Chapter 67:
"The third test is a one-on-one battle, conducted in an elimination format. In the first round, we won't have teammates fighting each other, but if you win, clashes between teammates will become inevitable. Please check your match order on the big screen. Candidates, are you ready to embrace the dazzling youth that awaits you!"
As the referee for the third test, Rock Lee announced with great excitement.
There were a total of sixteen candidates participating in the third test, split into two groups.
Match One: Boruto Uzumaki vs. Kagura Karatachi
"First match, Boruto Uzumaki from the Hidden Leaf vs. Kagura Karatachi from the Hidden Mist. The match begins now!"
As Lee's voice fell, Boruto and Kagura didn't make a move right away—they started chatting instead.
"Who would've thought that joke before the match would actually come true. But just like I said before, I'm not going to hold back no matter what!" Boruto said while forming the Shadow Clone hand seal.
"Same here, Boruto."
"Water Release: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
Four Boruto clones, along with the real Boruto, simultaneously pulled out shuriken and charged toward Kagura as a thick mist began to envelop the arena.
The Hidden Mist Jutsu is a specialty of the Hidden Mist Village. Though it's only a D-rank technique, in skilled hands it can be deadly. In unskilled hands, it's just a gimmick.
The density of the mist varies based on the amount of chakra infused into it, and maintaining it also causes continuous chakra drain.
Most importantly, Hidden Mist doesn't just obscure the enemy's vision—it blinds the user as well. So anyone bold enough to use it is usually armed with one or two sensory-type jutsu.
"The field's completely obscured now. Times like this really make you envy the Hyuga Clan."
Shunhi commented as he glanced toward two Hyuga members seated at the prime spot in the Konoha Stadium.
Hinata's younger sister Hanabi and their father Hiashi Hyuga.
With their Byakugan, the Hyuga are completely unaffected by the Hidden Mist.
Due to the heavy fog, Shunhi couldn't see what was happening on the field, so he shifted his attention to Minato and Kushina.
There's no way they'd miss their son's Chūnin Exams.
"This is bad, Dad. Things aren't looking great for Boruto."
Hanabi said worriedly, Byakugan active. At the same time, the situation on the battlefield was shifting.
"Didn't expect Kagura to be this hard to deal with..."
One by one, Boruto's clones let out pained cries and vanished, leaving only the original behind.
"Water Release: Waterfall Basin Technique."
This jutsu uses chakra to generate a water source and alter the battlefield. The more chakra used, the greater the volume of water created.
Water now flowed across the ground, and Kagura was using these currents within the mist to track Boruto's position.
Just these two jutsu had already consumed about 80% of Kagura's chakra reserves, despite him being a Chūnin.
"Water Release: Water Prison Jutsu!"
A C-rank jutsu—after forming hand seals quickly, the water on the ground surged to form a prison around Boruto. Kagura's left hand was inserted into the sphere, while his right hand drew the blade Hiramekarei from his back.
Although maintaining the Water Prison consumes chakra continuously, altering the terrain beforehand helped minimize that cost.
Still, it was impossible to win by suffocating Boruto into unconsciousness. Ninja endure far more than the average person.
"Boruto, you've lost. As soon as I release the Water Prison, I'll strike with Hiramekarei. You might get injured."
Watching from the stands, Naruto's hands clenched the armrests of his seat.
He knew every village was trying to avoid embarrassment in these exams, but the Hidden Mist was going too far. Kagura, with his abundant chakra and combat experience, was clearly one of the most elite Chūnin—he could easily pass for a Jōnin.
"Calm down, Naruto. Kagura won't hurt Boruto," Chōjūrō said with a wry smile.
I can't lose here.
Boruto clenched his jaw and shook his head, activating the Scientific Ninja Tool on his wrist. This time, it released the family's signature technique—the Rasengan.
"No choice. If this keeps up, I'll run out of chakra first. Sorry, Boruto."
The moment the Water Prison dissolved, Kagura swung one blade of Hiramekarei toward Boruto. He had calculated the distance in advance—it would only cut through Boruto's clothes.
Even that would suffice. As long as Konoha judged fairly, it would be obvious Kagura had held back on a potentially lethal blow.
"What do we do, Minato? Boruto's about to lose!" Kushina gripped Minato's yellow sleeve tightly.
Of course, Minato and Kushina wouldn't miss their grandson's Chūnin Exam. Both had dressed in long black cloaks and snuck in to watch.
No wonder Kakashi, back when he was in the Anbu, only wore a mask and never bothered hiding his distinctive silver hair—turns out he learned his stealth methods from Minato.
"It's alright, Kushina. Our grandson isn't someone who can be taken down so easily..."
Even as he spoke, Minato was merely trying to comfort her. After staying hidden in the village for a while, he had already assessed the abilities of the new generation. Among them, Boruto was arguably one of the top-tier genin, but compared to the genin of the war era, he still had a long way to go.
"You really are a former Hokage, Minato. Your instincts for combat are as sharp as ever—our grandson's just fine."
A shift on the battlefield made Kushina beam with admiration toward Minato.
"Huh?"
Minato looked back toward the field, confused.
Just as Kagura's Hiramekarei was about to strike, Boruto raised his right hand—cradled in it was a glowing blue sphere.
Even Naruto couldn't manage a Rasengan like that at the moment of being attacked, back in his youth.
"What are you apologizing for, Kagura? Giving it your all in a fight—that's what we promised each other, wasn't it?"
As the mist cleared, a soaked Boruto stood once again before Kagura.
"But the truth is, I lost. I used up all my chakra with those jutsu," Kagura said, turning toward the referee Rock Lee.
"You're sure you want to forfeit, Kagura Karatachi?" Rock Lee asked again.
Kagura nodded silently.
"Then I announce, the winner of the first match is... Boruto Uzumaki of the Hidden Leaf!"
"Congrats, Boruto," Kagura said with a smile.
"You weren't half bad yourself, Kagura."
From the stands, Hanabi watched the two walk off chatting and smiling, then frowned and said, "Did you see it, Father? When Boruto used the Rasengan, there was no noticeable chakra flow within his body."
Hiashi nodded. "Hanabi, look to your left. There are two strange individuals."
Normal chakra flows in patterns that outline a human figure, but the flow inside those two people in black cloaks formed odd shapes.
One was a square.
The other, a pentagon.
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