Competition

Not long after Yichen finished introducing the six people, the competition below officially began.

Because the venue was large enough that neither side knew the other's exact location, this match was not like the Chunin Ninja Exams, where it started with a clash of Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, or Genjutsu.

Both sides need to carefully search for each other's whereabouts first.

Because of their relatively weak overall strength, the Ikura team adopted a stealthy tactic. With the Jonin of Shimoyama Tamaki, a Jonin skilled in Sealing Jutsu, the three quickly disappeared from the audience's sight.

However, viewers could see that before the three disappeared, Nakada Tatsunori and Shimoyama Tamaki created a clone and began setting up various traps in the arena.

While the Yichen's Squad, which possessed superior overall strength, did not conceal their presence, they proceeded with extreme caution during their search, fearing a sneak attack due to Haraguchi Hampei's power.

During the search, Fat Orange —oh wait, I mean Little Flower Little Flower —played a significant role.

Although Little Flower is not Ninja Dog, her sense of smell far surpasses that of ordinary people, making Little Flower the main force in Yichen's Squad.

However, the Ikura squad was clearly prepared for Little Flower's abilities, and they masked their scent before concealing themselves. Fortunately, they managed to lure the Yichen's Squad into the trap area several times using their scent.

These traps were triggered in various ways. Although they did not harm the three members of Yichen's Squad, they still consumed a lot of their Chakra and stamina.

As a master of Sealing Jutsu, Yichen was naturally aware of Shimoyama Tamaki's methods, so he told the Daimyo the location of the Ikura team's hiding place early on.

After a long while, when the three members of Yichen's Squad and the cat finally found the area where Ikura's team was hiding, the four of them stopped again.

Despite having her form and aura concealed by the Sealing Jutsu, Little Flower, who was slowly absorbing Natural Energy, still felt a sense of crisis.

The four of them formed a battle formation, carefully surveyed their surroundings, and after repeatedly checking, still found nothing wrong.

Then Saki Ogura nodded to Shinya Matsutani.

"Fire Release - Phoenix Fire Technique." Matsutani Shinya quickly Hand Seals, and balls of fire began to shoot rapidly in all directions. This time, Matsutani Shinya did not use C-rank Ninjutsu, but instead used B-rank Fire Style Jutsu right from the start.

A cheer immediately erupted from the audience.

The cautious tactics employed by both sides had kept the spectators, who were watching from above, on edge. While the occasional triggering of traps was thrilling, it lacked visual appeal and excitement, failing to match the image of Jonin their minds.

Now, we've finally got to see Matsutani Shinya's Ninjutsu, and it's a wide-range B-rank Ninjutsu Ninjutsu off the bat, a particularly dazzling one at that, immediately piquing the audience's interest.

Upon seeing this, Yi raised an eyebrow. Good heavens, Matsutani Shinya even knows B-rank Fire Style Jutsu? Yichen remembered that Matsutani Shinya proficient in Water, Earth, and Wind Release. When did he develop Fire Release, and even learn B-rank Fire Style Jutsu?

Furthermore, using Fire Release first—is this an attempt to conceal their true strength?

The atmosphere in the stands suddenly shifted from tense to excited, but this did not affect the battle below.

After unleashing a B-rank Ninjutsu without seeing any reaction, Matsutani Shinya didn't let his guard down and added another B-rank Wind Release, Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.

Compared to the Phoenix Fire Technique, the Wind Release: Great Breakthrough that Matsutani Shinya used was significantly more powerful.

This time, before the Wind Release attack was even over, a figure darted out from a corner.

"Earth Release - Earth Style: Fissure Core." The newcomer was none other than Nakada Tatsunori. At this moment, Nakada Tatsunori was performing Ninjutsu using Wind Release - Great Breakthrough, as his body was being enhanced with Hardening Jutsu.

With the aid of the Hardening Jutsu, the Wind Release, though wide-ranging, was not concentrated and therefore could not harm Nakada Tatsunori. Thus, Nakada Tatsunori successfully executed the Ninjutsu.

The Earth Style: Fissure Core caused irregular fluctuations in the ground, capable of attacking enemies on the ground. The damage from the Earth Style: Fissure Core wasn't significant, but its coverage area was considerable; the entire area that Yichen's Squad could dodge was covered by Nakada Tatsunori.

Seeing this, Ogura Saki dodged the loose rocks under her feet and said, "Watch out for the other two."

Nakada Tatsunori possesses the Hardening Jutsu, so even if he were hit by Wind Release, he wouldn't be injured, and there's no need for him to expose himself. The fact that he deliberately revealed himself only means that others are nearby and under threat from Wind Release, and that he intentionally came out to attract attention.

However, precisely because the others had not shown themselves, Ogura Saki became even more vigilant, realizing that the hidden enemies were even more terrifying.

However, having lost the initiative, Yichen's Squad inevitably revealed a weakness, and the Earth Style: Fissure Core successfully disrupted the three's battle formation.

There's no way around it. Yichen's Squad is the attacker, in the open; Ikura's team is the defender, in the shadows; the initiative was in Ikura's team's hands from the very beginning.

Just then, a figure suddenly appeared; it was Haraguchi Hampei, the strongest member of the Ikura squad.

Haraguchi Hampei charged towards Matsutani Shinya at Haraguchi Hampei speed, clearly intending to use his superior Taijutsu to quickly finish Matsutani Shinya off.

Despite his initial shock, Matsutani Shinya remained calm, dodging the Earth Style: Fissure Core while simultaneously Hand Seals to counterattack.

At the same time, Takuya, who had already distanced himself from him, suddenly turned around and rushed towards Haraguchi Hampei Banping with Movement Technique.

Haraguchi Hampei is a well-rounded ninja. Compared to Matsutani Shinya, he can easily defeat him in Taijutsu. However, compared to Takuya, who specializes in Taijutsu, Haraguchi Hampei would find it difficult to escape unscathed in close combat.

Therefore, upon seeing Takuya approach so unexpectedly, Haraguchi Hampei Hanpei immediately chose to retreat.

However, Takuya, who should have been pursuing and entangled with them, stopped in his tracks. This was because Haraguchi Hampei's retreating posture was somewhat strange.

Before Takuya could figure out the reason, another Haraguchi Hampei appeared on the other side, in the direction where Ogura Saki was, and rushed towards Ogura Saki at lightning speed.

Upon seeing this, Takuya immediately realized that he had fallen into a trap. That person was not Haraguchi Hampei, nor even a clone.

Sure enough, Haraguchi Hampei had retreated quickly earlier, suddenly transformed into Shimoyama Tamaki with a bang.

It turns out that Shimoyama Tamaki had just used the wire to accelerate herself, disguising herself as Haraguchi Hampei. That's why Takuya felt that Shimoyama Tamaki's retreat was wrong.

Having seen through his opponent's trick Takuya was about to go to support Ogura Saki when Nakada Tatsunori once again used his Ninjutsu, Earth Release: Earth Style: Earth Flow Rock Crumble.

Nakada Tatsunori slapped the ground with both hands, and a large number of pebbles immediately broke off from the ground and shot towards Takuya.

This is B-rank Ninjutsu developed by Nakada Tatsunori based on Yichen's Rock-Scattering Jutsu.

Seeing this, Yichen smiled slightly. This Nakada Tatsunori was indeed quite good. Back then, Yichen had watched Ikura select his disciples, Nakada Tatsunori's understanding of Earth Release was indeed far beyond that of ordinary people.

To be able to create B-rank Ninjutsu at this age is already extremely rare. We can't always use Yichen or Yichen's disciples as a reference for everything. After all, most Chunin or even Jonin never create their own Ninjutsu in their entire lives.

Takuya gripped his long sword, dodging the flying rocks that hurtled towards him while simultaneously slashing down the rocks he couldn't avoid.

Although a B-rank Earth Style Ninjutsu couldn't defeat Takuya in the short term, it was also impossible for Takuya to support Ogura Saki.

Fortunately, a huge Wind Style: Wind Tornado appeared between Takuya and Nakada Tatsunori shortly afterward. The Wind Style: Wind Tornado not only blocked the rubble but also bounced a lot of it back.

At this point, Nakada Tatsunori, who was blocking Takuya, could no longer maintain the Earth Style: Earth Flow Rock Crumble.

The one who used the Wind Release Ninjutsu this time was Matsutani Shinya, who learned this Ninjutsu from Ogura Saki, who is currently in a dangerous situation.

Matsutani Shinya a ranged ninja, so supporting Ogura Saki wouldn't be very effective. Therefore, he chose to rescue Takuya, freeing Takuya to support Ogura Saki.

However, having been delayed, it was already quite late for Takuya to go there now. Haraguchi Hampei was already close to Ogura Saki.

However, Ogura Saki herself is not easy to deal with: "Wind Release - Nine Dragon Formation".

Nine Wind Style: Wind Tornado, arranged in a 3-3-3 formation, continuously moved between Ogura Saki and Haraguchi Hampei, preventing him from getting close.

At the same time, Ogura Saki simultaneously controlled the Wind Style: Wind Tornado and cast a Fire Release with One-handed Hand Seals. "Fire Release - Great Fireball Jutsu".

The Great Fireball quickly caught up with the nine Wind Style: Wind Tornado, then combined with Wind Style: Wind Tornado to form three massive walls of fire.

"Huh?" Yichen was surprised, not expecting that Ogura Saki had actually learned to One-handed Hand Seals.

This Hand Seals technique was developed by Yoshimura Kazumasa, a disciple of Yichen's Team Three, over the past year. It's unclear whether Ogura Saki learned it from Yoshimura Kazumasa or obtained it from the village.

The subsequent formation of a wall of fire astonished Yichen even more.

To the audience, this scene was dazzling, but Yichen saw the beginnings of Kekkei Genkai.

It's not unusual for Ogura Saki to use Fire Release with one hand, but the fact that she can maintain Wind Release while still using Fire Release with one hand, and can simultaneously control two Ninjutsu to form Combination Ninjutsu, means that Ogura Saki is not far from successfully developing her Kekkei Genkai.

Three walls of fire moved back and forth, blocking Haraguchi Hampei and giving Haraguchi Hampei no chance to cross them. However, Haraguchi Hampei was not so easily defeated.

He had already begun Hand Seals the moment he charged out, and his Ninjutsu was finally completed as Ogura Saki formed a defensive wall of fire.

"Water Release: Great Raging Waves." A massive wave of water appeared out of thin air and surged toward Ogura Saki with unstoppable force.

At this point, it becomes clear that neither side is very lucky.

When Ogura Saki Haraguchi Hampei, she took a defensive stance. If she had known that Haraguchi Hampei was preparing A-rank Ninjutsu, she would have used an offensive Ninjutsu first, which would have had a high probability of interrupting Haraguchi Hampei. Furthermore, by continuously suppressing Haraguchi Hampei with Ninjutsu, she could have prevented him from getting close.

Unfortunately, Ogura Saki didn't gamble, because if Haraguchi Hampei had used a C-rank or B-rank attack Ninjutsu, then after the two canceled each other out, Saki Ogura would have lost her last chance to defend.

However, Ogura Saki was lucky. Although she had developed a new attribute, she actually had many defensive methods, but she chose to use Combination Ninjutsu.

It perfectly countered Haraguchi Hampei's Water Release.

Originally, the Combination Ninjutsu Fire Release only C-rank, so it shouldn't have been able to stop A-rank Ninjutsu after being combined. However, the fire used the wind to counteract the Great Raging Waves.

As a result, Haraguchi Hampei originally intended to Water Release to counter Ogura Saki's Fire Release, miscalculated.

The clash of the two Ninjutsu attacks not only failed to harm Ogura Saki, but also unsurprisingly delayed his approach to her.

After the Ninjutsu clash ended, Haraguchi Hanpei, emerging from the Haraguchi Hampei, discovered that Takuya was getting closer and closer to Ogura Saki.

"Fortunately, there's still a chance." Haraguchi Hampei assessed the distance between the three.

Ogura Saki is a typical pure Ninjutsu Ninja, and her ability to resist after being approached is very weak. Haraguchi Hampei judged that he still had a chance to launch an offensive.

However, after this wave, regardless of whether he eliminates Ogura Saki or not, he may still be entangled with Takuya.

Haraguchi Hampei was decisive. His side was already at a disadvantage, and they had no chance without taking risks, so he chose to continue advancing.

Haraguchi Takuya successfully approached Haraguchi Hampei Ogura Saki before Takumi arrived, easily dodging a small C-class Wind Style: Wind Tornado from Ogura Saki. Although it caused a slight delay, it was all within expectations.

As he closed in, just as he was about to finish off Ogura Saki, Haraguchi Hampei suddenly felt a sense of unease.

He quickly stopped his rapidly advancing body and dodged to the side.

"Whoosh." A Vacuum Sphere passed through Haraguchi Hampei's side, leaving a wound on his left hand.

"Seal-less Ninjutsu?" Haraguchi Hampei exclaimed in surprise.

Haraguchi Hampei's lips twitched. What was going on? First, One-handed Hand Seals, and now he's using a Seal-less Ninjutsu?

That's right, Ogura Saki used a Seal-less Ninjutsu this time: C-rank Wind Release - Vacuum Sphere. This Seal-less Ninjutsu was created by Tomoko, a disciple of Team One Yichen, and Ogura Saki learned it from Tomoko.

"One-handed Hand Seals, combined with Seal-less Ninjutsu, it's impossible to quickly defeat Ogura Saki. We chose the wrong opponent." Haraguchi Hampei thought to himself as he quickly retreated.

Because he had just dodged the Vacuum Sphere, Haraguchi Hampei missed the best opportunity to eliminate Ogura Saki, and had no choice but to retreat.

Retreat is no longer an option; Takuya has already arrived. In fact, delaying the retreat until now is already somewhat late. At this distance, it's unrealistic to expect to escape Takuya, who excels at close-quarters combat, without taking damage.