Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld

"What are you doing?"

Akeshii was clearly startled by Kageka Maple's action, instinctively taking half a step back.

"I was just curious about Akeshi's Eye Technique bloodline."

Kageka Maple blinked, speaking with an innocent expression.

"Hmph."

Akeshi snorted softly and directly deactivated her Two-Tomoe Sharingan. She greatly disliked being looked at as though she were on display.

Seeing this, Kageka Maple stuck out her little tongue slightly, then gave Yuzuru beside her an adorable smile before continuing to watch the upcoming matches...

"...Next match..."

As Kageka Maple and Nara Zentaro left one after another, Ootani Yuuto continued reading out the matchups.

And so, match after match began. However, unlike Uchiha Akihime and Kageka Maple, those students had not won a single match so far. Or, more accurately, they could not even force their seniors out of the designated circle, naturally making it impossible for them to receive a perfect score from Ootani Yuuto...

Clearly, it was not that the upperclassmen at the ninja academy were too weak. Rather, the true strength of Uchiha Akihime and Kageka Maple, these two junior students, was simply too monstrous. Even the more renowned upperclassmen were no match for them...

As the matches continued, it was finally Yuzuru's turn.

"...Next match, Hyuga Yuzuru versus Hyuga Hiashi!"

The moment Ootani Yuuto's voice fell, a wave of uproar broke out.

Hyuga Yuzuru and Hyuga Hiashi both belonged to the Hyuga Clan, and Hiashi was four years older than Yuzuru. Furthermore, Hyuga Hiashi was the son of the Hyuga Clan head, so his status was in no way inferior to Yuzuru's as the son of an elder from the Hyuga main family...

By ordinary reasoning, Hyuga Hiashi, who held the advantage in age, had to be stronger than Hyuga Yuzuru. After all, four years of training was not something talent and aptitude alone could make up for...

"A battle between clan members. Looks like the next match will definitely be much more interesting."

Akeshi had stayed behind precisely because she wanted to see whom Yuzuru would fight. Now that the result was out, she could not help feeling a little expectant.

"Yuzuru, good luck!"

Kageka Maple encouraged Yuzuru from the side.

Yuzuru merely nodded, then took the lead in walking onto the field, his gaze falling on Hyuga Hiashi's face in the upperclassmen's section.

"Brother, go on. It's not embarrassing for us to lose against Lord Yuzuru."

Beside Hiashi, a black-haired, black-eyed boy who looked exactly like him spoke solemnly.

"Mm."

Hiashi nodded at his younger brother, then walked directly toward the match field. However, he did not head toward the circle reserved for the "defending champion," but instead toward Ootani Yuuto.

"Hiashi, you..."

Ootani Yuuto glanced at Hyuga Hiashi in surprise, not understanding what he intended to do.

"Teacher Ootani, I'm here to concede. I'm no match for Lord Yuzuru, so I won't humiliate myself!"

After saying that, Hyuga Hiashi bowed to Ootani Yuuto, then ignored Ootani Yuuto's astonished gaze and left.

Hyuga Hiashi had not spoken quietly, so the ninja academy students in both the lower and upperclassmen's sections clearly heard him concede. They immediately began whispering among themselves.

"What? Is it because they're from the same clan, so he doesn't want to fight?"

"Exactly. How could an upperclassman who trained four more years possibly lose to a younger student from his own clan!"

"There's something fishy going on!"

"That's right! It's unfair, completely unfair!"

"..."

At first, the discussion was still fairly normal, but it was soon drowned out by the dissatisfied voices of the ninja academy students who had failed the "challenge matches." They could not stand seeing Yuzuru receive a perfect score so easily!

Ootani Yuuto had not expected Hyuga Hiashi to concede so directly, and it caught him completely off guard. After thinking briefly, he raised his voice again. "This practical exercise focuses on 'actual combat,' so even if Hiashi concedes, Yuzuru must still have an actual match..."

"Therefore... Yuzuru's opponent for this match will be temporarily changed to Hyuga Hizashi!"

Ootani Yuuto announced loudly.

Hyuga Hizashi had just watched his brother return when he never expected Ootani Yuuto to substitute him in. Did Teacher Ootani think he was stronger than his brother?

Thus, with an awkward feeling, Hyuga Hizashi came before Ootani Yuuto under his brother Hiashi's gaze and said exactly the same thing.

"Teacher Ootani, I'm also no match for Lord Yuzuru, so I concede as well!"

After saying that, he politely bowed to Ootani Yuuto and returned to the upperclassmen's viewing area outside the field.

"..."

Ootani Yuuto was completely speechless. Why were Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi, these two brothers, both so "modest"? They did not care at all about their dignity as upperclassmen or their authority as older clan brothers, and both wanted to concede to Yuzuru, their younger clansman.

"How boring!"

Akeshi also looked impatient. The clan battle she had been looking forward to had simply vanished, causing her to label Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi as "weaklings," "cowards," and the like.

"...As expected of Yuzuru..."

Deep in her eyes, Kageka Maple watched Yuzuru on the field with worshipful admiration. How could anyone possibly be a match for Lord Yuzuru, who had granted her an ability like Shadow Release?

"Hey, you two aren't joking, are you?"

"Or have you secretly sparred with that younger clansman of yours before?"

"..."

Among the upperclassmen, several peers who were on good terms with Hiashi and Hizashi spoke up one after another. Their faces were full of confusion and doubt. The brothers' strength ranked among the best of their peers, so why had they suddenly conceded so easily? It was simply too strange and absurd!

Hearing this, Hiashi and Hizashi exchanged a glance. Faint bitterness appeared on both their faces. If there had been even the slightest chance, how could they possibly have conceded so readily?

Ninja Academy Principal's Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya were once again plunged into shock. Hiashi and Hizashi were the sons of the current Hyuga Clan head, and with the Hyuga Clan's resources nurturing them, their strength naturally far surpassed that of their peers. It could even be said that they had long been qualified to graduate from the ninja academy. Even becoming Chunin immediately would require no discussion or deliberation...

Yet those brothers, Hiashi and Hizashi, who possessed Chunin-level strength, actually did not dare fight Yuzuru, their younger clansman. The implications hidden within that were simply too numerous!

No one dared think further...

"Teacher Hiruzen, have you tested Hyuga Yuzuru's true strength before?"

Jiraiya stared curiously at the figure in the transparent crystal ball before asking Hiruzen Sarutobi.

Orochimaru narrowed his slit pupils as well. Clearly, he had developed some interest in Hyuga Yuzuru.

Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head. It was not that he did not want to test Hyuga Yuzuru's true strength, but Hyuga Yuzuru had never given him the opportunity.

"Teacher Hiruzen, want me to test his limits for you?"

Jiraiya volunteered eagerly, his face full of anticipation.

Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at Jiraiya but did not agree. Mainly because he felt that this disciple of his was rather unreliable.

"Orochimaru, you should handle this matter instead. Remember to be tactful."

Afterward, Hiruzen Sarutobi decisively handed the task to Orochimaru, his most prized disciple.

"Yes, Teacher Hiruzen."

Orochimaru lightly licked the corner of his mouth, an expectant expression appearing on his face. He also wanted to know just how strong this so-called "Hyuga Clan's strongest genius" truly was!

Yuzuru, standing on the match field, let out a soft sigh. He had not expected his fight with Hiashi and Hizashi a year ago to leave such a great shadow over them that they no longer even had the courage to stand before him...

"Ahem... Aburame Shibi, you will be the one to fight Hyuga Yuzuru next!"

Hiashi and Hizashi's voluntary concessions had completely disrupted Ootani Yuuto's arrangements. After some thought, he could only temporarily have Aburame Shibi replace the two brothers.

"Fine."

Aburame Shibi, wearing sunglasses and a high-collared trench coat, answered with his usual few words. He walked directly into the circle on the match field, then signaled to Ootani Yuuto that he was ready.

"...Hyuga Yuzuru versus Aburame Shibi!"

"Begin!"

At Ootani Yuuto's announcement, Aburame Shibi immediately entered a fighting stance. Though usually taciturn, his strength and combat awareness ranked among the best of his peers. Even Aburame Hotaru, a clansman one year above him, was no match for him. That was why Ootani Yuuto had chosen him rather than Aburame Hotaru.

"Secret Technique: Parasitic Destruction Bugs!"

Aburame Shibi immediately bred a large number of parasitic destruction bugs from within his body. They formed clumps of black "clouds" that spread around him. These parasitic destruction bugs were his companions for both defense and attack.

"Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"

Yet in response to Aburame Shibi's actions, Yuzuru merely began forming hand seals on his own. The speed of his seals was dazzling, so fast that no one could see clearly.

"What fast hand seals!"

"I can't even see what seals he's forming!"

"Is this the 'Hyuga Clan's strongest genius' the Hyuga Clan boasts about?"

"..."

Yuzuru's hand seal speed alone left the upperclassmen watching from outside the field sighing in despair. Their gazes then subtly shifted toward the Hyuga Hiashi and Hyuga Hizashi brothers, as if they now somewhat understood why the brothers would rather concede than fight Yuzuru, their younger clansman...

"Damn it! How can his hand seal speed be so fast!"

Akeshi gritted her teeth, and her dark eyes transformed into crimson tomoe once more. Her ordinary dynamic vision could not catch Yuzuru's hand seal speed at all. Only after activating her Two-Tomoe Sharingan could she see every one of Yuzuru's hand seals clearly.

"He formed so many seals. Is he about to use an A-rank ninjutsu?"

Akeshi unconsciously clenched her fists. She could only barely master low-level B-rank ninjutsu, while judging by Yuzuru's practiced movements, even an A-rank ninjutsu seemed to pose no difficulty for him.

"This is..."

A look of shock appeared on Ootani Yuuto's face. Though he had been a Chunin for many years, he was not a combat-oriented ninja and had mastered very few A-rank ninjutsu. Yet one of those A-rank ninjutsu was precisely the one Yuzuru was about to use.

At the same time, inside the Ninja Academy Principal's Office.

The same words rang out in unison.

"This is the A-rank ninjutsu, Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!"

After the three spoke in unison, shock appeared on all their faces. Mastering an A-rank ninjutsu at the age of six—this level of ninjutsu talent was simply outrageous!

As Yuzuru completed his hand seals, he abruptly slapped both hands against the ground. Chakra immediately flowed rapidly from his palms into the earth.

Then, the hard soil across the entire match field almost instantly turned liquid, forming a vast swamp that swallowed people whole...

"..."

Upon seeing this, even taciturn Aburame Shibi wanted to curse. Faced with such a wide-range Earth Release ninjutsu, while his movement area was restricted, how could he possibly avoid this A-rank Earth Release ninjutsu unless he could fly—which was not an option?

"Secret Technique: Insect Sphere!"

However, Aburame Shibi did not concede immediately. Instead, he tried to struggle and resist. He controlled the parasitic destruction bugs beneath his feet, intending to use their Chakra-devouring trait to indirectly destroy the Earth Release ninjutsu.

"How is this possible?"

What drove Aburame Shibi to despair was that his parasitic destruction bugs were indeed diligently devouring the Chakra within the swamp beneath his feet, yet the Chakra in the swamp barely diminished. Instead, feedback from the bugs told him that they had already eaten their fill and could no longer consume Chakra!

Time passed quickly, causing Aburame Shibi's body to sink and gradually be swallowed by the swamp. When only his head remained above the surface, he decisively chose to concede. Ootani Yuuto immediately announced Hyuga Yuzuru's victory, and Yuzuru naturally released the ninjutsu upon hearing it, restoring the soil on the match field to its usual hard state.

Ootani Yuuto pulled Aburame Shibi out of the ground. However, his eyes beneath the sunglasses looked somewhat gloomy, and embarrassment inevitably appeared on the face hidden by his high collar. After all, he had essentially been defeated instantly by a "junior student," which meant that this "junior student's" strength was far from normal...

Although Aburame Shibi was usually quiet and had little presence, he could not stay here any longer. He simply left...

"...Next match..."

Ootani Yuuto watched Aburame Shibi leave and Hyuga Yuzuru return, then continued announcing the next matchup...

"Hyuga Yuzuru, just how strong are you?"

Akeshi looked at Yuzuru as he returned and immediately questioned him. The peers around them also turned their curious gazes toward him. This question had long lingered in their hearts as well.

"Want to know?"

Yuzuru looked at Akeshi and spoke calmly.

Akeshi naturally nodded heavily.

"Then become stronger in the future and come test my strength yourself."

After saying this, Yuzuru directly formed a hand seal. Then his body exploded into a cloud of white smoke and vanished.

"So it really was a shadow clone..."

Akeshi murmured as she looked at the spot where Yuzuru had disappeared.

After seeing Yuzuru dismiss his shadow clone, Kageka Maple also silently left. After all, the upcoming matches no longer held any interest for her.

"Hyuga Yuzuru... and Kageka Maple..."

When Akeshi came back to herself, Kageka Maple was already gone. Muttering to herself, she also left the ninja academy. She needed to go home and conserve her energy now, since an arranged battle awaited her that night!

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