit back a retort and formed hand seals.
Shadow Clone Technique!
Two clones appeared beside him.
Triple Fang Over Fang!
The three whirlwinds tore toward Kotetsu.
But Kotetsu was prepared.
Summoning Technique: Giant Club!
A huge, seashell-like club materialized in his hands.
He slammed it down, activating the first three levels of the Earth Seal Curse Mark.
The tides turned instantly.
The whirlwinds were thrown back by brute force.
"So strong…!"
Kiba inhaled sharply and formed seals again.
Three-Headed Hellhound!
His strongest technique.
He merged with his clones, transforming into a huge, three-headed beast.
War Stomp!
The Hellhound smashed its paws into the ground—stones exploded upward, flying like shrapnel.
Kotetsu leapt back, unrolling a scroll.
Kunai and shuriken erupted out, meeting the stone barrage midair.
Fang Bullet!
Kiba opened his massive jaws—three giant Chakra bullets blasted out.
Kotetsu blocked with the giant club.
Even with the cursed seal activated, each hit made his arms rattle.
The Hellhound pounced, claws crashing down.
Kotetsu gritted his teeth—
And activated Cursed Seal: Level 4.
A terrifying wave of chakra burst forth.
He flipped the entire Hellhound over with raw power.
"This is bad!"
Kiba struggled to rise.
Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique!
Kotetsu immediately cast Genjutsu.
Earth Release: Earth Fang Bullet!
Kiba retaliated, spitting out three boulder-sized stone bullets—all of which slammed into the wrong location.
The genjutsu had thrown off his aim.
Kotetsu felt chills down his spine.
If those had hit…
No hesitation—he brought the giant club down hard.
Kiba was knocked unconscious, the Three-Headed Hellhound dispelling instantly.
"What a pity… He was just unlucky."
Tsume exhaled.
"He did great." Choza smiled. "At least far better than my son."
Of course, he meant no disrespect—just realism. As a kid, he was far weaker than Choji.
"The difficulty will only rise from here."
Shikaku frowned slightly.
Shikamaru's turn was approaching.
"Difficult for the Genin… not necessarily for the Genius Class."
Shibi corrected calmly.
"That's true."
Choza nodded as memories of Naruto and Sasuke's feats crossed his mind.
Both boys, barely eight or nine, already stood at Jonin-level combat power.
Compared to them, Kiba, Choji, and Shikamaru seemed almost ordinary.
"I see Asuma is in the sparring area too," Shibi said with interest. "I wonder who he'll face."
"Probably Sasuke or Naruto," Tsume muttered while glancing at Fugaku.
Fugaku blinked in surprise… But didn't deny it.
He was thinking the same.
If Sasuke could defeat Asuma… That would indeed be spectacular.
"Ahem."
Shikaku subtly tapped the table.
"The Third Hokage is sitting right there."
Iruka's voice rang again—"Winner: Kotetsu Hagane!"
Tenten's opponent was a Special Jonin.
Yet she still won—because she summoned Shiromari.
Many spectators were stunned.
Kitazawa had actually given such a dangerous Summoning Beast to Tenten?
"Tsunade-sensei," Kitazawa said with a pleasant smile, "We're at five wins and three losses now."
"…"
Tsunade bit her lip.
Her chances of losing the bet were increasing rapidly.
And she still didn't know what price she would have to pay.
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