Chapter 63: Random
"Water Release: Water Bullet
Technique!"
Mizutani Rin formed hand seals and
spat out water bullets from his mouth.
"Water Release: Water
Formation Wall!"
Almost simultaneously, Izumi
Shirakawa finished his seals and pressed his hands to the ground. Immediately,
a wall of water erupted and stood upright.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Water splashed everywhere as the
water bullets collided with the water wall, creating muffled sounds like hard
objects hitting a barrier. The water bullets shattered, and the wall of water
splashed down.
"Swish!"
Two kunai shot out from behind the
collapsing water wall, aiming straight for Mizutani Rin.
Mizutani's pupils contracted
slightly. The timing of these kunai was impeccable. As his water bullets
failed, he prepared for his next ninjutsu, but these kunai interrupted his hand
seals.
This Shirakawa Izumi...
Forced to dodge sideways, Mizutani
moved, and the kunai flew past him with a whirring sound. His eyes widened as
he saw two pieces of paper trailing from the kunai's tails, straightened by the
wind.
"It's over..." Kiba
observed, making a quick judgment.
"Yes!" Yukina nodded
beside him.
"Not bad," Hirohiko
added concisely.
"Mizutani Rin's reaction was
a bit slow," Kiba remarked, recalling their battle.
Both were ninjutsu-type ninjas
specializing in water release. They distanced themselves immediately and
exchanged attacks multiple times. Due to his previous battle with Kiba,
Mizutani wasn't in top condition. His water release techniques, like the Water
Trumpet and Water Formation Wall, lacked power compared to Shirakawa's. The
last water bullet was weak, producing only three shots, none of which breached
the water wall. The wall's collapse was due to Shirakawa releasing the
technique.
Shirakawa Izumi was a calm,
proficient ninja in water release, likely as skilled as Mizutani in his prime.
"Boom!"
Two clouds of fire and smoke
exploded in the arena as the kunai's explosive tags detonated, blasting
Mizutani Rin into the air before he crashed to the ground.
Damn it! I lost!
Mizutani clenched his eyes shut
and gritted his teeth, half in pain, half in frustration.
He knew he had lost. The close
explosion left his ears ringing, compounded by his prior slight concussion.
Continuing the match might be fatal, prompting the test officer to intervene.
Shirakawa Izumi, despite a slight
smile, wasn't overly pleased. He knew his opponent's weakened state, making the
victory expected.
Water from the jutsu slowly
gathered in low spots, forming small puddles.
The chakra levels of these two are
impressive, and their proficiency in water release is evident. Both possess
Chunin-level strength. Some promising young talents here.
Namikaze Minato nodded
approvingly.
Stepping forward, he checked
Mizutani's injuries before making a decision.
"The second trial of the
Chunin Exam, the fourth competition, Shirakawa Izumi wins!"
Medical team members rushed in to
carry Mizutani back to the infirmary, while Shirakawa returned to the
participant's auditorium.
Both the test participant and
ordinary audience seats buzzed with discussions.
"This is so unfair! Mizutani
wouldn't lose so easily..."
"Yeah, it's because of the
rules."
"Such a pity for
Mizutani."
Kiba, Hirohiko, and Yukina kept
their distance from the other test takers, forming a small group and watching
the field silently.
"Yukina, Hirohiko, you
understand the real intention behind these rules, right?" Kiba asked
suddenly.
"Of course," Hirohiko
nodded.
"We need to use the least
labor-intensive method to defeat our opponents. Battles shouldn't drain us
completely. It also tests our mentality. Moving randomly from one match to the
next is stressful. Staying calm and objective is crucial, as Kushina-sensei
taught us," Yukina added.
"Also, don't set your own
limits," Kiba emphasized.
"Yes," Hirohiko and
Yukina agreed simultaneously.
"Hey! This is so unfair! My
son hasn't fully recovered! If he were in perfect condition, he wouldn't have
lost!" Mizutani's father protested loudly, attracting attention.
Mizutani's mother quickly pulled
him to sit down, apologizing to onlookers.
"Hmph!" Despite his
wife's restraint, Mizutani's father expressed his dissatisfaction with a snort.
Kiba glanced over, his mouth
twitching.
Is this guy really a Chunin? He
hasn't understood the rule's intention?
Kiba's attention shifted to the
big screen. Mizutani was being carried away, Shirakawa had returned to the
auditorium, and the fifth competition was about to begin.
When Kiba looked over, the first
row of names had stopped.
Hyuga Yutaka!
"It's Yutaka!"
All the contestants turned to
Hyuga Yutaka, who stood alone with his arms crossed. He frowned slightly,
tapping his arm impatiently.
Apparently, he was growing
impatient with the wait. Seeing his name, he snorted coldly and glanced at Kiba
from the corner of his eye.
His gaze held impatience, anger,
killing intent, and a hidden hatred.
Kiba, who had experienced the
murderous aura of Jonin, felt the intense gaze and looked back defiantly.
Their eyes met, and sparks seemed
to fly in the air.
Both turned to watch the second
row of names spinning.
It must be me!
It must be Taki Kiba!
Both shared the same thought.
Kiba quietly clenched the railing.
If I don't deal with Hyuga Yutaka
now, he'll be a constant thorn in my side. Better to end it early, rather than
face him after exhausting too much energy in other battles. This will be the
decisive match.
Hyuga Yutaka also tapped his arms
impatiently.
Random selection is such a hassle!
Hurry up and pair me with Taki Kiba!
The second row of names stopped.
Everyone looked at it.
"Hey! Yutaka and that
kid?"
"There's a good show to
watch!"
"Yutaka must teach this kid a
lesson!"
The test takers whispered.
Yukina and Hirohiko frowned
slightly.
Namikaze Minato in the arena also
frowned.
Uzumaki Kushina quietly clenched
her fists in the audience, a smile on her lips.
The second row of names.
Taki Kiba!