In the spiritual world.
The branches of the World Tree stretched into the void, flowing Chakra pulsing within them like blood vessels transporting infinite energy.
Shiroishi hovered quietly above the tree's core, eyes slightly closed, as if he had become one with this ancient tree.
Countless conduits of light and energy extended from the trunk, connecting to his body.
The patterns of circulating Chakra glowed with pale radiance like the veins of a soul, pulsing with every beat as information, memories, and spiritual energy flowed into deeper levels.
Shiroishi's consciousness began to detach at this moment!
Sliding along the main root channels of the World Tree, passing through layer after layer of void interfaces.
When his consciousness reformed, he found himself in a chaotic gray space.
At its center lay quietly a newly formed vessel.
This was a new White Zetsu, transformed from the fusion of White Zetsu's cellular structure and the life core of a Ninja Beast Egg.
Shiroishi's spiritual light body slowly descended, merging into the forehead of the vessel.
In the Forest of Death, the intense battle began.
The Hyuga boy calmly observed the surrounding flames, a faint smile appearing on his face.
A trail of water light pierced through the sea of fire, and he appeared like a shadow on the other side of the battlefield.
His clothes remained untouched, his expression still calm.
"...Such fast reaction speed?"
Minato frowned from his position in the trees, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
After landing, the Hyuga boy gently raised his hand.
"This level of Sharingan power isn't enough to impress me."
He slowly brought his palms together, and as he opened them, the ground shook violently.
Earth cracked and split as countless vines erupted from beneath the surface!
The vines showed a pale purple color with a poisonous-looking luster, writhing like living creatures.
In the blink of an eye, they swept toward Fugaku, Yashiro, and Yakurami!
"What is this?"
Yakurami's expression changed drastically as he immediately leaped to evade.
Fugaku formed hand seals while shouting, "Don't touch those vines!"
He clapped his hands together, suddenly releasing Chakra.
"Fire Release: Flame Formation Wall!"
Boom!
A wall of fire surged skyward, the vines burning to ashes in the flames.
However, the burned remnants released a pungent purple mist,
forcing even Fugaku to retreat half a step.
The Hyuga boy in the distance smiled, his voice carrying a playful tone:
"Not bad fire release... but still not enough to impress."
He extended a finger and gently pointed.
The burned vines instantly regrew,
moving faster and more poisonous than before, covering the entire forest area again within seconds!
Fugaku's expression turned grave, the crimson in his eyes deepening.
Their Chakra consumption had noticeably increased.
Fugaku Uchiha knelt on one knee, cold sweat beading on his forehead. His two-tomoe Sharingan continued to spin, but he was completely suppressed by the Hyuga boy's overwhelming presence.
The boy's expression remained indifferent, a faint smile playing on his lips. His Byakugan glowed with a pale pink light, his entire being radiating an eerie chill that made one's heart grow cold.
Among the tree shadows, Mikoto Uchiha had completed her hand seals, her Sharingan glowing faintly.
Biting her lip, she prepared to intervene and assist.
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Two low, sharp sounds of breaking air echoed almost simultaneously.
Two figures shot out from left and right sides simultaneously, cutting through the air like streaks of light.
"Gentle Step Twin Lion Fists!"
Palms danced through the air as chakra coalesced into lion-headed forms, twin currents crashing down like hurricanes on either side of the Hyuga youth!
"Hiashi! Hizashi!"
Mikoto gasped in surprise.
The newcomers were none other than the two Hyuga brothers, Hiashi and Hizashi!
They landed in succession, toes tapping the ground as chakra circulated, instantly transforming the forest's atmosphere.
The gentle breeze now carried a lethal sharpness.
Yet the Hyuga youth caught between them showed no panic, instead curling his lips in a faint smile.
"Oh? Why are the two young masters attacking their own clansman?"
His voice was soft, almost mocking.
He raised his hands, meeting their Gentle Fist strikes empty-handed.
"Boom!"
The impact erupted!
Three streams of chakra collided mid-air, the shockwave instantly clearing swathes of fallen leaves.
But the youth twisted at an impossible angle, dispersing the force,
completely neutralizing the young masters' power as he landed steadily.
"...He neutralized the Gentle Fist?!"
Hiashi Hyuga's eyes turned frosty.
"Who are you?" Hizashi demanded, vigilance in his tone. "Why don't I recognize you?"
Hizashi was familiar with both main and branch families, yet couldn't place this Hyuga clansman.
The youth lifted his head slightly, his Byakugan pupils glowing with an eerie pink light through the mist.
His smile remained. "I am a Hyuga. That requires no proof."
His words were calm yet carried undeniable finality.
As others prepared to question him, the youth slowly extended his hand.
With a flick of his finger, a sealed scroll slid from his sleeve,
unfurling in the air to reveal a sudden brilliance.
Eight Ninja Beast Eggs landed at his feet.
"Eight...?!"
Minato Namikaze inhaled sharply from a distant treetop.
Even Fugaku looked up, his expression darkening completely.
The youth remained composed, lips curved as he savored their shock.
"I've already obtained eight Ninja Beast Eggs,"
"With the one you carry, that makes nine."
He pointed at the bundle behind Fugaku - the Ninja Beast Egg previously acquired by the Uchiha team.
The air grew deathly still.
After a moment, he smiled again.
"But since this is an exam, fairness should prevail."
"If you wish to advance, you must take these eggs directly from me."
As battles intensified throughout the Forest of Death, none noticed the tiny Leech Seeds that had already taken root.
Writhing like living things, they drew energy from tree roots, grass blades, even the soil beneath combatants' feet.
They greedily absorbed residual chakra from the forest, converging into dark streams of light
that flowed through hidden pathways, silently returning to the Byakugan-wielding youth.
The youth's body quivered faintly in the shifting light.
The chakra flow in his palms gradually transformed into a sinister venom, coalescing at his fingertips into glistening droplets that reeked of death.
"Gurgle..."
The purple liquid dripped onto the ground, corroding the earth with wisps of green smoke.
The youth lifted his head, his gentle smile sending chills down spines.
"Well then."
His voice was unhurried. "Shall we dance?"
Before the words faded, he vanished!
His movement was almost imperceptible to the naked eye,
poison-laden palms whistling through the air as they struck straight for Hiashi and Hizashi's chests.
"Step back!"
Hiashi shouted, his Byakugan fully activated.
Chakra surged wildly within his body, whirlwinds roaring between his palms.
Eight Trigrams: Heavenly Spin!
The airflow rotated into a defensive wall, stirring up a fierce wind that sent shredded leaves swirling into the sky.
Yet the Byakugan youth merely shook his head lightly, a faint trace of mockery flashing in his pink pupils.
"You can't block it."
He murmured softly, his palm trembling slightly.
The airflow shattered, and venom flowed into the gaps in the Chakra defense, seeping into their bodies!
Hiashi grunted, his body jolting as his face instantly turned pale.
The flow of Chakra within him abruptly became chaotic; the toxicity wasn't corroding his flesh but eroding the Chakra pathways themselves.
Gritting his teeth, cold sweat trickled down his cheeks.
"Who are you?!"
"Could you be from the moon?"
The youth was momentarily taken aback by the question, then the corners of his mouth lifted into a bright smile.
He extended his hand, venom gathering once again at his fingertips into sharp droplets.
"That's a secret."
Meanwhile, in the shadows, Minato Namikaze was contemplating a countermeasure. He glanced at Kushina Uzumaki and Mikoto Uchiha: "I have an idea."
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