Chapter 63: This Is Just a Shadow Clone

That's right—Yagyu was using the Phantom Body Flicker Technique.

After obtaining the Thunder Blade, Kiba, Yagyu had been using the blade to practice Lightning Release chakra nature transformation.

After more than a month of work, he finally mastered the Lightning Release Chakra Stimulation Technique, and his speed was now on par with Lee when he took off his weights.

At first, Yagyu only intended to increase his speed. But one day, while sparring in an unrestricted match with Karin using shadow clones, he watched his clone use the Red Eye illusion technique combined with the Body Flicker Technique to toy with Karin. That's when inspiration struck—he thought of Shisui Uchiha's Phantom Body Flicker Technique.

In Yagyu's eyes, this technique was no less formidable in one-on-one combat than the Flying Thunder God Technique or Kamui's intangibility.

However, mastering this technique required both exceptional proficiency in illusions and body flicker techniques. Most importantly, the illusion technique needed to be one that didn't require hand seals.

After mastering the Lightning Release Chakra Stimulation Technique, Yagyu now met the conditions to train in the Phantom Body Flicker Technique.

Although his skill in Sharingan illusions couldn't match Shisui Uchiha's, and he couldn't yet create illusionary clones that wouldn't disperse, Yagyu didn't need the Sharingan to create such clones.

He could achieve this with two techniques: the Red Eye illusion and the Naraku Clone technique he learned from Kurenai Yuhi.

Both of these are illusion-based clone techniques!

The former can't even be detected by the Byakugan, while the latter can be enhanced with the Sharingan.

Moreover, these two illusion clone techniques can be merged.

After some experimentation, Yagyu confirmed that this was indeed possible.

Thus, he began developing the Phantom Body Flicker Technique using the Red Eye illusion and Naraku Clone techniques.

After some effort, he finally managed to master the basics of this ninjutsu-body flicker illusion hybrid technique a few days before the Chunin Exams.

Unless his opponent had illusion proficiency and body flicker speed far above his, the Phantom Body Flicker Technique would be a nightmare for them.

Nara Shikamaru was the perfect example.

"I give up!"

Realizing the swelling on the left side of his face, Shikamaru looked at the three Yagyus approaching him. Without hesitation, he raised his hand and surrendered.

Yagyu's newly revealed ability rendered all of Shikamaru's strategies from the past month useless.

Even if Yagyu held back, Shikamaru didn't know how many beatings it would take to figure out this technique and come up with a plan.

Moreover, there was no guarantee that Yagyu didn't have other tricks up his sleeve.

What if, after enduring so many beatings and finally understanding this technique, Yagyu suddenly revealed a new ability? Wouldn't that make all the suffering pointless?

Since defeat was inevitable, Shikamaru decisively chose the path of least resistance.

Even Sasuke Uchiha had been losing to Yagyu for six years; losing to him wasn't something to be ashamed of!

"The battle is over. The winner is—Yagyu!"

Genma Shiranui loudly declared the result, looking at Yagyu with astonishment in his eyes.

This Senju heir, who had been making waves among the Jonin circle recently, not only possessed mastery of Water Release techniques but had been hiding such a trump card as well?

Whoosh—

Almost immediately after Genma announced the result, a blue glow flickered from Shikamaru's body.

The light flew out from his body, forming a floating blue orb beside him.

Yagyu walked over to Shikamaru, extended his hand with a smile, and said, "Thanks for the match, Shikamaru."

"You... you're really something... always hiding your true strength!" Shikamaru muttered, holding back the word "sneaky" from slipping out as he grabbed Yagyu's hand and stood up. Deep inside, he felt a sense of pity for Sasuke and Naruto.

Being born in the same generation as a monster like Yagyu was both a blessing and a curse for them.

Once Yagyu fully matured, no matter what major events occurred, there would always be a towering figure standing tall.

At the same time, they would only be left chasing after his shadow, perhaps never even seeing his back.

The thought alone made Shikamaru feel a sense of helplessness and gloom.

After completing the seal of reconciliation, Yagyu and Shikamaru headed toward the contestant tunnel.

At the same time, the floating blue orb began to trigger its automatic collection sequence.

However, instead of flying toward Yagyu, it floated higher into the air, heading toward a specific direction in Konoha.

This meant that the Yagyu who had just walked into the tunnel with Shikamaru was not the real Yagyu, but a... shadow clone!

"Good luck, Ino, Hinata! You've got this!"

Back at the contestant stands, Yagyu's shadow clone cheered on the two girls.

"Mm-hmm... Hinata, don't go too hard on me. I don't want to embarrass myself too much in front of my father."

"Let's do our best together, Ino."

The two close friends walked hand in hand toward the battlefield.

Once they exited the contestant tunnel, their expressions became serious. Standing side by side next to Genma Shiranui, they raised two fingers to form the seal of confrontation.

"Third match, Yamanaka Ino vs. Hyuga Hinata... Begin!"

At Genma's command, the friendly duel between Hinata and Ino began.

Just like the match between Ino and Sakura, the two started by using ninja tools and smoke bombs to test each other out. Ino tried to use the smoke to find an opportunity to use her Mind Transfer Jutsu.

But even Sakura didn't give Ino the chance to cast her jutsu, let alone Hinata with her Byakugan.

With her Byakugan activated, Hinata immediately locked onto Ino's position and rushed at her.

Ino tried to repel Hinata by throwing ninja tools, but Hinata didn't dodge or counter with her own tools. Instead, she elegantly caught all of Ino's projectiles, either by inserting her fingers through the holes in the shuriken or by pinching the handles of the kunai between her fingers.

The sight left Ino stunned.

This was the prowess of the Hyuga clan's Byakugan and Gentle Fist technique.

After catching all of Ino's tools, Hinata continued her charge and quickly closed the distance.

What followed was a hand-to-hand combat sequence that the two girls had practiced countless times over the years.

In taijutsu duels, Ino and Sakura often had wins and losses, but against Hinata, they had never won—not even once.

Today was no different. Faced with Hinata's ability to see her chakra pathways, Ino couldn't even perform the basic Three Body Technique or Body Flicker without Hinata predicting and interrupting her moves.

Hinata didn't humiliate Ino, though. At first, she only used basic taijutsu.

But after thirty exchanges, Hinata switched styles and began using her Gentle Fist, striking a chakra point on Ino's arm, causing it to go numb and limp.

In just a few more moves, Hinata had disabled Ino.

"The match is over! The winner is—Hyuga Hinata!"

After Hinata subdued Ino, Genma immediately announced the result.

"As expected, I couldn't beat you."

Ino accepted Hinata's extended hand and stood up, sighing, "Hinata, you're getting stronger and stronger."

"No, I only won because of an elemental advantage."

Back to her shy demeanor after the match, Hinata gently shook her head and raised two fingers in the seal of reconciliation. "Thanks for the match, Ino."

"Hehe... thanks for the match!"

With the seal of reconciliation complete, the two girls returned to being close friends.

Ino held Hinata's hand as they walked back toward the contestant tunnel.

Seeing their friendly interaction, the audience suddenly realized that they were close friends.

Yamanaka Inoichi and Hyuga Hiashi both nodded in approval.

Hiashi, in particular, was very pleased with Hinata's strength and social connections.

His only dissatisfaction was that Hinata's personality outside of battle was far too different from her battle demeanor.

Her usual gentle nature didn't suit the role of a leader.

If she had a personality more like Hanabi's, then with her friendship with the heir of the Yamanaka clan, Hinata would be the perfect candidate to inherit the Hyuga clan's leadership.

After all, being friends with the Yamanaka heir meant being allied with the entire Ino-Shika-Cho trio.

Once Hinata became the clan head, the Hyuga clan would be allied with the three great families.

At that point, not even Konoha's higher-ups would dare to suppress the Hyuga clan.

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