Breaking the Strike

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Horyu absorbed the information, a faint smirk playing on his lips. 'Not bad,' he thought. The new perks and techniques added significantly to his arsenal.

Kurenai, standing with Hinata and Shino, greeted him with a warm smile. "Amazing display, Horyu. Good work," she commended, her eyes reflecting pride.

Hinata approached, her admiration evident. "You were incredible, Horyu," she said, her voice tinged with awe.

Shino, typically reserved, nodded in agreement. "Your strategy was effective," he added.

Ino, breaking away from her team, approached Horyu with a bright smile. "That was some fight! You really had us on the edge of our seats," she exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious.

Horyu, nodding in acknowledgment. "That is the point right? Giving a fright to a bunch of old men so we can get Chunin Rank," he replied, making Ino burst into laughter. Inside, he was analyzing the benefits of the new perks and techniques he had acquired.

Sasuke, observing from a distance, couldn't hide a scowl. 'How can he get stronger so swiftly. Whenever I see him, he is stronger than before,' he thought begrudgingly, his pride stung by Horyu's performance.

Shikamaru, watching the exchange, leaned over to Choji. "His mind is no less strong than his skills. He is getting more and more troublesome." he remarked, his analytical mind always working. He and Choji wanted to get back some of their prides in the Chunin Exam, but it seemed like it wasn't possible.

Choji, munching on a snack, nodded. "Yeah, he kept that Mist guy guessing. I doubt I can win."

Standing separate, Guy and Asuma, observed thoughtfully. Guy, ever enthusiastic, grinned. "Youthful vigor combined with tactical brilliance! What a splendid display!"

Asuma, exhaling a puff of smoke, added, "He's one to watch out for. His versatility could be a game-changer."

The next match was quickly announced, drawing the attention of the crowd back to the arena. Hayate called out the next contestants, "Hyūga Neji of Team Guy versus Atsui of Team Cloud." Horyu, observing from the balcony, activated his Sharingan, intrigued by the upcoming battle and keen on studying the techniques of both formidable ninjas.

Neji, a prodigy of the Hyūga clan, stepped onto the stage with a calm and focused demeanor. His Byakugan activated, giving him a nearly 360-degree field of vision. Atsui, known for his fiery temper and mastery of Kenjutsu combined with Fire Style, stood opposite him, his eyes ablaze with determination and his sword sheathed at his side.

As the match commenced, Atsui wasted no time. He drew his sword, infusing it with his Fire Chakra, and charged at Neji. The blade, engulfed in flames, sliced through the air, aiming to overpower Neji with sheer aggression.

Neji, however, remained unflustered. He skillfully used his Gentle Fist technique, targeting Atsui's chakra points to disrupt his flow of energy. The Byakugan's ability to see chakra pathways made Neji's strikes precise and debilitating.

Atsui, realizing his brute force approach was ineffective, switched tactics. He started using his Fire Style Jutsu from a distance, launching fireballs and flame torrents at Neji. The arena lit up with bursts of fire and heat, turning the fight into a spectacle of flames.

Neji dodged the fiery assaults with fluid movements. He closed in on Atsui, his palms glowing with chakra. With a series of swift strikes, he aimed to immobilize Atsui, but the Cloud ninja was not so easily subdued.

In a daring move, Atsui sheathed his sword and formed hand seals. "Fire Style: Blazing Meteor!" he shouted, unleashing a massive fireball that engulfed the area where Neji stood. The crowd gasped as the fireball exploded, a mushroom cloud of flame and smoke rising into the air.

But Neji emerged unscathed, having used his Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven to create a protective barrier that deflected the attack. His counter was swift. He closed the distance between them and struck Atsui with a barrage of gentle fist attacks, aiming to finish the fight.

Atsui, feeling the effects of the chakra point closures, grew desperate. He attempted a final, reckless charge, but Neji anticipated his movements. With a final, precise strike to Atsui's chest, Neji disrupted his chakra flow completely, causing Atsui to collapse to the ground, defeated.

Hayate, observing the conclusion of the match, announced, "Winner: Hyūga Neji!" The crowd erupted in cheers, acknowledging Neji's strategic prowess and remarkable skill. Team Guy, especially Lee and Tenten, celebrated enthusiastically, proud of their teammate's victory.

Horyu, from his vantage point, deactivated his Sharingan, having witnessed and analyzed the techniques used in the match. 'Neji's control of chakra and his Byakugan make him a tough opponent,' he thought, storing away the knowledge for potential future encounters.

[System Notification: New Techniques Acquired]

Copied Kenjutsu Style: Blazing Sword Technique

Copied Jutsu: Fire Style: Blazing Meteor

Horyu could see the Kages were not entirely pleased, except for Shisui. So far, against other villages, three Konoha shinobi had won. If this trend continued, they risked losing reputation and potential customers by not having anyone in the third stage. This was a critical concern, but the fights were random, and Konoha had won fair and square. What could they do?

As Hayate called the next battle, the names revealed on the screen were Ino from Team 10 and Karui from Team Cloud. Ino, while not a frontline combatant, was clever and strategic. Karui, a Genin from the Cloud village, known for her straightforward and aggressive style.

Karui, drawing a short sword, stood ready, her stance confident. With a smug smirk, she taunted, "Let me break this trend. It's time to show Konoha they're not unbeatable."

Ino, standing opposite her, took a deep breath. She knew her physical skills weren't on par with Karui's, but she had other strengths. 'I can't afford to be reckless with the Mind Transfer Jutsu,' she thought, her eyes locked on Karui.

As the signal for the match was given, Karui wasted no time. She charged at Ino, her sword gleaming, aiming to end the match quickly. Ino dodged, her movements graceful yet urgent. She knew she had to keep her distance and find the right moment to strike.

Karui, relentless in her assault, swung her sword in wide, powerful arcs. Each strike was a testament to her strength and aggression. Ino, however, managed to evade them, her focus not on attacking but on observing Karui's patterns.

Ino's mind was racing, looking for an opening. She knew that a direct confrontation was not in her favor. Her strategy was to wear Karui down, to wait for a moment of overextension or a lapse in concentration.

The crowd watched with bated breath as Ino continued to dodge Karui's aggressive attacks. Some admired Ino's agility, while others whispered doubts about her ability to counter such a fierce opponent.

Karui, growing impatient, intensified her attacks. "You can't dodge forever!" she yelled, her frustration evident. She lunged forward with a particularly vicious strike, but Ino saw her chance. At the last second, Ino sidestepped, causing Karui to stumble forward from the momentum.

Seizing the moment, Ino quickly formed hand seals. "Mind Body Disturbance Technique!" she declared, aiming to disrupt Karui's chakra flow and throw her off balance. The jutsu connected, and Karui staggered, her movements suddenly erratic.

Ino didn't let up. She darted in, delivering a series of quick punches and kicks. Karui, struggling to regain her composure, tried to counterattack, but her movements were sluggish, her coordination impaired by Ino's jutsu.

However, Karui's determination was not to be underestimated. Gritting her teeth, she focused, managing to partially shake off the effects of the Mind Body Disturbance Technique. With a roar, she swung her sword in a wide arc, forcing Ino to retreat.

The match continued, Ino using her strategic mind to stay one step ahead, while Karui relied on her raw power and tenacity. The arena echoed with the clash of metal and the shouts of the combatants.

Ino, realizing she couldn't keep this up indefinitely, decided to take a risk. She waited for Karui to launch another powerful strike, then at the last moment, she performed the hand seals for her signature technique. "Mind Transfer Jutsu!" she whispered, her consciousness shooting towards Karui.

But Karui, perhaps sensing the impending danger, abruptly changed her attack's trajectory. Ino's technique missed its mark, leaving her vulnerable. For a moment, Ino's body stood motionless, defenseless.

Karui, seizing the opportunity, closed in. She raised her sword, a triumphant look in her eyes. Ino's body, now under her control, regained movement just in time to see Karui's sword coming down.

The strike was swift but non-lethal, aimed to incapacitate rather than harm. Ino collapsed, defeated but unharmed. Karui stood over her, panting, her expression a mix of relief and exhilaration.

Hayate, witnessing the conclusion of the match, announced, "Winner: Karui of Team Cloud!" The crowd erupted into cheers, acknowledging the intense and strategic battle they had just witnessed.

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