As predicted by Orochimaru, the situation was far from optimistic. Despite Konoha having the upper hand, both the Cloud and Stone ninja seemed to be leaning toward an alliance. It appeared that they were gradually encircling Tsunade and her group, ready to strike at any moment. The goal was clear: defeat one side, and the battle would be won.
In response, Kakashi moved closer to Might Guy, cautiously keeping an eye on the Cloud ninja girl wielding a long blade.
The girl appeared to be around thirteen or fourteen years old, with a figure that even outshone many adults. She wore a dark red short top and fishnet attire on top, paired with a black skirt that had a slit, revealing her fair, long legs. Her waist-length golden hair cascaded down her back. Despite her young age, she exuded a mature, older-sister aura. Her teal-colored eyes locked onto them with a fierce gaze.
As a taijutsu user himself, Kakashi could immediately sense that this Cloud ninja girl was no ordinary opponent.
"Given the current situation, it's not looking good," Orochimaru observed cautiously, his eyes fixed on the cloud and stone ninjas. "These are the strongest from their respective villages."
"Dan, give us a rundown of what you've gathered."
Kakashi suddenly asked.
At this, Kato Dan, following Kakashi's gaze, glanced at the Cloud ninja girl and replied, "That girl is named Karen I. Even among the martial-arts-oriented Cloud Village, she's known for being extremely combative. She's proficient with the long blade. Despite being a girl, rumors say she's incredibly strong, possibly even on par with the older brother. She might even outpace him in terms of speed."
Kato Dan paused, then looked at Tsunade, who remained silent. He added, "But that's only in hand-to-hand combat. If the older brother uses ninjutsu seriously, defeating someone like her will be relatively easy."
"Of course! If I go all out, I'm terrifying!" Tsunade shamelessly accepted the praise, though she quickly sealed the weapon she was holding back into a scroll and placed it in her belt. She glanced at Karen I's fiery figure, then tucked away her ninja tool scroll.
"Tsunade."
Jiraiya's hand suddenly landed on Tsunade's shoulder. She turned to him and saw his serious expression as he shook his head. "Trust me, based on years of observation, your potential is on par with hers. But with my help, you'll far exceed her!"
Humans always repeat the same tragedies.
Tsunade glared at Jiraiya, her fist clenched as if she were about to strike him. Fortunately, logic overcame instinct. After all, humans must learn to control their instincts, unlike certain dogs who, when in heat, can't help but act on impulse.
"Jiraiya, focus! This is a battlefield!"
"..."
Being lectured by the usually carefree Jiraiya left him feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
On the other hand, Kakashi was ignoring Tsunade's antics and remained focused. He kept a watchful eye on the Cloud and Stone ninja while carefully listening to Dan's report.
"That boy to Karen I's left is named Kyoji. He's said to be the youngest participant in the Chunin exams this year. He specializes in Earth and Fire Style ninjutsu, as well as the Bloodline Limit Lava Release. His Lava Release, especially, is incredibly destructive, much like the Great Fireball Technique the older brother just used."
"That little kid is that strong?" Tsunade remarked with a bit of surprise as she glanced at the cocky little boy beside Karen I. "I thought even the sixth-level Fireball Technique was impressive. It seems like the so-called Bloodline Limits are just blatant power-ups, huh?"
"Yes, that's why it's best not to go head-to-head unless absolutely necessary."
Dan's gaze shifted to the boy standing next to Karen I. "That one's called Shota."
A few seconds of silence passed.
"That's it?"
Kakashi asked in a low voice.
Dan flipped through his small notebook and nodded. "Yes, that's all."
With that, Dan's attention turned to the Stone ninja.
The Stone ninja's tactics were unexpectedly impressive. First, they used aerial superiority to avoid the previous battle, gaining the upper hand. Second, their team was composed of two girls and one boy, a unique combination compared to the other ninja teams in the Chunin exams.
"The one standing in the middle is called Daro. He's known for being ruthless and is skilled in Earth Style and a secret technique involving explosive clay. His explosive clay is incredibly powerful, and his methods of using it are nearly impossible to defend against. That giant bird they were flying on earlier was probably made of clay. Rumor has it, he once used a tiny clay centipede to crawl into an enemy's ear and explode."
At this, Tsunade couldn't help but shiver. She suddenly felt a strange itch in her ears, but with everyone watching, she couldn't indulge in such an undignified action. The thought of a centipede crawling into her ear was just too unpleasant. Was he planning to ask others math questions like 'What's 1000 minus 7?'
Dan continued, "If you encounter him, be especially cautious of his clay."
Kakashi and Orochimaru both realized that their lack of aerial capabilities would put them at a serious disadvantage if Daro took to the air and used his explosive clay. It could very well wear them out, whether in this second exam or the upcoming third one.
Sensing the shift in mood, Dan quickly moved the conversation to the next Stone ninja. "The girl to Daro's left, with the single ponytail, is named Yukari. I couldn't gather much about her, but I've heard she's also a user of a Bloodline Limit."
The girl named Yukari looked disinterested, her gaze downcast, but there was something oddly innocent about her appearance. Still, given she was in Daro's team, she likely wasn't someone easy to deal with.
"And the other little girl?"
Tsunade asked, her attention now on a girl who looked no older than ten. Tsunade had been observing her for a while, as her appearance was quite to her liking. Her black hair was cut neatly to her shoulders, and she wore a backless black outfit. Her youthful face was set in a stern expression, seemingly trying hard to appear imposing.
Though her skin wasn't as pale as Karen I's, it had a healthy glow.
Tsunade's interest in her stemmed from the similarity between this girl's outfit and the one Tsunade wore during her training.
"Her name is Ayaka Hoshizora. She's the princess of the Hoshizora clan, known for its powerful lineage in the Stone Village. I haven't gathered specific details on her abilities yet, but the Hoshizora clan is a major family in Stone Village, comparable to the Senju and Uchiha in Konoha. So I suspect she, like most members of the Hoshizora clan, excels in bee manipulation techniques and Earth Style."
Tsunade sighed, visibly disappointed.
"How unfortunate."
"!!!"
The dog noticed Tsunade's quiet sigh and immediately turned his gaze to Ayaka.
The dog felt that his older brother had been acting distant lately, probably because he hadn't proven his worth. When he first arrived in this world, his older brother was always excited to ask him questions, but that enthusiasm seemed to have faded quickly.
Now, it was time to do something to regain his older brother's favor!
Previously, the dog had even offered to give up his beloved little female dog for his older brother, but his brother didn't seem interested in outsiders, just like him. Since then, the dog had been carefully searching for the perfect candidate—and now, he'd found one.
His older brother's RBQ. "The decision is yours!"
(End of Chapter)