"Don't go too easy. Breaking arms and legs is fine. The more concussions and fractures, the better."
"There's no need to hold back against the people of Amegakure."
Kazuyama casually lit a cigarette. Lately, he'd picked up the habit again. After all, a smoke after a job well done was a pleasure he couldn't give up.
Yugito curled her lip disdainfully. She had absolute confidence in her strength. In this Chūnin Exam, no one would be her match.
Just a bunch of Genin from Amegakure. If she had to use even thirty percent of her strength, it would already be her loss.
"You better tell your village's Genin to be careful. I'll crush them all, one by one."
"My strength right now—hey, hey, hey!"
"What are you doing!"
Before Yugito could finish, Kazuyama grabbed her by the back of her collar.
He turned to Konan with a mischievous smile.
"Konan, you head back first. I've got a little business to handle with my rebellious student."
Before Konan could react, Kazuyama placed a hand on her shoulder and activated the Flying Thunder God Technique.
By the time Konan regained her senses, she was already back in Konohagakure.
Kazuyama and Yugito had completely disappeared.
Konan shook her head helplessly and walked toward the dormitory building.
...
On the sea near Turtle Island, two figures clashed fiercely—Kazuyama and Yugito were sparring.
Kazuyama's fists were sharp and powerful. Though Taijutsu wasn't his specialty, he certainly wasn't someone who couldn't wield a blade. Yugito was even more outrageous—so young, yet her mastery of Taijutsu was astonishing. Gifted by Matatabi, she had cat-like reflexes and razor-sharp claws.
Kazuyama flickered, appearing behind Yugito in an instant, and threw a kick. Yugito tumbled several meters forward before regaining her balance.
"Tsk tsk, I have to admit, your Taijutsu just keeps getting more and more insane."
"Your speed and reflexes are completely over the top."
Yugito showed no reaction to the praise. Instead, her fighting spirit flared even stronger.
She had always enjoyed the life of a Genin, relishing the feeling of power. But in Takigakure, she couldn't reveal her full strength, and that suppression had been stifling.
Today, facing Kazuyama, she was ready to let loose.
Tailed Beast chakra began to leak out around her. Seeing this, Kazuyama stopped smiling and waved his hands frantically.
"Hey, hey, hey, I'm just testing your strength! Why are you going full Tailed Beast?"
"Matatabi, what are you doing! Stop! I don't want—hey, hey, hey!"
"Don't come any closer!"
Yugito, wrapped in the Tailed Beast cloak, grinned wickedly and charged forward. With Matatabi's chakra fueling her, her speed, strength, and destructive power surged.
Kazuyama let out a sharp cry and retreated at top speed.
Waves erupted on the sea's surface—one charging with overwhelming force, the other dodging frantically.
"Hey! This is too much, kid!"
Boom!
Kazuyama knew Yugito wanted to cut loose, so he had no choice but to grant her wish.
Tailed Beast chakra surged over his body as well. Two crimson figures collided midair.
Cat claws and fists clashed, throwing up massive waves.
"Feeling better now?"
"You've been holding back for so long. I'll come up with a way for you to use Matatabi's power properly."
"But not today."
Kazuyama powered up and sent Yugito flying.
In midair, Yugito swung her tail to stabilize herself and landed steadily.
"You said it! I'm holding you to it, Sensei!"
"Mouse Hairball!"
Yugito swung her arms violently, and ten blue fireballs screamed toward Kazuyama.
Kazuyama's eyes narrowed. Chakra burst under his feet as he retreated like a bolt of lightning.
"Hmph, trying to run?" Yugito formed hand seals and shouted, "Explode!"
The ten fireballs suddenly accelerated, arcing with blue electricity between them.
Kazuyama frowned, dodging swiftly. Still, several fireballs brushed past him, erupting into massive splashes.
"Not bad, kid."
Stabilizing himself, Kazuyama waved his hands. The surrounding seawater gathered into dozens of water spheres.
"Water Release: Water Ball Barrage!"
Countless water balls shot toward Yugito.
Yugito stayed calm. The Tailed Beast chakra around her intensified as she crossed her arms over her chest. A blue flame barrier formed in front of her, blocking all the water balls. It was the signature blue fire of Two-Tails.
She then waved her arms again, and this time, twenty Mouse Hairballs gathered in front of her.
"Take this, Sensei!" Yugito shouted, launching another barrage.
Kazuyama watched the incoming fireballs, a slight smile tugging at his lips. Seeing that smile, Yugito immediately sensed something was wrong.
Suddenly, Matatabi shouted from inside her.
"Yugito, move! No—it's too late! Let go of your body control!"
Without fully understanding, Yugito instinctively released her consciousness.
"Meow!"
A proud feline cry escaped Yugito's mouth. Brilliant blue flames erupted from her body, and Matatabi's overwhelming Tailed Beast aura surged.
Seeing Matatabi appear, Kazuyama chuckled.
"Looks like Yugito still needs more training. In the end, we have to count on you, Matatabi."
Matatabi stretched lazily, a hint of helplessness in her movements.
"She's still young. It's normal for her not to notice."
"You're just like Chōmei, always up to sneaky tricks."
"Hmph, you two are made for each other."
Kazuyama and Chōmei burst out laughing.
Only Yugito stood there, completely confused.
In the end, Matatabi explained for her.
"When he used his Water Release jutsu, he released a lot of Scale Powder too."
"That Scale Powder isn't any weaker than what Chōmei can produce. And it's hard to imagine it's being released while using the Tailed Beast cloak."
Matatabi knew well the power of Chōmei's Scale Powder—normally quiet, but once it took effect, even a Tailed Beast would fall into a passive state.
And the Scale Powder Kazuyama had just unleashed even made Matatabi feel a flicker of surprise.
It was colorless, invisible, and almost completely odorless. If Matatabi hadn't been so familiar with Chōmei's tricks, even she might have been caught off guard.
Yugito was shocked. How had she not noticed the Scale Powder?
"Hehehe... it's my latest invention..."
"Every day, I compress the Scale Powder with chakra until it's almost undetectable..."
"A must-have for home and travel..."