After a series of intense competitions, the victors of the ninja competition from venues four and three had emerged. The winners were Namikaze Minato, Hyuga Mirror, Yuhi Taichun, and Ye Chen.
Except for Ye Chen, the other three were all members of prestigious Konoha clans, possessing prodigious talent. Namikaze Minato, though not from a prominent clan, was favored by Jiraiya, which bolstered his background.
Since the matchups were drawn by lot, the pairings for the last two battles were decided: Namikaze Minato vs. Yuhi Taichun and Ye Chen vs. Hyuga Kai.
"In the first match, Ye Chen vs. Hyuga Mirror. Please perform the seal of opposition," announced the Chūnin examiner.
The seal of opposition was a customary gesture in ninja duels, signifying respect between opponents. Ye Chen and Hyuga Mirror performed the seal of opposition before preparing to battle.
The audience was buzzing with excitement. The highly anticipated showdown between the strongest contestants in the ninja school competition was about to unfold.
"Come on, Ye Chen!" Kushina cheered loudly, disregarding the curious glances from those around her. She had even called a few friends over to root for him.
At the central suspended platform, Third Hokage and Tsunade observed the events along with the other Jōnin.
"It's a good lineup. Facing a Hyuga clan genius, Ye Chen is unlikely to win," remarked Jiraiya, his tone sour.
He couldn't help but feel that Ye Chen was stealing the spotlight from his favored student, Namikaze Minato.
"Haha!" Tsunade sneered. If Jiraiya knew that Ye Chen had defeated an Elite Chunin single-handedly, he might think differently.
"Jiraiya, don't underestimate this child. He might surprise us," Orochimaru chimed in with a sly smile on his face.
Third Hokage remained silent. He was well aware of Ye Chen's background and the challenges he posed as a student.
On the battlefield, the duel was about to commence. Hyuga Mirror was a member of the branch house of the Hyuga family, previously on par with Uchiha Yue in terms of prodigious talent.
"Your strength is impressive, exceeding my expectations. However, I am not as foolish as Uchiha. In my eyes, your impressive physique is useless," Hyuga Mirror declared with pride.
Hyuga Mirror activated her Byakugan, and the veins hidden beneath her skin burst forth, revealing the white eyes' power. The invisible waves emanating from her eyes affected the physical world.
With her Byakugan activated, Hyuga Mirror could see through Ye Chen's meridians, Chakra flow, and even important acupuncture points. She could predict his movements by analyzing the Chakra flow in his body. The Byakugan, like the Sharingan, was highly effective against Taijutsu users.
"Is that so?" Ye Chen replied, his tone nonchalant. He was well aware of the formidable nature of the Byakugan, but he wasn't daunted.
The audience eagerly anticipated the battle and wondered how Ye Chen would approach it. What tactics would he employ to counter the Byakugan?
To everyone's surprise, Ye Chen's fighting style was extremely straightforward, almost primal. He wasted no time on elaborate movements or complicated strategies.
With a single step and a punch, Ye Chen's approach was direct and simple. He had no intention of complicating things.
"Armament Color: Hardening!"
Ye Chen's iron fist rocketed towards his opponent. The air around it seemed to riot, resembling the rumbling of thunderstorms. His fist, blackened and hardened, was as strong as steel.
"Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!"
Hyuga Mirror adopted the traditional Hyuga stance, invoking the power of the Byakugan. An enormous Eight Trigrams pattern appeared on the ground, signifying her mastery of the Gentle Fist technique.
Within the Eight Trigrams field, Hyuga Mirror executed the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms technique. Each step she took corresponded to one of the sixty-four palm strikes.
As the two combatants approached each other, Hyuga Mirror's movements were fluid, her palm strikes precise. She aimed at the weakest point in Ye Chen's arm, determined to strike an acupuncture point and disrupt his Chakra flow.
However, Ye Chen's response was swift and unexpected. He activated his Armament Haki, encasing his arm in a black, iron-like armor that was stronger than steel.
As Hyuga Mirror's finger targeted an acupuncture point on Ye Chen's arm, her face suddenly contorted in pain, and she let out a sharp cry.
The audience was stunned, and a hushed silence fell over the arena. What had just happened? Why was Hyuga Mirror screaming in pain?
Before anyone could comprehend the situation, Ye Chen swiftly closed the distance between them and delivered a powerful punch to Hyuga Mirror's abdomen. The force of the blow left her incapacitated and unable to continue the fight.
The entire sequence of events had occurred in a matter of seconds, leaving the audience bewildered.
Jiraiya, in the stands, looked utterly confused. Tsunade, on the other hand, was unfazed, having witnessed Ye Chen's extraordinary abilities firsthand when he killed an Elite Chunin.
"What a remarkable ninja talent!" Orochimaru commented with keen interest.
The subsequent battle between Namikaze Minato and Yuhi Taichun was fierce, as Yuhi Oharu possessed impressive genjutsu abilities. However, Namikaze Minato's ninjutsu talents allowed him to break free from her illusions, securing his victory in the end.