Genjutsu

"Why did she stop moving?" Whispers rose again from the second floor.

"Idiot, she got caught in a genjutsu! That red-eyed beauty used genjutsu, and Young Miss Yukina fell for it!"

"Genjutsu? I didn't see any hand seals!"

"You weren't watching carefully enough!"

"I was watching the whole time! Such a beautiful pair... Ah, no! Such an exciting match, how could I not watch carefully? You say I wasn't paying attention, so let me ask you: when did you see her form hand seals?"

"Uh... well... I didn't see it either."

"What are you talking about? You didn't see it either."

As these eleven- and twelve-year-old boys and girls talked, their faces were filled with confusion. After only a couple of exchanges, Yukina had stopped moving and fallen under a genjutsu. They could not make heads or tails of it.

Setting aside the Genin's discussion, the Jonin were also exchanging glances. Five or six Jonin stood scattered across the second floor, their eyes meeting with faint surprise in them.

Minato Namikaze also frowned deeply.

She cast the Hell Viewing Technique without hand seals? As expected of Mr. Shinku's daughter. When he recommended his daughter for the Chunin Exams, the Third Hokage had been somewhat hesitant. But now, it seemed that Kurenai truly had the strength to participate in the Chunin Exams.

And Genjutsu-type Ninja were rare to begin with. One with such exceptional talent was even rarer.

But Yukina is in danger.

Thinking this, Minato Namikaze glanced at Kushina Uzumaki beside him. Kushina Uzumaki was frowning as she watched the motionless Yukina in the arena, her fists quietly clenching.

Damn it! This was my oversight. I never taught them how to deal with genjutsu! I never expected a genius Genjutsu-type Ninja to appear in these Chunin Exams! She can use the Hell Viewing Technique without even forming hand seals.

I'm sorry, Yukina! This is Teacher's fault! At the same time, over by the Sannin—

"Oh? A genjutsu genius? Kurenai Yuhi?" Orochimaru watched Kurenai Yuhi with interest as she walked toward Yukina, raising her Kunai at the same time.

"This really is rare," Tsunade said with mild surprise.

Jiraiya looked at Yukina in the arena, his brow faintly furrowed as he sighed. "This match is already decided. Kushina isn't skilled in genjutsu, so Yukina probably hasn't learned how to break one either."

"It isn't that easy. Breaking a genjutsu requires talent as well. Even if one knows how to dispel genjutsu, without the corresponding talent, they cannot break free while trapped inside it," Orochimaru said from the side.

"That's true." Jiraiya nodded.

Jiraiya seems rather concerned about this Hyuga Yukina.

Tsunade glanced at Jiraiya and thought to herself as she took out a scroll and wrote something on it.

Within the illusion, as the green leaves swirled around her, the veins at the corners of Yukina's eyes slowly began to bulge, extending bit by bit toward her temples. The outline of a pupil appeared within her Byakugan.

At that moment, the dancing leaves suddenly scattered. Yukina's vision instantly turned scarlet, and Chiba, his face covered in blood, abruptly appeared before her, almost nose to nose with her. His silent eyes stared into hers as blood poured from his eyes, mouth, and nose.

Yukina's expression changed drastically.

Chiba!

She nearly cried out.

Aside from the blood covering his face, Chiba's body was riddled with wounds. His left arm had been torn off and hung at an impossible angle. His right foot was missing entirely. His right hand and left leg were covered in burns that stretched all the way to the right side of his face.

A large patch of skin on the right side of his face appeared to have been burned black. It was now peeling away with a series of crackling sounds, revealing the blood-red muscle beneath.

In an instant, panic consumed her. Terror welled up in her heart, and a faint pain twisted through her chest, growing ever more intense.

She took a step back, then another. Her eyes were full of panic and fear, reflecting crimson. As she retreated, her field of vision widened. It was not just Chiba—Hirohiko and her father were there too, all in the same miserable state, their lifeless eyes watching her, staring at her.

It was as if they were blaming her for failing, as if she had caused their deaths! As if they were accusing her of not saving them! Why could she not save them?

"No!" Yukina cried out.

At that moment, her Byakugan was a sea of blood. The setting sun dyed the sky red, blood dyed the ground red, and Chiba and the others' blood dyed them red.

Everything was crimson! Everything was horrifying! Yet even more terrifying were these three people, the people she treasured most. Greater than her fear was the pain in her chest! No! This isn't real! This is an illusion!

Yukina shook her head hard, trying to throw off the scene before her.

But when she opened her eyes, the scene only appeared even redder! Calm down! Hyuga Yukina, you have to calm down!

Yukina stared at the sight before her, gasping heavily.

This is genjutsu, this is genjutsu. I've seen this before. I read about it in the Library. This is the Hell Viewing Technique, a technique that makes people see what they least wish to see in their hearts!

The principle of genjutsu is to use spiritual energy to disrupt chakra and create illusions... The book said so. There's a way! Kurenai Yuhi had already walked up to her. Watching Yukina's Byakugan gradually activate, she slowly brought her Kunai toward Yukina's neck.

The moment the Kunai rested against her neck, Yukina would be declared defeated.

Kurenai Yuhi's movements were reflected in Chiba's eyes. Hirohiko was also staring into the arena, and neither of them looked well.

I never thought Yukina would be defeated by this genjutsu. "It's over! Young Miss Yukina was actually defeated by genjutsu. She's still too young. Though she's a genius, she's still too inexperienced," said one Genin taking part in the exam. At roughly fourteen or fifteen years old, he was among the oldest Genin participating in the Chunin Exams.

"So it ends just like that? That was completely boring!"

"Yeah, I thought Young Miss Yukina would show us something impressive. Who knew she'd be defeated after only two exchanges? Her opponent still looks so relaxed!"

"Yeah, yeah. What genius? She's nothing special!"

Gradually, contemptuous remarks began to ring out across the arena.

I'm sorry, Yukina. Teacher didn't think this through!

Kushina Uzumaki clenched her fists tightly, guilt and self-reproach filling her heart.

Minato Namikaze also shook his head and sighed.

The outcome had been decided.

The Sannin all shook their heads as well. Tsunade had already begun writing something again.

Hyuga Yukyō's brow was deeply furrowed as he stared at Kurenai Yuhi, gritting his teeth in secret.

The Chunin Exam Proctor slowly raised his hand, preparing to announce the end of the match.

A faint smile of relief and victory appeared on Kurenai Yuhi's face as well.

She had won! "Squelch!"

Suddenly, a spray of blood burst from beneath her.

"Pressure Point Strike!"

A crisp cry accompanied the sharp pain in her abdomen.

Yukina's three fingers were clasped together like a beak as she viciously struck Kurenai Yuhi's abdomen. A trace of pain was reflected in her Byakugan, along with Kurenai Yuhi's wide eyes, filled with disbelief.

"Clang!"

The Kunai fell to the ground, and Kurenai Yuhi went limp against Yukina.

A shock-inducing Pressure Point Strike!

The entire arena fell silent! Just as Kurenai Yuhi was about to place the Kunai against Hyuga Yukina's neck, Hyuga Yukina suddenly moved. With only a single Gentle Fist strike, she knocked Kurenai Yuhi unconscious.

What had happened?

She had broken the genjutsu? "How is that possible? I shouldn't have taught her the hand seals for breaking genjutsu!" Kushina Uzumaki cried out softly.

Minato Namikaze's face was filled with astonishment. Not only him, but the Jonin upstairs and the Sannin—Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru—were all stunned, their expressions nearly changing completely.

It was not just them. Every ninja participating in the Chunin Exams, including Chiba and Hirohiko, wore expressions of surprise, astonishment, and shock! The Chunin Exam Proctor was completely frozen! A Kunai was deeply embedded in Yukina's fair thigh, blood flowing freely and dripping onto the ground, where it was absorbed by the soil.

Did she use pain to break the genjutsu?

Minato Namikaze, the Jonin, the Sannin, and the Chunin Exam Proctor all had the same still-shocked thought.

The Hyuga Clan's Young Miss was actually this strong-willed!

At that moment, three figures leaped down at once and rushed toward Yukina.

"Lady Yukina, are you all right? How... how..." Hyuga Yukyō ran over with a worried expression.

Chiba and Hirohiko said nothing, but they ran faster than Hyuga Yukyō. Chiba was already standing in front of Yukina. He crouched down, about to pull out the Kunai and bandage her wound.

Yukina was supporting the unconscious Kurenai Yuhi. Seeing Chiba move, she suddenly cried out, "Don't touch it!"

Her voice was filled with anxiety and panic.

"You insolent wretch, you filthy bastard! What are you trying to do to Young Miss Yukina?!" At the same time as that cry, Hyuga Yukyō shouted furiously and struck at Chiba with a palm that cut through the air.

Chiba froze, and Hirohiko abruptly stopped as well. Chiba looked up at Yukina, only to see that she appeared flustered, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Thump!"

Then Chiba took a heavy punch to the head, a red swollen bump instantly rising on it.

"Smack!"

Hyuga Yukyō's palm strike was also easily caught.

"That hurts!" The sudden blow made Chiba cry out.

Hyuga Yukyō also looked up, his Byakugan already active. Before him stood a handsome blond man who had casually caught his Gentle Fist palm strike in one hand. The man smiled at him and said, "Calm down."

It was Minato Namikaze!

At the sight of that gentle smile, the anger in Hyuga Yukyō's heart inexplicably faded by more than half. He looked toward Chiba.

"You idiot!" Kushina Uzumaki stood behind Chiba, berating him.

Chiba remained crouched there with both hands clutching his head, tears nearly welling up in his eyes.

What's wrong with Kushina? That punch was much harder than before. It hurts like hell!

"How can you just touch a girl's leg?" Kushina Uzumaki looked at Chiba and helplessly lowered her voice. Then she stepped forward to examine Yukina's injury.

Watching this, Hirohiko slowly turned away with a poker face, covering his mouth with one hand. His shoulders shook, though no one knew why.

Chiba held his head, his face full of innocence.

I feel so wronged!