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Was this still one of the dead last of the class? It was as if, in the blink of an eye, she had become the strongest existence in the class. After all, to injure a chunin teacher from the Ninja Academy at only a third-year age... that was simply too unbelievable.
Hinata usually had almost no presence. Coupled with the fact that the Hyuga clan and the Uchiha clan were naturally at odds, and the Uchiha clan was annihilated by Itachi a few years ago, Sasuke Uchiha had never spoken much to many people, let alone to members of the Hyuga clan. So he wasn't very familiar with Hinata. The only thing he knew was... that she seemed to be his classmate.
"So she was hiding her strength so deeply?! I never noticed it during normal times. I actually... can't even compare to a girl my age. Under these circumstances, what right do I have to find that man?" Sasuke Uchiha's face wore a wry smile. He had always been a very proud person. He even once believed himself to be the strongest in the class. But now, reality told him... there's always someone better. The consistently low-key Hinata was more powerful than him, a survivor of the Uchiha clan, by more than just a little! This made Sasuke Uchiha's heart subtly fill with a sense of frustration.
And Shikamaru Nara, who was always known for his "wisdom," his lazy, listless, dead-fish eyes also flickered with a hint of doubt at this moment. Although his gaze was fixed on Iruka, the doubts that arose in his mind were more about Hinata. The relationship between the Nara clan and the Hyuga clan was actually quite good. It wasn't overly stiff. He was fairly familiar with Hinata. Although she was the young lady of the Hyuga clan, her strength was even inferior to that of Neji Hyuga, a branch family member. Moreover, just over a month ago, news spread that she was defeated by her younger sister, Hinata Hanabi. It could be said that this young lady of the Hyuga clan might be naturally unsuited to be a ninja. However, her performance today... was truly astonishing.
Shikamaru Nara muttered, "Even I can't see through this girl. It seems women are truly complex. But if that's the case, wanting to hold out for fifteen minutes shouldn't be a problem anymore."
"Now there are only five minutes left. Hold on for the last five minutes..." "And that's it..." Wiping the mud from his face, Shikamaru Nara's expression was incomparably grim.
However, although Hinata displayed formidable strength, Iruka-sensei was still a chunin. And they were now only... six people left. Could they really hold on for the last five minutes?! Shikamaru Nara wasn't entirely sure, but one thing he knew was that if they could stall for time as much as possible, they had to go all out to do so.
Looking at the students with their various expressions, Iruka's mood was very strange. Feeling the pain from his arm, he revealed a comforted smile. He glanced at the ten-centimeter-long wound on his arm. Blood had already stained his sleeve red, and it dripped onto the ground, drop by drop. However, this much injury was actually nothing for a ninja.
Holding his short stick reversed, Iruka sighed, "It seems Hinata's progress has exceeded even my expectations. She was silent until she surprised everyone. To be able to injure a chunin, in some aspects, you are just one step away from being a genin." He praised her unreservedly, because Hinata deserved such praise. Even he had to admit he had misjudged her before. He had always thought Hinata was the dead last in the class, second only to Naruto, due to her weak personality... But what he didn't expect was that Hinata's strength today far surpassed the class's top student, Sasuke Uchiha, and even surpassed him. Her incredibly swift taijutsu was astonishing. Although he didn't know how her ninjutsu was, in terms of taijutsu alone, she was already not inferior to some physically weak genin. You know, she was only nine years old! If this continued... her future was limitless. Iruka wasn't sure if she could become a jonin, but he was certain that Hinata could easily become a chunin in the future. A chunin was also considered a core level in Konoha.
"Since that's the case... then I, too, must begin to take this seriously..." Iruka's expression became slightly serious. He suddenly charged towards Hinata!
After a few minutes of adapting, Hinata's small face was no longer flustered. Although her chakra wasn't enough for her Byakugan, or rather, not enough for her to keep her Byakugan active for long, after over a month of special training, her reaction speed was extremely fast. At the very least, it far surpassed the reaction speed of her peers.
The moment Iruka disappeared, Hinata immediately reacted... Her fair little hand tightly gripped the kunai's hilt, fiercely thrusting it towards the oncoming airflow. The kunai instantly tore through the air, making a "whoosh" sound. A piece of cloth was cut off, and Hinata's shoulder was also hit by the short stick. "Ouch..." The pain from her shoulder made her grunt, and she staggered back a few steps. But the kunai in her hand was still tightly gripped. She hadn't let go.
"Left!" Liu Chen's voice echoed in her mind. Hinata barely had time to think. She swung her kunai to the left. The kunai cut through the air, leaving a cold gleam. Iruka's pupils slightly constricted. He quickly retreated a few steps. The kunai's blade almost grazed his cheek, even taking a few strands of his sideburns.
"Right!" "Crouch!" "Front kick!" "Thrust!" "Retreat!" "Thrust!" Liu Chen expressionlessly uttered each command, making Hinata, who was originally at a disadvantage, instantly gain the upper hand. Iruka could only repeatedly dodge. But what horrified Iruka was that "Hinata" seemed to be able to see his next move. He had almost been killed by a kunai several times. Could this be the Hyuga clan's taijutsu? Is it a bit too monstrous?!