"The winner is Kurama Yakumo!" Kitazawa announced clearly.
Kimimaro left the arena in a daze.
During his spar with Yakumo, he didn't even know when he had fallen under a Genjutsu, nor how he had lost — everything had happened too suddenly.
Tayuya felt that Yakumo was even more terrifying than Naruto.
At least against Naruto, Kimimaro had still been able to fight back. But in this match, he had simply stood still until he lost.
From the audience's point of view, it was utterly unsettling.
Tayuya also studied Genjutsu.
She realized now that her earlier suspicion had been correct — Yakumo's illusions definitely possessed Jonin-level mastery.
"Kimimaro, it's not your fault," Jugo said softly, trying to comfort him.
Kimimaro opened his mouth, but no words came out. He, who had always been proud, had now lost twice in a row — and the shock left him speechless.
Sasuke sighed inwardly. He understood this feeling perfectly.
Because what Kimimaro was experiencing now, he himself had already gone through. Even now, despite mastering Lightning Release, he couldn't handle Yakumo's Genjutsu.
Perhaps only by awakening his Three-Tomoe Sharingan could he finally contend with her.
"The second match of the second round — Haruno Sakura versus Uchiha Sasuke." Kitazawa raised an eyebrow as he announced it.
Yakumo versus Kimimaro had been arranged by him, but this pairing wasn't his doing.
"Huh?" Sakura froze. "My opponent is Sasuke-kun?"
"Sakura, you can do it!" Ino said cheerfully, clearly eager to see the drama unfold.
"Sakura, you're good at Water Release — it counters his Fire Release! You can definitely beat Sasuke!" Kiba turned into the class jester, trying not to laugh as he cheered.
"Indeed," Aburame Shino added calmly, adjusting his glasses.
"Sakura, youth can't give up!" Naruto shouted with a thumbs-up.
"You might not be without a chance!" Tenten chimed in encouragingly.
Sakura glared at Ino. This was all her fault for starting this nonsense!
Tayuya, ever the realist, looked confused. In her opinion, the gap between Sakura and Sasuke was simply too vast — she had no chance at all.
"Wait for me, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura saw Sasuke step into the arena and hurried to follow.
"Begin!" Kitazawa said, stepping aside.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique! Sasuke wasted no time. Tilting his head back, he spat out a blazing fireball.
Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu!
Sakura immediately countered with her strongest Ninjutsu. Chakra surged through her body, and a massive water dragon roared forth.
Boom! The two forces collided, creating a violent explosion of steam.
Sasuke activated his Two-Tomoe Sharingan, easily tracking Sakura's movements.
Most of the steam was ordinary vapor, not true mist like the Hidden Mist Technique, so his Sharingan could see clearly through it.
He raised an eyebrow.
The fireball hadn't completely evaporated the water dragon — a stream of water had broken through the haze, surging straight toward him.
At the same time, Sakura formed hand signs again.
Sasuke sidestepped with a jump, easily avoiding the water stream.
Water Release: Water Bullet Technique!
Sakura placed her left hand near her mouth, two fingers extended, and spat out a high-pressure water blast.
Body Flicker Technique! Chakra flared beneath Sasuke's feet.
Instead of retreating, he advanced — weaving in a serpentine motion to dodge the water blast.
He drew the Sword of the Thunder God and thrust straight at her.
Sakura had just finished her Ninjutsu and couldn't dodge in time. Instinctively, she closed her eyes.
The Sword of the Thunder God stopped at her neck.
"As expected, she still couldn't win," Kiba said regretfully.
"She was never going to," Shikamaru smirked.
"But Sakura's gotten a lot stronger," Tenten added sincerely. "If I fought her now, I'm not sure I'd still win."
Ino subconsciously clenched her fists. Six words appeared in her mind: Kitazawa-sensei, save me!
Losing to Sakura still stung deeply — she had already decided she'd ask Kitazawa for personal training after the Monthly Exam.
If Sakura had Kosuke's help, then she couldn't afford to fall behind.
"The third match of the second round — Tayuya versus Shino Aburame." Kitazawa's voice broke through the chatter.
"Finally, it's my turn again!" Tayuya's spirits rose immediately.
This time, she would show her real strength.
Being defeated instantly once was humiliation enough — even if she lost again, she couldn't afford another miserable showing.
She stepped into the arena brimming with fighting spirit.
Shino remained calm as ever.
Tayuya stared at him, recalling his performance in the first round.
His Kikaichu were undoubtedly the biggest threat — powerful in both offense and defense, and capable of draining Chakra.
But she refused to believe she couldn't win.
Summoning Technique! The moment the match began, Tayuya slammed her hand onto the ground.
A chilling wind swept across the field as three monstrous Doki (Angry Demons) appeared before everyone.
"These are the Doki Tayuya mentioned?" Ino exclaimed. "They look really intimidating!"
"She actually has that kind of power?" Kiba muttered, feeling a sudden sense of danger.
The three Doki were about the same size as his Three-Headed Hellhound — if they fought, it'd be an even match.
"Maybe they just look strong," Sakura said skeptically. Her loss to Hinata in the first round had left her wary of overestimating appearances.
"What magnificent Summoning Beasts!" Naruto shouted in awe.
"...Naruto's focus really is… unique," Shikamaru commented tactfully.
"Too ugly," Sasuke said flatly.
The Uchiha Clan's Summoning Beasts — crows, cats, eagles — were all graceful creatures. Ugly ones had no place.
"What's wrong with ugly? As long as they're strong!" Tenten argued, thinking of her own Chameleon summon.
"Let's just watch the spar," Hyuga Neji interjected, ending the increasingly off-topic debate.
Demonic Flute: Illusionary Warriors Manipulating Melody! Tayuya pulled out her bamboo flute and began to play.
Rumble! The three Doki immediately sprang into motion.
The Doki on the left raised a massive wooden club and brought it crashing down toward Shino.
Secret Technique: Insect Wall! Shino waved both hands.
A swarm of Kikaichu burst forth, forming a thick wall that stopped the wooden club in midair.
Tayuya frowned and changed her flute's melody. The Doki in the middle suddenly swung its right arm.
A giant bone claw protruded from its hand, sharp as a blade, slashing toward Shino.
Secret Technique: Insect Wall!
Shino repeated the technique, forming another barrier of insects to block the bone claw.
But this Doki had two claws — its left hand lashed out as well.
Shino leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the strike.
Secret Technique: Insect Cocoon!
Both the club and the claws were enormous, draining large numbers of his insects. Shino quickly called for more Kikaichu to hatch.
Boom!
The bone claw slammed into the ground, scattering gravel.
The third Doki, though armless, was terrifyingly fast. It spun and hurled its massive body backward at Shino like a collapsing boulder.
For a moment, his vision went black — all he could see was the Doki's enormous back.
Secret Technique: Insect Sphere!
As he retreated rapidly, countless Kikaichu flew out, attaching themselves to the Doki's back.
The Doki roared as it felt its Chakra being drained. But Tayuya reacted instantly, forcing it to slam its body onto the ground.
The Kikaichu were crushed beneath its massive weight, suffering heavy losses.
"Is Shino going to lose?" Sakura asked, watching Shino's increasingly difficult situation.
"Tayuya wasn't lying about her Summoning Beasts — they're really strong," Ino admitted.
"Doki are just Summoning Beasts," Shikamaru pointed out calmly. "They aren't the key."
"That's right," Neji added. "Defeating Tayuya herself is what matters."
Hinata had already demonstrated how to beat her, so to Neji, there was no pressure.
"Shino's smart — he must have thought of that already," Kiba said, puzzled. "Does he have another plan?"
Shikamaru's heart stirred. He suddenly remembered the Kamizuru Clan incident.
Kitazawa had given Shino not only all of the Kamizuru Clan's Ninjutsu but something else, too.
"What a huge bee!" Naruto exclaimed.
The air was filled with a deep buzzing sound. An enormous bee appeared before everyone's eyes.
"It's the Kamizuru Clan's Queen Bee," Shikamaru murmured, confirming his suspicion.
Tayuya's pupils shrank. How did he also have such a massive Summoning Beast!?
Shino raised his hands. A swarm of ordinary-sized bees flew out from his sleeves, rushing toward the three Doki.
Tayuya immediately directed the Doki to attack.
The bees collided with them and exploded, splattering sticky beeswax across their bodies. The Doki's movements grew sluggish.
Then the Queen Bee soared overhead, showering them with more beeswax. The thick, glue-like substance hardened instantly, locking the three Doki in place.
"Move!" Tayuya shouted, her expression twisting in shock. But it was no use.
Shino calmly waved his hand, sending Kikaichu swarming toward her in overwhelming numbers.
"I... I surrender..." Tayuya said reluctantly.
Shino nodded, satisfied. It was a perfect first use of the Kamizuru Clan's Secret Technique.
"Shino's gotten even stronger. How are we supposed to beat him now?" Kiba groaned, scratching his head.
"Kikaichu plus bees — he's practically invincible, except for Sasuke and Naruto," Shikamaru sighed.
Though he'd resolved not to be lazy anymore, the Genius Class often made hard work feel pointless.
No matter how much effort he put in, the gap didn't seem to shrink.
Neji's gaze sharpened slightly.
He had to be cautious of that Honey Spit Technique — if he got stuck, his Gentle Fist and Tenketsu strikes would be useless.
Shino, now wielding the Kamizuru Clan's secret arts, was a real threat.
"Shino, where did you get that Queen Bee?" Naruto asked eagerly. "I want a cool Summoning Beast like that, too!"
"Kitazawa-sensei gave it to me," Shino replied simply, then briefly described his past mission.
Tayuya, who had just stepped out of the arena, froze when she heard that name.
Why him again!? She suddenly realized — the strength of nearly everyone in the Genius Class was connected to Kitazawa.
Could she…? No. Never!
She clenched her teeth. She would never ask him for help!
Still, she let out a slow sigh. Although she hadn't won, at least she had salvaged her pride.
The second round of spars continued, but with far fewer matches than before, dropping sharply from seventeen to nine.
In other words, only eighteen students advanced to the next round. And those eighteen would be the ones qualified to take on real missions.
"Next, I will announce the list of students who have entered the third round." Kitazawa stood before the lottery box, his calm voice carrying across the training field.
Previously, thirteen students had advanced to the third round of the Monthly Exam — the Konoha 12, excluding Choji, plus Hana Inuzuka and Yakumo.
But this time, three more had joined them.
All members of the Konoha 12 had advanced, along with Hana Inuzuka, Yakumo Kurama, Tayuya, and Kimimaro, making a total of sixteen participants.
Haku hadn't made it in because he had yet to master Ice Release.
Jugo's strength, though enough in his Sage Transformation state, couldn't compare when relying solely on Konoha-Style Taijutsu, as he refused to use Sage Mode during the exam.
As for Karin, Sealing Techniques simply weren't suited for direct combat, so she too failed to enter the third round.
Tayuya exhaled and patted her chest. At least she had made it this far — top sixteen wasn't bad.
If she hadn't passed, she really would have wanted to dig herself a hole to hide in.
After all, before the practical exam, she had boldly declared she would definitely rank in the top five.
Kimimaro, however, didn't share her relief. Though he had advanced, the two consecutive losses still weighed heavily on him.
In Otogakure, that would have already meant elimination.
Jugo, meanwhile, remained serene. He wasn't focused on rankings; what truly mattered to him was Kitazawa's Eight Trigrams Sealing of Cursed Seal of Earth.
As long as that could help him control his Sage Transformation, it didn't matter whether he stayed in Otogakure or Konoha.
He had no loyalty to Orochimaru's village — only concern for his close friend, Kimimaro.
"Life in the Genius Class is getting harder and harder," Kiba sighed.
"I need to work twice as hard," Ino said, clenching her tiny fist and glancing at Sakura.
"Competing on the same stage as geniuses — this is what youth is all about!" Rock Lee declared, eyes burning with passion.
"That's right! Youth means competition and progress!" Naruto echoed enthusiastically.
"You two are still way too energetic," Shikamaru muttered, shaking his head.
"While there's still time, recover your Chakra," Tenten reminded them.
Everyone nodded, stopped chatting, and began refining Chakra quietly.
"Rest time is over. The third round begins now." Kitazawa reached into the lottery box and pulled out two slips of paper.
"The first spar: Kimimaro versus Sasuke."
"Another exciting battle!" Tenten said immediately.
Sasuke, needless to say, had been consistently in the top three of the Genius Class.
And while Kimimaro had lost twice already, both defeats had been honorable — his strength was undeniable.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura clasped her hands, her eyes shining as she called out his name softly.
"I declare Kimimaro to be the unluckiest person in this Monthly Exam!" Kiba suddenly announced.
"Why the unluckiest?" Ino asked curiously.
"His draw luck, of course!" Kiba spread his hands. "First Naruto, then Yakumo, and now Sasuke — tell me that's not unlucky!"
"Now that you mention it, his luck really is terrible," Hana admitted after a moment.
"Why do I feel like Kimimaro's being targeted?" Tayuya frowned.
"Kitazawa-sensei couldn't be that kind of person!" Ino protested immediately.
"Definitely not!" Hinata said, nodding firmly. Normally quiet, she couldn't stay silent when it came to Kitazawa.
"Our rankings aren't based on wins or losses but on performance," Kiba explained. "So who you're matched with doesn't really matter."
"That's true," Sakura agreed. "And Kitazawa-sensei treats everyone equally. Each of us has personalized training."
Tayuya fell silent at that. Sakura was right — even as a newcomer, she had already been taught a B-rank Genjutsu by Kitazawa.
There was no reason, nor need, for him to target Kimimaro.
Thinking that, a pang of guilt stirred in her heart. After all, Kitazawa had always treated her kindly, while she had often been ungrateful.
"..." Shikamaru hesitated.
He couldn't shake the instinctive feeling that Kitazawa was targeting Kimimaro — but even if he said it aloud, no one would believe him.
"Kimimaro, be careful," Jugo said quietly.
Kimimaro nodded, stepping into the arena.
"Sasuke, burn your youth!" Naruto called out with a grin and a thumbs-up.
"Only the Uchiha can win," Sasuke said coolly, walking forward with his hands in his pockets to face Kimimaro.
"Battle starts!" Kitazawa's voice signaled the beginning.
A flash of scarlet. Sasuke activated his Two-Tomoe Sharingan.
Genjutsu: Unknown Fire! An invisible ripple spread outward.
Kimimaro froze.
He hadn't expected Sasuke to open with a Genjutsu — in his previous matches, Sasuke had always begun with Fire or Lightning Release.
His vision went black as he was pulled into an illusion. Flames engulfed him, searing pain flooding through his body.
But within seconds, he broke free.
"...?" Kimimaro stared at Sasuke, confused.
"I used this Genjutsu to show you that the Uchiha's Sharingan is not inferior to the Kurama Clan's illusions," Sasuke said calmly. "But I won't be using Genjutsu next — because I'll defeat you head-on."
"So cool! Sasuke-kun!" The girls, led by Sakura, squealed.
"He's showing off, damn it!" Kiba growled.
"This is Sasuke's youth!" Naruto declared proudly.
"What does that have to do with youth?" Tayuya muttered under her breath.
"He really is cool," Tenten said with a small laugh. "He's a Uchiha, after all."
Kitazawa's mouth twitched slightly. I'll give you full marks for that pretense, he thought.
If it weren't for the system mission, he might've actually wanted to see Sasuke get beaten.