Chapter 55: Yagyu's Envy

Thanks to Yagyu holding back, Neji Hyuga didn't suffer any severe injuries. Under Yagyu's treatment, his pale complexion quickly regained color, though Neji didn't wake up right away, likely due to chakra exhaustion. Hayate Gekkō summoned medical personnel to take Neji away on a stretcher for rest.

Meanwhile, Yagyu returned to the viewing platform.

"Yagyu, have you perfected that technique?"

The moment Yagyu rejoined Team 8, Shino Aburame immediately asked.

"Yeah," Yagyu replied with a smile, nodding. "I perfected it a short while ago."

As Yagyu had expected, after obtaining the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, he not only gained wind chakra but also found it much easier to master wind and water element techniques. With the help of the Shadow Clone Jutsu, Yagyu quickly perfected the Water Release: Spiraling Water Vortex and the true Water Release: Hard Whirlpool Water Blade. Both of these Water Release techniques required no hand signs.

In all of Konoha, Yagyu's mastery of Water Release had already reached a level beyond comparison.

When he eventually learns or develops more Water Release techniques, he'll become a master of Water Release, not only in Konoha but also in the ninja world. With his immense chakra reserves, Yagyu might even be known, like Tobirama Senju, as "the man who made a contract with the sea!"

Or more casually—Sea Release.

At this moment, the screen in the arena, which wasn't damaged by the water, flashed new names.

The seventh match: Sakura Haruno versus Ino Yamanaka.

"Huh—my opponent is Sakura?"

Ino looked stunned and unknowingly spoke the truth: "What a coincidence... This can't be rigged, can it?"

Sakura also appeared surprised. Out of the 21 contestants and 10 rounds with one person left out, she happened to be matched with Ino.

Amid their teammates' cheers, Sakura and Ino descended to the arena, facing each other.

"Ino, Sakura, do your best!"

Yagyu's voice rang through the arena, drawing a lot of attention. Yagyu, like Ino, seemed unconcerned with the looks of others. At some point, he had pulled out a camera, snapping pictures of the scene while cheering for the two girls.

Watching this, several jonin twitched their mouths in disbelief. Even Kurenai Yuhi sighed, rubbing her forehead in exasperation.

Yagyu was great in every way, but his heart was too fickle.

Anyone who wasn't blind could see Hinata's feelings for him. But Yagyu never responded to her and was also incredibly close to the other two girls. What's more outrageous was that Hinata didn't seem jealous at all. She got along wonderfully with those two girls, and it wasn't fake.

It was nothing like the drama-filled situations when girls in their youth had fought over Kakashi Hatake.

Had the times changed?

Asuma Sarutobi, meanwhile, had a sudden realization.

Could Yagyu's success be attributed to his thick skin?

"Yagyu, watch me shine!"

Ino flashed a toothy grin, giving Yagyu a thumbs-up.

Sakura also smiled sweetly and gave Ino a peace sign, playfully warning, "Ino, don't go easy on me, okay?"

"If you lose, don't start crying," Ino teased, before forming the opposing seal.

Whiz, whiz, whiz—

The two girls pulled three shuriken from their pouches and threw them at each other, launching a battle that resembled the original series but with much higher quality.

Over the years, they had sparred countless times in hand-to-hand combat, with each winning some and losing others.

But this was their first real match without restrictions.

Sakura, aware that Ino had already mastered her family's secret techniques, stayed on guard with her sensory abilities, giving Ino no chance to use her jutsu.

Currently, Ino had only mastered the Mind Transfer Jutsu, so she couldn't overpower Sakura, unlike in the original where she succeeded because Sakura lacked sensory skills.

Now, they could only rely on their basics.

The girls continuously threw ninja tools, occasionally using smoke bombs while employing the Body Replacement Jutsu and Body Flicker Jutsu to feint and evade, leaving spectators like Taku and Yumiko slack-jawed.

Who knew academy basics could be used like this?

Even the jonin didn't find the battle boring; instead, they watched with admiration.

To have such strong fundamentals at their age was a kind of talent in itself.

Both girls displayed excellent chakra control, making them ideal candidates for medical ninjutsu and sealing techniques.

It was now clear that Ino would likely rise to a significant position in the interrogation department in the future.

After running out of ninja tools, Ino and Sakura engaged in close combat, their rich battle experience once again impressing many.

After countless exchanges, a fatigued Sakura finally collapsed, allowing a similarly exhausted Ino to pin her down.

"The match is over, and the winner is—Ino Yamanaka."

Hayate Gekkō announced the result while glancing at his pocket watch. This match had lasted the longest so far.

Whiz—

Yagyu, who had captured every moment of the fight and used several rolls of film, suddenly appeared in the arena. He picked up the tired and messy Sakura and Ino, one in each arm, and quickly returned to the viewing platform to heal them.

The elimination matches continued.

The eighth match: Naruto Uzumaki versus Kiba Inuzuka.

"Awesome, my opponent is Kiba. I'm definitely going to win!"

"What? That's my line!"

Naruto's joyous shout echoed, responding almost directly to Taku's earlier lament and instantly annoying Kiba.

There was no doubt—Naruto, the chosen one, was incredibly lucky.

Because at this point, Naruto was genuinely weak.

After being hit with the Five Elements Seal, all he could use was the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu.

He had a massive amount of chakra but no powerful techniques to utilize it.

If his opponent had been Shino Aburame, Kankuro, or Temari, Naruto would have definitely lost.

Even against Kiba, the fight was tough—his shadow clones were like fragile balloons.

But, just like in the original, Naruto sealed Kiba's sense of smell with a fart, dealing him an unexpectedly large blow, and ultimately used a variation of Sasuke's Lion Barrage, called Naruto Uzumaki Barrage, to defeat him.

Winning in such a comical fashion, Naruto had relied heavily on luck.

But no one could predict that in a month's time, the same Naruto, who had to rely on luck to beat Kiba, would become strong enough to take down the One-Tail Jinchuriki.

Had Yagyu not already beaten Neji, Naruto might have made his name by defeating the former top student of the previous year.

Such is the life of someone blessed by fate!

Sometimes they stagnate for a while, and then, all of a sudden, they skyrocket, their strength growing exponentially.

With Naruto and Kiba's match concluded, the fight Yagyu had been eagerly anticipating finally arrived.

The ninth match: Gaara versus Rock Lee.

Before Naruto and Sasuke's reincarnations began to take effect, and before the final battle at the Valley of the End, who was the strongest among the Konoha 12?

The answer would undoubtedly be Rock Lee!

Earlier, Might Guy had shattered Yagyu's Hard Whirlpool Water Blade with a single kick using the Eight Gates' Fifth Gate: Gate of Limit.

In this state, chakra turns into a green aura, and the user's speed becomes so fast that they can essentially run on air, similar to the "Moonwalk" technique from the One Piece world.

And when Lee used the Fifth Gate to unleash the Reverse Lotus, its power surpassed that of some S-rank jutsu.

Just as Yagyu envied the Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu, he also deeply envied the Eight Gates.

He could only imagine the sheer power boost he would gain if he, with his Sage-like body, were to open the gates!

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