Water burst from Asuma's wound, splattering across his entire body.
"You're overthinking things, idiot."
A whisper came from behind him—Yagura's voice. His hands quickly formed a seal:
"Water Release: Water Prison Jutsu!"
Asuma's face turned deathly pale.
Damn it!
Water surged, instantly forming a sphere that trapped Asuma inside.
Checkmate.
The technique was maintained by a water clone—this was the second one.
The real Yagura emerged slowly from a pool of water on the ground.
"Not much of an opponent. I'm about to fall asleep."
He ran his fingers lightly across the water prison's surface, smiling as he glanced toward the audience, speaking as though he were casually chatting with them.
"I've used Lightning Release and Water Release enough. Let's try Wind Release this time."
First, he shaped his chakra into a crescent moon, completing the form transformation.
Then, he gradually infused it with wind nature, finishing the nature transformation.
A simple wind blade—the most basic Wind Release technique—was formed.
Yagura placed his hand on the water prison and sent the wind blade inside. A sharp cut appeared on Asuma's leg.
Successful experiment.
The water clone maintained the prison while the real Yagura continued sending wind blades into it.
One after another, each blade left a fresh wound on Asuma. The spectators gasped in shock with each new injury, their hearts pounding. The Konoha shinobi in attendance were both furious and horrified.
Anyone with even a bit of ninja experience could see how clumsy Yagura was with Wind Release.
And that was exactly why they were even angrier.
This guy was using the final round of the Chunin Exams to practice a new jutsu! He was treating the Hokage's son like a test dummy!
The foreign spectators, however, didn't share Konoha's outrage. Instead, they felt as if they were dreaming, unable to believe what they were seeing.
Is this really the final round of the Chunin Exams?
The son of the Third Hokage, the child of the so-called "Ninjutsu Professor," was being completely dominated by a Hidden Mist ninja. He couldn't even fight back.
How absurd.
Just as that tea-colored-haired boy had said, Yagura really did look like he was about to fall asleep.
Asuma's body was covered in wounds. At this point, escaping the Water Prison was impossible.
For the sake of his own career, the referee couldn't allow Asuma to die in front of him.
But the rules were clear: the match could only be stopped if one party admitted defeat.
At a loss, he could only turn to Nara Shikaku for guidance.
...
SPLASH!
The Water Prison shattered, and Asuma collapsed heavily onto the ground. His body was covered in deep, knife-like cuts from the wind blades.
Severe injuries, oxygen deprivation, excessive blood loss—he had already lost consciousness.
"Hmm, experiment successful. Wind Release is quite effective."
Yagura had no intention of letting Asuma die. Not because of their brief encounter at Ichiraku Ramen.
Asuma wasn't some nobody like Might Guy.
Having just taken down the Third Kazekage, Yagura wasn't in a hurry to have another Kage targeting him.
A femme fatale.
Sasori had killed the Third Kazekage about a year ahead of schedule.
Orochimaru hadn't even defected yet.
Smirking in satisfaction, Yagura shot the referee a look, signaling him to hurry up and announce the results.
The referee's heart pounded in his chest. Afraid of any further delay, he immediately raised his flag.
"Winner—Karatachi Yagura!"
His voice, however, carried a trace of panic.
Konoha's medical-nin were already waiting on standby. The moment the match ended, they rushed forward to carry Asuma away for treatment.
The final battle of the Chunin Exams, which should have been the most thrilling match, had ended in an utterly one-sided victory.
It had concluded so abruptly, so overwhelmingly, that the entire arena was left in stunned silence.
"Sigh…"
Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his temples. Today had been full of misfortunes. Perhaps he should visit the temple later.
It wasn't that Asuma was weak—it was that the Mist's child was simply too strong.
In that fight, Karatachi Yagura had displayed strength easily on par with a Jonin.
Even the White Fang's son was a step behind him.
Hatake Kakashi, who had graduated from the Academy at age five and became a Chunin at age six, was now nine—but he still wasn't Jonin level.
...
"OHHHHHHH!!!!"
The audience erupted in a deafening roar, their emotions bursting forth like a dam breaking.
Yagura turned toward the stands, lifted his chin, and proudly raised his fist high in the air, boldly declaring his championship victory.
Give me your cheers and screams!
Don't hold back—shout until your throats give out!
Focus all your admiration on me!
His confident, almost arrogant pose instantly ignited the crowd's suppressed emotions.
The champion turned, walking triumphantly back toward the Hidden Mist's waiting area.
"So strong! Unbelievably strong!"
"AHHHHHHHH, SO COOL!"
"SUGOI!!! This kid is insane!"
"Karatachi Yagura, I WANT YOUR BABIES!"
While the common folk were caught up in the excitement, the higher-ups had their own discussions.
"So this is the infamous 'Blood Mist Village'? Interesting."
"We've never tried hiring Mist ninjas before, have we?"
"Go back and ask if anyone has connections to Kirigakure..."
...
Once Yagura disappeared into the entrance tunnel, he finally lowered his fists, relaxing his arms.
He let out a long breath.
Back in the Mist, he had made big promises in front of the Third Mizukage.
At least now, the results wouldn't disappoint. He hadn't embarrassed himself.
With this, Kirigakure's rare participation in the Chunin Exams had served its purpose.
Mission complete!
Ah, but now…
Let's see if the Third Mizukage and the elders appreciate all the hard work of this poor little eight-year-old!
If not, I'll just march into the Mizukage's office every day and remind them.
Not like they can do anything to me.
Grinning to himself, Yagura entertained the thought of how the Third Mizukage might react.
When he reached his team, he was greeted by a rare friendly look from Jinin Akebino, as if their previous conflicts had never happened. The man clapped him heavily on the shoulder.
"Not bad, brat! That was a damn good fight!"
Yagura winced at the impact, forcing a stiff smile. "Thanks!"
Ringo Ameyuri immediately hooked an arm around Yagura's neck, practically cackling.
"Did you see those Konoha ninjas' faces?! They were turning green with rage! Hahaha!"
"Didn't see, but I can imagine," Yagura replied with a smirk.
Especially Sarutobi Hiruzen's face—he really wished he could've seen that.
Mukumo's usually reserved face was flushed with excitement. His eyes sparkled.
"You were… amazing!"
"Thanks."
Yagura raised a hand and exchanged a casual high-five with him.
Mission complete. Time to go home.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo