"The winner is Kurama Yakumo!"
Kitazawa's calm voice echoed across the arena.
Kimimaro stepped down in a daze. He didn't even know when he'd fallen under Yakumo's Genjutsu—or how he'd lost. Everything had ended before he even realized it had begun.
Tayuya felt a chill run down her spine.
Yakumo was terrifying—perhaps even more than Naruto.
At least against Naruto, Kimimaro could fight back. He could resist.
But here… he hadn't even moved. He just stood there until he lost.
The sight unsettled everyone watching.
As someone who prided herself on her Genjutsu talent, Tayuya could only admit the truth: Yakumo's illusions weren't at a Genin's level—they were Jōnin-tier, at the very least.
"Kimimaro, it's not your fault," Jugo said softly, trying to console him.
Kimimaro opened his mouth, but no words came out.
He had always been proud—the elite among elites—yet now, he had suffered two consecutive defeats. His confidence was shaken to the core.
Sasuke watched him quietly, a flicker of understanding in his eyes.
He knew exactly what Kimimaro was feeling—because he'd been there himself.
Even now, despite mastering Lightning Release, Sasuke wasn't confident he could handle Yakumo's Genjutsu either.
Maybe only the Three-Tomoe Sharingan will be enough, he thought grimly.
"The second match of the second round—Sakura Haruno versus Uchiha Sasuke," Kitazawa announced, raising an eyebrow.
Yakumo vs. Kimimaro had been deliberate.
This pairing… was pure coincidence.
"Huh?" Sakura blinked. "S–Sasuke-kun's my opponent?"
A beat of silence. Then—
"Sakura, you can do it!" Ino called out dramatically, smirking from the sidelines.
"Sakura, you're a Water Release user—that's perfect against his Fire Release! You can totally win!" Kiba added with a grin, clearly enjoying the chaos.
"Indeed," Shino said evenly, adjusting his glasses.
"Sakura, don't lose your youth!" Naruto declared, giving her a gleaming thumbs-up.
"You might actually have a chance!" Tenten chimed in encouragingly.
Sakura shot Ino a murderous glare. This is all your fault for starting this!
Tayuya, meanwhile, stared blankly at the group. From her perspective, the power gap between Sakura and Sasuke was an ocean wide. Why are they all pretending this is even close?
"Wait for me, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura hurried onto the field after him.
"Begin!" Kitazawa's voice signaled the start.
Fire Release: Great Fireball!
Sasuke didn't hesitate—he tilted his head back and exhaled a blazing sphere of flame.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!
Sakura's hands blurred through seals. Chakra surged, and a roaring dragon of water burst forth, colliding with the fireball mid-air.
A deafening boom! filled the arena. Steam exploded outward, blanketing the field in thick mist.
Sasuke's Two-Tomoe Sharingan spun to life, effortlessly piercing the haze.
Unlike the Hidden Mist Village's secret technique, this was ordinary steam—and the Sharingan saw through it all.
He spotted her chakra signature instantly.
A flicker of movement caught his eye—a residual stream of water still rushing toward him from the shattered dragon.
Sasuke raised an eyebrow and leaped aside, dodging the attack.
Water Release: Water Bullet!
Sakura pressed her fingers together beside her lips and spat a concentrated jet of high-pressure water.
Sasuke's feet flared with chakra—Body Flicker!
He didn't retreat. He advanced.
Weaving through the torrent in a swift, serpentine motion, he drew the Sword of the Thunder God, lightning crackling along its blade.
In a blur, he appeared in front of her.
The tip of his sword stopped cold at her neck.
Sakura froze, eyes wide.
A tense silence fell.
"As expected," Kiba sighed. "She didn't stand a chance."
"She was never going to," Shikamaru said with a lazy smile.
"But her strength's improved a lot," Tenten noted sincerely. "If I fought her now, I'm not sure I'd win so easily."
Ino clenched her fists, frustration bubbling inside her. Six words echoed in her mind:
Kitazawa-sensei, save me.
Losing to Sakura still stung. Watching her close the gap this fast—it was unbearable.
She made a silent decision right there: after the monthly exam, she was going straight to Kitazawa for special training.
Sakura had Kosuke.
Then she would have Kitazawa.
"The third match of the second round—Tayuya versus Shino Aburame," Kitazawa's calm voice cut through the chatter of the crowd.
"Finally, it's my turn again!" Tayuya's eyes lit up.
This was her chance to redeem herself—to prove that her instant defeat before had been a fluke. Even if she couldn't win, she refused to lose miserably again.
She strode into the arena, flute at her waist, confidence rekindled.
Shino followed, quiet and unreadable as always.
Tayuya narrowed her eyes, recalling his earlier match.
His Kikaichu had been relentless—strong in both offense and defense, and able to drain chakra like a leech.
Troublesome, yes. But not unbeatable.
Summoning Jutsu!
Tayuya slammed her hand onto the ground the moment the match began.
A gust of chilling wind blew through the training field as smoke erupted.
When it cleared, three hulking figures stood behind her—the Nuki Oni.
Each of them towered like demons from folklore, their grotesque bodies covered in rough armor-like skin, eyes gleaming with feral light.
"Those must be the Nuki Oni Tayuya mentioned!" Ino gasped.
"They look way stronger than I expected," Kiba muttered, feeling an odd twinge of anxiety. "Their size is about the same as my Three-Headed Hellhound…"
"Maybe they just look strong," Sakura said skeptically, still haunted by Tayuya's embarrassing loss to Hinata.
Naruto leaned forward, eyes wide. "Whoa! Those are awesome!"
"…Naruto's focus is always unique," Shikamaru sighed, voice perfectly neutral.
"They're too ugly," Sasuke said flatly.
Tenten crossed her arms. "So what if they're ugly? Power's power! My Shiromari isn't exactly cute either!"
"Let's focus on the match," Neji interjected, ending the tangent before it spiraled further.
Demonic Flute: Phantom Sound Chains!
Tayuya raised her flute and began to play. The haunting melody rippled through the air, carrying invisible chakra threads that wrapped around the Nuki Oni.
The ground quaked as the leftmost Oni swung its massive wooden club down toward Shino.
Secret Technique: Insect Wall!
Shino's sleeves burst open, and a dense black cloud of Kikaichu surged out, forming a living barrier that intercepted the blow mid-air.
The impact sent a tremor through the earth, dust scattering in waves.
Tayuya frowned. Her melody shifted.
The middle Oni's right arm flexed—its bone claws gleaming as it slashed across the field.
Secret Technique: Insect Wall!
Shino raised another defense, but this time the Oni's second claw came swinging in from the opposite side.
Shino leapt clear, his coat rippling in the shockwave.
Secret Technique: Insect Cocoon!
Fresh Kikaichu poured from his sleeves, replacing those crushed in the assault.
The ground split as the Oni's claws smashed down again—and then the third Oni, the armless one, lunged forward, spinning its massive body like a boulder.
Its sheer weight blotted out the sunlight.
Secret Technique: Insect Sphere!
Thousands of insects exploded outward, clinging to the Oni's back. The creature let out a guttural roar as its chakra was rapidly drained.
"Not good," Tayuya hissed, quickly changing her tune. The Nuki Oni twisted violently, slamming itself against the ground.
The Kikaichu, crushed under its enormous body, were wiped out in an instant.
"Is Shino… losing?" Sakura murmured.
"Tayuya wasn't bluffing," Ino said seriously. "Those summons are monsters."
"But summons aren't the key," Shikamaru interjected, narrowing his eyes. "The key is Tayuya herself."
"Exactly," Neji said. "Defeat the summoner, and the beasts disappear."
Kiba frowned. "Then why hasn't Shino gone for her yet? He must have a plan."
Shikamaru's gaze flickered—and then it hit him.
So that's it.
He remembered the Jōmyō Clan's techniques—the forbidden scrolls Kitazawa had given to Shino.
"Whoa!" Naruto's shout broke through the tension. "What's that giant bee!?"
Everyone looked up.
A low, echoing buzz filled the air as an enormous Queen Bee descended, her wings beating like thunder.
"The Jōmyō Clan's Queen Bee," Shikamaru muttered, smirking. "Just as I thought."
Tayuya's eyes widened. Another summoning beast? How many insects does he have!?
Honey Technique!
Shino raised both hands, and swarms of smaller bees shot out from his sleeves, darting toward the Nuki Oni.
Tayuya's fingers danced over her flute, trying to make the Oni intercept.
The bees collided—and exploded.
A sticky amber rain fell across the arena.
Thick layers of beeswax clung to the Oni's limbs and torsos, their movements slowing to a crawl.
Above them, the Queen Bee unleashed another shower, coating their heads and backs like hardened glue.
"Move!" Tayuya's voice cracked as she screamed the command. "Move, damn it!"
But the Nuki Oni didn't budge.
Shino lowered his hand.
A wave of Kikaichu rose like a dark tide, swarming toward Tayuya.
Her flute trembled in her hands. "I… I surrender!" she choked out.
The buzzing ceased.
Shino nodded slightly. "A wise decision."
For him, it had been more than a victory—it was a successful test of the Jōmyō Clan's Secret Technique.
"Shino's gotten even stronger," Kiba groaned. "How are we supposed to beat him now?"
"With Kikaichu and bees, he's practically invincible," Shikamaru said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Unless you're Naruto or Sasuke, you might as well give up."
He sighed deeply. "Sometimes, I wonder if hard work even matters in this class."
Neji's expression grew solemn. The Honey Technique was dangerous—if he ever got trapped in it, his Gentle Fist would be useless.
He'd have to fight Shino without being caught even once.
Shino's new strength—the Jōmyō Clan's Secret Technique—had the whole class unsettled.
Even Naruto whistled in awe.
"Shino! Where'd you get that giant bee? I want a Summoning Beast like that too!"
"Kitazawa-sensei gave it to me," Shino replied simply, adjusting his glasses as he explained the mission that led to the Queen Bee's contract.
Tayuya, who was still walking back from the arena, froze mid-step.
Kitazawa again?
She clenched her jaw. The more she saw, the clearer it became—every single genius in this class had gotten stronger because of him.
She bit back the sour taste in her mouth.
No way. I'll never ask him for help.
Even so… she had to admit—this fight, at least, salvaged some pride.
The second round of matches flew by quickly—far fewer than the chaotic first round. Seventeen had become nine.
Eighteen students had advanced—the ones eligible to go on missions.
"Now, I'll announce the list of students who've entered the third round," Kitazawa said, standing before the lottery box.
The class fell silent.
Last time, only thirteen had advanced—the Konoha Twelve (minus Choji), plus Hana and Yakumo.
But this time, sixteen names were called.
All of the Konoha Twelve were in, along with Hana, Yakumo, Tayuya, and Kimimaro.
Haku hadn't qualified—he still hadn't mastered Ice Release.
Jugo could have made it easily if he'd used Sage Transformation, but he hadn't. And Karin… well, sealing techniques didn't exactly make for flashy duels.
Tayuya exhaled a long breath of relief.
Top sixteen. Not bad.
At least she'd saved face—after boasting she'd make top five, dropping out earlier would've been unbearable.
Kimimaro, however, wasn't smiling.
Even though he'd made it this far, he'd lost both of his matches. Back in Otogakure, that kind of failure would've meant elimination—or worse.
Jugo, by contrast, looked completely calm. He wasn't chasing rankings; he was waiting for Kitazawa's new seal. As long as it could stabilize him, he didn't care about anything else—not even Otogakure.
"Man… life in the Genius Class just keeps getting tougher," Kiba sighed.
"I'll just work twice as hard!" Ino declared, clenching her fists and throwing a quick glance at Sakura.
"Competing with geniuses like this—this is youth!" Lee cried, eyes sparkling.
"That's right!" Naruto shouted, his enthusiasm matching Lee's perfectly. "Youth means fighting and growing together!"
Shikamaru sighed. "You two really have too much energy."
"Save your energy," Tenten reminded them. "Recover your chakra before the next match."
Her words snapped everyone back to focus. The field quieted as students began refining chakra and steadying their breathing.
Kitazawa's voice broke the silence.
"Rest time's over. The third round begins now."
He reached into the lottery box and pulled out two slips of paper.
"The first match—Kimimaro versus Sasuke Uchiha."
The air buzzed instantly.
"Ooh, that's gonna be a good one," Tenten said with bright eyes.
Sasuke needed no introduction—one of the class's undisputed top three. And while Kimimaro had lost twice, his strength had already earned everyone's respect.
"Sasuke-kun…" Sakura whispered softly, her hands clasped near her chest.
"I declare Kimimaro officially the unluckiest guy in this exam," Kiba muttered suddenly.
"Huh? Why?" Ino asked.
"Think about it," Kiba said, spreading his hands. "He's fought Naruto, Yakumo, and now Sasuke. Three of the strongest people in this entire class—all back to back!"
Hana blinked. "...That's actually true."
Tayuya frowned. "Wait, are you saying Kitazawa-sensei rigged the draws?"
Ino immediately shook her head. "Kitazawa-sensei would never do that!"
Hinata, who rarely spoke up, nodded firmly. "He's fair to everyone."
"Our rankings aren't based on wins or losses anyway," Kiba added. "They're about overall performance. Who you face doesn't matter."
Sakura nodded. "Exactly. Kitazawa-sensei treats everyone equally—we all have personalized training."
Tayuya hesitated.
That's… true.
She had to admit, Kitazawa had always treated her fairly—even giving her a B-rank Genjutsu despite her attitude. The guilt crept in before she could stop it.
Shikamaru, though, frowned slightly.
Still… the timing, the draws… it's too neat.
He opened his mouth, then closed it again. No one would believe him anyway.
"Kimimaro, be careful," Jugo said quietly.
Kimimaro gave a brief nod and stepped into the arena.
"Let's go, Sasuke! Burn your youth!" Naruto shouted, giving a thumbs-up.
Sasuke didn't even glance back. "Only an Uchiha wins."
He walked to his position, hands in his pockets, eyes cold.
"Battle start!" Kitazawa declared.
A flash of crimson filled Sasuke's eyes—Two-Tomoe Sharingan.
Genjutsu: Unkown Fire.
An invisible wave of chakra spread outward.
Kimimaro stiffened. He hadn't expected Sasuke to open with Genjutsu. The Uchiha usually favored Fire or Lightning Release first.
His vision warped. The world melted into flames.
For a brief instant, his body burned—skin searing, pain lancing through every nerve.
Then, in less than a second, he snapped free.
He blinked, the illusion gone.
Sasuke stood before him, calm and composed.
"I used that Genjutsu to show you something," Sasuke said evenly. "The Uchiha's Sharingan Genjutsu… is not inferior to the Kurama Clan's."
He tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk playing at his lips. "But I won't need illusions to defeat you. I'll win head-on."
The girls erupted immediately.
"So cool! Sasuke-kun!" Sakura squealed, joined by Ino and a few others.
"Show-off," Kiba grumbled, though his grin betrayed amusement.
"This… is Sasuke's youth!" Naruto declared, pointing dramatically.
"What does that have to do with youth?" Tayuya muttered, exasperated.
Tenten chuckled. "He really is an Uchiha through and through—cool, confident, and impossible to ignore."
Kitazawa pinched the bridge of his nose, trying not to sigh.
Full marks for arrogance, he thought dryly. If it weren't for that system mission, I'd almost hope Kimimaro beats the smugness out of him.
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