'Adamantine Sealing Chains' was a sealing jutsu developed by the Uzumaki clan, originating from the 'Gedo Statue', possessing unparalleled suppressive power over Tailed Beasts.
Back then, Naruto's mother, Kushina, relied on this jutsu to subdue the Nine-Tails and become the new Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
Now, the person performing this jutsu had become Karin, whose strength had reached the 'Six Paths Level'. The effect of the 'Adamantine Sealing Chains' undoubtedly became stronger. Therefore, relying on the Nine-Tails' power, Naruto couldn't break free from the 'Adamantine Sealing Chains' at all, being locked tighter and tighter by chains glowing with a soft halo.
"Damn it!"
Menma could only be anxious in the air.
As a spiritual body, he had unique advantages. When dealing with ordinary ninjas, he could even eliminate opponents unknowingly.
But at the 'Six Paths Level', the advantage of a spiritual body wasn't so significant. Because not to mention anything else, just the 'Truth-Seeking Balls' of the 'Six Paths Level' could injure or even completely annihilate a spiritual body.
So when facing a strong enemy of the 'Six Paths Level', Menma's main role as a spiritual body became cooperating with the main attacker Naruto to launch surprise attacks.
Therefore, Menma could only be anxious in the air now. Because once he went down, whether attacking Karin alone or supporting Naruto bound by the 'Adamantine Sealing Chains', he might be countered by Karin in passing.
On the ground.
The tug-of-war between Karin and Naruto continued!
Even as the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki naturally countered by 'Adamantine Sealing Chains', Naruto wasn't entirely helpless. It could be said that if the opponent weren't Karin, Naruto might have already broken free with his 'Six Paths Level' brute force.
After stalemating for a while longer, the Nine-Tails said inside Naruto: "Give up, my power is completely countered!"
"But..."
Naruto hesitated a bit. He knew his current situation wasn't good, but he wasn't someone who gave up easily.
The Nine-Tails said: "The opponent is like you, also a member of the Uzumaki clan. Either we don't get caught, or if we do, we can only admit it!"
At the 'Six Paths Level', Tailed Beasts were no longer considered monsters. So the Nine-Tails inside Naruto kept a very low profile in the current situation, having no intention of fighting desperately.
Realizing he was truly no match, Naruto finally had to lower his head helplessly and concede.
Everyone came to the battlefield at this time.
Seeing Naruto dejected, Sasuke said: "It's normal for you to lose to Karin. Even if I face her, I'm not sure of winning."
Naruto quickly adjusted and said: "Sasuke, do your best!"
"Don't worry!"
Sasuke was full of confidence.
On the other side, Hikari came to Karin: "I knew you would definitely win!"
Karin laughed: "Aren't you the same!"
Soon, everyone gathered together to discuss.
After the first round of competition, Neji, Kimimaro, and Naruto were eliminated one after another.
Among them, Neji and Kimimaro didn't have much of a chance to begin with. Because the Otsutsuki power contained in 'Karma' wasn't their own power after all. When releasing 'Karma', they only briefly stepped into the 'Six Paths Level' domain. There was still a very obvious gap between them and true 'Six Paths Level' beings.
In comparison, Naruto's defeat was a defeat among peers in the true sense.
However, Naruto as a 'Six Paths Level' being was different from Karin and Hikari. He wasn't a Dojutsu Kekkei Genkai ninja. Becoming 'Six Paths Level' was mainly because he was the reincarnation of Ashura Otsutsuki, and partly because he was the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
No matter how Karin and Hikari took shortcuts, the power ultimately belonged to themselves. So even at the same 'Six Paths Level', Karin and Hikari were still obviously a cut above Naruto.
Shinji landed from the sky at this time, looked at the three winners, and said: "Very good!"
Everyone looked at Shinji in unison, waiting for his next arrangement.
Shinji's gaze swept over Karin, Hikari, and Sasuke. The three were indeed hard to group; no matter how they were grouped, one person would have an advantage.
Just as Shinji was pondering, Hikari Uchiha stepped forward: "I have 'Yachihoko' and can replenish chakra at any time. Why don't you let me fight two consecutive battles!"
Shinji smiled and asked: "Are you sure?"
"En!"
Hikari nodded.
She didn't care about the 'Chakra Fruit'. As long as she could help Shinji, she would do anything.
Shinji didn't act pretentiously and said: "Alright, let's do it like this! Karin, Sasuke, who will fight Hikari first?"
"I'll do it!"
Sasuke was the first to step forward.
The reason for being so proactive was mainly that he didn't want to take advantage. If Karin fought Hikari first and then he took action, he felt it would be an unfair victory.
After Sasuke stepped forward, Shinji led everyone to clear the field.
Hikari looked at the confident Sasuke and said: "Be careful, I won't go easy on you just because you're an Uchiha."
"I don't need you to go easy!"
After saying that, Sasuke pounced out with a 'whoosh'.
The engagement between Uchiha and Uchiha was exceptionally exciting. Both sides were not only Dojutsu Kekkei Genkai ninjas but also technicians. Whether it was offense and defense in taijutsu, or contests in dojutsu, ninjutsu, and genjutsu, skills were the main focus. So the momentum of the engagement wasn't as great as before, but the level of excitement was even higher!
Yakumo exclaimed: "So fast!"
Neji had a solemn expression: "Not just fast, their insight is simply astonishing. I can't keep up at all!"
Kimimaro nodded slightly, agreeing with Neji.
Both seemed to be deliberately suppressing the outbreak of chakra, purely competing in techniques, which tested basic skills and insight very much.
Ryūzetsu and Chino felt their scalps tingle watching: "They are so strong!"
Haku sighed: "As expected of the Uchiha!"
Naruto leaned towards Karin at this time and whispered: "Karin, who can win between them?"
Karin looked certain: "It must be Hikari!"
"Why?" Naruto was puzzled and mumbled: "Sasuke doesn't look like he's going to lose!"
Karin laughed: "Sasuke is indeed very strong, but his opponent is Hikari. Now in the organization, probably only Leader can win against Hikari!"
Naruto was startled: "What?! Even you aren't Hikari's match?"
Because Naruto's voice was a bit loud, everyone around heard it and cast curious glances.
Seeing everyone looking at her, Karin didn't hide it and admitted generously: "Hikari has surpassed me. The odds between me and her are forty-sixty; I only have a forty percent chance of winning!"
Hearing Karin's words, everyone suddenly realized. It turned out that Hikari stepping forward to fight two consecutive battles wasn't just because 'Yachihoko' made it convenient to replenish chakra, but also because Hikari was already stronger than Karin, becoming the existence second only to Shinji in the organization.