Kimimaro stared coldly at Yuichi.
His instincts told him that the boy standing before him was dangerous.
Though he looked like nothing more than a Konoha Genin, the terrifying strength Yuichi displayed in their brief clash just now was anything but ordinary.
That kind of overwhelming power was not something a regular Genin should possess.
Bah!
Bone spurs burst from Kimimaro's palm, shaping themselves into a sharp, ivory short sword.
Yuichi, in turn, drew several kunai from the pouches strapped to his thighs.
All around them, Konoha shinobi and Anbu clashed with the remaining Sand and Sound ninja. The battlefield was chaos.
A nearby Konoha shinobi caught sight of Kimimaro.
Seeing an opening at Kimimaro's back, he changed his target immediately and rushed forward.
With a swift motion, he hurled two cross-shaped shuriken and lunged, thrusting his kunai toward Kimimaro's exposed flank.
But just as he thought his strike had landed—
Kimimaro tilted his head slightly.
Shoo!!
The spinning shuriken whistled past his ear harmlessly.
Kimimaro turned, glancing sideways at the attacker charging behind him.
The Konoha shinobi's eyes widened when his ambush was noticed. Gritting his teeth, he threw himself forward, stabbing at Kimimaro's back with both hands.
Go to hell!
Puff!
A spray of blood.
The shinobi froze, eyes wide in horror, as bony spikes erupted from Kimimaro's back and pierced through his chest.
Before he could even register the pain, his strength failed him.
"W-what kind of jutsu… is this…?" he gasped, staring in terror at Kimimaro's pale face. His body collapsed lifelessly to the ground.
The sound of his fall caught the attention of the other Konoha shinobi nearby.
"This guy… he won't be easy to handle."
"Hmph! Konoha shinobi never fear their enemies!"
Two Anbu rushed forward, joined by two Chūnin.
Bang!Thud!
Kimimaro's taijutsu overwhelmed them in an instant. Four attackers fell before his strength.
His final kick sent a Chūnin flying, throat cut cleanly. Not a single drop of blood stained Kimimaro's body.
The remaining Konoha shinobi instinctively retreated, putting distance between themselves and this pale monster.
"Stay back! This guy is dangerous!"
They spread out, forming a circle. In the middle, Yuichi stood out—only ten meters away from Kimimaro.
"That kid—avoid him! He's far too strong!" a shinobi shouted.
But Yuichi's eyes didn't waver.
Bang!
He suddenly launched forward like an arrow loosed from its bow.
The warning meant for Yuichi only served as his signal to strike.
The onlooking shinobi felt helpless.
Why won't he listen?! Didn't we just tell him this guy is dangerous?!
Boom!!Punch!!
Yuichi swung a heavy fist at Kimimaro.
This time, Kimimaro didn't block—he dodged, slipping back swiftly.
The fist slammed into the concrete pillar behind him.
Boom!
The auditorium trembled from the impact.
Even the Anbu were stunned as Yuichi calmly withdrew his fist.
From the deep crater left in the pillar, cracks spiderwebbed outward—
Click… crack… crack…
In moments, the entire column fractured.
Boom!!
It collapsed into rubble, exploding into a storm of stones that scattered across the room.
Every Konoha shinobi nearby gaped in shock.
Even the one who had warned Yuichi earlier stood frozen in disbelief.
A kid… shattered a massive concrete pillar with a single punch?!
"Isn't that… Yuichi? The one with the incredible Water Style talent?"
"Yes, it's him—the one who stood out in the first round."
"To think he isn't just a Water Style prodigy… his raw strength is this monstrous too?!"
"No wonder… if he had taijutsu this strong, why didn't he use it earlier?"
"That's not normal taijutsu… that's monstrous strength."
Zi Zi Zi…
While they whispered in shock, Kimimaro leapt from behind the shattered debris, thrusting his bone blade straight at Yuichi.
Yuichi twisted, kunai flashing as he blocked.
Clang!! Sparks erupted from the clash of steel and bone.
The two pressed against each other, straining for dominance.
Kimimaro narrowed his eyes at the younger boy.
"You're as strong as me… Konoha truly lives up to its name. Just as Orochimaru-sama said… a cradle of geniuses. What a pity…"
Yuichi suddenly surged forward, forcing Kimimaro back with sheer strength. He spun, kicking out.
Kimimaro crossed his arms just in time.
Boom!!
The impact echoed like a cannon. A shockwave exploded outward, rippling through the air.
The Konoha shinobi watching swallowed nervously.
Even though it was only taijutsu, the intensity of their exchange was terrifying.
Kimimaro's earlier slaughter of several Chūnin had proven his strength was easily Jōnin-level.
But Yuichi—just a participant in the Chūnin Exams—was holding his own.
Doesn't this mean… this kid already has the power of a Jōnin?!
Swish!!
Their feet struck the ground in unison, and they clashed again at blinding speed.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Kunai and bone sword collided, sparks showering the battlefield like red embers.
Yuichi suddenly spun in midair, bracing a hand against the floor to whip his leg around in a crushing arc.
His heel smashed into Kimimaro.
The strange power surged again.
Kimimaro's eyes widened.
His body, hardened by the Shikotsumyaku bloodline, could shrug off ordinary blows. But this power… even he felt it.
Boom!!
Kimimaro's body was hurled backward, crashing through the guardrail at the edge of the arena.
Crash!!
He broke through it in an instant, tumbling down into the examination hall below.
But even as he fell, Kimimaro twisted, landing firmly on his feet at the center of the arena.