"The third match of the Genin Exchange Meet: Uchiha Sasuke versus Hōzuki Suigetsu!"
Kitazawa's voice echoed from the high platform, drawing everyone's attention toward the two combatants.
"Suigetsu, be cautious of his Sharingan and Genjutsu," Ao reminded, taking a detour to approach him.
Though he doubted Sasuke had already awakened his Two-Tomoe Sharingan, the performances of Naruto and Kurama Yakumo still lingered in his mind, leaving behind a quiet unease.
It was always better to be mentally prepared—forewarned was forearmed.
"I understand," Suigetsu replied with a firm nod.
The strength displayed by Naruto and Yakumo had already changed this once-proud genius from the Hidden Mist. Though his arrogance had faded, his confidence remained.
The Uchiha Clan's expertise lay in Fire Release and Genjutsu, but his Water Release naturally countered Fire Release. The only real threat to him was illusion—Genjutsu.
"Can he win?" one Hidden Mist Jonin asked, his voice heavy with worry. The earlier matches had shaken even the veterans' faith in their village's young talents.
"That's Mangetsu's younger brother," Zabuza said in his usual deep tone. "We should trust him."
Having been captured by Itachi and later redeemed by Mei Terumī, Zabuza had mellowed somewhat. Still, since his injuries weren't severe, he had stayed behind instead of returning early to the Mist.
While he didn't know Suigetsu well, he was very familiar with Hōzuki Mangetsu—hailed as a prodigy among the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and a genius beloved by blades.
"He will win," another Mist Jonin said with certainty. "He wields the Kabutowari(Blunt Sword or the Helmet Splitter!)"
"Indeed," Zabuza nodded. "Naruto had the Samehada, but Sasuke doesn't."
Suigetsu had chosen the Kabutowari from the remaining four swords. Although his heart longed for the Executioner's Blade, that weapon was in Biwa Jūzō's possession, so he had to settle for the next best option.
The Kabutowari, despite being called a sword, was actually a combination of an axe and a hammer. When the hammer struck the axe, it produced a devastating shockwave capable of breaking through any defense.
Though named the Sword, its offensive power was unmatched among the Seven Blades.
"No matter what, we must win at least one match."
"Right. Losing every round would be too disgraceful."
"The other two can't compare to Suigetsu—he's our only real hope now."
"He absolutely cannot lose!"
The ninja of the Hidden Mist Village had never expected the Genin Exchange Meet to unfold like this. But now, with defeat looming over them, all they could do was place their faith in Suigetsu.
Meanwhile, the Konoha side was far more relaxed.
"One more win, and Konoha can announce victory early," Akimichi Chōza said with pride. "Our village's new generation is terrifyingly strong!"
In all of Konoha's history, no generation had been filled with so many geniuses. The current group, with Naruto and Sasuke at its core, was truly exceptional—monsters of talent.
"This is thanks to Kitazawa," Hiruzen said with a warm chuckle. "He allowed these young prodigies to realize their potential early."
"Good teachers and good students complement each other," Shikaku added. "Just like you and Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen smiled wider at that. Among all his lifetime achievements, nurturing the Legendary Sannin remained one of his proudest moments.
"Fugaku, what do you think of this match?" Hiruzen asked, turning toward the Uchiha patriarch.
"Sasuke will not disappoint us," Fugaku replied after a pause.
"I agree," Hiruzen said with satisfaction.
He had personally overseen the Genius Class for some time and knew better than anyone the true strength of Sasuke and the others.
Hiashi Hyuga sighed inwardly—it was a pity. The Hyuga Clan originally had two strong representatives in this meet, Neji and Hinata.
Had they been matched differently, they could have stood out. But fate had not paired them against the Mist's strongest—Chōjūrō and Suigetsu.
Ultimately, the names people would remember from this Genin Exchange Meet would likely be Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke.
"Sasuke! Youth is about fighting! Go all out and take him down!" Naruto shouted enthusiastically, flashing a grin and a thumbs-up.
"No need to go all out," Sasuke replied flatly.
Kiba, who was about to wish him luck, froze for a moment. You're too cool for your own good, he thought, giving him full marks for style.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura's eyes sparkled. "Just take him down easily!"
"Be careful of his sword," Neji reminded, his eyes narrowing on the Kabutowari.
"That's the Kabutowari," Shikamaru mused. "Its offensive power is insane."
Ever since Naruto had obtained the Samehada, they had all learned about the seven ninja swords. The Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had existed for generations—information about their blades was no longer a secret.
"I have the Sword of the Thunder God," Sasuke said calmly.
"The Hōzuki Clan specializes in Water Release," Shino added quietly.
Sasuke nodded. Water Release did counter Fire Release—but he knew more than just Fire techniques.
He stepped onto the high platform, standing opposite Suigetsu. The air grew tense; everyone knew this was the decisive battle.
If Suigetsu won, the Hidden Mist would still have hope.
If Sasuke won, Konoha's victory would be absolute.
Kitazawa looked at the two, feeling the ripple of his butterfly effect.
In the original timeline, Sasuke and Suigetsu would become teammates, forming Team Taka. But now, that future was gone—they would meet only as rivals, not comrades.
"The battle begins!" Kitazawa shouted.
"Water Release: Water Gun Technique!"
Suigetsu raised his index finger, pointing it straight at Sasuke.
A sharp stream of water burst forth like a bullet—fast, focused, and so thin that only a faint streak of blue could be seen.
At the same time, Suigetsu gripped the Kabutowari tightly and charged forward, his axe raised high, ready to cleave Sasuke's head in one clean strike.
A flash of crimson gleamed across Sasuke's eyes.
His Two-Tomoe Sharingan whirred to life. Standing firmly in place, he tilted his head just slightly and elegantly evaded the incoming Water Release: Water Gun Technique.
A strong gust of wind brushed past as he drew the Sword of the Thunder God, meeting Suigetsu head-on.
A dull metallic thud rang out—the thunder god sword blocked the axe of the Kabutowari.
"Two-Tomoe Sharingan?" Suigetsu's heart trembled, and he quickly avoided Sasuke's gaze.
His left hand struck down with the hammer side of the Kabutowari, not at Sasuke, but at the axe itself.
Sasuke's pupils shrank.
The hammer should have been aimed at him, not the axe. Clearly, this was Kabutowari's special ability.
Sensing danger, Sasuke immediately used the Body Flicker Technique, disappearing from sight.
Years of sparring with Naruto, Neji, and the others had taught him a fundamental truth—ninja battles are battles of information.
When facing an unknown ability, the best option was to dodge the first strike and observe. Only after understanding it should one plan a counter.
The hammer and axe struck together violently, creating an invisible shockwave. The impact split the ground, forming deep spiderweb cracks across the stone floor.
The onlookers—especially the Mist ninja—erupted into startled whispers.
They weren't marveling at the Kabutowari's power, but at Sasuke's Two-Tomoe Sharingan. Everyone knew that the more tomoe a Sharingan had, the greater its power.
A Two-Tomoe Sharingan signified the strength of a Chunin-level ninja. If Sasuke were seventeen, no one would have been shocked. But he was only seven.
Mei Terumī subconsciously bit her lip. All of Ao's intelligence reports had proven true. For the first time, she didn't know what expression to wear.
Was Ao's intelligence network truly that good? Hardly.
The truth was, Konoha hadn't misled them at all. The terrifying reality was that Sasuke and Naruto's power was genuine.
Could these children really defeat Jonin? Mei wondered.
Given what she had seen—Naruto's Rasengan and Sasuke's Two-Tomoe Sharingan—the answer was yes. A single solid hit could end a Jonin's life.
Mei Terumī fell silent, as did Ao beside her. He almost wished his reports had been false.
On the platform, Sasuke advanced on Suigetsu, the Sword of the Thunder God crackling faintly in his hand.
He didn't bother with Genjutsu. In their brief exchange, he hadn't felt enough pressure to warrant it. Normally, he only used illusions when victory by direct combat was impossible.
The blade hummed through the air, sparking faint arcs of lightning.
Suigetsu blocked with his axe and, once again, swung the hammer down to trigger a shockwave.
But Sasuke didn't allow it. The Sword of the Thunder God suddenly accelerated, slicing upward with perfect precision, wedging itself between the hammer and axe.
The hammer struck not the axe, but the blade.
"What?!" Suigetsu's eyes widened in disbelief.
In an instant, Sasuke had completely disrupted his move. His speed and precision were terrifying.
"In front of these eyes of mine, all your movements are futile," Sasuke sneered, channeling his Chakra into Lightning Release and infusing it into the blade.
Brilliant blue lightning surged forth, dancing violently along the Sword of the Thunder God.
Suigetsu's heart skipped a beat. He hastily retreated, clutching the Kabutowari, but the lightning spread too fast—traveling up the metal of his axe and hammer.
With a grimace, Suigetsu gritted his teeth and released his weapon. If he didn't, he risked being paralyzed and becoming a helpless target.
"He was forced to abandon his sword after just two exchanges?"
Zabuza's brows furrowed deeply. The confidence he had in Suigetsu evaporated. As a Jonin swordsman, he knew the situation well—Suigetsu was in dire straits.
"He's been suppressed from start to finish," a Mist Jonin murmured.
"Shut up!" Ao barked, glaring coldly.
Mei Terumī merely shook her head.
At this point, there was no denying the truth. The Two-Tomoe Sharingan was an overwhelming advantage at the Genin level. Against it, no movement, no ninjutsu, and no attack could escape its gaze.
"Water Release: Water Hail!"
The moment he discarded his sword, Suigetsu weaved hand signs rapidly. Countless water bullets erupted around him like a storm, raining down in every direction.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
Sasuke inhaled deeply and exhaled an immense wave of flame. The air rippled with scorching heat as a blazing fireball, over five meters wide, roared forward.
Water clashed with fire. Steam exploded outward, shrouding the field in thick mist.
Suigetsu's eyes lit up. This was his chance. He lunged forward to retrieve the Kabutowari—
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The sound of slicing air rang out as four shuriken whirled through the mist, cutting off his path.
Suigetsu dove and rolled, barely avoiding them, then raised his hand.
"Water Release: Water Gun Technique!"
A high-pressure jet of water shot from his fingertip, piercing the air toward Sasuke's shadow in the mist.
"It seems you only know two Water Release techniques," Sasuke said coolly, sidestepping effortlessly.
That remark hit Suigetsu harder than a punch. His body trembled with anger.
Did this brat have any idea what it meant to master two Water Release techniques at the age of seven? In the Hidden Mist, that level of talent was unmatched!
But then, remembering Sasuke was also seven, he could only grit his teeth in silence.
"This boring battle—" Sasuke's eyes gleamed coldly. "—it's time for it to end!"
He suddenly burst forward and charged straight at Suigetsu.
Konoha Style: Willow!
His Sword of the Thunder God began to move.
Suigetsu was about to get up and dodge, but he was horrified to find his body unable to move.
Sasuke appeared blurry in his eyes, like a leaf that could vanish at any moment. And the Sword of the Thunder God seemed to be everywhere.
"I fell into a Genjutsu? When?"
Suigetsu finally reacted, but it was already too late. Within the sword shadows, the real Sword of the Thunder God suddenly thrust out, directly reaching his eyes.
Suigetsu felt in that instant that he would die. But this was, after all, a sparring match.
"You lose." Sasuke stopped the Sword of the Thunder God and said.
Suigetsu breathed a sigh of relief. He sighed inwardly and nodded, completely convinced.
This sparring match had no embellishments — Sasuke won fairly and squarely, and Suigetsu had nothing to say about his loss.
If he had been defeated by the Sharingan right from the start, he might have found an excuse. But he had used all his Water Release and swordsmanship, and it still had little effect.
Sasuke put away the Sword of the Thunder God and looked at the audience seats below the high platform. More precisely, he looked at Uchiha Fugaku and Uchiha Itachi.
But due to Tsunade and the others being present, they didn't show much reaction — only Uchiha Itachi gave him a slight smile.
"Victor, Uchiha Sasuke," Kitazawa announced with a smile.
Chōjūrō and Suigetsu had both been defeated, so Konoha Village winning five consecutive matches was a foregone conclusion.
He hadn't even heard of the remaining two Genin from Hidden Mist Village. Even if they had strength, it was limited.
The Ninja of Hidden Mist Village fell silent.
Although there were still two sparring matches, according to the best-of-five rule, they had already lost this Genin Exchange Meet.
Actually, losing wasn't a problem. After all, Konoha Village was stronger than them.
But what they wanted was an evenly matched loss — not such a crushing defeat. A crushing defeat meant the gap between the two sides was too large. This was not the outcome Hidden Mist Village wanted.
"Just like Naruto, it was too easy," Shikamaru said, looking at Sasuke as he returned.
"The Two-Tomoe Sharingan is inherently powerful; it's just Naruto and Yakumo who made us have a misconception," Ino said, shaking her head.
"Compared to them, I'm still quite strong, aren't I?" Kiba said proudly, laughing.
In the Genius Class, he had been beaten to the point of doubting his existence by Sasuke and Hyuga Neji.
But now, looking at it, the two most outstanding geniuses from Hidden Mist Village didn't perform much better than him.
If they didn't have those two ninja swords, they would actually be about the same.
"Sasuke, worthy of being my lifelong rival!" Naruto praised with a smile. "Your youth fills me with fighting spirit!"
Sasuke's strength had increased significantly after obtaining the Sword of the Thunder God. If it weren't for the inappropriate setting, he would definitely have issued a challenge.
"I'm faster than you." Sasuke glanced at him, suppressing the corner of his mouth, and said calmly.
"Faster than me at what?" Naruto didn't react for a moment.
"Of course, the time it takes to defeat an opponent is faster than you!"
"Sasuke-kun, you're so cool! You defeated him in just a few moves!" Sakura said excitedly.
Sasuke nodded, hands in his pockets.
Below the high platform, Kitazawa stood by the lottery box, raised his hand, and said, "Please go first."
Although Hidden Mist Village had already lost, the remaining two sparring matches still had to continue. Otherwise, Hidden Mist Village would appear to lack grace.
Ao nodded silently. He walked forward, took out a small piece of paper, and said, "Hyuga Hinata."
Kitazawa followed closely, reading, "Miyamoto Kai."
Hearing her name, Hinata greeted Ino and the others, then walked onto the high platform. After glancing at Miyamoto Kai, she looked towards Kitazawa, not far away.
"Good luck, don't be nervous." Kitazawa gave her a smile.
Hinata nodded, her small face tense, and immediately activated her Byakugan. She directly used the Konoha-style Body Flicker Technique, disappearing from her spot like a leaf.
Miyamoto Kai lost his target and immediately looked around.
Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms! Hinata appeared behind him, unleashing a flurry of palms.
Miyamoto Kai's heart jolted, and his arms were struck twice. He endured the discomfort of his Chakra being disrupted and kicked towards Hinata.
Hinata twisted her body, easily dodging, and struck his leg twice. At the same time, she stepped forward and struck his body twice more.
Miyamoto Kai immediately lost the power to resist, and the remaining twenty-six palms all hit their mark. He fell to the ground, his Chakra ceasing to flow.
"Victor, Hyuga Hinata." Seeing this, Kitazawa immediately announced.
Hinata's lips curved slightly. It was a pity the occasion wasn't right; otherwise, she would have received Kitazawa's head-patting reward.
Another defeat. The Ninja of Hidden Mist Village fell into a familiar silence.
But it was clearly not the end.
In the final sparring match, Hyuga Neji took the stage. Like Hinata, he won the match cleanly and decisively.
The Two-Tomoe Sharingan was overwhelming against ordinary Genin and Chunin, and the Byakugan was similarly effective. This was the terrifying power of Bloodline Limit Ninja.
Of course, the most critical thing was that Konoha Village's five geniuses left them with no hope for the future.
The Genin Exchange Meet concluded.
Mei Terumī said nothing more, and after bidding farewell to Tsunade, she led the Ninja of Hidden Mist Village away from the Ninja Academy — filled with worry.