Would You Just Stand There and Let Them Shoot You?

Kashiko Kajo saw that her opponent had no intention of giving up, so she said nothing more.

With a flick of her hand, she threw several Shuriken.

Yudzuki likewise threw Shuriken to knock away hers.

The two continued testing each other, one move at a time.

"So boring."

"Don't feel like watching anymore."

After watching several intense battles in a row, everyone inevitably grew weary of a fight at this level.

Feng An and the others had never seen Yudzuki use any Ninjutsu.

When they trained together, they mostly practiced with Kunai and Shuriken.

"Fuka, is your sister really not good at anything?"

Feng An turned to Fuka beside him and asked.

Although Yudzuki had said so herself, Feng An still found it hard to believe. The younger sister had a Kekkei Genkai, so perhaps the older sister was hiding something.

Fuka shook her head. "No. If I had to name something... my sister is pretty accurate with Shuriken. Does that count?"

Feng An was speechless.

What use was accuracy? Was the opponent supposed to stand still and let you shoot them?

Maybe she really wasn't particularly good at anything.

"The eleventh preliminary match, Yudzuki wins."

Gekko Hayate's voice rang out.

Feng An froze.

What happened? I only looked away for a moment, and the match was already decided?

He quickly turned back toward the arena.

He saw Kashiko Kajo being carried away on a stretcher with a Shuriken embedded in her head. Judging by how badly she was bleeding, she was probably done for.

A man stood nearby—it was Funaha Yuta, Feng An's previous opponent.

He followed behind the carried-off Kashiko Kajo, crying out, "Kashiko, Kashiko—how am I supposed to live without you?!"

Feng An looked at Hinata, who had been watching the match the whole time.

"Hinata, did you see how they fought just now? How did Yudzuki suddenly win?"

Hinata nodded.

"While you were talking to Fuka, Kashiko Kajo used the Mist Concealment Technique. Then Yudzuki threw a Shuriken into the thick fog and won."

"Can I take back what I said? Being accurate with Shuriken might, perhaps, possibly actually be useful..."

As Gekko Hayate announced the victory, the electronic screen lit up again.

As expected, Fuka's name appeared on the screen alongside another name: Kojiro.

After all, they were the only two left who had not fought yet.

Feng An smiled. "Don't lose too badly."

"Who's going to lose, baka?"

Fuka shot him a glance and jumped straight down from the stands.

"The final preliminary match: Fuka versus Kojiro. Begin!"

The two immediately began probing each other with Shuriken.

Feng An had told her before that the special nature of a Kekkei Genkai could draw unwanted attention. Though she did not think it was necessary, she still took his words to heart.

Sakura stretched.

"These last two matches are so boring. I'm getting sleepy just watching."

Kakashi, standing behind her, said indifferently, "Wasn't your fight with Ino the same?"

Sakura's little face instantly turned red at Kakashi's words.

Kakashi then continued earnestly, "Information is the most important thing in a shinobi battle. Testing each other first before fighting is what a real shinobi battle is."

Naruto cut in, "Huh? Then what about Feng An?"

Kakashi looked helpless. "That was a complete difference in strength."

"Then information doesn't seem to matter much."

"In the earlier fights, Shino versus Zaku and Kankuro versus Ken Misumi—didn't you learn anything from those two matches?"

"Weren't those both one-sided too? They won pretty easily, didn't they?"

"What if Zaku had known Shino used the Insect Secret Jutsu? What if Ken Misumi had known Kankuro's real body was a puppet?"

Kakashi rubbed his forehead weakly.

"Sigh... you idiot, are you only here to watch the excitement..."

Naruto laughed. "Hehe, Sakura is watching for the excitement too. She's an idiot too."

"Stupid Naruto, what does that have to do with me?!"

Sakura punched Naruto on the head.

The pain made Naruto bare his teeth.

On the other side, in the arena.

As Kojiro used the Mist Concealment Technique, white, dense fog covered the arena.

Seeing the Mist Concealment Technique again, someone could not help complaining.

"Why is it the Mist Concealment Technique again? Do the three of them have the same teacher?"

"You know what, they actually do. The three of them are on the same team."

"...Fine."

Fuka stared at the thick fog before her, fully focused and ready to strike.

Without Wind Release as astonishing as Feng An's, the Mist Concealment Technique was actually an extremely difficult Ninjutsu to deal with.

The victim's vision was blocked. She had no idea where her opponent would attack from or where they would use Ninjutsu, and she would always be one step too slow in responding.

That was also why the Mist Concealment Technique had left such a deep impression on Naruto.

Several Shuriken flew in from the side. Fuka promptly knocked them away with her Kunai, then threw Shuriken toward the direction they had come from.

She immediately retreated to the wall, which would at least prevent her opponent from getting behind her.

Kojiro, hidden in the thick fog, curled his lips into a faint smile.

It was time.

He threw Shuriken at Fuka, then rapidly formed hand seals.

Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu.

As the Shuriken flew out, he rushed through the ground at incredible speed and reached beneath Fuka's feet.

Fuka had only just dodged the Shuriken when Kojiro had already lurked beneath her.

Fuka's expression changed as she instantly sensed something strange underground.

She swiftly formed hand seals.

Ice Release: Ice Rock Dome Wall.

In an instant, a wall of ice rose beneath her feet.

Kojiro slammed headfirst into the ice wall and hurriedly emerged from the ground.

Before his opponent's fog dispersed, he had to end this quickly.

Fuka did not hesitate further and rapidly formed hand seals.

Ice Release: Ice Prison Technique.

The ice wall instantly changed shape, sealing Kojiro inside.

The ice structure began to gradually contract.

Kojiro gritted his teeth and hurriedly formed hand seals.

Earth Release: Rock House Collapse.

He slapped his palm against the ice wall.

The ice wall trembled faintly. When he struck it with his second palm, a crack suddenly appeared in it.

He hurriedly tried to escape.

However, the moment he poked his head out, a Kunai was pressed against his neck.

Seeing this, Kojiro stopped struggling.

His Chakra reserves had never been high to begin with, and exhaustion was already showing on his body. Even if he continued, it would be difficult to win.

"I surrender."

Once the thick fog in the arena dissipated, everyone saw Fuka holding a Kunai to Kojiro's neck.

Gekko Hayate said, "I announce that Fuka has won the final preliminary match."

When Fuka returned to the stands.

Hinata and the others were happy for her.

Only Feng An looked at the puddle on the ground and guessed that she had most likely used Ice Release.

Still, Feng An congratulated her on her victory and did not dampen her spirits.

Then Hiruzen Sarutobi called everyone down to gather.

"The third round of the official exam will be held one month from now. I hope that when the time comes, all of you will be in your best condition and present exhilarating battles to the lords and notable figures of every nation."

"You have all worked hard. Go back and rest."

Just as Feng An and the others were leaving with the crowd.

Hiruzen Sarutobi took a puff from his pipe.

"Feng An, come here."