Chapter 149: Go, Slug, I Choose You!
Scattered applause echoed through the arena.
Having just watched the high-octane battle between Haruko and Atsui, the audience clearly had little interest in this lackluster match.
Watching Hana and Maki leave the arena, Haruko calculated his own tactics.
" Maki feels like a low-budget Gaara, focused on control and counter-attacks. Her attack power seems lacking, so if that's the case..."
"The first match of the semifinals: Uchiha Izumi versus Ryūzetsu!"
Not long after Izumi jumped into the arena, Hana returned to the stands.
The young girl looked dejected, and even the three Gaimaru had their heads hanging low.
"Haruko."
"Hm?"
"From your perspective as an observer, where do you think I lost?"
Haruko leaned against the railing, watching the match that was about to begin below.
"Hmm... there are quite a few reasons. If you want to hear them, I'll break it down for you."
"Please do."
"First, you lack means of attack outside of long-range and physical strikes. To put it extremely, if the opponent is a giant hedgehog, you'll have a hard time dealing with them."
During their conversation, the battle below began.
Ryūzetsu retreated while weaving hand signs, and the Fire Release: Ghost Lantern appeared once again. Red ghost flames drifted in the air, attempting to surround Izumi.
Izumi, meanwhile, rushed toward Ryūzetsu while weaving hand signs, leaping high into the air and firing a Great Fireball at her.
Boom—
Ryūzetsu jumped away just in time, and the fireball slammed into the ground, kicking up a massive cloud of dust.
Watching the match, Haruko continued his explanation:
"Second, your compatibility is terrible. Your fighting style relies on teaming up with your Ninja Hounds for a multi-on-one approach, but as a defensive Ninja, she is naturally adept at handling attacks from multiple directions."
"Then how do you defeat an opponent like that?" Hana also looked at the arena, but her attention was clearly on Haruko.
"A few ways: either wear them down until their stamina is exhausted, or use special attacks to bypass their defense—like poisonous mist, for example. Also..."
Haruko turned to look at Hana and Gaimaru.
"Use a high-powered attack to break through their defense in one go. I remember the Inuzuka Clan has a technique involving merging with a Ninja Hound, right?"
"You actually know about that move?" Hana leaned down to pet the dog's head. "Unfortunately, I haven't learned it yet..."
"That brings me to my third point—a pure gap in strength."
Haruko pointed toward Maki on the other side of the stands.
"That binding cloth of hers is actually meant for using Sealing Jutsu. If she actually knew how to use it, she would easily be a Special Jonin in Konoha. Among the contestants, probably no one can beat her except for me."
On the other side, the crisp sound of Kunai clashing echoed incessantly within the dust.
Unlike Ryūzetsu, who had lost her vision, Ryūzetsu's Chakra was clearly visible in Izumi's Sharingan.
Ryūzetsu tried to use the Ghost Lantern to force her opponent back, but Izumi used her body as cover, making Ryūzetsu hold back for fear of collateral damage.
"Damn it... in that case!"
Ryūzetsu gritted her teeth, intending to risk injury to detonate the Ghost Lantern at close range.
—But her movements were crystal clear to Izumi.
Boom, boom, boom—
The Ghost Lanterns detonated one after another.
As the dust settled, Izumi was no longer there; only Ryūzetsu remained, suffering from burns.
"I forfeit."
Seeing that Izumi had already finished weaving hand signs, Ryūzetsu had no choice but to raise her hand and surrender.
"The winner is Uchiha Izumi!"
Thunderous applause broke out.
Izumi stood in the center of the arena, her long hair slightly disheveled, her breathing slightly rapid.
She looked up in Haruko's direction, her eyes filled with undisguised fighting spirit.
"Did she take the tactic of obstructing vision that I mentioned to heart? Does this count as me helping her cheat?"
Haruko waved at her and stood up to head downstairs.
"Haruko, you said she has the level of a Special Jonin. Then you..."
"Don't worry, she's the challenger." Haruko flashed a confident smile. "If I wanted to, I could finish it in one move."
Haruko sauntered into the arena, but he didn't look at Maki in front of him; instead, his gaze drifted toward the Hidden Cloud Village stands.
'As I thought..."
Observing from the arena, Haruko was certain that although those Hidden Cloud Village Ninja were pretending to watch the match, their minds were not on it at all.
Most of them had wandering eyes, and some were frequently checking their watches to confirm the time.
'What are they waiting for? That direction is... Konoha?"
"The second match of the semifinals: Haruko versus Maki!"
As Genma's voice rang out, the scene erupted once again.
'Whatever... this isn't my business; let the Third Hokage worry about it."
The clamor of the arena pulled him back to reality, and Haruko looked back at his opponent.
"Uh... you shouldn't be an ordinary Genin, right? Your strength is quite strong even among Chunin."
Out of curiosity, Haruko asked casually.
"Aren't you the same?"
"Not the same. I only graduated from the Ninja Academy last year, while you look like you're already twenty."
"...None of your business."
"Hmm, true." Haruko shrugged, drew his ninja sword, and took a stance. "Then good luck to you."
"Begin!"
The moment the battle began, Maki immediately released several cloth strips to wrap around herself, fortifying her defense.
Her gaze was fixed on Haruko's ninja sword, clearly wary of his swordsmanship.
But to her surprise, Haruko did not attempt to close the distance; instead, he held his sword with one hand and retreated—
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique."
At the same time, he used one hand to weave hand signs and unleashed the Ninjutsu!
The prepared binding cloth blocked the flame pellets, leaving only charred marks without catching fire; it was clearly fireproof.
After creating distance, Haruko instead stabbed his ninja sword into the ground, wove hand signs with both hands, and slammed them onto the ground, using his next Ninjutsu.
"Summoning Technique."
Poof!
The white smoke dissipated. A Slug taller than a person appeared on the field, blocking in front of Haruko.
The arena went silent for a moment, then exploded into an uproar.
"Did that kid just weave hand signs with one hand? Did I missee that?"
"Could that be the Sannin's Slug?"
"Really? Then he is..."
Tsunade held her forehead in the stands, her mouth twitching: "This kid... he really knows how to exploit loopholes."
Shizune stifled a laugh nearby: "Summoning Technique is also a C-rank, he really didn't violate the rules."
"Opportunistic!" Tsunade snorted. "At least he knows how to show restraint; he didn't summon one too big and crush that kid on the other side."
Even the clan heads in the VIP seats couldn't sit still anymore.
Hiashi, who had been as steady as an old dog, widened his Byakugan, and Taketori Sanuki even laughed out loud.
The Third Hokage remained silent, his gaze sweeping across the VIP seats before slowly moving toward Tsunade.
Inside the arena, Maki's pupils constricted, and the binding cloth froze in mid-air.
"No wonder you're so strong..." She clearly recognized what a Summoning beast from Shikkotsu Forest meant.
But the battle was not over yet; she forced herself to calm down, though sweat slid down her cheeks to the ground.
"Shall we continue?" Haruko poked his head out from behind the Slug.
Maki didn't answer; several cloth strips shot out violently.
"Then I'll play with you." Haruko pulled his head back and patted the Slug. "Go, Slug, I choose you!"
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