After returning the chakra it had devoured, Samehada slithered back to Naruto's side like a guilty pet.
It remembered Kitazawa clearly—and feared him deeply.
After all, its previous wielder, Suikazan Fuguki, had died by that very man's hand.
Kitazawa didn't spare it a glance. He crouched beside Kimimaro, extending a hand.
A pale-green glow pulsed from his palm, flowing gently into the boy's body.
Kimimaro's injuries weren't visible—his Shikotsumyaku bones had shielded him from most of the external impact—but the counterforce from deflecting those countless Wind Release: Shuriken strikes had left his insides battered.
"Thank you… Kitazawa-sensei."
Kimimaro's voice was calm, but his pride wavered. Losing was not something he was used to.
Back in Otogakure, he had been the prodigy—the peerless genius among Orochimaru's chosen.
No matter how many experiments, how many talents appeared, none had ever surpassed him.
But now, in Konoha's so-called Genius Class, he had been utterly defeated—in his very first spar.
If Orochimaru learned of this… would he look at Kimimaro with disappointment?
"Kimimaro!"
Naruto's voice cut through his thoughts. The last of the Shadow Clones vanished with soft puffs of smoke as Naruto jogged over, grinning ear to ear.
Kimimaro instinctively looked up.
"That was a fight full of youth!" Naruto declared, flashing his trademark thumbs-up. "Let's do it again sometime!"
For a moment, Kimimaro could only stare, speechless.
In Otogakure, defeat meant death.
No second chances. No friendly smiles.
The concept of a rematch—of mutual growth—felt… foreign.
Sasuke, watching quietly, felt a jolt of recognition.
The silence in Kimimaro's eyes—that heavy frustration—it was exactly how he had felt after losing to Naruto.
He clenched his fists.
He couldn't lose again. Not today.
And yet, after what he'd just witnessed… even he wasn't sure.
Naruto's growth had been startling—especially that Wind Release: Shuriken barrage.
If he had been in Kimimaro's place, he doubted he'd have lasted longer.
He'd have to stop Naruto before he could even form those techniques—but that was easier said than done.
Worse, Naruto hadn't even used Rasengan this time.
Meanwhile, Kimimaro had shown his full hand—Shikotsumyaku and even the Curse Mark of Earth.
Between the two, Sasuke knew which one he'd rather face.
Across the field, Neji's eyes narrowed in thought.
He had once assumed a fight with Kimimaro would be even—but after witnessing the Curse Mark's boost, that assumption wavered.
The increase in strength, speed, and chakra output was enormous. A single mistake could end the match.
Sakura sighed softly. "If I draw Kimimaro, I'll probably lose."
Her Water Release jutsu was flexible, capable of offense and defense alike—but Shikotsumyaku made close combat nearly impossible.
To win, she'd have to maintain distance and overwhelm him with range.
And she wasn't there yet.
"If I can trap him in genjutsu before he gets close," Ino mused aloud, "I might stand a chance."
Kiba crossed his arms, pretending confidence he didn't feel. "Tch! Don't count me out yet! The great Inuzuka Kiba won't lose that easily!"
Shino simply adjusted his glasses, his quiet composure unshaken.
Kimimaro was formidable, yes—but victory wasn't everything. They were classmates, not enemies.
Still… the pressure he exuded couldn't be ignored.
"Then wouldn't Yakumo be his perfect counter?" Tenten suddenly asked.
"Yakumo?" Tayuya repeated, frowning. "You mean that quiet girl who barely talks? Her genjutsu's stronger than Ino's?"
"She's not just using genjutsu," Ino said, shaking her head. "It's a Bloodline Limit—one that was once as famous as the Sharingan."
Sakura nodded firmly. "Honestly, I think it might even be stronger than the Sharingan."
No one disagreed.
Even Sasuke stayed silent, though his Sharingan flickered with quiet contemplation.
He'd wondered the same himself—how Yakumo's illusions could distort reality more profoundly than his dojutsu could predict it.
"Wh–what?" Tayuya's eyes widened, her voice trembling.
Just how many monsters were in this class?
Every time she thought she'd seen the limits of Konoha's so-called geniuses, another one shattered it.
Shikamaru gave her a knowing glance and sighed. "You'll get used to it. Around here, even geniuses have to settle for being average."
Jugo approached Kimimaro as the murmurs continued. "Are you alright?"
Kimimaro shook his head faintly. "Physically, yes."
His injuries were gone—Kitazawa's chakra had already repaired the damage.
But the bruise to his pride… that would take longer to heal.
For the first time in his life, Kimimaro had lost to someone his own age.
And that realization burned more than any wound.
"Kimimaro's amazing! He really fired up my youth!"
Naruto's grin nearly split his face. His eyes sparkled with excitement—the thrill of finding yet another rival worthy of the Genius Class.
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Sasuke said coolly, crossing his arms.
"The more you brag, the harder you'll fall," Kiba added, smirking.
"…?" Sasuke shot him a sidelong glance. That sounded less like advice and more like a stray insult aimed at everyone.
Nearby, Tayuya clenched her fists.
Her loss to Hinata still stung, but she refused to let that single defeat define her. She'd show them—she had to.
"The sixth match of the first round: Uchiha Sasuke versus Inuzuka Hana," Kitazawa announced.
"Good luck, sis," Kiba muttered. "Your luck's worse than mine."
Tayuya's gaze followed Sasuke as he stepped forward. She didn't know exactly how strong he was, but ever since arriving at the academy, his quiet confidence had been obvious.
It wasn't arrogance—it was certainty.
She wanted to see why.
Even Kimimaro stirred, his exhaustion momentarily forgotten.
The name "Uchiha" carried weight—it always had.
And this wasn't over yet. The practical exam had three rounds; he still had two chances to redeem himself.
He wouldn't lose again.
Sasuke and Hana faced each other in the arena.
One was confident of victory.
The other… simply realistic about defeat.
"Quadruple Fang Passing Fang!"
Without hesitation, Hana struck first. She and her three ninken spun into four ferocious tornadoes, roaring toward Sasuke with overwhelming speed.
Sasuke didn't even flinch.
With a smooth motion, he unsheathed his blade—the Sword of the Thunder God—and raised it in a single, precise swing.
Lightning erupted from the blade like a storm unleashed, crackling violently across the field.
The air filled with the sound of snapping thunder as bolts coiled together, forming a vast ocean of light.
The four tornadoes hit the lightning head-on—and the collision shook the ground, Chakra waves scattering through the arena.
Sasuke calmly sheathed his sword, his fingers already forming seals.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball!"
A massive fireball surged from his lips, merging with the lightning storm. The collision created a roaring explosion, scattering the winds and revealing Hana and her exhausted ninken within the fading flames.
Before she could recover, Kitazawa raised a hand. A Water Wall surged up between them, neutralizing the residual fire and lightning.
Hana stopped her spin, breathing heavily. "I surrender," she said decisively.
Kitazawa nodded, lowering the water wall.
"Giving Sasuke the Sword of the Thunder God really was the perfect choice," Hiruzen said with a pleased hum.
Kakashi's visible eye crinkled. "His control over Lightning Release already surpasses his Fire Release. That's… rare for an Uchiha."
Kosuke chuckled. "A Lightning Release prodigy from the Uchiha Clan—who would've thought?"
The crowd murmured in awe. For most, "Uchiha" meant Sharingan and Fire Release—yet Sasuke stood there, commanding lightning like a natural-born storm.
Hiruzen watched quietly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. Even the children of legends can walk new paths, he thought. Minato's son became a whirlwind of chaos, and now Fugaku's son commands thunder. Fitting.
"So cool! Sasuke-kun!"
Sakura clasped her hands, her eyes sparkling with adoration. Sasuke had barely broken a sweat—he'd won with elegance and power both.
Tayuya could only stare.
Lightning Release and Fire Release at eight years old? And he had the Sharingan and genjutsu on top of that?
Kimimaro's expression hardened.
Lightning and fire—both could pierce his defenses.
His bones might be hard as steel, but the rest of him was still flesh and blood. One clean hit would spell trouble.
Even Jugo looked amazed. "He's incredible," he muttered. "I thought Kimimaro was the strongest his age… but Konoha's full of monsters."
"The seventh match of the first round—Kurama Yakumo versus Akimichi Choji," Kitazawa's voice rang out.
Tayuya blinked, snapping back to attention.
Her gaze drifted to the quiet, fragile-looking girl with soft hair and a calm smile.
Her genjutsu was supposed to be that terrifying?
Kiba whistled. "Hah, Choji, you've got the worst luck today."
"Don't tease him," Hana scolded, nudging her brother before turning to Choji. "You've got this!"
Shikamaru placed a hand on Choji's shoulder. "If you get caught in her genjutsu, just surrender. Don't waste chakra fighting something you can't see."
He wasn't joking.
Yakumo's genjutsu wasn't something you could just "snap out of." It didn't merely cloud the senses—it rewrote reality itself.
Unless you noticed it instantly, by the time you realized you were trapped… it was already over.
"Isn't that a bit exaggerated?" Tayuya frowned. "She's what—eight? No way her genjutsu beats a jōnin's."
Ino folded her arms. "You'll understand when you see it. Yakumo's Bloodline Limit isn't just genjutsu—it's on the level of the Sharingan."
Sakura nodded, serious. "Actually, I think it might even be stronger."
No one argued.
Even Sasuke remained quiet.
And for the first time, Tayuya felt a chill that had nothing to do with the wind.
"I'm also a Genjutsu genius! I won't necessarily lose to her!"
Tayuya crossed her arms, forcing confidence into her voice—though her tone sounded more defensive than defiant.
Yakumo and Choji stepped into the arena.
"The match begins!" Kitazawa's voice rang out.
Partial Multi-Size Technique!
Choji's fists clenched, and with a surge of chakra, his arm ballooned outward, muscles swelling like coiled steel.
He lunged forward, his giant fist crashing toward Yakumo.
Yakumo didn't even try to meet the blow head-on. She retreated lightly, her movements elegant, and in one smooth motion drew her thin katana.
The blade flashed—sharp and clean—and Choji grunted, pain slicing through his enlarged arm.
Even with the Multi-Size Technique reinforcing him, flesh was still flesh.
Giantification Technique!
Choji's body expanded rapidly, his size doubling, then tripling, until a towering three-meter figure loomed over Yakumo.
The ground trembled beneath his weight.
The extent of the Giantification Technique depended on the user's chakra—and though young Choji couldn't yet match his father's titanic power, this was still impressive.
Yakumo darted back, her cloak fluttering in the shockwave of his movement.
Choji roared, swinging down his massive fist.
Leaf Whirlwind!
Yakumo kicked upward, her strike connecting—but her small frame was no match for a living mountain. The impact sent her tumbling through the air.
She flipped mid-air and landed lightly, knees bending to absorb the shock.
"When did Choji learn that?" Sakura gasped.
"No idea," Tenten said, just as surprised. "He probably trains at home—clan secrets and all."
Kiba clenched his teeth. "Damn… I've got to step up my training too! I can't let Choji surpass me!"
Tayuya's expression darkened. She thought her Three Nuki Oni were fearsome because of their size advantage—but compared to Choji's Giantification, that advantage suddenly felt meaningless.
Everywhere she looked, there was another genius that broke common sense.
Even this guy—this walking bag of potato chips—had monstrous potential.
"Wait… why isn't Yakumo using Genjutsu?" Tayuya frowned. "Isn't that her specialty?"
Ino folded her arms, sighing. "Yakumo's body isn't strong. Kitazawa-sensei has her practice Taijutsu and Kenjutsu to build stamina."
Tayuya blinked. "Then shouldn't she practice Genjutsu instead?"
"She doesn't need to practice Genjutsu," Ino said quietly, her tone laced with awe.
Tayuya stared blankly. "...What does that even mean?"
Ino met her eyes. "It means her Genjutsu doesn't rely on practice—it's instinct. Bloodline. Talent. It's like breathing for her."
Tayuya gawked at her. What kind of ridiculous explanation is that?
Was Yakumo's Genjutsu already the strongest in the world?
This class was getting more terrifying by the minute.
The ground shook.
Choji's massive form began to spin, rolling into a gigantic ball of flesh and fury.
Human Bullet Tank!
The sheer pressure distorted the air. His momentum could crush boulders—maybe even tear through steel.
Yakumo's expression didn't waver.
Horror Illusion.
Her lips barely parted as an invisible ripple spread from her body.
The massive rolling form suddenly wobbled mid-spin—then veered sharply off course.
Choji, still in his Human Bullet Tank form, rolled straight past her and kept going, charging aimlessly into the distance.
"He's under a Genjutsu," Shikamaru sighed, shaking his head. "The match is decided."
Tayuya froze. "H–How? She didn't even use hand signs! When did she cast it?"
No one answered.
Because even they didn't know.
"Winner: Kurama Yakumo."
Kitazawa appeared beside Choji in a flicker, placing a hand on his shoulder and gently dispelling the illusion.
Choji blinked, confusion flickering in his eyes, but he quickly smiled. "Thanks, Sensei."
He didn't seem discouraged at all—losing to Yakumo was practically expected.
Kimimaro said nothing.
He had watched carefully, but even now, he couldn't determine when the Genjutsu had started.
He was confident he could resist Ino's illusions… but Yakumo's? It was like being caught in a dream that started before you even closed your eyes.
As the remaining matches of the first round continued, Kimimaro, Jugo, and Tayuya sat in stunned silence.
Each fight was another revelation. Even the "ordinary" students in Konoha's Genius Class displayed techniques that could rival the elite of Otogakure.
Haku, meanwhile, remained composed. His goal wasn't ranking—it was growth. To him, every opponent was a teacher.
"The future of Konoha truly shines," Hiruzen said with quiet pride. "Even among this group, I see several future Kage-level shinobi."
Kakashi nodded. "Just this class alone could change the balance of power in the world."
When the first round finally ended, Kitazawa stepped forward, lottery box in hand.
"The second round begins now," he said. "First match—Kurama Yakumo versus Kimimaro."
The arena fell silent.
"Be careful of her Genjutsu," Jugo murmured.
Tayuya clenched her fists. "Go get her, Kimimaro!"
Kimimaro took a slow breath, then his chakra flared.
Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Willow!
Bones extended from his body as he launched forward, moving faster than the eye could follow.
But even that speed was meaningless.
Horror Illusion.
A silent pulse of chakra rippled outward.
Kimimaro froze mid-step, a single bone blade inches from Yakumo's throat—before stopping completely.
From the audience's perspective, he stood motionless, frozen like a statue.
But inside the illusion…
Kimimaro was already fighting for his life.
Tayuya's breath caught. "What… what is this?"
For the first time since coming to Konoha, she felt something she hadn't felt even under Orochimaru's gaze—Pure fear.
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