CHAPTER 66

(A/N: Today was end semester exam so there was no chapter tomorrow, i will write this chapter today and try to write few more and complete the chunin exams so, I might not be able to update daily but day after tomorrow I definitely will, So I will release two chapters today for yesterday.)

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The sun rose over the Hidden Leaf Village, painting the skies in hues of amber and gold.

The tension was palpable as the second round of the Chūnin Exams entered its decisive stages.

The top 32 participants had battled valiantly, but now, only the best would proceed to the top 16.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, seated alongside clan leaders and jonin, surveyed the preparations with a calculating gaze.

The arena buzzed with energy as villagers and shinobi alike filled the stands, eager to witness the next series of matches. 

Down in the staging area, Jiraiya stood with his team, his usual confident grin slightly subdued by the weight of the upcoming battles.

Nearby, Naito Uchiha leaned against a wall, his Sharingan flickering briefly as he scanned the crowd.

Their match, the first of the day, had already garnered significant attention.

Both young men were widely recognized for their skills, and this clash promised to be a highlight.

The proctor, an ANBU with a flame-patterned mask, stepped forward. "The first match of the day: Naito Uchiha versus Jiraiya. Participants, step forward."

Jiraiya adjusted his forehead protector and stepped onto the field, his grin returning as he waved casually to the crowd.

Naito, ever stoic, moved with measured steps, his crimson Sharingan already activated. The audience hushed in anticipation, the tension in the air almost tangible.

The proctor raised his hand. "Begin!"

"Be ready to lose Jiraiya!!!" shouted Naito and soon moved.

Naito wasted no time, his kunai flashing toward Jiraiya in a deadly arc.

Jiraiya ducked, narrowly avoiding the blade, and countered with a swift kick aimed at Naito's midsection.

Naito blocked it with his forearm and retaliated with a spinning kick that Jiraiya barely dodged by leaping back.

"You're quick," Jiraiya admitted, smirking. "But you'll need more than speed to take me down."

Naito didn't respond. Instead, he weaved hand signs with remarkable speed.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!" he intoned, sending a volley of small, fiery projectiles toward Jiraiya.

The flames danced unpredictably, forcing Jiraiya to dodge with calculated movements. He formed his own hand seals and slammed his hands onto the ground. 

"Earth Style: Mud Wall!" A sturdy barrier of earth rose, absorbing the fiery assault.

However, as the wall crumbled, Naito appeared above him, descending with a kunai aimed at his shoulder.

Jiraiya rolled to the side just in time, narrowly avoiding the strike.

The battle continued at a frenetic pace, with Naito using his Sharingan to predict and counter Jiraiya's moves.

Despite this advantage, Jiraiya's unpredictability and creative use of jutsu kept the fight balanced.

At one point, Jiraiya summoned a small toad, which leaped at Naito's face, momentarily distracting him.

Capitalizing on the opening, Jiraiya landed a solid punch to Naito's gut, sending him skidding backward.

Naito gritted his teeth, his Sharingan spinning furiously as he analyzed Jiraiya's tactics.

"You're more troublesome than I expected," he admitted, wiping a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth.

"Flattery will get you nowhere," Jiraiya quipped, forming another set of hand seals.

"Earth Style: Rock Bullet!" Small projectiles of hardened earth shot toward Naito, who dodged deftly but failed to anticipate Jiraiya's follow-up—a sweeping kick that knocked him off balance.

With a decisive uppercut, Jiraiya sent Naito sprawling. The proctor stepped forward as Naito struggled to his feet, his pride clearly wounded but his injuries manageable.

"Winner: Jiraiya!"

The crowd erupted in cheers as Jiraiya waved nonchalantly, though his bruised shoulder betrayed the difficulty of the match.

Naito's expression was unreadable as he walked off the field, his Sharingan fading.

As the matches progressed, the intensity of the battles increased.

Natsumi Kenta triumphed over a member of the Kurama clan with a combination of swift taijutsu and clever traps.

Hyuga Uzuki showcased the trademark Gentle Fist technique, overwhelming his opponent with precision strikes.

Yamanaka Haruto used his clan's Mind Transfer Jutsu to incapacitate his opponent, securing another victory for his team.

The second match for Team Hiruzen featured Sakumo Hatake facing Akimichi Taro.

The battlefield trembled as Taro expanded his arms using Partial Expansion Jutsu, his fists slamming into the ground in an attempt to crush Sakumo.

The young Hatake, however, was too quick, darting around the arena with impressive agility.

His swordsmanship came into play as he targeted Taro's exposed legs, forcing the Akimichi to focus on defense.

"You're faster than I thought," Taro admitted, his massive fists swinging in wide arcs.

"And you hit harder than I expected," Sakumo replied, dodging another blow. "But speed trumps strength."

With a well-timed feint, Sakumo managed to slip past Taro's defenses and deliver a decisive strike to his shoulder, causing the larger boy to stumble.

Recognizing his disadvantage, Taro raised his hand in surrender, earning Sakumo a hard-fought victory.

Orochimaru's match followed shortly after, pitting him against Nara Kaito. The battlefield was a game of wits, with Kaito using his shadow techniques to trap Orochimaru.

For a moment, it seemed Kaito had the upper hand, but Orochimaru's serpentine movements and clever substitutions allowed him to escape repeatedly.

With a well-placed Water Release jutsu, Orochimaru created a slippery surface that disrupted Kaito's footing, leading to his eventual defeat.

Tsunade's match was equally intense. Her opponent, a civilian ninja named Hiro, relied on agility and relentless attacks to keep her on the defensive.

However, Tsunade's chakra control and raw strength turned the tide. With a powerful punch that shattered Hiro's defenses, she secured her place in the top 16.

The other matches of the day saw intense competition, with Natsumi Kenta, Yamanaka Haruto, Nara Kaito, and Hyuga Uzuki advancing to the next round.

As the sun set over the arena, the proctor announced the end of the day's battles.

The crowd dispersed, buzzing with excitement over the upcoming matches.

Hiruzen Sarutobi observed silently from his seat, his expression a mix of pride and contemplation.

His students had performed admirably, but the challenges ahead would test them even further.

For now, the top 16 participants were set, and the village eagerly awaited the next round of battles.

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