After the Samehada returned the Chakra to Kimimaro, it ran back to Naruto's side.
It only had one impression of Kitazawa — fear. After all, its previous wielder, Suikazan Fuguki, had been killed by him.
Kitazawa looked at Kimimaro and extended his hand. A faint, pale-green Chakra surged from his palm.
Due to his Shikotsumyaku, Kimimaro had no external injuries, but the immense shockwave created when he countered the Wind Release: Rotating Shuriken had caused internal damage.
"Thank you, Teacher Kitazawa." Kimimaro finally came back to his senses from defeat.
Though losing to Naruto was hard to accept.
Back in Otogakure, he was a genius among geniuses. No matter how many prodigies Orochimaru gathered, none could surpass him.
But here, in the Genius Class, he had suffered such a crushing loss in his very first match.
If Orochimaru found out, he would surely be disappointed.
"Kimimaro!"
Naruto dispelled his Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu and walked over with a grin.
Kimimaro instinctively raised his head.
"What a spar full of youth!" Naruto said with a wide smile, giving him a thumbs-up. "I hope we can have another match!"
Kimimaro was slightly stunned, unsure how to respond. In Otogakure, defeat meant death — there was no such thing as a rematch.
Sasuke looked at the silent Kimimaro and suddenly felt déjà vu. Wasn't this exactly how he used to be when he lost?
He clenched his fists tightly. He couldn't afford another defeat today. However… after watching this match, he still wasn't confident he could beat Naruto.
Naruto's strength had advanced drastically, especially with Wind Release: Rotating Shuriken.
If Sasuke were in Kimimaro's place, he wasn't sure he'd last any longer. The only viable strategy was to prevent Naruto from using that technique — but that was far easier said than done.
Moreover, Naruto still had Rasengan, which he hadn't even used. On the other hand, Kimimaro's full power had now been revealed.
To Sasuke, that made him a much easier opponent to handle.
Hyuga Neji folded his arms in thought. He had originally believed fighting Kimimaro would be a fifty-fifty chance.
But after seeing the Cursed Seal of the Earth, he wasn't so sure. That seal drastically increased strength, speed, and Chakra — making Kimimaro a formidable foe.
"I feel like if I draw Kimimaro, I'll probably lose," Sakura sighed. "Looks like my practical exam rank will drop again."
Her Water Release Ninjutsu offered both offense and defense, but it would struggle against Shikotsumyaku.
Unless she used large-scale Water Release to pin him down from afar — which she wasn't yet capable of.
"If I can trap him in a genjutsu before he gets close, I might still have a chance," Ino said thoughtfully.
"You'll only know after fighting!" Kiba declared, trying to sound confident. "This great me might not necessarily lose!"
Shino adjusted his glasses calmly. Kimimaro's power definitely put pressure on him — but he wasn't overly concerned about winning or losing.
They were classmates, not enemies.
"Then wouldn't Yakumo be the true counter to Kimimaro?" Tenten suddenly asked.
"Is Yakumo's genjutsu even stronger than Ino's?" Tayuya couldn't help but question.
In her mind, for seven- or eight-year-olds, being able to use B-rank Ninjutsu was already incredible — like herself and Ino.
Yakumo, however, always seemed invisible — quiet, gentle, and reserved.
Could such a timid girl really possess monstrous strength like Naruto? Tayuya doubted it.
Even for Konoha, one of the Five Great Villages, this many freakish geniuses seemed impossible.
"Yakumo's genjutsu isn't ordinary genjutsu," Ino explained, turning toward her. "It's a Bloodline Limit once as famous as the Sharingan."
"I think it's even stronger than the Sharingan!" Sakura said immediately.
No one refuted her. Judging by current results, Yakumo's genjutsu was indeed superior to Sasuke's Sharingan.
Sometimes, even Sasuke wondered — if they were both Bloodline Limits, why did the Sharingan seem weaker?
"Ah?" Tayuya's pupils trembled.
What kind of insane class is this? Why were there so many geniuses defying logic?
"You'll get used to it," Shikamaru said lazily. "Even we 'geniuses' are just ordinary people compared to them."
"Kimimaro, are you alright?" Jugo approached him worriedly.
Kimimaro shook his head. His wounds were healed thanks to Kitazawa, but the sting of his first defeat lingered deep in his heart.
"Kimimaro is really strong! He made me feel the passion of youth!" Naruto's eyes sparkled with excitement.
To him, the Genius Class had just gained another worthy rival.
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Sasuke snorted coldly.
"The more arrogant you are, the more likely something bad will happen," Kiba added.
"…?" Sasuke frowned. That sounded like a stray attack aimed at him too.
Tayuya gritted her teeth. Even if entering the top five now seemed impossible, she had to prove that her earlier instant defeat was just a fluke.
"The sixth match of the first round — Uchiha Sasuke versus Inuzuka Hana," Kitazawa announced after drawing lots.
"Sis, do your best," Kiba sighed. "Your luck's even worse than mine."
Tayuya's gaze fell on Sasuke.
She didn't yet know his exact strength, but from his calm confidence, she could tell he was strong — maybe even terrifyingly so.
She'd only know for sure once she saw him fight.
Kimimaro finally steadied his mind. The Uchiha Clan's reputation was known across the entire ninja world.
And since there were three rounds in the exam, he still had two more chances — maybe even against Sasuke himself.
He had lost once. He wouldn't lose again.
Sasuke and Inuzuka Hana walked into the arena. Both were calm — one confident he wouldn't lose, the other resigned that she couldn't win.
Quadruple Fang Over Fang! Hana immediately unleashed her full power at the start of the match.
She and the three Haimaru brothers instantly turned into four rapidly spinning tornadoes, charging straight toward Sasuke.
Sasuke stood still, drawing the Sword of the Thunder God. He gripped the hilt tightly and swung it toward the incoming tornadoes.
Lightning Release Chakra surged along the blade, and dazzling bolts of lightning erupted outward.
In an instant, a sea of lightning roared to life before him.
The four tornadoes collided head-on with the electric sea, causing the air to tremble with violent Chakra turbulence.
Sasuke sheathed the Sword of the Thunder God, formed hand seals, and took a deep breath.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique! A massive fireball erupted from his mouth, streaking across the field.
The tornadoes, already struggling against the lightning, were struck dead-on by the fireball. The resulting explosion of heat and lightning created another wave of fierce turbulence.
Their spinning slowed dramatically, revealing Hana and the three Haimaru brothers within.
Before they could recover, Kitazawa formed hand seals and raised a Water Formation Wall to block their path.
Realizing resistance was futile, Hana stopped her technique and decisively declared, "I surrender."
"Teacher's Sword of the Thunder God being given to Sasuke is truly making the best use of it," Sarutobi Hiruzen said with approval.
"Sasuke's talent with Lightning Release even surpasses his Fire Release," Kakashi added.
"That's quite rare," Kosuke remarked with a smile. "The Uchiha Clan actually producing a Lightning Release genius."
After all, the Uchiha were known for their Sharingan and Fire Release.
Hiruzen's expression turned faintly amused. This was nothing new.
Minato Namikaze — bright and calm like the sun — had a son who was reckless and driven purely by the thrill of battle.
"So cool! Sasuke-kun!" Sakura clasped her hands together, stars in her eyes.
Sasuke had won with effortless precision — cool, elegant, and utterly dominant. He embodied the very image of a true prodigy.
Tayuya was stunned. Was it normal for an eight-year-old to have mastered both Lightning and Fire Release?
And on top of that, he was a Uchiha — possessing the Sharingan and innate genjutsu talent.
Kimimaro frowned. This was going to be tricky.
He wasn't afraid of close combat, but Lightning and Fire Release could easily counter him.
After all, aside from his bones, his body was still flesh and blood. Once hit, the consequences would be serious.
"So amazing," Jugo said honestly.
He had once believed Kimimaro was the strongest genius alive — but after arriving in Konoha, he realized there were many others who stood on equal footing.
"The seventh match of the first round: Kurama Yakumo versus Akimichi Choji!" Kitazawa announced.
Tayuya immediately turned to look at the delicate, quiet Yakumo. Is her genjutsu really that powerful?
"Haha, Choji, looks like you've got the worst luck this month," Kiba laughed.
"What are you saying?" Hana elbowed him, then encouraged, "Go for it, Choji!"
"If you fall under a genjutsu, just surrender. It'll save your Chakra," Shikamaru said seriously, patting Choji's shoulder.
He wasn't slacking off — that was genuine advice. Yakumo's genjutsu was notoriously hard to break, except for Naruto.
Breaking genjutsu sounded simple — all you had to do was disrupt your Chakra flow.
But what if you didn't even realize you were trapped?
That was what made Yakumo's genjutsu terrifying — it blurred the line between illusion and reality so perfectly that most people never noticed until it was too late.
By the time they did, their Chakra would already be drained… or they'd already lost miserably.
"Is it really that exaggerated?" Tayuya frowned. She thought Shikamaru and the others were making too big a deal of it.
Yakumo was only eight or nine years old — could her genjutsu really surpass that of a Jonin?
"You'll understand once you face her," Ino said.
After learning genjutsu herself, she had come to fully appreciate Yakumo's frightening potential.
"I'm also a genjutsu genius! I won't necessarily lose!" Tayuya said stubbornly.
Yakumo and Choji stepped into the arena.
"The battle begins!" Kitazawa declared.
Partial Multi-Size Technique! Choji clenched his fists and rushed forward, his arm swelling to the size of a giant's.
Yakumo quickly retreated — not using genjutsu, but drawing a thin katana and thrusting it forward.
Choji's arm jolted with pain — even with the Partial Multi Size Technique, it was still flesh and blood.
Multi-Size Technique! Choji's entire body expanded, ballooning to three or four meters tall.
The scale of the Multi-Size Technique depended on the user's Chakra reserves.
In the original timeline, Akimichi Choza's version had made him as large as a Tailed Beast — an awe-inspiring sight.
The advanced Super Multi Size Technique even allowed him to fight the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path one-on-one.
For Choji, three to four meters was already impressive at his age.
With a thunderous whoosh, Choji swung his enormous fist downward.
Konoha Whirlwind! Yakumo countered with a kick — but it had no effect, and she was sent flying backward.
She twisted midair and landed lightly on her feet.
"When did Choji learn the Multi-Size Technique?" Sakura asked in surprise.
"I don't know," Tenten shook her head. "He learned it as part of his clan's Secret Technique, so sometimes he trains at home."
"No, I have to work harder! I can't let Choji surpass me!" Kiba said seriously.
The Multi-Size Technique was a huge threat to his Three-Headed Hellhound. Theoretically, their sizes were similar, which meant their battles would definitely be evenly matched.
Tayuya thought of her three Doki.
Their greatest advantage lay in their massive size, allowing them to crush opponents through sheer power.
But against the Multi-Size Technique… that advantage was meaningless.
Tayuya had thought Sasuke and Naruto were already the limits of absurdity, yet now even Akimichi Choji had entered the picture.
Her only impression of Choji had been of someone constantly eating potato chips.
"Why isn't Yakumo using genjutsu?" Tayuya asked quickly, spotting the oddity.
She was reputed for her mastery of illusions, so why was she fighting with sword techniques?
And honestly, her swordplay looked nothing special compared to Naruto's.
"Yakumo isn't in good health," Ino explained. "So Kitazawa-sensei had her practice Taijutsu and Kenjutsu instead."
"Then shouldn't she be practicing Genjutsu?" Tayuya asked, puzzled.
If she wasn't in good health, why focus on physically demanding arts like Taijutsu and Kenjutsu?
"Because she doesn't need to practice Genjutsu," Ino sighed.
Compared to Yakumo's Genjutsu Bloodline Limit, all her own effort studying genjutsu felt pointless.
Bloodline plus innate talent, it was the kind of thing that made others despair.
"…?" Tayuya's mind was full of question marks.
What did Ino mean by "doesn't need to practice"? Was Yakumo's genjutsu already that strong — the strongest in the entire ninja world?
These people were getting more and more ridiculous!
Even Kimimaro and Jugo shared the same confused expression.
Just then, the ground began to tremble faintly.
Everyone looked up to see Choji transform into a giant ball, charging straight toward Yakumo.
This was the Human Bullet Tank — a technique powerful enough to smash through solid rock several meters thick.
Terrifying Illusion! Realizing Taijutsu and Kenjutsu would be useless, Yakumo instantly unleashed her genjutsu.
The Human Bullet Tank halted mid-charge — then abruptly veered off, rolling into the distance.
"Choji's under a genjutsu," Shikamaru said, shaking his head. "The victor's been decided."
"When did he fall under genjutsu?" Tayuya's eyes widened.
Instant-cast, no hand seals? What kind of monster is this!?
"Winner — Kurama Yakumo!" Kitazawa appeared beside Choji and dispelled the illusion with a single hand seal.
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei," Choji said without discouragement.
After all, losing to Yakumo was nothing to be ashamed of.
Kimimaro fell silent. How could he possibly counter that kind of genjutsu?
He was confident he could resist Ino's illusions — but Yakumo's came too fast, too sudden, impossible to guard against.
The first round of spars continued.
After Kimimaro, Haku, Tayuya, and Jugo joined, the number of students in the Genius Class rose to thirty-four.
Originally, the class was meant to remain capped at thirty, but it wasn't right to remove anyone midway — so thirty-four it became.
That meant seventeen matches in total for the first round. And those seventeen matches completely broadened the horizons of Kimimaro, Tayuya, and the others.
Even the less intense battles after the first seven were still filled with surprises.
Without question, every student in the Genius Class would have been considered a prodigy even by Otogakure's standards.
During the break, Kimimaro, Jugo, and Tayuya sat quietly. The Genius Class had given them not just surprises, but genuine shock.
Only Haku remained calm. His goal wasn't to rank first — it was to grow stronger, join the Anbu, and fulfill his purpose.
That was how he intended to repay Kitazawa's life-saving kindness from long ago.
"The future of Konoha Village is looking brighter and brighter," Sarutobi Hiruzen said with deep satisfaction.
If nothing unexpected occurred, Kimimaro would one day become an Elite Jonin, perhaps even reach Kage-level potential.
The fact that he came from the Hidden Mist Village only made the gain even sweeter.
All Hiruzen could think was — Orochimaru had done well.
"It's hard to imagine what Konoha will become once Naruto and the others come of age," Kosuke said with a smile.
"It'll definitely surpass the current generation," Kakashi agreed.
Just this Genius Class alone could produce multiple Kage-level shinobi. Without a doubt, it was the most terrifying group of students in Konoha's history.
"The second round begins now," Kitazawa said, walking up to the lottery box.
He casually drew two slips of paper.
"The first match — Yakumo versus Kimimaro."
"Kimimaro, be careful of her genjutsu," Jugo reminded him.
"Go for it!" Tayuya added, not knowing what else to say.
Dance of the Willow! Kimimaro instantly burst forth with Chakra, charging toward Yakumo at blinding speed.
He reached her almost instantly — but still, it was too late.
Terrifying Illusion! An invisible wave rippled outward, pulling him into the illusion.
Yakumo calmly stepped back as a bone fragment passed inches from her face.
Kimimaro froze mid-strike, motionless. That was what Sasuke, Ino, and the others saw.
But in reality — within the illusion — Kimimaro was already locked in a fierce inner struggle.
"???" Tayuya felt a chill crawl up her spine.
She was finally experiencing the true horror of Yakumo's genjutsu.