Whispers erupted from the second floor of the arena. "Why isn't she moving?" one voice asked.
Another responded, "Don't you see? She's caught in an illusion! The red-eyed beauty cast it. Yukina is trapped."
"Illusion? But I didn't see any hand signs." a third protested.
"You weren't paying attention!"
"I've been watching these two the whole time... Wait, did I miss something important? If you're so observant, when did you see the hand signs?"
There was a pause before a sheepish admission. "Well... I didn't see them either."
"Then how can you accuse me of not paying attention?"
The eleven and twelve-year-old spectators bickered, their faces etched with confusion. They couldn't comprehend how Yukina had become motionless after just two exchanges, apparently ensnared by an illusion technique.
While the lower-ranked ninjas argued, the higher-ranked ninjas exchanged meaningful glances. Five or six Chunin positioned on the second floor met each other's eyes, surprise evident in their expressions.
Minato Namikaze furrowed his brow. 'Could it be *Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique*? She truly is Mr. Yuhi's daughter. He recommended her for the Chunin exam, and the Third Hokage was hesitant. Now it's clear Kurenai has the skill for it.'
He mused further on the rarity of illusion ninjas, especially those with such talent. However, his thoughts quickly turned to Yukina's predicament.
Glancing at Kushina beside him, Minato noticed her frown as she watched Yukina, her fists clenched tight.
'Damn it!' Kushina thought. 'This is my oversight. I never taught them how to deal with illusions! I didn't expect a prodigy like this in the Chunin exam, capable of using Hell Viewing Technique without hand signs. I'm sorry, Yukina. It's your teacher's fault!'
Meanwhile, among the Sannin, Orochimaru observed the court with interest as Kurenai approached Yukina, raising her kunai. "Oh? A genjutsu prodigy?"
"This is truly rare," Tsunade remarked, surprise coloring her voice.
Jiraiya, his gaze fixed on Yukina, frowned slightly and sighed. "The outcome seems determined. Kushina isn't skilled in genjutsu; I doubt Yukina has learned to break illusions."
"It's not that simple," Orochimaru interjected. "Breaking illusions requires innate talent. Even knowing the technique, without the right aptitude, one can't break free while trapped."
Jiraiya nodded in agreement, his concern for Yukina Hyuga evident.
Tsunade glanced at Jiraiya, noting his interest, before retrieving a scroll and beginning to write.
In the illusory world, Yukina stood motionless, green leaves swirling around her. Slowly, the veins at the corners of her eyes began to bulge, extending to her temples. A faint outline of a pupil appeared in her white eyes.
Suddenly, the leaves dispersed, revealing a blood-soaked Chiba mere inches from her face. His silent eyes, oozing blood, bore into hers. Blood gurgled from his mouth and nose.
Yukina's face contorted in shock. 'Chiba!' She barely suppressed a scream.
Beyond his blood-covered face, Chiba's body was a nightmare of injuries. His left hand hung at an impossible angle, torn off. His right foot was missing entirely. Burns covered his right hand and left foot, creeping up to his right cheek. A large section of skin on the right side of his face had been scorched away, exposing raw, blood-red muscle beneath.
Panic seized Yukina's heart, twisting it with a dull, intensifying pain. She stumbled backward, horror filling her eyes. As she retreated, her vision expanded, revealing not just Chiba, but Hirohiko and her father as well, all in equally miserable states, their lifeless eyes accusing her.
Their gazes seemed to blame her for their demise, accusing her of inaction, of failing to save them.
"No!" Yukina cried out.
Her white pupils had turned blood-red, mirroring the crimson-stained world around her. The setting sun painted the sky red, blood dyed the ground, and the gore from Chiba and the others tinted everything a horrifying shade of scarlet.
A world bathed in blood.
Terrifying as the sight was, the emotional pain was far worse. These three were the people she valued most, and the anguish in her heart surpassed even her fear.
'No! This isn't real! It's an illusion!' Yukina shook her head violently, trying to dispel the image.
But when she opened her eyes, the scene before her seemed even more vivid, more red.
'Calm down! Yukina Hyuga, you must calm down!' She stared at the gruesome tableau, her breath coming in ragged gasps.
'This is an illusion,' she told herself. 'Remember what you've read in the library. This is *Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique*, the technique that forces you to see your worst fears.'
'The essence of genjutsu is to disturb chakra with mental energy, causing illusions... The book mentioned a way to break free...'
In reality, Kurenai had reached Yukina, watching as her opponent's white eyes slowly opened. She raised her kunai, sliding it towards Yukina's neck with deliberate slowness.
One touch of the blade to Yukina's skin would end the match.
Chiba and Hirohiko watched from the sidelines, their expressions grim. Neither had expected Yukina to fall victim to this illusion.
"It's over," declared one of the older exam participants, about fourteen or fifteen years old. "Yukina was defeated by an illusion. She may be a genius, but she's still too inexperienced."
Murmurs of disappointment rippled through the crowd.
"Is it really ending like this? It doesn't seem fair at all!"
"I thought Ms. Yukina was invincible. Who knew she'd be defeated after just two exchanges?"
"Some genius she turned out to be. What a letdown!"
Contemptuous whispers filled the arena.
Kushina Uzumaki clenched her fists, silently apologizing. 'I'm sorry, Yukina. Your teacher failed you.'
Minato Namikaze shook his head and sighed. The outcome seemed inevitable.
The Sannin also shook their heads, while Tsunade continued writing.
Kayami Hyuga frowned, watching Kurenai and gritting his teeth in frustration.
The Chunin Exam proctor began to raise his hand, ready to announce the end of the match.
Kurenai's face showed a mixture of relief and triumph. She had won.
Suddenly, a spray of blood erupted from beneath her.
A sharp cry pierced the air, followed by a crisp impact and a gasp of pain.
Yukina's fingers struck Kurenai's abdomen with fierce precision. A flicker of pain crossed Yukina's white eyes, mirrored by the shock in Kurenai's widening gaze.
With a soft thud, Kurenai collapsed against Yukina.
The Gentle Fist strike had found its mark.
A stunned silence fell over the arena.
In the instant before Kurenai's kunai could touch Yukina's neck, the Hyuga had moved, incapacitating her opponent with a single, precise strike.
How had she broken free of the illusion?
"But... I never taught her how to break illusions," Kushina Uzumaki whispered, bewildered.
Minato Namikaze's face showed surprise, an expression mirrored by the Chunins, Jonins, and the Sannin. Even Chiba and Hirohiko looked on in astonishment.
The Chunin exam proctor stood frozen, utterly stunned.
A kunai protruded from Yukina's white thigh, blood trickling down to stain the ground beneath her.
'She used pain to break the illusion?' The thought raced through the minds of everyone simultaneously.
The eldest daughter of the Hyuga family had proved her strength beyond doubt.
Three figures leapt from the stands, racing towards Yukina.
"Lady Yukina, are you alright? What happened?" Kayami Hyuga called out, worry etched on his face.
Chiba and Hirohiko, moving faster than Kayami, reached Yukina first. Chiba knelt, reaching for the kunai in Yukina's leg.
"Don't move it!" Yukina's voice rang out, laced with anxiety and panic.
Simultaneously, Kayami shouted angrily, "How dare you! What are you doing to Lady Yukina?" His Gentle Fist strike aimed directly at Chiba.
Chiba froze, shocked. Hirohiko skidded to a halt beside him. Chiba looked up at Yukina, noting her panicked expression and flushed cheeks.
"Boom!"
A heavy blow struck the top of Chiba's head, raising a large bump.
"Snap!"
Kayami Hyuga's palm was easily caught mid-strike.
"Ow!" Chiba cried out in pain.
Kayami looked up, his eyes widening as he saw his Gentle Fist technique effortlessly blocked by a handsome blond man. Minato Namikaze smiled gently, saying, "Let's all calm down, shall we?"
The sight of that gentle smile inexplicably halved Kayami's anger. He glanced at Chiba, confused.
"You idiot!" Kushina Uzumaki stood behind Chiba, her voice filled with exasperation.
Chiba squatted, holding his head, tears threatening to fall. 'Damn it, Kushina, what's wrong with you? That punch was harder than usual!'
"How can you touch a girl's leg so carelessly?" Kushina scolded, her voice lowering as she stepped forward to examine Yukina's injury.
Hirohiko, observing the situation, turned away slowly, his face impassive. He covered his mouth with one hand and shrugged, for reasons known only to him.
Chiba nursed his injured head, his face a picture of wounded innocence. He had never felt so misunderstood.