"Hyūga Hinata versus Yamanaka Ino."
When the break ended, Kitazawa announced the next match.
In the first round, Hyūga Hinata had faced a student who never appears in the original story, so with her ability she won effortlessly.
"Ino."
Yamanaka Ino smiled and said, "Let's just keep it to light contact, okay?"
She knew she was no match for Hinata, so she stayed relaxed and felt no pressure at all.
The Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi clans are collectively known as the Ino–Shika–Chō trio.
The three clans are closely allied, and even their secret techniques are designed to work best in combination.
Within the trio, the Yamanaka clan's techniques focus on control and support rather than direct combat.
Because Ino was still young and had not yet learned her family's techniques, there was no way she could defeat Hinata, who already knew the Gentle Fist.
After only a few exchanges, Ino was defeated.
"Winner: Hyūga Hinata."
Kitazawa thought for a moment. "Next match: Akimichi Chōji versus Uzumaki Naruto."
Although Naruto had lost to Uchiha Sasuke in the first round, he had already proven his strength, so no one objected to him entering round two.
"I'm up, Naruto!"
Chōji flashed a silly grin and moved with surprising agility for someone his size.
He rushed in front of Naruto and threw a punch.
"Nice try!"
Naruto shouted, "Leaf Whirlwind!"
His kick met Chōji's fist squarely.
A visible shockwave spread outward, and both fighters staggered, impressed by each other's power.
Within the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, the Akimichi clan fills the role of durable, hard‑hitting attackers.
Their techniques are founded on the Multi‑Size Jutsu, which enlarges the whole body or specific parts.
Unfortunately, Chōji had not yet learned that jutsu.
Naruto, on the other hand, knew the Leaf Whirlwind and Leaf Great Whirlwind, so with roughly equal strength he had the edge in taijutsu.
After a brief but intense clash, Chōji voluntarily conceded.
"Winner: Uzumaki Naruto."
Kitazawa looked at Chōji, wondering whether a related quest might be triggered—he was quite interested in the Multi‑Size Jutsu.
Going gigantic at a critical moment sounded awesome, and it's one of the few secret arts effective even against huge creatures like Tailed Beasts.
"Has Naruto's taijutsu already become the strongest in our class?"
Inuzuka Kiba suddenly realized something frightening and blurted it out.
"Pretty much," Ino said in surprise. "Sasuke beat him, but not in taijutsu."
"Naruto's really changed," Aburame Shino remarked.
He remembered Naruto on the first day of school—annoying, disliked, weak, and always bragging. In less than two months he'd transformed completely.
"Once I awaken the Sharingan, his taijutsu won't beat mine again," Uchiha Sasuke cut in.
Shikamaru and the others fell silent.
As children of shinobi clans they knew how fearsome the Sharingan was—its most direct power is copying: your great taijutsu becomes mine in the next instant.
"Hyūga Hinata versus Uchiha Sasuke."
Kitazawa announced after a brief pause.
"Good luck, Hinata!" Ino encouraged her at once.
"Take him down!" Kiba and the others joined in.
First, they felt Hinata was the underdog against Sasuke; second, despite being shy she was well‑liked.
"Thank you!"
Hinata nodded determinedly. "I'll do my best!"
She glanced at Kitazawa, then walked to the center of the field.
Sasuke noticed the look and felt a jolt—he remembered Hinata usually trained with Kitazawa, and after Naruto's example he put away any arrogance.
Knowing Hinata excelled at taijutsu, Sasuke opened with two shuriken.
They hissed through the air.
Hinata recalled Kitazawa's leaf‑dodge drills; these shuriken weren't much faster than those leaves.
With a serious expression she weaved between them and advanced swiftly.
She didn't have the Byakugan yet, but she had learned basic Gentle Fist.
If she could get close enough to strike a chakra point, she had a real chance.
"So fast?"
Sasuke was startled and wanted no part of a taijutsu duel. Forming hand seals, he produced two shadow clones.
Hinata froze for a split second—without the Byakugan she couldn't tell which was real.
Gritting her teeth, she struck the nearest Sasuke.
Bang! The figure vanished: a clone.
At that moment a wave of heat rushed in—Sasuke's real body appeared on her right.
He inhaled and spat out a massive fireball.
Hinata could only dodge.
Kitazawa frowned, stepped in front of her, and—just as before—used Water Style: Wild Water Wave to douse the flames.
"I'm sorry, Kitazawa‑sensei," Hinata said guiltily.
"No need to apologize. You did great. If you'd had your Byakugan, you might have beaten him."
Kitazawa patted her head and smiled.
It wasn't Hinata's fault—a close‑combat fighter had simply been kited from long range.
"I…"
Looking at his smile, Hinata felt she'd wasted his training.
"All right, go rest," Kitazawa consoled her. "It was only a friendly spar—don't dwell on it; just win next time."
"Mm."
Hinata felt a weight lift.
Sasuke, however, fell silent.
His only edge had been Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu—the Uchiha clan's vaunted shuriken skills had done nothing.
Once again he sensed danger: Hinata and Naruto were each just one Fireball away from overtaking him.
If only he could awaken the Sharingan, he thought, he'd have nothing to fear.
"Time's up—today's sparring ends here."
Kitazawa cleared his throat. "The five students who'll do live combat against Class 2‑A are Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata, Uzumaki Naruto, Aburame Shino, and Akimichi Chōji."
"Awesome!" Naruto shouted, thrilled.
Hands in his pockets, Sasuke thought of Hyūga Neji—the strongest should meet the strongest.
But after seeing Naruto's and Hinata's power, he wasn't sure he could defeat Neji.
Hinata bit her lip, suddenly nervous.
Being chosen meant she might have to face Neji—and she had no idea how to deal with him.
They'd once been close, but since Neji received the Caged Bird Seal they'd become strangers.
The dismissal bell rang, the last class ended, and everyone began to leave.
Kitazawa had taken only two steps when a figure appeared before him.
"Kitazawa," said Haru of the Anbu. "Please come with me—the Hokage wishes to see you."
"Understood," Kitazawa replied.
Following Haru, he wondered why Hiruzen Sarutobi had summoned him.
Had the Hokage watched today's spar and decided to reward him because Naruto performed well?
Still pondering, Kitazawa entered the Hokage's office—and saw an unexpected figure.
She wore a tea‑green jacket, had striking blond hair, and an hourglass figure that radiated mature allure.
It was Tsunade of the Legendary Sannin.
Though Kitazawa had never met her, her fair, unmistakable features gave her away—after all, you can't turn off the gravitational pull.