Karura

Only he could see the panel, where a brand-new line of text radiated a warm green glow:

[Taijutsu Proficiency (Green): Your understanding of taijutsu and your body's ability to learn have significantly increased. In actual combat, your technique transitions are fluid, almost instinctual, allowing you to easily handle complex taijutsu combos.]

It had upgraded!

The taijutsu Trait, which had shown no movement for nearly three years, had finally achieved a qualitative leap in this highly anticipated, purely extreme taijutsu duel, ascending to green!

Moreover, Shinichi had a premonition that the green Trait was not the end. Once the details of this exam spread through the mouths of the thousands of spectators present—not just in Sunagakure, but when the news flowed back to Konoha—though it might not be as shocking there, it would inevitably spark some discussion within the village.

The [Taijutsu Proficiency] Trait would likely face another leap, touching that blue domain representing a higher level of talent.

After a while, Shinichi helped the nearly exhausted Might Duy to the edge of the rest area.

At that moment, a familiar scent, a mix of fresh ingredients and herbal medicine, drifted over.

"Exhausted, aren't you? Come, I figured the time was about right and whipped up something on the fly. Eat it while it's hot, replenish yourself quickly."

Maruboshi Kosuke had somehow set up his iconic large iron pot in a corner of the rest area. The charcoal fire beneath it burned gently, and the pot bubbled with steam. Thick, milky broth churned with plump chunks of meat and vegetables, the aroma mouthwatering.

Holding a long ladle, he beckoned with a smile, his demeanor as relaxed as if he were on a countryside picnic, not at the tense Chunin Exams.

After over half a year of missions spent together day in and day out, this keenly observant old ninja had long since figured out some of Shinichi's traits.

For instance, his appetite far beyond the ordinary, and a special constitution similar to the Akimichi clan's, allowing him to rapidly replenish spent stamina and chakra by consuming large amounts of high-quality food.

"I appreciate your trouble, senior." Shinichi took the food, offered his thanks, and began eating heartily without restraint. The high-calorie dried meat and medicinal ingredients in the food quickly converted into the energy he needed, and his fatigue slowly receded.

As he ate, his gaze also turned to the arena, where a new match was underway.

Shinichi's eyes landed on a young woman with shoulder-length, sandy-yellow hair. Her temperament was gentle and calm, making her look more like a clerical worker than a ninja charging into battle.

Her fighting style was quite unique. She herself stood quietly in place, barely moving her feet, yet she seemed to merge with the surrounding sand.

Under her exquisite chakra control, vast amounts of sand moved like a yellow tide of living will, sometimes forming giant hands to strike, other times dispersing into flexible tendrils to entangle and intercept, forcing her opponent to jump around in distress.

Occasionally, the opponent would break through the sand waves and launch an all-out attack—whether a thrown kunai, a hand-seal ninjutsu, or a close-range taijutsu thrust.

Yet, just as it was about to reach her body, about three meters away, it would be steadily blocked by a layer of sand that seemed thin but was incredibly solid.

The sand seemed to possess its own will, always condensing instantly at the point she needed protection. That kind of effortless, instinctive control was deeply impressive.

Karura.

Shinichi silently recited the name.

This seemingly gentle young woman was the wife of the future Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, and the mother of Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara.

In his past life's memories, Karura's true strength, and even whether she could be considered a true ninja, was shrouded in fog.

But according to Rasa's later statements, the sand that protected Gaara and automatically defended against attacks did not originate from the One-Tail Shukaku's power, but from Karura's love and strength.

That alone was enough to show that Karura was no ordinary person in life, because an ordinary mother could never transform so-called "love" into such a tangible and powerful defensive force, capable of nullifying most ninjutsu attacks.

He just hadn't expected that this woman, who existed more as a background figure in the future timeline, would appear on the Chunin Exams arena.

"That Sunagakure female ninja who controls sand is very strong." Maruboshi Kosuke had somehow appeared beside Shinichi, his gaze also on the arena, his voice steady as he analyzed: "Just looking at the scale, precision, and defensive strength of her sand control, in terms of raw power, she has firmly reached the level of a jonin."

He paused, then continued: "On paper, your chances of winning against her are very slim. However..."

"She lacks combat experience, and... she doesn't seem to like fighting." Shinichi spoke almost simultaneously, finishing Kosuke's unfinished thought.

This wasn't his first time observing Karura's fighting. Counting the scroll battle in the Desert of Death and the match that just ended, this was the third time.

Her combat pattern was quite fixed: she started with a wide-area sand wave covering and pursuit, forcing the opponent to constantly dodge and expend stamina; when the opponent was cornered or showed an opening, the sand waves would suddenly close in, forming a solid Sand Binding Coffin to trap the enemy—and the fight would end there.

She had never, like her future son, followed up the binding with a deadly, cold Sand Waterfall Funeral.

"Correct." Kosuke nodded approvingly. "Victory or defeat for a ninja has never been just about chakra reserves and the power of techniques. Combat experience, on-the-spot judgment, timing, and even a clash of wills—all are crucial."

He squinted slightly, analyzing more meticulously: "I've observed her automatic defense sand shield. Its reaction speed is indeed very fast; it's hard for an ordinary ninja's attack rhythm to break through. However, Shinichi, with your speed, you have a good chance of creating a gap before that sand shield fully closes."

"Her weakness lies in her lack of experience and unfamiliarity with seizing opportunities. You can use your speed for high-frequency feints and direction changes, disrupting her judgment and forcing her defensive system into brief chaos or over-concentration. Your chance of victory might lie in that fleeting instant torn open by extreme speed, attacking her main body."

Shinichi slowly swallowed the last bite of food. After a moment of silence, he suddenly said: "Absolute Defense! Senior, that's what the Sunagakure people called it earlier, right?"

Kosuke was slightly startled, then understood his intent: "Hm? You want to..."

Shinichi turned to look at his senior, a faint but sharp curve tugging at the corner of his mouth:

"I want to give it a try."

He paused, then said each word deliberately, "To see if I can break this so-called Absolute Defense."