"Quick, quick, or we'll be too late."
"Those behind, keep up, we're almost there."
The elite class looked over to see a crowd of students, mixed with a few teachers, suddenly pouring in through the entrance of the arena. In no time, both sides of the stands were packed, filled with a lively buzz.
"What's... what's going on?"
Obito mumbled unconsciously, voicing the thoughts of the other elite class members. Why were there suddenly so many people?
"Hahaha, Yamanaka Sensei, you've been keeping secrets! You had two more geniuses in your class graduating early and kept it from us. If it weren't for other students telling us, we'd still be in the dark."
Yamanaka Ryo turned to see a few teachers walk up to the stands, stopping in front of him and teasing him.
"Uh-haha, I didn't mean to hide it from you all. It's just that this isn't something to make such a big fuss about, is it? Please, sit, let's chat."
Yamanaka Ryo chuckled, quickly motioning for Obito, Asuma, and a few other students nearby to move to the back, then invited the teachers to sit.
"This is no small matter. Kakashi Hatake, who applied for early graduation last time, was also in Yamanaka Sensei's class, right? Since Yamanaka Sensei approved their application, he must be very confident."
A male teacher glanced at Ren and Ryufeng in the arena, then said to Yamanaka Ryo with an envious tone.
"Yes, Yamanaka Sensei is a gold-medal teacher personally appointed by Hokage-sama. We're here to learn from his teaching experience."
The other teachers nodded frequently, agreeing while also looking at the two in the arena with fervent eyes. Who wouldn't want such good students? But the probability of geniuses appearing in their regular classes was too low, and even if they did, they might not be able to discover them. They could only helplessly wait year after year, organise and find a true talent.
"Cough, cough, let's talk about this later. Let's watch the match now. The assessment seems to be starting."
While dealing with the teachers, Yamanaka Ryo inadvertently caught sight of three figures entering through the arena's entrance. All three wore Konoha headbands. The one in front was a middle-aged man wearing a Chunin vest, followed by two arrogant-looking youths who walked towards the centre of the arena.
Yamanaka Ryo's eyes lit up, and he quickly changed the subject. Indeed, upon hearing that the assessment was starting, the teachers immediately turned their attention to the arena. The students in the stands on both sides also saw the middle-aged man and the two youths. The teachers stood up to organise their students to remain quiet. Once the stands quieted down, the teachers returned to their seats, waiting for the match to begin.
"Hello, I am Yamanaka Ryo, their teacher. May I ask what form this assessment will take?"
Yamanaka Ryo had already entered the arena. He walked closer, greeted the middle-aged man, and then inquired.
"Yamanaka Sensei, hello. I am Mizutanizawa. Hokage-sama sent me to serve as the referee, and as for them, they are Hoshimi Ren and Uchiha Ryufeng's opponents."
Mizutanizawa smiled and introduced himself, then stepped aside to let the two youths walk forward.
"I am Miyazaki Hayato, a Konoha Genin."
"I am Matsumoto Shuichi, a Konoha Genin."
After speaking, the two stood to the side, looking at Ren and Ryufeng opposite them, a hint of disdain in their eyes.
"Then I'll go over now. Thank you for your trouble."
Yamanaka Ryo watched the two Genin who didn't even greet him, his expression somewhat displeased. After greeting Mizutanizawa, he turned and walked back to the stands.
"Miyazaki Hayato and Matsumoto Shuichi?"
Asuma muttered, then suddenly spoke up.
"I remember them. They participated in last year's Chunin Exams. They were only 14, but their strength was already infinitely close to Chunin. However, they ran into Kakashi for two consecutive rounds in the elimination matches and were both eliminated. This year, they missed last month's Chunin Exams due to a mission. Otherwise, with their strength, becoming Chunin would have been a sure thing."
"What?"
"That powerful? How could Ren and Ryufeng possibly win?"
Asuma's words spread, and everyone learned that the two youths before them, at the age of 14, already possessed the strength to become Chunin. They couldn't help but start worrying about Ren and Ryufeng.
Yamanaka Ryo's face also showed a hint of worry, secretly sweating for the two of them.
"Please, both sides step forward."
Mizutanizawa, seeing that the time had come, beckoned for both sides to step forward.
As soon as they stepped forward and stood still, Mizutanizawa said with a serious expression.
"This match is a two-on-two battle. Two people per team. There is only one rule to follow: no fatal injuries. All right, both sides now retreat and prepare for battle."
"You two brats, being a Ninja isn't some game of make-believe. I'll show you what true cruelty in the Ninja world is."
Matsumoto Shuichi scoffed as he retreated, looking at Ren and Ryufeng.
Although Miyazaki Hayato didn't speak, his gaze towards the two was also full of contempt.
...
"Are they missing something up here?"
"Seems like it."
Ren's expression was peculiar. He pointed at his head while asking Ryufeng.
Ryufeng also looked at the two opponents with a look of utter disbelief, agreeing with Ren before the two stopped paying attention to them, waiting for Mizutanizawa to announce the start of the match.
"Damn it, these two brats, let's teach them a lesson."
"Alright, let's break an arm each to teach them a lesson."
Their faces immediately darkened. After a brief exchange, a cold sneer appeared on both their faces.
Ren patted Ryufeng, and the two exchanged a glance, understanding each other's meaning, and both revealed a meaningful smile.
Mizutani Hayato, seeing that both sides were ready, raised his left hand.
"Match... start!"
With that, Mizutani Hayato swung his left hand down, using Instantaneous Body Technique to move below the stands, constantly observing every move of both sides.
"Brats, today we'll teach you a lesson."
"That's right, be ready to pay the price!"
The two roared, then began to form hand signs.
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A stream of fire erupted from Miyazaki Hayato's mouth, transforming into a volatile fireball mixed with oil in mid-air, rapidly flying forward. Matsumoto Shuichi, close behind, exhaled a strong gust of wind from his mouth. Combined with the burning oil fireball, the wind fueled the fire, and as it advanced, the fireball's range continuously expanded, rapidly growing until it covered nearly half of the arena! A wave of intense heat rushed towards the two.
"This is... a Combination Ninjutsu!"
Yamanaka Ryo gripped the railing tightly, staring intently at the two in the arena, ready to intervene at any moment.
Gasps erupted from the stands, all eyes fixed on Ren and Ryufeng. In their hearts, Ren and Ryufeng had already lost.
"Be careful, Ren."
Yuhi looked at the two in the arena. Although she knew Ren's strength, she couldn't control her worry, her gaze fixed on Ren.
"Hmph, petty tricks."
Uchiha Ryufeng snorted coldly, his rapidly formed hand signs already complete. He glanced at Ren beside him, and the two nodded in perfect understanding.
"Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
"Water Release: Water Defenceless Technique!"
The two attacked simultaneously. The temperature around Uchiha Ryufeng rapidly rose as flames flowed from his mouth, quickly condensing into a fire dragon in mid-air. On the other side, Ren exhaled a stream of water from his mouth, forming a water dragon in the air. The two dragons roared silently at their opponents, then charged together towards the incoming explosive fireball.
"This... impossible!"
Everyone in the stands was dumbfounded. Matsumoto Shuichi and Miyazaki Hayato's eyes nearly popped out. How could two Ninja Academy students know B-rank Ninjutsu!
At this moment, the two attacks collided. The fireball held for a moment before being utterly overwhelmed by the two dragons, which broke through its defences. Dishevelled fire clashed, and as white mist rose, the two dragons were already close at hand.
"Oh no!" (x2)
The two cried out in alarm simultaneously, rapidly forming hand signs.
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!" (x2)
Two earth walls rose from the ground, successfully appearing before the water and fire dragons arrived. However, it seemed to be of little use.
"Boom!"
The earth walls held for a moment before being simultaneously shattered, sending dirt and rocks flying. However, the two dragons also ran out of power and dispersed. The aftershock spread across half the arena, with whitemist backwardsg and dirt and rocks scattering.
"Hmph, hmph."
Miyazaki Hayato and Matsumoto Shuichi no longer had their initial arrogance. Both were dishevelled and battered. The Earth-Style Wall had bought them a chance to dodge. They avoided the attack at the last moment, but were still knocked over by the aftershock.
"How could this be so... careful!"
Miyazaki Hayato said to Matsumoto Shuichi while panting heavily. Before he could finish his last word, he saw a figure appear behind Matsumoto Shuichi. Just as he called out a warning, he heard a voice from behind him.
"You should worry about yourself first."
"Konoha Whirlwind!"
As soon as the words fell, Miyazaki Hayato hadn't even had time to turn his head when he found himself flying backwards, having taken a heavy blow to his waist. He seemed to faintly hear the sound of bones breaking.
Matsumoto Shuichi had just heard Miyazaki Hayato's warning. In his panic, he could only throw two Shuriken.
"Hmph, before these eyes, you have nowhere to hide."
Uchiha Ryufeng sneered, two tomoe spinning wildly in his blood-red eyes. Matsumoto Shuichi only saw Uchiha Ryufeng sway once, dodging the two Shuriken, then rush close. The two then locked eyes, and Matsumoto Shuichi's vision was instantly filled by those blood-red eyes. Fear surged through his heart, his legs trembled, and by the time he reacted, a Kunai was already pressed against his neck.
On the other side, Miyazaki Hayato, enduring the sharp pain, was just about to get up when a Kunai was pressed against his back.
"Don't move, Senior."
Miyazaki Hayato immediately stiffened, remaining motionless. He slowly turned his head, saw Matsumoto Shuichi already restrained, and fell silent.
At this moment, the white mist in the arena had dissipated. Everyone had only heard a few shouts from within the mist before it went silent.
Looking at the situation before them, the arena instantly fell into a deathly silence.
This... is it over?
......
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