Haruki took the long black blade thrown by Uchiha Shizune and felt a surge of emotion, like an old swordsman who hadn't wielded a sword in ten years, with only one thought in his mind.
That was to fight, and it felt great!!
"Are you sure you still want to fight me?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's expression was unusually serious; after being criticized by Tobirama, he knew he had to end the battle quickly.
Therefore, next, he would truly get serious.
"Hiruzen, what are you still babbling about? Finish it quickly!"
Above the stage, Danzo was already a bit impatient, in his eyes; Haruki was nothing more than a clown.
He couldn't possibly think that having a weapon would allow him to fight Hiruzen Sarutobi, could he?
What a wild fantasy.
"More talk is useless, come and fight!!"
Ignoring the various gazes from below the stage, Haruki placed the long blade at his waist, crouched slightly, and slowly closed his eyes under the astonished gazes of the surrounding people.
???
"What does that mean, he gave up?"
"He definitely gave up."
"Right, after all, he's facing that Ninjutsu monster."
Uchiha Shizune listened to the surrounding comments about Haruki and couldn't help but look at the arena, somewhat anticipating the outcome of the upcoming battle.
There was nothing she could do; the blade in Haruki's hand was hers.
She still hoped that Haruki could win. However, listening to the surrounding comments, his chances seemed slim.
"Interesting, Tobirama, your son is interesting."
Hashirama looked at Haruki's reaction on the stage, a smile on his face.
"This, this I really, don't quite understand."
Even Tobirama's face was a bit stiff; for the first time, he couldn't quite understand his own son.
Both of them had already noticed that Haruki on the stage, seemingly with his eyes closed, looking like he had given up.
In reality, his gradually crouching body made him feel even more dangerous.
It could be said to be both offense and defense.
"Is he abandoning one of his five senses to enhance the other four? This kind of courage is truly unlike."
Hashirama nodded, "It seems that the Sarutobi kid you favor might not necessarily be able to win."
"Big Brother, don't say that, Hiruzen is not limited to this." Tobirama said, glancing at the somewhat show-off Haruki: "Besides, that brat shouldn't have much combat experience."
"Haha!"
Hashirama laughed heartily, not exposing his tsundere younger brother; this guy just couldn't bring himself to admit it. Otherwise, his relationship with his son wouldn't be so bad.
...
"This….?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Haruki, who not only didn't attack but closed his eyes, feeling somewhat at a loss.
He couldn't do anything like a sneak attack.
Turning his head to meet Tobirama's cold gaze from above the stage, Hiruzen Sarutobi knew that now was not the time to hesitate.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet!!"
After quickly forming hand signs, Hiruzen Sarutobi began to increase the intensity, using high-difficulty Ninjutsu.
Boom!!
A massive stream of flames, like a fire dragon, roared through the air, striking towards Haruki under the gaze of those around.
The heat was so intense that some Ninja, even above the stage, still felt a wave of heat washing over them.
Facing the roar of the fire dragon, Haruki, with his eyes closed, exhaled deeply, as if expelling the unwanted thoughts and obstacles within his body with this breath.
Total mental focus, just for this wild, single strike.
White mist, like swirling smoke, began to spread around Haruki's mouth.
Everyone could see with their naked eyes that Haruki's robes moved without wind, as if something terrifying was about to awaken.
"Click!"
The sound of the long blade leaving its sheath was not loud, but it echoed in everyone's hearts.
Swish!!
Immediately after, the fire dragon approaching Haruki seemed to be struck by an invisible slash, instantly vanishing and dissipating.
!!!
The moment he saw his fire dragon dissipate, Hiruzen Sarutobi immediately dodged to the side.
He saw that where he had been standing, there was now a sword mark, as if cut by a Wind Release.
"This... is this combination of Wind Release and swordsmanship?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi's forehead was covered in cold sweat.
If it weren't for his rich combat experience, that attack just now would have likely made him lose the battle instantly.
From within the flames, a sword-wielding youth rapidly approached. Haruki knew that Hiruzen Sarutobi's greatest strength was Ninjutsu.
He naturally couldn't give Hiruzen Sarutobi a chance to form hand signs.
Unfortunately, the most important and powerful part of a drawing sword technique is the first strike.
If the first strike doesn't kill the enemy, subsequent attacks will be very weak.
Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to have noticed this and intentionally allowed Haruki to strike him into the air.
"Shadow Clone Technique!!"
In the brief time he was in the air, Hiruzen Sarutobi successfully formed hand signs.
"Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall!!"
"Lightning Release: Ground Flash!!"
"What?"
Danzo, below the stage, saw the clones summoned by Hiruzen Sarutobi and realized that they had self-awareness and could form hand signs, knowing that this was not a simple Clone Technique.
It was the Shadow Clone Technique developed by the Second Hokage.
He understood that this bastard Hiruzen must have received special training from the Second Hokage.
The Earth Flow Wall blocked the retreat, and the Lightning Release spread across the ground; once Haruki was restrained by the Lightning Release, he would be subjected to a combined Ninjutsu attack from Hiruzen Sarutobi and his clones.
The outcome seemed already decided.
"Sigh, it seems its over. No matter what, that kid has the qualifications to enter the Ninja Academy."
"Tobirama, don't cause trouble later, I'm protecting that boy."
"Alright, alright, Big Brother, everything you say is right."
Tobirama's eyes were helpless; if he was admitted, then so be it. He really hadn't properly educated this brat.
He had thought that Haruki had been slacking off all these years, but he had actually been holding back something big.
Even Hashirama thought the battle was over, and Hiruzen Sarutobi naturally did too, preparing to unleash a combined Fire and Earth Release Ninjutsu with his clones.
"Sorry, it's over!"
As Hiruzen Sarutobi's words fell, a huge fire dragon erupted from his mouth.
Swish!!
Before Hiruzen Sarutobi could react, he suddenly felt his connection with his clones instantly disappear.
"Flying Thunder God Slash!!"
As Hiruzen Sarutobi's Shadow Clone was attacked by the kunai thrown by Haruki.
Just as he thought he had dodged the kunai's attack, Haruki vanished and swiftly struck Hiruzen Sarutobi's clone.
Bang!
Hiruzen Sarutobi's Shadow Clone, having suffered fatal damage, turned into smoke and disappeared.
Haruki not only avoided a losing situation but also successfully counter-killed Hiruzen Sarutobi's Shadow Clone.
Hiruzen Sarutobi still seemed to be standing on the arena, but in reality, he had already lost. Because if Haruki's Flying Thunder God Slash had been aimed at his main body, he would either be dead or severely injured by now.
Hiruzen Sarutobi also seemed to understand this, his expression somewhat dejected: "I... I lost."
.....
"What's going on? That Ninjutsu monster actually lost?"
"No way, what just happened? How did the battle end in a blink of an eye??"
"I misjudged; this Haruki is even more abnormal than Hiruzen Sarutobi."
"Alright, alright, both of you are so abnormal, so I'm leaving?"
Danzo's expression was somewhat displeased as he listened to some of the surrounding comments.
Damn it, this meant he would have one more competitor.
"He actually... won?"
Uchiha Shizune blinked, not expecting such a surprising outcome.
On the other side of the arena, Hashirama looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi's lost battle, somewhat surprised.
This kid actually knew an S-rank Space-Time Ninjutsu.
Thinking of this, Hashirama turned his head, looked at Tobirama beside him, and showed an aunt-like smile.
He had thought his relationship with Haruki was bad, but it seemed he was wrong; Tobirama clearly passed on all his hidden techniques.
"Cough cough, Big Brother...."
Senju Tobirama felt a bit awkward being stared at, suppressing his inner surprise; as the developer, he naturally knew the difficulty of the Flying Thunder God Technique.
However, he was more concerned with where Haruki had learned this Ninjutsu from.
This brat, he couldn't have secretly snuck into the Ninjutsu library, could he?
(End of the chapter)
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