Chapter 66: Battle Between Ninja

"Wind Release: Vacuum Waves!" 

Nawaki rapidly formed the hand seals, then placed one hand in front of his mouth and expelled a series of wind release light waves, like cannon balls. The highly compressed wind chakra created a whistling sound as it cut through the air.

"So Nawaki-senpai also knows wind release," Minato thought to himself. Jiraiya had previously taught Minato about bloodline limits.

However, in the current ninja world, the strongest bloodline limit was not the Byakugan of the Hyuga clan, nor the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan. The strongest was a nature transformation only the First Hokage had mastered - Wood Release!

Wood Release was the combination of two chakra natures - earth and water. The Senju clan excelled at these two natures. 

So Minato was surprised that Nawaki did not use earth or water jutsu. Moreover, his opponent was from the Sarutobi clan, who specialized in fire techniques.

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Missile!"

Sarutobi Ao simultaneously completed his seals, releasing a blazing fire that roared like a dragon. The intense heat seemed to distort the surrounding space with its searing waves.

Even the spectators in the stands could feel the temperature.

The Sarutobi clan was indeed renowned for their fire release ninjutsu. The five basic chakra natures had advantages over each other - wind beats lightning, lightning beats earth, earth beats water, water beats fire, and fire beats wind.

Though not absolute, Nawaki's C-rank vacuum waves and Ao's fire dragon were around the same level in power.

Fwoosh!

As expected, when the vacuum waves met the fire dragon, they did not impede but actually fanned the flames, making them burn even brighter.

This was likely Nawaki's only option, as using water jutsu without a water source would be too chakra taxing. He had not yet mastered advanced earth techniques either, knowing mostly defensive jutsu.

Seeing the roaring fire dragon approaching, Nawaki rapidly made seals and slammed his palms to the ground.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"

Boom!

The ground in front of Nawaki seemed to shake violently, and an earthen wall erupted upwards, shielding him from the flames.

The inferno engulfed Nawaki, reminiscent of the earlier fight between Mikoto and Hiashi.

No, enhanced by the wind release, Ao's fire dragon was even more powerful than Mikoto's fireball jutsu.

At that moment, Ao also drew a kunai from his pouch, its blade glinting menacingly.

Seeing the weapon, Akasaka, Okamoto Sa and Nakatani Kaze unconsciously stepped back, realizing this was not just a exam but an actual ninja battle between Nawaki and Ao.

However, Ao did not dare approach the raging flames. As they gradually subsided, he was stunned by the sight before him.

The earth wall, blackened by the fire dragon, now had three more walls surrounding it in a square formation, Nawaki protected at the center.

The walls towered over Ao, but from the second floor, Minato and the others could see that Nawaki, though unharmed, was drenched in sweat.

It was not from the exertion of the four walls, but because while shielding him from the flames, the earthen bunker had trapped the heat inside like a sauna.

Nawaki formed more seals and slammed his hands down again.

Seeing the hand seals, Sakumo Hatake's expression changed slightly.

"That brat Nawaki..."

"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"

The ground in front of Nawaki's wall seemed to transform into a muddy swamp that rapidly extended outwards towards Ao's feet at an alarming speed.

"That's an A-rank technique!"

Minato's blue eyes widened in shock. He knew about it because Jiraiya had once mentioned it as one of his prized jutsu.

He then recalled a conversation over a year ago between Nawaki and Jiraiya. 

Did Jiraiya really teach him this jutsu?

Regardless, for a genin like Nawaki to use an A-rank technique was way beyond his level's scope.

Ao was caught off guard as he saw the swamp quickly spreading, even causing Nawaki's earth wall to start sinking.

However, just as the swamp was about to reach Ao's feet, it abruptly stopped a few inches short.

Everyone was dumbfounded.

"Using a half-mastered A-rank jutsu has a high failure rate," Sakumo commented from the stands. 

Nawaki clicked his tongue, "Dropping the ball at the crucial moment."

At the same time, he noticed the kunai in Ao's hand and drew the tanto blade from his back.

The Senju were one of the greatest clans during the Warring States period. To survive those times, the clan members not only mastered ninjutsu and had powerful chakra, but were also extremely skilled in kenjutsu swordsmanship.

As he pulled out his tanto, Nawaki glanced at Sakumo in the audience. When it came to swordsmanship, Sakumo was considered the foremost master in the current ninja world.

It was said the Hidden Mist Village also had formidable sword masters, but none could compare to Sakumo Hatake - a prodigy even his own sister Tsunade admitted inferiority to.

Ao circled around the swamp area and charged at Nawaki with his kunai raised.

Clang! Clang!

Kunai and tanto clashed, the impacts seeming to create sparks as the ringing of steel echoed loudly across the arena. 

The two traded fierce blows, repeatedly leaving openings to strike each other's chests or foreheads, yet neither took advantage, solely focused on the furious exchange of swordplay.

"These two are really treating this like a battlefield," muttered a genin.

Minato and the others turned sharply at those words, their hearts clenching.

To most students here, this was seen as just a special exam, a test to pass - that was the common perception, even for Minato initially.

But not for Nawaki and Ao. To them, this was not a trial or test.

This was actual combat - battle between ninja!

(End of chapter)