The Match Reaches Its Climax

"Amazing!!!" Naruto said in an exaggerated voice.

"Th-that was the Hyuga Clan's Secret Technique—the Eight Trigrams Rotation Palm, right?" Asuma said in surprise.

"Yes, that's right. This girl seemed very strong. With a little more combat experience, even Sasuke wouldn't be a match for her," Kakashi said, looking equally surprised.

"She... she... how... how could she have such tremendous power?" Neji couldn't understand it at all. Was the Main Family destined to be stronger than the branch family?

"She's Hiashi's daughter, isn't she? She's already engaged to Issui. She's quite strong. Both of them could become powerful ninja, just like Minato and Kushina back then," the Third said.

Issui stared at Hinata in surprise. When did she learn the Eight Trigrams Rotation Palm? I didn't even know. Looks like I need to pay more attention to her. Hinata, you've gotten stronger. A smile appeared on Issui's lips.

"Ha! What are you looking at?!" After stopping her attack, Hinata struck Tenten with the Gentle Fist. Tenten was still stunned by what had just happened. Indeed, it had taken everyone by surprise.

"Bang..."

Tenten had really been badly injured this time. Many of her tenketsu must have been struck.

"I was going to save this move for the finals. Looks like I have no choice but to use it now." Tenten took out two scrolls and stood them upright on either side of her.

"Oh, is Tenten going to use that move? Her opponent must be very strong," Rock Lee said in surprise.

"Yes. Her opponent has too little experience. If she uses that move, she can certainly win," Guy said, nodding confidently.

Hinata also knew she would face an even fiercer attack next. But now that she had learned the Eight Trigrams Rotation Palm, no attack would be of any use against her.

"Twin Rising Dragons!!" Tenten's graceful figure danced through the air, looking a little like a Chinese woman, as attacks came flying at Hinata from all directions.

"Rotation Palm!" Hinata refused to be outdone. She was singing, I have the Rotation Palm, I'm not afraid, not afraid anymore...

After all the attacking ninja tools had been deflected, Hinata's Rotation Palm stopped as well. Having used it again in succession, she had nearly exhausted her chakra.

Tenten landed on the ground, utterly exhausted herself, but a triumphant smile appeared on her lips. "It's not over yet! I've won!"

Tenten used Chakra Threads to control the scattered ninja tools.

"Oh no, oh no! I didn't think Tenten had another trick up her sleeve. Hinata's going to lose," Naruto said.

Might Guy looked delighted. "See? The students I teach really are amazing!"

"Guy-sensei, you really are the best teacher in Konoha, to have trained a student like Tenten. I have to work hard too," Rock Lee said through his tears.

Guy happily embraced Rock Lee. "Lee..."

"Guy-sensei!" Rock Lee's tears flowed even harder.

A faint smile also appeared on Hinata's face. She said calmly, "Tenten-senpai, haven't you noticed that you're inside my Eight Trigrams Domain?"

What? Everyone looked at Hinata as she took the Eight Trigrams Palm stance.

Hinata smiled. "I don't have enough chakra left to perform the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, but I can still manage the Thirty-Two Palms! Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms... two palms... Four Palms... Eight Palms... Sixteen Palms... Thirty-Two Palms!!!"

Hinata's Eight Trigrams Palm struck Tenten in rapid succession. The dazzling flurry of palm strikes was over in an instant. Poor Tenten was knocked unconscious before she even had time to launch her ninja tools.

Issui smiled with delight and went over to Tenten. Seeing that she was unconscious and wouldn't wake up anytime soon, he raised Hinata's right hand and announced, "The winner of the third match-Hinata Hyuga!!!"

"Yes!" Hinata smiled through her tears. Her hardships had finally paid off. She had finally succeeded once, finally changed her timid self.

Everyone applauded. Their approval came from the heart. Hinata, you really were amazing. Everyone was surprised and happy about your victory.

"All right, head back up. It's time for the next match. But Hinata, you really surprised me too. I'm proud of you." Issui gave Hinata a hug.

"Yes, I'm not who I used to be anymore. I've worked hard to change myself." Hinata hurried shyly up to the observation platform.

"Yeah, Hinata, you were amazing! Watching you got my blood pumping," Naruto said as she came up.

"Hinata, congratulations! I'm going to advance too," Kiba said happily.

"All right, the next match is Kiba Inuzuka versus Naruto Uzumaki!!! You two can stop congratulating other people and hurry down here," Issui reminded them.

Naruto and Kiba both froze. Just a moment ago, they had been happy about someone else's victory, and now it was already their turn.

"Tch, Kiba's so lucky to get Naruto as his opponent. He's probably guaranteed to win. Why couldn't it have been me?" Choji said enviously.

"Yeah, yeah." Shikamaru agreed wholeheartedly.

Kakashi, however, smiled faintly. "Don't underestimate Naruto. He's going to surprise everyone."

Kurenai said just as confidently, "Is that so? Kiba is very strong. I think Naruto's strength still falls a little short."

"Then let's wait and see." Kakashi stopped arguing with Kurenai.

Once Naruto and Kiba were both ready, Issui said, "The fourth preliminary match begins!"

As soon as the fight began, Kiba used Beast Mimicry Ninjutsu and beat Naruto so badly he couldn't fight back, but Naruto's refusal to give up was quite a headache. After Akamaru joined the fight, Naruto knocked him down, then transformed into Akamaru and bit Kiba's hand. Kiba was surprised, then used Beast Mimicry Ninjutsu: Beast-Man Clone. With the help of a smoke bomb, he and Akamaru attacked Naruto together with Fang Over Fang. Naruto remained at a disadvantage, but after another attack from Kiba and Akamaru, he transformed into Kiba. Kiba saw through Naruto's transformation, but after being knocked to the ground, Naruto transformed into Akamaru and fooled Kiba. Kiba doubted his own sense of smell and knocked the real Akamaru to the ground, undoing his own Ninjutsu.

The tactic took many people by surprise. Was this really the same Naruto as before? He was actually thinking about battle strategy now. In the fight that followed, Kiba kept interfering, leaving Naruto unable to perform the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique. In the end, Naruto's luck turned. After Kiba attacked him from behind, Naruto managed to squeeze out a stinking fart. Kiba's nose was ten thousand times more sensitive than an ordinary person's. Naruto really was the most unpredictable ninja. His "great" fart bought him time to create Shadow Clones, and by imitating Sasuke's Lion Combo, he created the Naruto Uzumaki Lion Combo and finally won the match.

Issui went forward to check on Kiba and found that he no longer had the strength to fight. Then he smiled and said, "We've seen a very surprising match. Although no powerful Ninjutsu were used, it was a very meaningful fight. The winner is Naruto Uzumaki. Naruto, you really are Konoha's most unpredictable ninja. I believe you'll become a powerful ninja. You have a very strong fighting spirit."

"Clap..."

At this moment, Naruto's legendary path was about to begin. Naruto Uzumaki, Konoha's most unpredictable ninja, had arrived.

"This sucks. Naruto actually won. I can't believe it," Choji said.

"Yeah, he's not that dead last from the Ninja Academy anymore. If you're not careful, he'll beat you," Shikamaru said.

"The contestants in the next preliminary match are Misumi Tsurugi and Kankuro. Please come down," Issui said, looking at the electronic bulletin board and announcing the next match.

"I'm not an idiot like Yoroi, getting beaten as soon as the fight starts," Sumi said to Kankuro.

"Tch, you can try," Kankuro said, dismissing Sumi's words.

Issui spoke at the right moment. "Begin!"

This match was even simpler. Although Sumi's Soft Body Modification was good, he had grabbed the wrong person. The "Kankuro" he had seized was actually the Crow in disguise. Instead, he was caught by the Crow under Kankuro's control and could only forfeit.

"The winner is Kankuro. The next match is... Temari versus Choji Akimichi. Both contestants, please come down," Issui said.

"What? It's that woman from Sunagakure? Oh no, oh no, there's no way I can beat her. What do I do? Maybe I should just forfeit," Choji said with a miserable face.

"Choji, if you win against her, how about I treat you to barbecue..." Asuma had no choice but to tempt him.

At the mention of barbecue, Choji's eyes immediately lit up with fire, and he walked down from the observation platform.

"Honestly, I didn't expect my opponent to be a fatty. I don't feel like fighting at all." Temari looked at Choji's fat-covered body with disgust. He's not my type. The examiner is more suited to me. He's powerful and handsome.

Choji was furious. He hated it when people called him fat. "What did you just call me? Say it again!"

"What's wrong? Didn't you understand? I called you... a fatty!" Temari shouted.

"Ah, you're making me mad! I'm not fat, I'm just a little plump! Take this, my special move! Ninja art: Multi-Size Technique! Next up, Konoha-Style Taijutsu: Human Bullet Tank!!!" Choji used the Secret Technique passed down through generations of the Akimichi Clan.

Temari clicked her tongue. "I'll finish you off in an instant. First Star!!!"

The wind blew Choji off course, and he slammed headfirst into the wall. Still unwilling to give up, he rolled toward Temari again.

"Second Star!!!"

His attack missed once more, and Choji could only turn around and attack again.

"Third Star! Ninja art: Sickle Weasel!!!"

This time, Choji didn't attack again. The powerful wind blades sent him crashing into the wall with a tremendous impact, knocking him unconscious.

"Tch, boring," Temari said.

"The winner is Temari of Sunagakure. The contestants in the next preliminary match are Ino Yamanaka and Sakura Haruno. Please enter the arena," Issui said.