Seeing Through

"Bump!"

The final blow sent Saki flying, unable to get up. Namikaze Minato called out in time, "The winner Hyuga Akiha."

The Konoha Ninja in the stands were now secretly troubled. Mokui and Yao had overdone their performance earlier, making the match less exciting. But the Hyuga Clan was the victor, so they had to think of something quick and create a new rhythm.

"As expected of the Hyuga Clan! Look closely, it looks like an ordinary palm strike, but that kid from Sunagakure probably has his internal organs shattered. This is a secret technique of the Hyuga Clan that injures people invisibly, and even Genin should not underestimate it. It's just that you can't tell from the outside."

Although the fight was a bit ugly, Hyuga Akiha ultimately won.

Because she was a good-looking girl, and with the Konoha Ninja secretly manipulating public opinion, they managed to maintain the atmosphere of praising Konoha.

On the viewing platform in the rest area, Aburame Shihei and Akimichi Jinsei walked towards the venue together, side by side, not looking like opponents.

"Please guide me. I hope you can give it your all and I believe you will win." Aburame Shihei said to Akimichi Jinsei when he saw that no one was around.

Akimichi Jinsei's obese body looked comical, but he wasn't stupid. Coupled with Nara Rokujin's warning before the Third Exam, he understood Aburame Shihei's underlying meaning. "As long as you perform well on the field, I will definitely let you advance to the next round."

When the two duo with the most contrasting styles stood in the center of the stage, they successfully drew the audience's attention.

"The match begins!"

"Expansion Jutsu!" After a month of feasting, Akimichi Jinsei had accumulated a tremendous amount of chakra, instantly transforming into a giant ball of flesh.

"Human Boulder!" "Secret Technique: Insect Wall!"

As he tumbled and charged toward Aburame Shihei, she retorted without flinching, unleashing a massive swarm of insects that collided with him.

"Whoosh, whoosh..." Wave after wave of insects were scattered by the giant fleshy ball, only to quickly circle back, creating a spectacular scene that the audience thoroughly enjoyed.

Seeing that the Human Boulder wasn't working well, Akimichi Jinsei then took turns using Partial Expansion Jutsu, his enormous hands and feet relentlessly attacking Aburame Shihei, causing the arena to crack in all directions, creating a spectacular visual effect.

"Tsk tsk, the Aburame Clan is too cunning!" Shuichi saw that Aburame Shihei kept hiding his Kikaichū in the underground cracks during the battle, and then quietly retracting them back to his body. Meanwhile, his insects were dwindling, and it seemed that he would soon be unable to hold on.

"They're not even draining chakra anymore, they're really holding back."

Seeing that the effect was almost achieved, Aburame Shihei unleashed his "last" wave of insects in a fierce battle against Chosei Akimichi. After narrowly dodging a Super Push Hand, he immediately shouted breathlessly to Namikaze Minato, "My chakra and Akimichi Jinsei are exhausted. I surrender."

"The winner is Akimichi Jinsei!"

"This looks pretty good too. That Ninjutsu that makes you grow bigger is amazing. If I knew it, wouldn't I be able to make myself bigger wherever I wanted...?" Some of the thin nobles were lost in their fantasies.

"Distinguished guests, the first round of the competition has concluded." Namikaze Minato's clear voice rang out in the arena. "Please allow the contestants a short rest. We will arrange the next matches as soon as possible, so please look forward to them."

After saying that, he followed Akimichi Jinsei to the participants' rest room.

At this point, besides the accompanying teachers, there were six people left, so the upcoming battles required special arrangements.

"Everyone," Namikaze Minato called them over, "There are three people in each half of the bracket now, and due to time constraints, only two of us might be able to avoid fighting one match."

"But you all understand the purpose of this test. If anyone feels they haven't fully demonstrated their abilities in the previous battles, they can request to participate in another match. If no one is willing, I will choose by drawing lots. So, what are your choices?"

"I choose to fight one more battle," Shuichi immediately said. Since they were already going all out, how could it be satisfying if they didn't crush all their opponents?

Tetsuishi and Sunaki glanced at the Tosha Jonin. After they finished their private conversation, Tetsuishi spoke up, "I choose to fight another battle."

Hyuga Akiha and Akimichi Jinsei, who were standing nearby, also said, "I choose to fight another battle." They understood quite well that if they really encountered Mokui, he would definitely be putting on an act and holding back, and the fight would be very strange. So it would be better to have a real Genin duel.

"Alright, then there's no need for a draw." Namikaze Minato said nothing more. "The match will resume in ten minutes. Takeda Shuichi and Tetsuishi, please be prepared."

After the battle arrangements were finalized, Namikaze Minato left first, while Tetsuishi and Sunaki from Sunagakure stood directly next to Tosha, some distance from the Konoha members, perhaps wanting to discuss tactics or something similar.

Hyuga Akiha was in excellent form after defeating Saki, and suddenly got up and left the lounge, seemingly to prepare something outside. No one else paid any attention.

"Byakugan!" After leaving the room and walking along the corridor of the stadium stands, she saw that no one was around, so she activated her Roll My Byakugan and stared at the Tetsuishi and Sunaki in the lounge for a while before walking away again.

Five minutes later, Hyuga Akiha returned to the rest room carrying her ninja tool pouch. Everyone glanced at her and said, "She probably went to organize her equipment. She removed the arm guards she used against Saki and replaced them with regular ninja tools."

She walked casually to Shuichi's side, and since the two were on the same team, no one paid any more attention to her.

When she saw the Sunagakure people look away, she quickly took out a piece of paper and put it into Shuichi's pocket.

"Sand, arrows, Hand Crossbow..." Just before the match was about to begin, Shuichi took a quick look at the intelligence report when no one was looking, and then thought back to the battle between Tetsuishi and Nara Rokujin.

Without keeping the audience waiting long, just ten minutes later, Shuichi and Tetsuishi were already standing opposite each other in the venue.

"Takeda Shuichi vs. Tetsuishi, the match begins!"

"Ninja Art: Sandstorm Technique!"

Tetsuishi immediately retreated, simultaneously Hand Seals hand seals and activating Ninjutsu, seemingly very worried about Shuichi's Body Flicker Technique getting close.

This time he used even more chakra, and almost the entire center of the arena was shrouded in yellow sand.

However, Shuichi on the other side did not act impulsively this time. When Shuichi used his Ninjutsu, he immediately ran out of the sandstorm's range and stood at the edge, patiently waiting for the sand to disappear without rushing to attack.

"Did he figure something out?" After a while, seeing that Shuichi was not moving at the edge of the field, Tetsuishi began to have doubts.

This can't go on. His chakra is being depleted. Although he can hold out for a while longer, his opponent seems to be in no hurry. He has no youthful impulsiveness and has suddenly become cunning and shrewd.

He made several hand seals again and started walking forward. The sandstorm circle moved along with him, slowly enveloping Shuichi.