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After Shino's victory, the list for the third round of matches was quickly announced.
Misumi Tsurugi vs. Kankurō.
Like Yoroi, Misumi was a spy Orochimaru had planted in Konoha, one of the two teammates of Yakushi Kabuto.
However, this spy wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed!
During his fight with Kankurō, he recklessly used his Soft Physique Modification technique, allowing his body to stretch and contract freely like a snake.
Those unfamiliar with Orochimaru might not have noticed anything amiss.
But those who knew Orochimaru well saw his shadow in Misumi.
For example, Orochimaru's student, Mitarashi Anko.
And… Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Even if Misumi had won, what awaited him would likely have been the Torture and Interrogation Force.
Unfortunately, he was no match for Kankurō.
Initially, his Soft Physique Modification posed some minor trouble for Kankurō.
But once his abilities were understood, and he failed to produce any new tricks, Kankurō quickly defeated him using his puppets.
The fifth match: Nara Shikamaru vs. Taeda Chikara.
Taeda Chikara was the only Sound ninja who hadn't withdrawn.
However, before Nara Shikamaru could even step down, the Sound ninja raised his hand and declared, "I withdraw!"
Upon hearing this, many people cast strange glances his way.
Some of the more suspicious individuals even regarded him with scrutiny.
There was no helping it; this person was far too suspicious.
He hadn't withdrawn earlier, yet chose to do so now—what was he playing at?
The Sound ninja paid no mind to the stares from these important figures. After raising his hand to withdraw, he quickly left the area.
His and his comrades' mission was merely to provide cover for Orochimaru and Kabuto.
Now that Orochimaru's objective was accomplished, there was no need to remain.
After all, their abilities were far inferior to those of Dosu and the others!
Hiruzen, holding his pipe, whispered to a Special Jōnin beside him, "Investigate these Sound ninja and their supervising Jōnin."
"Yes."
With the Sound ninja's withdrawal, the names on the screen flickered once again.
At the same time, a figure quietly appeared on the second-floor viewing platform. It was Kakashi, who had just finished sealing the cursed mark on Sasuke.
He didn't report to Hiruzen about encountering Orochimaru in the secret chamber earlier. Instead, after informing Naruto and Sakura about Sasuke's condition, he joined his two students to watch the upcoming matches.
When the list for the sixth match was finalized, no one noticed that Ryūsei, leaning against the railing, had pupils constricted to their limits beneath his tinted lenses.
How could this be?!
The list for the sixth match read—
Hyūga Hinata vs. Yumiko!
Ryūsei was quite familiar with Yumiko, as were Hinata, the other two girls, Nara Shikamaru, and Akimichi Chōji.
Before Hinata joined Ryūsei's small circle, Yumiko had been Sakura's desk mate.
But that wasn't the key point!
The main reason Ryūsei's pupils constricted was why Hinata's opponent was Yumiko?
From the match between Uchiha Sasuke and Yoroi, it wasn't hard to see that, whether in the original storyline or now, the random matching on the screen was rigged.
The match between Sakura and Ino in the original storyline might be written off as a coincidence.
But two matches were definitely intentionally arranged.
These two matches were Uchiha Sasuke vs. Yoroi and… Hyūga Hinata vs. Hyūga Neji.
As the only remaining prestigious clan in Konoha, the Hyūga clan had become the most valued ninja clan by Hiruzen.
If it weren't for the fact that this clan rarely produced Kage-level shinobi, and they were well aware that they were the weakest of the prestigious clans, having always been supporters of the Hokage lineage since Konoha's founding, the Hyūga clan would undoubtedly have faced suppression from Konoha's higher-ups, their treatment not much better than the Uchiha clan's.
Since the creation of the Caged Bird Seal, the Hyūga clan had always had the most talented Main Family heir, who would also become the clan's strongest member.
But in this generation, a genius had emerged from the Branch Family—the top student of the Konoha 59th class and the most outstanding Genin of that year.
In the original storyline, Hiruzen arranged the match between Hinata and Neji to observe whether the Main Family or the Branch Family produced the most outstanding talent in this generation of the Hyūga clan.
But now, Hinata's opponent wasn't Neji.
Could it be that Hinata being matched against Neji in the original storyline was also a coincidence?
Was the only rigged match Uchiha Sasuke vs. Yoroi Akado?
Though immensely puzzled, Ryūsei maintained a calm exterior and encouragingly said to Hinata with a smile, "Hinata, do your best!"
"Mm."
Hinata nodded with a smile and made her way downstairs.
Coincidentally, she and Yumiko were on the same viewing platform.
As the two girls descended together, Yumiko whispered to Hinata, "Hinata, go easy on me."
Hinata nodded earnestly. "Mm, I will."
Hinata was deeply grateful to Yumiko.
If Yumiko hadn't agreed to switch seats with her, her relationships with Ino and Sakura would never have reached their current level.
That she could obtain the friendship she longed for and be so close to the person she admired was all thanks to Yumiko's kindness.
Therefore, Hinata decided to go extremely easy on Yumiko.
When the battle began, Hinata didn't activate her Byakugan nor use the Gentle Fist against Yumiko. Instead, she relied on the basics taught at the ninja academy to engage in a match befitting two rookie Genin.
Throughout the fight, Yumiko didn't use a single jutsu beyond the three basic academy techniques.
Either her supervising Jōnin hadn't taught her any, or she hadn't learned any yet.
After exchanging blows for over twenty rounds, Hinata used the Body Flicker Technique to appear behind Yumiko and ended the match by pressing a kunai against her neck.
Watching Hinata's performance, Neji of Team Guy frowned deeply, his dislike for the young mistress growing even stronger.
Why hold back when she could have ended the match quickly?
As the young lady of the Main Family, actually fighting a civilian Genin to such a extent—did she not know she was disgracing the clan?
Hiruzen, however, nodded with satisfaction.
This kindness toward her comrades was a rare and precious quality for a member of a ninja clan!
If Hyūga Hinata were to inherit the Hyūga clan in the future, at least for the next few decades, she would pose no threat to Konoha's higher-ups.
After Hinata returned to the viewing platform, the names on the screen flickered once again.
Before Ryūsei could congratulate Hinata, numerous gazes gathered on him, including those from Kurenai and Shino beside him, as well as Hinata, who had just returned.
The large screen now displayed—
Hoshina Ryūsei vs. Hyūga Neji!
Seeing the surprise on Ryūsei's face, Hiruzen, puffing on his pipe, couldn't help but smile.
Just as Ryūsei had suspected, the random matching was indeed rigged.
When Hiruzen saw the list of those who passed the second exam, he had indeed considered observing the heirs of the Hyūga clan's Main and Branch Families.
But upon seeing Ryūsei's name, he suddenly changed his mind, wanting to see a showdown between the top student of this year and the top student of the previous year.
At the same time, Hiruzen also wanted to take this opportunity to gauge the potential of Ryūsei, this civilian genius.
If Neji won, then the match between the Main and Branch Families would be arranged for the formal matches of the third exam.
If Ryūsei won, it would prove that he was worth cultivating and investing in heavily, potentially adding another pillar to the Hokage lineage in the future.
This arrangement was simply a plan to kill two birds with one stone!