Even after the duel ended, everyone present remained stunned for a long time. Was this really just a battle between two genin? Judging by the intensity, even a jonin might not be able to put on such a display.
A stretcher quickly came in and carried Naruto away. As Minato was about to leave, Kakashi appeared beside him. Looking at Minato with deep curiosity, he asked, "You're not just some ordinary genin. Tell me, who exactly are you?"
Minato was startled. He had lost himself in the battle—he knew Kakashi had seen something.
"What's wrong?" Anya stepped forward, interrupting Kakashi mid-question. She continued naturally as she walked into the center of the arena, "It's my turn next. Please step aside, both of you."
Thanks to Anya's interruption, Minato turned around without saying a word and returned to the spectator area.
After a moment of silence, Kakashi felt his earlier suspicions were exaggerated. Glancing once more at Minato's retreating figure, he headed back upstairs to continue watching the fights.
Shiranui Genma announced the next match: "Megatron versus Kiba Inuzuka."
Looking at Anya already entering the arena, Kiba felt uneasy deep down. The previous two masked genin from Takigakure had displayed shocking strength. This third one must also be formidable—who would win?
The small puppy nestled against Kiba's chest seemed to sense his thoughts and barked twice.
Startled by the bark, Kiba reached out to stroke the dog's head and said, "Yeah, Akamaru, thanks for reminding me. The fight hasn't even started yet—I shouldn't lose confidence like this. No matter who our opponent is, we'll fight together and definitely win."
"Woof woof..." Akamaru barked again, seemingly saying, "Exactly!"
Once inside the battlefield, Kiba placed Akamaru on the ground and took an attacking stance.
Anya smirked slightly as she asked, "Are you serious about bringing this puppy into battle with you?"
Kiba grinned confidently, "Of course. Akamaru will fight alongside me."
Nearby, Genma explained, "Animals and insects count as ninja gear. There's no issue using them in the arena."
"Heh," Anya chuckled softly. "You misunderstood me. If you had come alone, perhaps you'd stand a chance against me. But with him… your chances of victory drop practically to zero."
"Enough with the scare tactics!" Kiba crouched down and formed hand seals with both hands. "Akamaru, this opponent isn't easy. Let's attack together!"
"Woof woof!"
[Ninjutsu: Beast Human Clone — Four Legs Technique!]
Kiba gathered chakra into his limbs. Crouching low to the ground, his hands transformed into paw-like claws. His entire body took on a beastly appearance, enhancing grip and offensive power.
As Kiba charged toward Anya, he pulled two smoke bombs from his pouch and hurled them at her. Blue smoke filled the air, blinding visibility completely. Using their acute sense of smell, both boy and dog launched a fierce assault into the smoke-filled area where Anya stood.
Anya casually stepped through the smoke, moving only short distances within the affected zone. Each time, she narrowly avoided their attacks effortlessly, appearing completely calm and unbothered. Amidst the chaos, she even found time to muse idly: That kid would probably throw a fit if he knew I was blind and that his smokescreen was totally pointless.
After a series of attacks, the smoke bombs finally cleared, and the two fighters returned to their standoff stance, as if the battle had never started.
"What's going on?" Lee asked Neji beside him.
Neji's eyes were filled with disbelief as he slowly replied, "Kiba and Akamaru's rapid attacks completely missed—he wasn't even touched."
Lee looked surprised. "How is he reacting so fast that it looks like he predicted the attacks?"
"No, not reaction," Neji hesitated for a moment before saying, "He anticipated every move Kiba and Akamaru made. He read their attacks in advance and dodged with pinpoint accuracy."
Lee understood, his eyes shining with fighting spirit. "Another expert-level opponent."
If Kakashi had been astonished by Naruto's earlier match, now at the start of this fight, Kurenai Yuhi found herself hesitating—why did this man feel so familiar?
This long white hair—I should definitely remember seeing it before. When? From Takigakure? That isolated village I've never visited. Where have I seen him before? And why do I feel this heartbeat?
Kiba closed his eyes and thought deeply for a moment before pulling out a pill from his pouch and tossing it into Akamaru's mouth. With a serious expression, he said, "I know you're strong, but since you look down on me like this, I'll make sure you regret it."
From Anya's dodges just now, Kiba sensed humiliation—an opponent who wasn't even using full strength, simply toying with him.
Anya couldn't help but feel a little helpless—it wasn't easy to handle Kiba alone without exposing his identity. The main reason he chose Kiba as his opponent had to do with Akamaru.
Akamaru's face turned fierce after eating the pill. Not only did his body grow larger, but his fur turned from white to red as well.
Akamaru leaped and landed on Kiba's back. Man and dog stacked together formed the Beast Human Clone, transforming Akamaru into an exact copy.
[Passing Fang]
The pair spun rapidly, forming twin tornado-like attacks rushing straight toward Anya.
Faced with this technique, Anya stayed surprisingly calm. He even casually mused that this was probably the same jutsu Kiba used throughout the original plot. He took out two smoke bombs without hesitation and threw them to the ground.
"Do you really think hiding in smoke will let you escape my attack? Naive. Even if I can't see, I've still got my nose."
Passing Fang charged into the smoke, violently twisting around. Instantly, the sound was deafening—it seemed like an intense fight indeed.
"How's it going, Neji?" Lee asked about the battle situation.
"So strange," Neji murmured, puzzled. "Why would this happen?"
When the smoke cleared, three figures resembling Kiba stood on the battlefield.
"Haha! Transformation Jutsu won't work on me!" Kiba raised his right hand and slashed toward another Kiba.
"Puff!"
A small cloud of smoke drifted by. The fallen Kiba transformed into Anya's form, struggling painfully to rise.
Above, Kurenai Yuhi quietly recalled her student's talent: "Kiba can concentrate chakra into his nose, enhancing his sense of smell tens of thousands of times beyond an average person's. Identifying others by scent is extremely simple."
After landing a successful strike, Kiba rushed forward without mercy and attacked Anya fiercely. This time, Anya was driven back repeatedly, momentarily unable to retaliate.
Watching the scene unfold, Sakura remarked, "Hmph, so the three masked freaks from Takigakure aren't that strong after all. Or maybe this one is the weakest among them."
"You're mistaken, Sakura," Kakashi said with a grave expression.
"Where am I wrong?" As soon as Sakura asked, she gasped in shock. "How could this happen?"
Just as Kiba gathered every last bit of his strength for one final, full-power blow, striking Anya down again, the fallen Anya transformed into Akamaru, lying there howling in pain.
The real Anya behind canceled his Transformation Jutsu and calmly walked to where Kiba stood. With a single chop to Kiba's neck nerve, he whispered softly, "You lose."
"Why... why were you able to fool me..." Still unwilling to accept defeat, Kiba didn't finish his question before losing consciousness completely.
"How did he make Kiba's sense of smell fail, mistaking Akamaru for himself?"
Not only Kiba was confused—everyone present felt the same. Only those who had cultivated Sage Art knew the truth. The Sage Art of Ryuchi Cave could sever an opponent's five senses—not only smell, but also vision, hearing, taste, and touch. Combined with basic Genjutsu and Transformation Jutsu, victory came far too easily.
Another stretcher arrived, carrying away Kiba Inuzuka. After glancing at her student, Kurenai Yuhi walked toward Anya.
Looking at the now fully grown Kurenai Yuhi, Anya's breath caught for a moment, and he paused.
"Do we know each other from somewhere?" Kurenai Yuhi asked.
With a flirtatious tone, Anya replied, "Of course. With Master Kurenai Yuhi being so beautiful, I've noticed you ever since my first day in Konoha."
Kurenai frowned slightly and turned away. "I must have mistaken you for someone else."
Returning upstairs, Kurenai felt uneasy and distracted, her heart unable to calm.
Kakashi noticed her unease and asked, "What's wrong?"
Kurenai sighed lightly and answered, "Nothing."
Kakashi nodded understandingly. "Is it about the next match? Hinata really has little chance of winning."
Kurenai looked up, and on the electronic screen appeared the next contest pairing: Hinata Hyuga vs. Neji Hyuga.
Fear flickered in Hinata's eyes while Neji's gaze darkened.
The heirs from the Main House and Branch House stood face-to-face.
Neji said with a heavy heart, "I never thought it would come down to just the two of us facing each other."
"Hinata called out, 'Big Brother Neji.'"
As the proctor announced the start of the match, neither took offensive stances.
Neji persuaded, "Give up. You're not suited to be a ninja. You're too kind-hearted, longing for peace while avoiding conflicts, always trying to accommodate others' opinions, and lacking self-confidence. You only signed up because you couldn't back out unless all three of you did it together, am I right?"
Neji activated his Byakugan. By observing Hinata's movements, he could see through her inner thoughts. Hinata's will to keep fighting wavered dangerously under the relentless pressure, nearly reaching the breaking point.
Kurenai Yuhi watched Hinata from above, concern filling her eyes. As the heir to the Main House and future inheritor of the Hyuga Clan, Hinata's personality was simply too soft. Even her own father had given up on her, instead frantically training the much younger Hanabi. That's why she decided to prove herself through the Chunin Exams. Yet now, facing Neji in her very first match seemed far too difficult for her.
"Hinata, don't let someone so easily shake your heart. Quickly defeat this guy. Believe in yourself. Why don't you argue back at least a little? I can't even watch this anymore."
Just then, Naruto—who had just been carried away on a stretcher—came bursting back in, full of energy, having overheard both siblings' entire conversation.
Anya shot a disapproving look at Minato, saying, "He may be your son, but you went way too easy on him. During the Third War, I never saw you being this gentle with an enemy."
Minato chuckled, replying, "You acted no differently either. You didn't even go for the killing blow."
"If I had gone for the killing blow, do you think Kiba would've survived? How much exactly do you understand about the Byakugan?" Anya casually asked.
Minato replied seriously, "Anya, you belong to the Uchiha Clan, but did you know? If we trace the origins of the Uchiha Clan back far enough, they originated from the Hyuga Clan. In terms of sheer observational ability, the Byakugan surpasses the Sharingan. These two bloodline limits were once inseparable."
That one sentence suddenly made sense to Anya. He recalled that final antagonist from the anime—Kaguya. She possessed the Byakugan, and the Uchiha Clan descended from the Six Paths Sage bore the Sharingan. If that were true, perhaps the Byakugan truly held superiority over the Sharingan.
As he contemplated this, the two siblings began fighting. With the Caged Bird Seal removed, Neji had already risen to Jonin-level strength. Combined with his self-taught Gentle Fist techniques, without constantly holding back, Hinata wouldn't have lasted this long already.
Sasori, watching the battle, clearly noticed this and approached, saying, "Big Brother Kurotsuchi, the person you chose won't work out."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"Though he appears cold and ruthless outwardly, his actions reveal hesitation. He clearly could've ended this in one move yet keeps giving chances. This indicates his mind has been bound by family obligations—he'll never amount to anything great."
What Sasori said was entirely accurate, but Anya remained unfazed, calmly stating, "No problem. Just an idle pawn for amusement."
During their fight, every move Hinata made was anticipated and neutralized. Though both shared the Byakugan, there still existed disparities in ability. Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, watching from above, couldn't help but exclaim inwardly, "Truly deserves the title of the greatest prodigy in the history of the Hyuga Clan."
Encouraged by Naruto, Hinata kept getting back up after being knocked down. Neji, who had been enduring her persistence throughout the fight, clearly grew annoyed and started attacking harder.
As Hinata fell for the last time, Genma announced the result of the match: "The winner is Neji."
"Stop struggling. The match is over. You don't need to suffer anymore. Just relax."
"Neji nii-san, I know. All along, you've suffered more than me, caught between the Main and Branch families."
Upon hearing these words, a flicker of hatred flashed through Neji's Byakugan. Thinking about his father's death, true killing intent erupted within him. With a furious roar, Neji charged toward Hinata.
"Oh no!"
In an instant, four Jonin launched an attack in unison. Genma stood in front of Hinata, Guy grabbed Neji's neck, Kakashi controlled Neji's attacking right hand, and Kurenai Yuhi seized Neji's left arm.
"So this is the special treatment given to the Main family? Four Jonin appearing all at once," Neji growled in frustration.
Witnessing this scene, Minato sighed, "Ah, the Hyuga Clan's feud between the Main and Branch families indeed poses an issue that needs resolution."
Hearing Minato's words, Anya casually smiled, "You're no longer Hokage, so you don't need to worry about these things. In a way, the Hyuga Clan's bloodline remains the purest as a result. Everything has its pros and cons. Just look at the Senju Clan—how many of them are left now?"
Minato shook his head with a bitter smile but said nothing.
Once again, the stretcher crew was in action. Defeated Hinata collapsed onto the ground. Unlike other Taijutsu techniques, the Gentle Fist used by the Hyuga Clan directly affected internal organs. Although Hinata looked fine on the outside, she was seriously internally injured. After all, internal organs couldn't be trained like external body parts.
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