Chapter 227: Victory Decided
It's the Adamantine Sealing Chains!
This was one of the most powerful sealing techniques of the Uzumaki clan, legendarily possessing the terrifying power to even suppress Tailed Beasts. Of course, at this moment Naruto was only using a small portion of its power, the chakra intensity contained in the chains deliberately suppressed to a level equal to Satsuki's.
Facing the shooting golden chains, Satsuki unhesitatingly used the Body Flicker Jutsu, her figure flashing and narrowly avoiding the chains' entanglement. She knew she absolutely couldn't make contact with them, immediately forming hand seals as she retreated.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
Several blazing flames like scattered red lotuses howled toward the pursuing Adamantine Sealing Chains! However, through the smoke and dust from the flame explosions, those golden chains burst through completely unharmed, speed undiminished, continuing their assault on Satsuki's new position!
Troublesome! While continuously changing positions using Body Flicker to dodge, Satsuki kept her eyes locked on the still-dense water mist ahead.
Her line of sight was completely blocked—she couldn't see Naruto's main body at all. And the chains were too fast. She had to continuously use Body Flicker to barely avoid them. The chakra consumption was too great—she couldn't keep this up much longer!
Also, how exactly was Naruto precisely locking onto her position within the dense fog?
No time to ponder deeply now. Satsuki clearly understood that continuing passive defense would only lead to defeat. She had to risk breaking the deadlock!
In a flash of thought, her tactics were set. After the next Body Flicker dodge of the chain attack, Satsuki predicted the chains would immediately turn toward her new position.
However, this time, she didn't dodge again. Instead, she quickly pulled out a small scroll from her equipment pouch—this was a secret scroll storing a specific jutsu.
Due to her own chakra affinity limitations, Satsuki could only use Fire and Lightning Release. This scroll storing Wind Release had been given to her by Naruto before, and she hadn't expected it to come in handy at this moment.
"Wind Style: Wind Killing Array!"
She quickly released the technique seal on the scroll! The next moment, a powerful whirlwind appeared from nowhere, then rapidly expanded, transforming into a roaring tornado that swept across the entire arena with devastating force!
Whoooosh—!!!
The violent airflow like an invisible giant hand instantly dispersed the dense water vapor filling the arena completely! The scene inside finally became clearly visible—Naruto stood in the center of the arena, several radiant golden chains extending from his back.
However, at the same moment the mist cleared, those deadly chains had already reached Satsuki! The distance was too close—too late to dodge again!
The most risky step was here!
Crackle crackle—!!
Sharp electric current sounds suddenly erupted from around Satsuki's body! This wasn't any formed Lightning Release jutsu, but rather an electrical domain formed by her activating Lightning-attribute chakra to an extreme degree and, disregarding the risk, spreading it throughout her entire body.
After her previous defeat to the Adamantine Sealing Chains, as an excellent ninja, Satsuki had naturally researched countermeasures thoroughly.
She remembered Naruto mentioning that this was a sealing technique, and the chains were essentially highly materialized chakra constructs. Then...
Blinding lightning crackled around Satsuki's body. She wove Lightning Release chakra with exquisite control into an invisible electric net covering the surrounding space.
When the golden chains of the Adamantine Sealing Chains entered this Lightning Release domain, their internal chakra structure instantly suffered intense disruption and erosion! The golden light at the chain tips flickered erratically, their speed and tracking accuracy plummeting.
To actually use this method to disrupt materialized chakra?! A flash of surprise crossed Naruto's eyes, immediately transforming into undisguised admiration. To come up with a countermeasure in such a short time and decisively implement it... truly worthy of Satsuki!
In the spectator seats, the other candidates held their breath, watching the rapidly changing battle situation with shock.
"Those two... are still so terrifying."
Inuzuka Kiba held Akamaru, cold sweat forming at his temple. Satsuki... has she finally returned to being that battle-hungry Uchiha from before?
Kankuro and Temari exchanged glances, their faces written with gravity. The strength and adaptability displayed in this battle left them without the slightest confidence they could defeat either person in the arena.
So it's not just that blonde-haired monster, this Uchiha too... Kankuro's gaze unconsciously swept over the other Konoha genin.
Could it be that all of Konoha's genin are at this level? If that's truly the case, the village's plan couldn't possibly succeed...
A chill rose from the bottom of his heart.
Taking advantage of the precious few seconds the Adamantine Sealing Chains were disrupted and halted by Lightning Release, Satsuki once again used Body Flicker to escape the attack range. Without the slightest pause, she flung several shuriken tied with transparent chakra threads toward Naruto!
However, Naruto merely casually raised his hand, and a precisely controlled whirlwind manifested from nothing, easily blowing all the shuriken off trajectory.
Just then, Satsuki moved! Her figure transformed into a black gale, charging at Naruto at maximum speed! This was her carefully designed combination attack—
First, during her charge, those crimson Sharingan tomoe spun rapidly! Invisible genjutsu waves spread like ripples, instantly enveloping Naruto!
At the moment the genjutsu activated and Naruto's figure clearly stiffened! Satsuki's hand seals were already complete—
"Lightning Release: Lightning Flash Bomb!"
Blinding white light like a miniature sun exploded in her palm, instantly swallowing the entire exam hall! All spectators involuntarily closed or squinted their eyes. Even the jonin in the stands instinctively turned their heads away.
Naruto at the very center of the intense light undoubtedly received the most direct visual impact.
The intense light faded. Everyone impatiently looked toward the center of the arena—they saw Satsuki breathing slightly heavily, the kunai in her hand already steadily positioned at Naruto's neck!
Victory decided? Uchiha Satsuki won?!
This result left many spectators in disbelief. However, Satsuki, who had personally "subdued" Naruto, showed no trace of victory's joy in her eyes. Instead, a trace of deep disappointment flashed through them.
Because... this "Naruto" held at knifepoint by her kunai didn't carry that familiar scent she was so intoxicated by, that unique aura.
For Satsuki, who every night had to hold clothing stained with Naruto's scent to fall asleep, this perception was acute to the extreme.
"This battle..." Satsuki's voice carried a barely perceptible tremor as she slowly lowered her kunai. "...I lost, Naruto."
Under the confused gazes of the candidates, the "Naruto" she'd "held hostage" slowly dissipated like a bubble—it was only a clone jutsu!
And the real Naruto was currently standing quietly behind her, his face carrying some apology.
"Sorry, Satsuki." He explained softly. "Because of some special reasons, I seem to be... basically immune to mental attacks like genjutsu."