Naruto: Choosing from Birth — Chapter 13

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff of his pipe. "Cloud Shinobi have always been famous for Lightning Release. I never expected even their academy students to use Chakra to stimulate and activate their bodies so early."

"It seems Konoha's students are far inferior to them in physical ability, and even their combat experience falls short by quite a bit."

"During their academy years, before they've mastered a large number of ninjutsu, Konoha's students are at a severe disadvantage physically."

Sure enough, the Konoha side that took the stage next was sent flying off the arena one after another despite being prepared.

By now, the Cloud Village female student, Takada Asaka, had already won five consecutive matches.

This time, none of the Konoha Ninja Academy students dared underestimate the female student across from them anymore.

Even Aburame Joichiro, who ranked second in practical combat among the sixth-years, had just been defeated.

So there really were powerful people outside Konoha.

Still, she was probably the strongest among the Kumogakure Students, right?

How infuriating! They'd sent out their strongest fighter right from the start, giving them no face at all.

The Konoha students were all filled with righteous indignation. For the first time, they felt that losing to one of their own was nothing, but losing to someone from another village was...

"Reporting, Sensei! Fourth-year student Hyuga Hiashi requests permission to take the stage!"

Hyuga Hiashi had finished his three months of secluded training long ago, and after practicing the Gentle Fist every day, he was no longer comparable to the person who had been defeated by Uchiha Cheng in a single move half a year ago.

Although he still used the Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms and had yet to reach the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms.

His Thirty-Two Palms had become far more refined. His momentum was stronger, his speed faster, and the transitions between his palm strikes more fluid!

Hiashi desperately needed a victory to prove himself, to raise morale and strengthen his resolve so he could challenge Uchiha Cheng again!

Victories earned by defeating ordinary students in the past were useless!

But now, he had the perfect opportunity. This Kumogakure Student, who had won five straight matches, possessed formidable strength, and was at the height of her momentum, would make an excellent whetstone to test the results of his palm technique.

"A fourth-year? Is that a mistake? Even we sixth-years lost. What use is a fourth-year?"

"Shh, he's Hyuga Hiashi of the Konoha Hyuga Clan. His strength can't be underestimated."

The Konoha students immediately erupted into discussion.

When the Kumogakure Students on the other side heard that a fourth-year was coming up, they also exploded into uproar.

"A fourth-year? Could their fourth-years be stronger than their sixth-years?"

"He doesn't know his place! Asaka, don't go easy on him. Don't let him leave until you've beaten him into a pig's head!"

"This..." Nomura-sensei hesitated as he looked at the Third Hokage. He had originally wanted Uchiha Yuto, who ranked first in practical combat among the sixth-years, to go up and secure their first win.

But now that someone from the Hyuga Clan had volunteered, then...

After seeing the determination in Hiashi's eyes, Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded. "Let him go. The Hyuga specialize in taijutsu, so aside from being a little young, he should have no trouble dealing with her."

"Yes!"

"Then, please welcome fourth-year student Hyuga Hiashi to the stage."

Hyuga Hiashi was delighted inside, but he maintained a stern expression on the surface as he slowly walked onto the fighting ground.

"The Hyuga Clan of Konoha? Let's see just how strong the descendants of this renowned ninja clan really are."

This was the first time Takada Asaka had spoken since taking the stage.

"Don't worry. I'll definitely defeat you. My true opponent isn't you," Hyuga Hiashi replied flatly.

"You... Are all of Konoha's great clans this arrogant? Let's see if you can still talk big later!" Takada Asaka fumed.

After both sides formed the Seal of Confrontation, Takada Asaka once again lunged forward as she had in the first match, clenching her hand into a fist and striking.

Hiashi stepped back half a pace and deflected the force with a pushing palm.

Byakugan!

Gentle Fist!

Crack! Crack! Crack!

In an instant, both their hands turned into a series of afterimages, colliding dozens of times like firecrackers going off.

It was obvious that both sides had brought out their real skills from the very start.

Suddenly!

Hyuga Hiashi swiftly leaped back two body lengths.

He had to admit that the girl across from him was indeed strong, but the force behind her attacks was clearly far weaker than Uchiha Cheng's. After all, Uchiha Cheng could make his arms go numb from the impact.

"You're strong, but the game is over!"

Hyuga Hiashi planted his feet in a bow stance, extending his left hand forward and drawing his right hand back.

"Hmph, anyone can talk big. You're finished too! I'm getting serious now!"

Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Thirty-Six Palms!

Hidden Cloud Sevenfold Hands!

The two instantly collided once more.

Takada Asaka's hands became seven afterimages, dazzling the eye. Aburame Joichiro had lost to this very move in the previous match.

But this move, which had never failed her before, felt as though it had fallen into a swamp when it struck toward Hyuga Hiashi, easily being deflected away.

His speed was obviously slower than hers, so why had every attack been blocked?

No, it wasn't that he was slower. It was as though he had seen through every one of her moves. He often struck after her yet arrived first, and there was also a strange force constantly reducing her speed.

Eight Trigrams One Palm!

Two Palms!

Four Palms!

Eight Palms!

Sixteen Palms!

Gradually, Takada Asaka could only hear the palm-strike count from across from her rising higher and higher.

Idiot! Was he shouting it out to let everyone know how many strikes he'd used?

Hmph! Substitution... What's going on? I can't gather my Chakra.

Thirty-Two Palms!!!

In an instant, Takada Asaka felt surrounded by palm shadows from every direction. She had no idea which side to defend first, and there was no way to defend at all.

Bang!!!

Puh...

A figure was violently blasted beyond the boundary!

Hyuga Hiashi wins!

Uchiha Cheng, just wait! I, Hyuga Hiashi, am back!

"Asaka lost?"

"This fourth-year is that strong? Are the grades at the Konoha Ninja Academy reversed? The lower the grade, the stronger they are?"

"He's only a fourth-year now. Wouldn't the first-years be invincible? We're done for. We can't afford to provoke them. As expected of the number one ninja village."

"Idiot, didn't you hear them say he's from the Hyuga Clan? Descendants of a prestigious clan are naturally strong."

"Don't be afraid. Their grades are arranged the same as ours. Our big shots haven't gone up yet."

The Cloud Village students cried out anxiously.

Darui, the Cloud Village leader, showed no reaction to their discussion.

He merely sent out a few more unremarkable fighters.

Sure enough, they only gave Hyuga Hiashi three consecutive victories.

It was as though they were playing around, returning the favor to Konoha by sending a few Experience Babies up to serve as sparring partners for Hiashi.

When it came to the fourth person, Darui called up Killer B, who was also only eight years old and a fourth-year student.

Killer B: In the original story, he would become the Cloud Village's perfect Eight-Tails Jinchuriki, the Fourth Hokage's partner and sworn younger brother. He had been a genius since childhood.

He graduated from the ninja academy, became a Chunin at ten, and was promoted to Jonin at twelve!

When Killer B, carrying three short swords on his back and wearing tiny sunglasses, stepped onto the stage.

"Victory for Killer B!"

"Victory for Killer B!"

"Victory for Killer B!"

The Cloud Village students cheered passionately.