Chapter 39: Chunin Exams Preliminary Finals
...
"Well, fuck..."
"Language Asuma." Kurenai made to rebuke but seeing Asuma pointing at the arena, we all looked to see my speculation being proven right.
After a short Taijutsu exchange between the two, Kiba and Akamaru underwent their Man-Beast transformation while using the [Gatsuga] Technique
However, their attacks didn't even nick the Metal coated Masaru. And to make matters worse, Masaru wasn't even pushed back by their onslaught.
"How..."
"How are you supposed to defeat that?" I asked, completing the question Sakura wanted to ask.
Sakura nodded and the other Genins looked at me for answers. "Simple by exhausting his chakra."
"So basically a battle of attrition?" Shikamaru asked and I nodded.
"You can also decide to give him a punch so hard that his control over his chakra would be interrupted, making him fall out of that state." I said.
"Unfortunately he's also skilled in Taijutsu and Earth release so getting close to him would be a hurdle in itself." I said with a smile as I watched Kiba being taken out of the arena after receiving a punch from Masaru metal coated fist.
"Alright, gotta go..." with that, I left to my kids' side.
Damn, wasn't it better I brought them over to this side? Not like they're enemies or something.
With all the villages separating themselves, those three did too...Damn kids.
"Hey, good job out there." I applauded the kid as I appeared behind them. "You didn't disappoint me."
"Sensei, he just wasn't my match is all." Masaru said humbly, causing me to chuckle. I wonder what those Konoha kids would think if they heard this.
"Why don't you kids go over to that side..." I said and Haruta asked. "The Leaf Village side? Why? I've been seeing you go over there now."
"They're my friends. Plus, you'd do better not to look down on them."
"I've heard that they're the winners of the various past wars." Takashi said as he looked over. "But the Jounins don't look like much."
"Haha. Don't say that kid. Those four over there could kill you in less than a second. They're all S-Rank nins. Above our village Gold Rank." I said sincerely. Kurenai, despite being focused on Genjutsu, was a bonafide S-Rank Shinobi.
"Not to mention, one of the 'failures' actually won you." I finished with a mocking smile at Takashi.
"Humph..." he snorted and looked away.
"And you see that pink haired girl? She'd likely beat you in medical Ninjutsu if you don't buckle up, Haruta."
"She? That's impossible. She's not even a Senju. I've heard the world's best is a Senju, but she's a normal person with no bloodline." Haruta said in disbelief.
"I don't blame you for doubting, but you remember that silver haired kid who forfeited earlier?"
"The Kabuto?" Masaru asked and I nodded,
"He's currently the world's second best medic, and he's normal."
The three looked both shocked and confused as well as doubtful.
"Don't look at me like that. The kid is silver haired, that's enough to know he's a genius." I said with a smile before I turned serious and said. "Haruta, seems like it's your turn."
"Eh?" They all turned to see the names on the board.
Temari VS Rinha Haruta
"Do you best girl, but remember that knowing when to give up is also an eligible trait of a Silver Ranker." I said with an encouraging smile.
"Um." She nodded and proceeded to walk down to the arena.
"Sensei..." Takashi began.
"She's not gonna win, is she?" Masaru finished.
"That's something left to be seen. Come, let me introduce you..." I said and brought them over to Konoha's side.
"Yo..."
"Shun-Nii." Naruto hurriedly greeted back as he pointed to the arena. "That's your student right?"
"Yup. Like her?"
"Wh-What!?" Naruto suddenly shivered and looked towards his right at the black haired girl looking at him with a sweet smile.
"Shun-nii, don't joke like that, I was just wondering if she would be able to defeat that Suna girl." Naruto defended himself.
"Oh, as my student, I believe in her, but her abilities will speak for her, won't they?"
...
"Begin."
As soon as the proctor's word fell, Temari twirled her fan and said. "I've been told not to underestimate you... considering your teammates all possess a Kekkei Genkai."
Haruta smiled and said. "You don't need to taunt me. I know full well that I am not your match, but I'll be sure to see the full extent of your Abilities first."
"Humph, so much for being the strongest village amongst the major villages." Temari said.
"I've said it before, no need to taunt me, you'd do well you watch how you talk, that goes to show how weak you are." Haruta said, no longer smiling.
"I see..."
As the battle commenced, Temari wasted no time, twirling her fan with precision to conjure a powerful Whirlwind.
The gust of wind surged toward Haruta, who stood resolute, her expression calm.
With a focused gaze, Haruta channeled her chakra, initiating a simple wind attack that gently deflected the whirlwind.
Round after round, Temari unleashed Cyclone Assaults, Gale Gusts, and Tempest Whirls, each attack escalating in intensity. Haruta, with a stoic demeanor, endured the onslaught.
She wasn't as proficient in wind release as the Sand Genin but she managed to hold her ground with great resilience and precision.
In the final round, Temari summoned the Typhoon Fury, a combination of fierce winds and precise strikes.
The tornado of wind surrounded Haruta, pushing the limits of her endurance. Yet, with an unwavering gaze, Haruta simply activated a Kekkei Genkai.
A green layer of chakra formed an impenetrable barrier, neutralizing Temari's assault.
As she got injured, she got healed almost instantaneously, putting them both in a deadlock.
"Don't you know anything but defense?" Temari snorted in frustration. Her attacks which she was proud of seemed like nothing but breeze to the girl In Front of her.
With a small smile Haruta waved her hands and said. "How can I? I'm merely a medical kunoichi as you put it, how can I have a method of attack? Do you take me to be Tsunade Senju of the Sanin?"
"Humph." Temari snorted and was about to release another wave of attack when Haruta raised her hand and said. "I give up."
"Huh?"
"Don't look at me like that. I'm not nearly strong enough to defeat you in this battle, if it was Taijutsu, then I'd have a chance, but with your wind release, I'd say only a handful of Genins here are your match." Haruta said to her.
As she made to leave the arena, she turned and regarded her once more and said. "You're strong, I can see that from the way you walk, talk and carry yourself. In truth, I envy you. Unlike you, I'm like a flower brought up in a flower house, but don't allow that to cloud your judgment. There are many, many others out there many times stronger than you at your age,"
Looking up to the Suna group stand, Haruta continued. "like that kid over there. Although he looks to be the most dangerous person here, he's actually quite weak when compared to a couple people in these exams. Remember this."
After saying that, Haruta made to leave like a lady boss. I suddenly felt several emotions I was quite familiar with wafting off the three girls in the group.
'Admiration, huh? Interesting development Haruta. Even I didn't know you were that insightful.' I thought with a nod of acknowledgment.
"Your students...they're quite unique." Kakashi said to me and I chuckled. "Well, how can students of a genius such as myself be mediocre?"
...
The next several matches went as Normal, Gaara fought against Lee as it was supposed and spectacularly affirmed Haruta's previous words but making him go almost berserk.
Fortunately, he wasn't crippled as he was supposed to be due to being quite adept in his Eight inner gate formation technique.
With the Third Gate opened, he was able to react quickly in the face of death and avoid the sand crushing ability of Gaara's Sand Coffin.
However, after that, his muscles failed him as he couldn't move despite being awake.
As he was about to be crushed by Gaara's Sand Coffin once again, I quickly pulled him out of the arena with my Domain Expansion.
As soon as he appeared beside me, Gaara turned and looked at me with a chilling killing intent but a 'hmm' from me calmed the boy down.
I just then realized why all those Heavenly Venerable Divine Gods liked to use 'Humph' from another heaven to suppress someone in a far away galaxy.
It was quite fulfilling.
Guy thanked me profusely which became too much considering his unique temperament, causing me to send both he and Lee to the medical room
"He can be a little bit too much, can't he?" Kakashi asked from the side to which I couldn't help looking at him in pity.
With a nod, he seemed to feel my pity and nodded back. No need for too many words between men.
The battle continued with Shikamaru winning against some lass from some village I couldn't be bothered to remember...Oh, it was Tsuchi, the Sound's other member.
Choji lost to Dosu. The battle wasn't even exciting to say the least. This guy was truly wasting his potential. But oh well.
The next battle was between Hinata and Neji which was something I wanted to see considering how different this timeline was.
In this scenario where Neji's father, Hizashi Hyuga, did not sacrifice himself due to Hanagakure influence, the course of Neji's life took a different trajectory.
Growing up with his father, Neji experienced a more stable family environment, free from the burden of a traumatic loss.
The continued presence of a father figure influenced Neji's worldview and beliefs, providing him with a different perspective on destiny and the hierarchical structure of the Hyuga clan.
Without the weight of his father's sacrifice, Neji's emotional and mental well-being remained more stable, allowing for a broader range of personal growth and self-discovery.
Due to this, his genius was evident and he wasn't treated badly for it considering his devotion in keeping his dearest and kind cousin safe.
The absence of the traumatic event altered Neji's relationships with his peers and the broader ninja world.
The living presence of his father played a pivotal role in shaping Neji's interactions and motivations, leading to a different path within the ninja community.
The Chunin Exams arena was charged with anticipation as Neji Hyuga and Hinata Hyuga, two prodigious members of the prestigious Hyuga clan, faced off in a battle that promised to showcase their full abilities. The crowd hushed in anticipation of the unfolding clash.
The battle commenced with Neji, confident and poised, adopting his Gentle Fist stance. Hinata, with a determined expression, mirrored his readiness. The two circled each other, eyes locked in a silent exchange of determination.
Neji initiated the assault, executing a rapid Gentle Fist Barrage. His strikes were precise, aiming to disrupt Hinata's chakra flow. In response, Hinata employed a masterful Gentle Fist Defense, deflecting Neji's attacks with fluid movements and maintaining her composure.
Neji, seizing the momentum, transitioned into the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms. His strikes were a blur as he closed in on Hinata with relentless precision.
In a surprising turn, Hinata, showing exceptional agility, unleashed her preliminary version of her Twin Lion Fists. The twin strikes collided with Neji's onslaught, creating a momentary standstill.
Under careful tutoring of a certain Hyūga ancestor, Hinata was able to develop a chakra coating ability that siphons away chakra from her opponents when they clash.
This causes a wave of weakness to come over whoever this ability is used on.
But as Neji wasn't particularly using his chakra, it didn't seem to overly affect him.
As Neji pressed on, Hinata tactfully employed a Rotation Counter. Her Byakugan allowed her to anticipate Neji's movements, countering with a well-timed Rotation. The defensive technique created a protective barrier, deflecting Neji's assault with finesse.
Neji, adapting his strategy, utilized the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm to create distance. Hinata, recognizing the shift, responded with a blend of Twin Gentle Step and Twin Lion Fists.
'I guess she developed a form of flash step. What a Genius Hinami has taught. Unfortunately she isn't too competitive, Hanabi wouldn't be able to hold a candle to her.' I thought in appreciation.
As for how Hinami taught her, it is quite simple. Hinami simply projects herself to Hinata's dreams to teach her in a dreamscape. Don't ask about unnecessary processes, just take it at face value.
Hinata's precise footwork allowed her to close the gap, launching a counteroffensive as the battle intensified.
As the battle unfolded, Neji and Hinata showcased the depth of their abilities, each move met with a calculated response.
However, as the rounds progressed, keen observers noticed a subtle shift in Hinata's tactics. Her movements became more defensive, subtly allowing Neji to dictate the pace of the battle.
'What a lass...'
In the final round, Neji unleashed a powerful Heavenly Spin, creating a vortex of chakra. Hinata, showcasing her strategic brilliance, executed a controlled retreat.
Neji, sensing an opportunity, intensified his assault with Gentle Fist Mastery. His strikes were swift and relentless, pushing Hinata toward the edge of her ability.
In a calculated move, Hinata feigned vulnerability, allowing Neji to land a decisive strike that marked the end of the battle.
The arena fell into a hushed silence as Hinata, with a respectful bow, conceded victory to Neji.
...
"That girl... She's too kind." Kurenai huffed in annoyance.
"What do you expect? That kindness is what makes her unique. I bet...in Taijutsu, she'd probably trump you kid." I said looking at Naruto who shivered and didn't deny.
After some exchange of words, everyone unconsciously began to take Naruto as the strongest amongst them in Taijutsu, though that was left to be proven.
Afterall, he had his shadow clones to make up for most of his defects, unlike others like the Hanagakure Trio, Lee and Neji
With that, the Chunin preliminary came to a close with the final fixtures announced.
Gaara VS Sasuke
Naruto VS Neji
Shikamaru VS Temari
Shino VS Kankuro
Masaru VS Sakura.
Yakumo VS Dosu.
"What an interesting match up." I mused
"You don't say." Kakashi said with pride owning from the point that all members of his team made it to the final stages.
"Yeah, I guess my training really did pay off." I said and turned to look at him. "You'll be training them during this one month break, won't you?"
"Eh...?" He said and avoided looking at me despite not seeing the direction my eyes were looking at.
"Haha, don't mind it, I know you're a lazy teacher. I don't even hope for you to teach them, I'll handle it. But I hope you teach Sasuke the Chidori in a week's time. I'll be taking it from there after a week."
"The chidori? You know that technique is dangerous right? Plus, a week?! For real?"
"Yeah, I know it's dangerous, but he'll manage, he has a fully matured Sharingan, and yes, a week. You don't need to make him master it. My training will force him to master it and even probably surpass you."
"Surpass me? That is impossible. The chidori is the peak of chakra manipulation and transformation." Kakashi said with a sure expression.
"Heh..." I merely snorted.
Even without me teaching him, Sasuke could already manipulate the chidori to absurd degrees in a few years. With my training, I could shorten that by a great deal.
"We'll see...Oh and, that Tenten girl, ask her to come to my hotel if she wants to grow stronger. I can train her up a little." I said loud enough for the group to hear me.
Kurenai snapped her head towards me and asked. "And my students?"
"They're your students, no?" I asked back and she poured.
"You know what I mean."
"Well, there isn't much I can do about them. They all belong to a clan, let them learn from their seniors." I said and whispered directly to her ear. "You should know how I don't have much of a liking for these clans."
"But Sasuke."
"He's different. You'll understand in the future."
With that, the Chunin Exams came to a close with all the Genins qualified for the next phase of the exams embarking on their training arc.