Byakugan!
Hyuga Neji activated his dojutsu, his pale eyes gleaming as veins bulged around them. He focused intently on the towering Hellhound before him, a slight frown creasing his otherwise calm face.
The creature was unlike any human opponent he had ever faced. Its anatomy was vastly different, and this posed a serious problem.
The prerequisite for Gentle Fist's point-striking technique was precise knowledge of an enemy's chakra network and their tenketsu points. But here, Neji had no such reference.
Still, he wasn't one to give up easily. Tricky… but not impossible.
Through the Byakugan, he observed the flow of chakra within the beast's body, searching for patterns. While its tenketsu weren't immediately visible—chakra not being actively concentrated there—he could at least start identifying key nodes.
If it were a human, things would have been simpler. Every Hyuga knew the 361 chakra points of the human body by heart.
"Watch out, Neji!"
Kiba's voice cut through his concentration, warning him just as the massive creature lunged. The Hellhound's massive paw sliced through the air, creating a gust that carried raw power and pressure.
Neji retreated two steps, then leaped forward to evade. As he passed along the Hellhound's side, his palms struck its back with precision, chakra surging through his hands. But the beast reacted instantly, twisting and flinging him away with sheer brute strength.
Landing lightly, Neji widened the distance between them, remaining calm and calculating.
"Haha, again!"
Kiba, merged with the Hellhound, couldn't contain his excitement. In the past, he could never last more than two rounds against Neji. Now, he felt himself gaining ground.
The Hellhound pressed forward, claws extended like ten razor-sharp blades poised to rip through the air. But Neji didn't back down. Instead, he lunged forward just before the strike landed.
Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!
His hands shot forward like lightning, striking twice at the Hellhound's chest. But before he could continue, Kiba countered. The beast leapt over Neji, twisting in midair to land behind him, fangs bared.
Yet Neji's composure didn't falter. Those two strikes, though seemingly ineffective, had revealed something—one of the Hellhound's chakra points.
Just a few more, and this match will be over.
"Kiba is actually keeping up with Neji?!" Tenten gasped from the stands, unable to hide her shock.
Naruto leaned forward with an eager grin. "That two-headed dog transformation is insane! Kitazawa-sensei really pulled off something incredible." His eyes gleamed with fighting spirit—he wanted to test himself against it.
Ino's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Now I can't wait to see the new ninjutsu Kitazawa promised me."
Nearby, Hinata clasped her hands tightly, watching with awe. She had always believed Neji was untouchable.
But after training under Kitazawa, she had beaten him herself—and now even Kiba was fighting him evenly.
I'll catch up too, she silently vowed, determination burning within her.
"No wonder Kiba was so confident," muttered Shikamaru, piecing things together.
"Kiba will lose soon." Sasuke's calm statement drew several startled glances.
"Huh? What makes you say that?" Sakura asked.
Sasuke's Sharingan spun into focus, scarlet tomoe glowing. "Because I can see it. Neji has already found his target."
On the field, Neji surged forward once more. His palms blurred into a series of precise strikes, faster than the eye could follow.
Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!
Five consecutive blows landed on the Hellhound's body in rapid succession.
Kiba's expression shifted from confidence to sudden alarm. "What the—?! My chakra… it stopped—"
A loud bang echoed as the combined transformation broke apart. Kiba and his clone tumbled separately to the ground, the technique forcibly ended.
Neji lowered his palms, his tone calm and certain. "Point-striking. I sealed five of your tenketsu in an instant."
"Winner—Hyuga Neji," Kitazawa announced, his voice carrying across the arena.
In the stands, Sakura looked at Sasuke with amazement. "How did you know?"
"Nothing escapes the Sharingan," Sasuke said coolly, exuding quiet confidence.
Shikamaru raised a brow, muttering, "Man, this guy's getting arrogant…"
But Ino sighed with admiration. "Still, Kiba's gotten way stronger. I'm not sure I can beat him anymore."
From the front row, Hiruzen Sarutobi observed with a pleased smile. "Neji's performance was calm and precise—on par with Sasuke's."
Tsunade, however, focused on something else. "That Hellhound… It's not part of the Inuzuka Clan's original jutsu."
"No," Hiruzen chuckled, "it's a new secret technique. Kitazawa created it."
Tsunade frowned slightly. "He's not my student… yet."
"Still, creating a secret jutsu for the Inuzuka Clan shows a deep mastery of Yang Release chakra transformation," Hiruzen remarked, clearly impressed.
His meaning was simple. Kitazawa's ability to master the Yang Release Chakra nature transformation was Tsunade's credit.
Tsunade was silent for a moment before responding softly, "It's his talent, not mine."
Nearby, Nara Shikaku couldn't help but feel uneasy.
In Konoha Village, when it came to the ranking of the major Ninja clans' power, after the Hyuga Clan and the Uchiha Clan, it should be their Ino-Shika-Cho.
The Inuzuka Clan was quite inferior to them, but Inuzuka Kiba's performance put pressure on him.
After all, the audience present were all Konoha Jonin and the heads of various Ninja clans, especially with Hiruzen Sarutobi also present.
If the Inuzuka Clan stole the show, Ino–Shika–Chō would lose face.
But Nara Shikaku couldn't change anything; he could only place his hopes on Shikamaru, Ino, and Choji.
Time slowly passed.
The subsequent matches were not as exciting. After all, many students participated in the elite competition.
"The first round ends here. After a fifteen-minute break, the second round will begin," Kitazawa said loudly.
Compared to the first round, the number of students entering the second round was more than halved. In this situation, the probability of Sasuke and the others encountering each other would be much higher.
"The first match of the second round: Nara Shikamaru versus Tenten!"
The break time ended, and Kitazawa walked to the lottery box again, taking out two small slips of paper.
"It's my turn!" Tenten immediately slung her summoning scroll onto her back. It was filled with her Ninja tools.
"Youth fears no strong enemy!" Rock Lee said, his teeth sparkling. "Defeat him, Tenten!"
"Be careful of his shadow," Hyuga Neji reminded her.
"Mm." Tenten nodded and walked into the arena.
"What a drag." Shikamaru sighed when he heard his opponent was Tenten. Tenten's method of throwing Ninja tools without restraint was quite tricky for them at this stage.
"Your dad is watching, don't lose too badly," Ino said with a smile.
"Not losing miserably is a victory." Shikamaru ignored Ino's provocation and lazily walked onto the field.
"Can't this kid be a little more serious?" Shikaku felt a bit awkward seeing this.
After all, Sarutobi Hiruzen was right beside him. If the Hokage saw him in such a listless state, how could he become a successor of the Will of Fire in the future?
"Match start!"
Kitazawa stood at the side of the field and shouted.
Shuriken Barrage! Tenten immediately opened her summoning scroll.
A sky full of Ninja tools, like a goddess scattering flowers, flew out in a fan shape.
Shikamaru had already anticipated this. As she opened the summoning scroll, he started running.
He took an arc-shaped run from the left, avoiding her Ninja tool attack. A large number of Ninja tools missed, sticking into the ground.
Shikamaru glanced at the sun, then at the Ninja tools, while rapidly approaching Tenten.
"Not so easy!"
Tenten remembered Hyuga Neji's reminder: Shikamaru approaching her would definitely be to connect their shadows and control her.
Manipulated Tools: Heavenly Chain Disaster!
Tenten suddenly flung the summoning scroll in her hand into the sky. The scroll automatically opened, and a large number of Ninja tools shot out.
Shikamaru had no choice but to dodge. But he was dodging around Tenten.
In the blink of an eye, Tenten's surroundings were covered with Ninja tools, densely packed like bamboo shoots.
"Don't run!" Tenten took the summoning scroll and threw a chain from it.
Shikamaru's eyes instantly narrowed. He sidestepped, dodging the chain, and simultaneously formed hand signs.
Shadow Sewing Technique!
Seeing that the chain missed, Tenten immediately swung it. The chain spun around and wrapped itself around Nara Shikamaru's waist.
Shikamaru seemed not to react in time and was immediately bound at the waist by the chain.
"It worked!" Tenten smiled at the sight.
But she immediately noticed a problem: Shikamaru's shadow moved, quickly extending along the chain towards her.
Tenten's heart jumped, and she quickly let go, retreating two steps. Just as she was about to move further back, her body suddenly stiffened.
She looked down and saw that, at some point, her shadow had been caught by Shikamaru.
Tenten was instantly bewildered. When did that happen?
"Brilliant!" Shikaku's eyes lit up, and he said happily.
"Two Shadow Tendrils; the visible one attacked via the chain, while the hidden one used the Ninja tools on the ground to capture Tenten."
Hiruzen praised, "Shikaku, your son is as clever as you are."
The visible Shadow Tendril was the simplest. But the Ninja tools on the ground were tricky. Because the shadows of the Ninja tools had to be connected for Shikamaru to use them.
In other words, Shikamaru's previous evasions weren't random; they were deliberate. By calculating the angle of the sunlight, he connected the shadows of the Ninja tools, ultimately capturing Tenten's shadow.
"Hokage-sama, you flatter me," Shikaku said modestly.
"I don't like opponents like that," Tsunade shook her head and said.
An opponent being too clever can also be a terrifying thing. This is one of the reasons why Ino–Shika–Chō became a classic combination.
"Winner, Nara Shikamaru," Kitazawa announced.
Most Ninjas lose their ability to resist once they are restrained. Aside from her numerous Ninja tools, Tenten didn't possess the raw power of Sasuke and Naruto.
After being caught by Shikamaru's shadow, she was manipulated into holding a kunai to her neck. Seeing this, Tenten could only concede defeat.
"Round two, fourth match: Hyuga Hinata versus Ino Yamanaka!"
Kitazawa glanced at the small piece of paper, raised an eyebrow, and said.
"Ino, don't lose too badly, okay?" Shikamaru smiled, returning Ino Yamanaka's earlier words to her.
"Even if my opponent is Hinata, I won't lose that easily!" Ino snorted lightly and said.
"Don't lose so quickly." Sakura Haruno, as a rival, offered her 'blessings'.
"Definitely not as fast as you!" Ino rolled her eyes at her and said.
"I'm a Medical Ninja!" Sakura immediately retorted.
Something about Medical Ninja not being good at combat, or that a Medical Ninja's loss wasn't a real loss.
For a moment, the atmosphere was quite lively.
"Ino, please guide me." Hinata walked into the arena and assumed the starting stance for Gentle Fist.
Ino sighed inwardly.
She used the Mind Body Switch Technique right at the start. Because she was worried that if she waited, she might not get another chance to use it.
But even using it early didn't have any effect.
Konoha-style Body Flicker Technique!
Hinata instantly appeared in front of Ino, joining two fingers and striking the Chakra point on her wrist.
Ino only felt the Chakra in her hand stagnate. Mind Body Switch Technique was forcibly canceled.
Hinata didn't pause, immediately striking with both palms. Her hands were placed on Ino's chest, but she didn't use Chakra.
"As expected, I can't beat you." Ino knew she had been spared and readily conceded defeat.
"Winner, Hyuga Hinata," Kitazawa announced, seeing the situation.
"Big sister is amazing!" Hyuga Hanabi said in a childish voice.
She was now two and a half years old, and with the Ninja World's early maturity, she could understand half of it.
"Hanabi, you must learn from your sister in the future." Hyuga Hiashi patted her head and said with a faint smile.
"Mhm," Hanabi replied seriously.
"Round two, ninth match: Naruto versus Sasuke!"
After Kitazawa's announcement, the audience showed expressions of interest.
The Student Council selection's practical combat had reached this point, and they had basically understood the strength of the participating students.
Without a doubt, Sasuke and Naruto were among the strongest students.
Only a few others could compare to them, such as Kurama Yakumo, Hyuga Neji, Hyuga Hinata, and Shino Aburame.
"Sasuke!" Naruto said enthusiastically, "I didn't think we'd meet again! Let's have another youthful showdown!"
"No matter how many times we face each other, there's only one outcome." Sasuke glanced at him and said.
"That's not necessarily true!" Naruto gave a thumbs-up and said, "I've prepared a special surprise for you!"
"A futile effort," Sasuke said indifferently.
In his opinion, Naruto's most troublesome Ninjutsu was only the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu.
"Come on! Sasuke!" Naruto said as he walked, "Youth is waiting for us!"
Sasuke twitched his lips. Later, I'll definitely beat you so badly you can't say the word 'youth' anymore.
"I hope Naruto wins more." Kiba scratched his head and said, "Sasuke, that guy is so arrogant!"
"How could Sasuke-kun possibly lose?" Sakura glared at him and asked.
"Naruto has been training with Kitazawa-sensei, you know." Ino said, hands on her hips, "If Kiba can get stronger, Naruto definitely can too."
"What do you mean by 'even I can get stronger'?" Kiba asked somewhat frantically, "Isn't it normal for me to get stronger?"
"You guys have a lot of energy." Shikamaru yawned and said.
"If it were the Sasuke from the last match, his chances wouldn't be small." Shino Aburame thought for a moment and said.
"Indeed." Hyuga Neji rarely agreed.
Karin didn't speak; she only felt envious. She wondered when she would be able to get along with her classmates.
The first row of the audience seats.
"Tsunade, who do you favor more?" Hiruzen asked with a smile.
"Naruto." Tsunade said casually, "His abundant Chakra should give him an advantage."
"You don't know everything." Hiruzen said unhurriedly, "In last week's practical combat test, Naruto lost to Sasuke."
"How did he lose?" Tsunade's face showed surprise at the news.
"It was like this." Hiruzen recounted the story.
He hadn't witnessed it personally, but the daily intelligence reports submitted by the Anbu regarding Naruto clearly detailed it.
Besides, as a Ninjutsu professor, even a few lines of text were enough for him to reconstruct the combat situation at that time.
"I see." Tsunade said with some surprise, "I didn't expect Sasuke to have such combat talent."
After she finished speaking, her thoughts moved again.
"You don't seem worried at all." Tsunade continued.
"You really understand me." Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed at her words and said, "You'll know soon enough."
He was referring to Rasengan.
"..." Tsunade suppressed the urge to bang on the table.
Her gaze fell on Naruto in the arena, and she wanted to see what exactly made Hiruzen Sarutobi so mysterious.
Not far away.
"This is probably the best arrangement for fate." Mikoto said with emotion, "I didn't think they could become good friends."
"What a pity for Minato." Uchiha Fugaku looked at Naruto and said slowly.
If Minato Namikaze were still alive, the Uchiha Clan's situation wouldn't be as bad as it is now. Fortunately, Tsunade's return to the village eased the pressure.
Otherwise, the Uchiha Clan would have long embarked on the path of rebellion.
"I wonder who will win." Fugaku had seen Sasuke's past report cards.
Over two semesters, when he faced Naruto, he lost more often than he won.
"Sasuke will win," Itachi recalled last week's practical combat test.
"Oh?" Uchiha Fugaku was somewhat surprised. Had his son actually become so clever?
Not only did he think of using the Manipulating Shuriken Technique against the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu, but his combat strategy was also very clear and logical.
"Sasuke has really grown a lot." Uchiha Mikoto said with pleasant surprise.
"Match start!" Kitazawa said after they finished forming the Seal of Confrontation.