Eight Inner Gates vs. Konoha's White Fang

The candidates had two weeks left until the final exam of the Chunin Selection.

They were each preparing for the exam in their own way.

Uchiha Juri, for example.

To get rid of the "hit-or-miss" problem caused by her newly awakened Sharingan, which was still unstable, she trained day and night with Kagami by her side.

Ina, the second daughter of the main family of the Yamanaka Clan.

She had her relatives' expectations to live up to as a member of the main family, and to avoid letting them down, she trained hard alongside her father and older sister.

Still, while her relatives expected things of her as a member of the main family, the pressure wasn't nearly as heavy as what Juri faced as a member of a clan renowned for producing Sharingan. Most of it came from her "Uncle and Auntie" relatives calling out, "Keep it up!"

"I'm bored."

"There's nothing we can do about that. Everyone's busy preparing for the exam."

Meanwhile, the Senju Clan stood alongside the Uchiha Clan as one of Konohagakure's two great houses.

Its heir, Diejian, had been sent back to the hospital room where he had once stayed.

This was because of the survival battle in the second exam.

Diejian's body had grown extremely weak from overexertion in battle, and doctors had decided he needed to be hospitalized.

They said he would recover before the final exam, but remembering what had happened, Diejian still let out a gloomy sigh.

After Juri and Ina carried him into the hospital, Tobirama and Mito hurried over as soon as they heard the news and gave him a stern scolding.

"...The Eight Inner Gates? That should have been classified as a Forbidden Jutsu. Where did you learn about it?"

Seeing that Diejian's injuries looked familiar, Tobirama immediately pressed him for answers.

His tone betrayed his concern as a teacher, and Diejian honestly explained what had happened.

"You opened the Scroll of Sealing? Diejian, why are you always getting yourself into trouble..."

Knowing how unusually curious Diejian was, Tobirama could imagine him going to look for himself as soon as he learned that a book containing Forbidden Jutsu existed.

The thought left Tobirama frustrated with himself for being so careless.

The Eight Inner Gates—one of the secrets of Konoha Style Taijutsu—could draw out physical abilities far beyond the user's limits by forcibly opening the eight chakra gates, or limiters, within the body.

Starting near the head, the gates were the Gate of Opening in the right brain, the Gate of Healing in the left brain, and the Gate of Life, Gate of Pain, Gate of Limit, Gate of View, Gate of Wonder, and finally the Gate of Death in the heart.

Its effects were incredible. It was said that someone who opened all eight gates, including the Gate of Death, would enter the Eight Inner Gates Formation and gain overwhelming power surpassing the Five Kage. But the price was certain death not long afterward.

And even opening the seventh gate, the Gate of Wonder, placed an enormous burden on the user by forcing out power beyond their limits.

"You want to master Taijutsu. That fits my teaching philosophy, and it's a good thing. But the Eight Inner Gates..."

"I used it for the first time in an actual battle, but it was amazing. In every sense of the word."

"Of course it was! Listen, Diejian. You're not ready to control the Eight Inner Gates. I absolutely won't allow you to use it again. And you're not to tell anyone outside the village about it."

There were probably plenty of people with enough talent to open the Gate of Opening.

Diejian was one of them.

But being able to open the gate and being able to use it skillfully were two different things.

A body too frail for the Eight Inner Gates would crumble under the strain of even the first gate, the Gate of Opening.

Even without reaching the Gate of Death, the risk of losing one's life was always there.

The only requirement for the Eight Inner Gates was a body strong enough to open them.

People with talent avoided it because of the danger.

Usually, honing ninjutsu or genjutsu was more effective.

The Eight Inner Gates were the culmination of effort and perseverance, attained by those unable to use ninjutsu or genjutsu who devoted their lives as ninja to Taijutsu.

They were the pinnacle of Taijutsu, reserved for those who could persist through training that defied common sense—in other words, for "hardworking geniuses" with strong, unyielding spirits.

"Do you understand, Diejian? You have to listen to me about this."

Diejian nodded.

In his heart, though, he silently reminded himself that he had already told others, and that he had friends with whom he could train and improve together.

"...The Eight Inner Gates, huh? True, instead of using a dangerous technique like that, I'd use Lightning Release to activate my body, for instance."

"Lately, I've started to understand something. I'm sure of it—I have to become stronger."

"I see..."

As they played shogi on the bed, Sakumo shared his thoughts.

In truth, the Eight Inner Gates reached their ultimate power only when the user reached the Gate of Death, paying for it with their life.

Even without using the Eight Inner Gates, a technique that brought the user close to death, it might be possible to reach the realm of the seventh gate, the Gate of Wonder, by using other techniques.

"Hey, Sakumo."

"What is it?"

"I'm glad you came to visit, but shouldn't you be preparing too? They've kept the main exam's format secret, but this time it'll probably be individual matches. If so, you'll likely be seeded, right?"

"Maybe... But there isn't much left for me to do."

"What do you mean?"

Over the past two weeks, Sakumo had practiced new moves and short-blade techniques and reviewed the basics. Now he had shifted his training toward maintaining his current "peak condition."

Overexerting himself would be bad for his body, so he was keeping himself warmed up in preparation for what might be a brutal main exam.

Diejian laughed and called him a stubbornly independent sort, while Sakumo lightly poked him on the shoulder and told him to hurry up and get better.

The poke hit one of Diejian's injuries, and he groaned in pain.

"Ow, ow... Hey, Sakumo."

"Hmm?"

"...I want to fight you."

"Ah, perfect timing. It's about time we settled things, after competing with each other since we were kids."

They lightly bumped fists and laughed together.

★

"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!"

"Uchiha Juri! Are you trying to make the Fire Dragon swallow the ball and carry it into the goal?!"

"Water Release! Someone use Water Release to stop that Fire Dragon!"

"Wait! Ordinary Water Release won't stop her Fire Release! Put up an Earth Release wall!"

"I won't let you!"

"It's Hatake Sakumo! He's going to unleash Lightning Release!"

"Leave it to me! Ninjutsu: Mind Disturbance Dance Technique!"

"It's Ina! This is bad!"

"Where's the ball? Where did it go?!"

"That guy's got it! Over by the Senju team!"

"...How did this happen?"

As he ran, kicking the ball that had rolled to his feet, Diejian agonized over the situation.

To explain, they had to go back to a little earlier, to the opening ceremony of the final exam—

After finishing three weeks in the hospital, Diejian had spent the remaining week training intensely. He arrived on the day of the final exam in perfect condition.

The promise he had made to Sakumo to have a decisive match had honed his senses, and he was eager to test his strength against Juri, whose Sharingan had awakened.

His match against Ina would surely be an enjoyable clash of wills, too.

Full of anticipation, Diejian walked through the gates of the exam grounds alone.

It was a huge stadium covered in grass.

There were countless seats all around it, and they seemed to be completely full.

As with the previous exams, showing off too many techniques in public probably wasn't a good idea.

The candidates who had passed the second exam lined up in the middle of the field and looked up at the Feudal Lord, the Kage, and the other dignitaries.

The Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki, and the Second Kazekage, Shamon, had stayed in their villages rather than attend in person. But they had sent representatives, indicating their willingness to participate in the exam. That alone was already a considerable concession.

"But this place is huge..."

"Yeah. If we can make full use of this wide-open field to fight, then we can turn a blind eye to putting on a little show for the audience. It's also a great chance to demonstrate the Uchiha's strength."

It seemed unnecessary to put on a special display when everyone already knew how strong the Uchiha were—but was that a little insensitive?

Then again, they were ninja. They ought to know how to "endure" a little, right?

"Big brother! Do your best!"

"Lord Diejian!"

Diejian spotted Tsunade and Jiraiya waving energetically and waved back.

With his adorable little sister and his cherished junior cheering him on, he had no choice but to take the exam seriously.

"Welcome to the first-ever joint Chunin Selection final exam, hosted by Konohagakure! We now declare the Super Dimensional Ninja Kemari Soccer Tournament open!"

""""""Huh?!?""""""

—The Genin stared blankly at the audience, stunned beyond words.

Some even thought they had been caught in a genjutsu and tried to dispel it, while others stabbed their palms with kunai. But before everyone could lose control, the answer was announced.

"It's real."

After listening to the host explain the rules in an even tone, the Genin realized it wasn't a dream.

After a written test and a practical exam, they were going to play kemari soccer? No one had seen that coming.

It wasn't a one-on-one knockout tournament, or a team battle between villages. It was kemari...

"As long as you don't touch the ball with your hands or attack anyone directly, anything goes."

Under those rules, the outrageous final exam began with Juri unleashing a wildly enthusiastic flurry of Fire Release, setting off a commotion.

★

"I was aiming for the ball."

In this merciless kemari match, where almost any action could be excused with those words, simply chasing after the ball was dangerous.

Getting injured in battle was one thing, but many Genin hesitated to put their bodies at risk in a "game"—especially after enduring the grueling second exam, with promotion to Chunin now within reach.

That was perfectly reasonable. Which was exactly why this "game" had been chosen for the final exam.

Those chasing the ball needed the agility to dodge attacks and the awareness to rely on their teammates.

The others needed the strength to protect their teammates when they were exposed to enemy attacks.

And the opposing players needed the tactical insight to break through their formation.

The skills being tested were clear, and easy for the observers to assess. It really might be a suitable final exam.

A ninja's true purpose was self-sacrifice.

Diejian wasn't sure who had said that, but he thought it would be a good idea to take the initiative and encourage the hesitant Genin by putting himself on the line first.

If he was going to do it, he'd give it everything he had. That was how Diejian approached the exam.

"Hey."

He dodged a Genin who slid in with a tackle, ostensibly to steal the ball but really trying to shatter Diejian's foot.

He calmly avoided a kunai that flew toward his feet, ostensibly aimed at the ball.

He couldn't afford the slightest lapse or opening.

At this rate, since counterattacks were allowed, the second exam might actually have been better.

"Senju! Pass it over here!"

"No way. You're my enemy right now, Juri."

"Don't you trust me?! Teammates never betray each other!"

"We're not teammates right now."

"Ugh! Didn't we say we were friends?"

"That's different."

"Hmph! You're such a stickler. Take this!"

Juri rolled the ball to Diejian and waved smugly at him. She was on the opposing team.

It hadn't been long since they had reaffirmed their friendship, and Juri's attitude toward Diejian had softened a little.

But in turn, she had started saying and doing strange things at strange times more often.

She was a ninja of the Uchiha Clan, after all.

When it came to dynamic vision and anticipating an opponent's moves, no one could match her. It seemed the enemy team's command had fallen to Juri.

Sakumo, moving everywhere as if he were Juri's hands and feet, was even more formidable. At this rate, Diejian's team would lose.

"Hey, Juri! We're friends, right? Don't let Sakumo come over here."

"That's different."

"Uchiha Juri!"

"Senju Diejian!"

Diejian and Juri ran side by side across the field, spitting insults at each other.

"I never expected us to end up on opposing sides like this, but please give up."

Sakumo caught up and grabbed Diejian by both arms.

With no other choice, Diejian threw the ball in a completely wrong direction.

"What?!"

Sakumo was stunned.

Sakumo used the Body Flicker Technique to chase after the ball, but it was a feint from Diejian.

"It's genjutsu."

The ball Sakumo was chasing vanished as if dissolving into the air. The real ball was still rolling at Diejian's feet.

Diejian grinned, while Sakumo stared at him in astonishment.

Diejian shouldn't have been capable of casting genjutsu powerful enough to fool someone of Sakumo and Juri's caliber.

Until then, something had been wrong with the flow of his chakra, but Diejian had overcome it during the second exam.

It was an accidental byproduct of the Eight Inner Gates.

The opening Gate sent a violent, overwhelming torrent of Chakra surging through Diejian's body, forcibly opening the blocked tenketsu and restoring the flow through his chakra network.

A momentary opening of the Gate probably wouldn't have been enough.

But Diejian had opened the Gate midway through his fight with Dodai, and he'd kept it open the entire time until Tobirama arrived at the hospital.

Part of the reason was that he didn't know how to close it. But that was exactly why Tobirama had sternly forbidden him from using it.

That was Diejian's greatest weakness when it came to the Eight Inner Gates.

Once he opened a Gate, he couldn't close it unless someone skilled in Medical Ninjutsu or ninjutsu helped him shut it down from the outside.

"Sorry, but I'm taking this point—"

"—Don't underestimate the Uchiha, Senju."

Juri saw through Diejian's genjutsu. She stopped herself just as she was about to charge and stayed where she was.

Although she'd only just awakened her Sharingan and had used it for a mere instant, Juri couldn't hide her surprise that she'd managed a genjutsu precise enough to fool even the Sharingan.

But she couldn't stay surprised forever.

Juri tracked Diejian's back and began copying his every movement.

"Is that Shadow Dance?"

It was one of the Konoha Style Taijutsu techniques, meant to circle behind an enemy and attack from their blind spot.

She wondered what use that would be in a game of soccer, but Diejian abruptly stopped in place with a "pop" and quickly crouched down.

Right behind him, Juri couldn't stop so suddenly.

Diejian swept a leg at Juri's feet as she tried to plant them and brake.

"Ahhh—!"

Unable to fully stop her momentum, Juri sprang into the air.

Her gaze fell toward the ground, while Diejian's turned upward toward the sky. Their eyes met.

Diejian pulled one leg far back, winding up for a kick, and grinned at Juri.

"Here we go!!"

"S-Senju Diejian—!!"

Diejian kicked the ball toward Juri, who was floating in midair. She was sent flying along with the ball after it slammed into her.

"Don't underestimate the Sharingan!!"

Juri deftly spun around and caught the ball between her thighs, their smooth skin exposed.

You could almost imagine how soft and springy they felt.

"Ohhh—" Sarutobi Hiruzen's eyes widened as he leaned forward in the stands.

Perhaps unable to withstand Tobirama's icy stare, he put on an exaggerated cough, then sat back down.

Juri formed a staff in midair, released the ball from between her thighs, and swung the staff.

"Goal's in sight! Witness the ultimate secret of the Uchiha Style Staff Technique!!"

Juri caught the ball with the middle of the staff and swung with all her strength.

The ball shot away with a whoosh, and Juri dropped to the ground.

Even if someone complained that it didn't count, the referee ruled that she hadn't touched the ball directly with her hands.

"Ah."

Juri couldn't help making a sound.

The ball, which should have shot straight toward the goal at incredible speed, had veered off course. It was heading straight for Diejian's face.

"Ina!!"

"Leave it to me!"

Realizing what was about to happen, Diejian shouted, "I'm counting on you!" to Ina, then was hit in the face by the ball and sent flying.

Ina glanced at Diejian as he flew away with a groan, then aimed the circle formed by her hands at Juri, who had fallen to the ground.

"Ninja Art: Mind Body Switch Technique!"

It was a secret technique of the Yamanaka Clan that let the user's spirit enter another person's body and take control of it.

Ina's body collapsed onto the field, while Juri's gave a sharp twitch.

"Ugh... Yamanaka Ina, is it? Get out of my body!"

"Sorry, but I can't. Diejian would get mad at me~"

The two of them spoke within the mental world.

Juri frowned at the intense nausea of having another personality inside her body.

Whatever it was about Ina's slightly apologetic laugh that had angered her, Juri's Chakra was taking on an unmistakably hostile aura.

Ina's guard rose, and Juri taunted her.

"Hmph. So that was his plan? You're a woman who does nothing but obey men, and you dare to—"

Ina's neatly shaped eyebrows twitched.

A dangerous smile appeared on her face, as if to say, "If you want a fight, I'm game."

"Oh, but isn't it a woman's duty to support a capable man?"

"What nonsense. You're an outsider from another class; you have no right to talk about him. That guy can't do anything without me."

"Hah? Don't make me laugh. Diejian would be just fine without you."

"Hehehe! You don't know anything. He's definitely sad right now because he has to fight me."

"You're awful, such a delusional woman. Diejian just said he was glad to be on my team. He didn't mention you at all, though~ What a shame."

Watching Juri stand motionless, Kagami tilted his head in concern from the stands.

Unaware of Kagami's concern, Juri was caught up in a woman's war inside her mind.

"You flat-chested little pig!"

"You have no room to talk. With a chest as flat as yours, why not have someone carve Kage Rock on it?"

"Mine are bigger than yours! You slut, showing off your back and chest like that!!"

"You're the last person I want to hear that from!!"

Juri was trembling with anger, but she had no right to criticize Ina's outfit.

She wore a sleeveless shirt beneath a sleeveless jacket, leaving her slender shoulders bare.

She wore floral arm guards, but they covered only her forearms, leaving her upper arms exposed. The imbalance only made her fair skin stand out more.

At least the gap between her thigh-high socks and short skirt was covered.

Juri thought back to her own outfit and admitted to herself that she had no room to talk. But she wasn't about to back down.

"Taking over someone else's mind—so that's what you used to take over his mind, isn't it? What a lewd woman!"

Her attempt to change the subject struck a nerve with Ina.

For better or worse.

It was true that this was the skill that had once brought warmth to Diejian, who had suffered so much. But it was also a complicated technique that let her peer into his heart, leaving her with a guilty conscience.

"You've got some nerve! You thought you could use the Sharingan's genjutsu to fool Diejian? Not a chance!!"

Ina's quick retort struck a nerve with Juri, too.

For better or worse.

"You... You dare insult the Uchiha!! Fine! My Sharingan can break a technique like that with ease!!! Ugh— I can't..."

"Too bad~ I added the Uzumaki-style Sealing Technique Lady Mito taught me to the existing Mind Body Switch Technique and created my own—Mind Sealing Body Technique. It binds the target's mind deep within and seals it inside an illusory dream. Unlike genjutsu, it directly binds the mind with Sealing Jutsu, so it's not easy to break. I'll undo the seal after the match, so go to sleep until then!"

"Yamanaka Ina—!!"

Completely unaware of their conversation, Diejian got back up, holding his aching face.

He praised Ina for sealing their team's strategist—"Good work"—then turned his attention to their other threat: Sakumo.

If he could hold Hatake Sakumo back, the teams would be evenly matched in strength.

Diejian charged at Sakumo, moving like a gust of wind.

"I have no choice... I'll have to use that!"

Even Sakumo couldn't easily break through once Diejian focused on defending against him.

Seeing Sakumo firmly resolve himself and draw a short sword, Diejian thought he was going to stab him!?

—He braced himself, then reconsidered. That couldn't be right.

The next instant, Diejian's vision was obscured by a flash of white light.

"So fast!"

The instant Diejian's vision was covered by the white flash, Sakumo had already changed position.

Diejian's eyes could follow him, but his body couldn't keep up.

Lightning Release Chakra poured into the Silver Short Sword in Sakumo's hand, wrapping it in a dazzling white light that illuminated him.

That speed turned the silver gleam into a flash of light. Sakumo's rushing figure looked just like—

"Just like... a white... fang..."

"White Fang...? A Konoha Genin?"

"Oh, that's White Fang."

"I see. White Fang."

"Konoha's... White Fang..."

"So that's White Fang."

The stands suddenly erupted into a commotion, and the crowd began calling Sakumo's name in unison.

Sakumo had shown agility far beyond what anyone expected of a Genin, and he'd become the talk of the match in an instant.

"Impressive..."

The ninjas who understood how fast he was also let out cries of admiration.

In terms of speed alone, his movements rivaled those of Kagami Uchiha, the Jonin assigned to Diejian and the others.

"Is he using Lightning Release to activate his body, like he mentioned at the hospital?"

By channeling Chakra through his Chakra Blade, Sakumo increased the conductivity of his Lightning Release Chakra and instantly boosted his physical abilities.

The only thing that concerned Diejian was the ball perched atop Sakumo's fluffy silver hair.

"Is that... allowed...?"

Diejian glanced at the referee, who gave the safe signal, ruling that Sakumo hadn't touched the ball directly with his hands.

"Waaah—!"

The noise from the stands grew louder as Sakumo approached the goal.

His breathing ragged, Diejian wiped the sweat running down his arm and quietly closed his eyes, taking one deep breath after another.

He'd been told not to use it, but at this rate, he would lose.

It's all right if I lose. But I don't want to regret not using it—!!

"Diejian!! My friend!! Go for it—!!!"

The encouragement from his friend in the green suit rang out from the stands, setting Diejian's heart ablaze.

"Eight Inner Gates, First Gate: Gate of Opening! Open! Second Gate: Gate of Healing, open!!"

Diejian's hair stood on end, and his veins bulged.

A surge of chaotic Chakra roared through the field.

A "snap," as if something had broken, echoed in his eardrums. Diejian broke into a cold sweat as the backlash hit him hard.

"That brat's ignoring my warning again..."

"Come now, it's all right. I'll step in if he's in danger. Just look at that child's expression."

He was having so much fun.

Tobirama had realized what Diejian intended to do and was about to stop him, but Mito held him back.

"He looks just like that person when he was young," Mito said, smiling with a touch of sadness and joy at her grandson's growth.

Tobirama sighed, shook his head, and sat back down, looking displeased.

Mito smiled and said, "I'm sorry," then gently stroked the fluffy collar around Tobirama's neck.

It was the exact same gesture Hashirama used to soothe his sulking younger brother after scolding him.

"This couple..."

Tobirama sighed inwardly.

Diejian, wrapped in blue Chakra, ran alongside Sakumo, who was wrapped in white light.

Sakumo kicked the ball into the air and faced Diejian head-on, using the struggle for possession as an excuse.

"Here I come."

Someone spoke, and their words became the signal to fight.

Sakumo and Diejian launched into an exchange at an unbelievable speed for two people in midair, each meeting the other's full force.

Sakumo used the Lightning Release Chakra pouring from his body to destroy the countless balls Diejian had created with the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.

Diejian narrowed his eyes for an instant.

Sakumo pretended to kick the ball, but was actually aiming for Diejian's head. Yet Diejian completed the hand signs for Fire Release even faster.

Sakumo was swallowed by the fireball Diejian spat out. He probably wouldn't die, but he'd likely be in the hospital for a while.

Just as Diejian thought that—

"Shadow Clone!?"

With a "poof," Sakumo disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Then the ball floating in midair burst into smoke, and Sakumo appeared.

The instant Sakumo's flash of lightning stole Diejian's vision, he'd clamped the ball between his feet and used the Transformation Technique to turn himself, ball and all, into a ball.

Sakumo spun deftly in midair, scooped up the ball with his foot, and stuck it there with Chakra. Then he kicked straight through Diejian's head.

Compared with Diejian, who had tried to set him on fire without a second thought, Sakumo had shown a world of difference in his consideration for the ball as a buffer—and for his teammate.

"Ah, sorry."

Diejian's vision flashed, and he spun through the air as he was kicked away.

The kick had been a little too powerful.

Sakumo had assumed the ball would cushion the blow, so he'd put all his strength into the kick.

Sakumo apologized for misjudging the power and landed on the ground.

Diejian rolled onto the ground, watching Sakumo run.

If they let the other team score now, they would lose.

It was difficult to break through an opposing team that had switched to defense.

Diejian's team's goalkeeper, Suikazan Fuguki, countered with the Water Dragon Bullet Technique.

But Sakumo dodged it with ease.

He then used the Water Formation Wall to block Sakumo's path, but that would probably only buy them some time.

Diejian's vision swam, apparently from a mild concussion caused by that last blow.

Or maybe that blow had been meant to give him a concussion.

And his body, unsuited to the Eight Inner Gates, was groaning under the strain of the side effects.

He couldn't get up.

He could hear Tsunade, Jiraiya, and Dai cheering him on.

Giving up was impossible.

Besides—.

"I said it was fine if we lost... Sorry, that was a lie."

How could he let himself look so pathetic when he was up against Sakumo and Juri, with Ina as his teammate?

Besides, Diejian was still a boy, and losing to his friend stung.

Still lying there, he reached a hand out in front of him.

It didn't matter if his head was spinning.

The hand seals for a technique he'd practiced until they were second nature couldn't possibly be wrong.

Here goes, Sakumo.

"Wood Release: Grass Knot Technique!!"

The grass beneath Sakumo's feet grew rapidly as he ran, wrapping around his legs.

Sakumo had never expected an attack from below. He pitched forward and slammed his face into the ground.

Diejian slowly rose to his feet, a fearless smile appearing on his face.

"I'm not the only one with a new move, Sakumo."

The ball rolled off in the wrong direction.

Diejian was about to rally his team with, "All right, go for it!"

—when the referee's whistle rang out.

"Direct attack. You're out."

"Ah," someone cried.

Like a suspect being taken away by the Uchiha Police Force, Diejian was hauled up by the arms by the staff and left the venue with his head hanging.

"Big brother, that was so lame..." Tsunade muttered. Jiraiya's face twitched as he smiled and silently nodded.

Dai burst into tears, shouting, "I'll fight in Diejian's place!" He tried to charge in, but a nearby Jonin stopped him.

As it turned out, the team did not fall apart immediately after losing Diejian—.

Sakumo was knocked unconscious by the blow to his face and withdrew after the doctor called a halt, while Juri was mentally sealed by Ina and could not return.

Since it looked as if Ina had done nothing, she wasn't penalized. The match continued, and emboldened by her success, Ina sealed one opponent after another.

In the end, Diejian's team won, while the opposing team was eliminated.

They say that the tournament became eerily quiet after Diejian and Sakumo withdrew.

Incidentally, amid the noisy venue, which had grown rowdy because of the awkward lull, only the Second Hokage praised Ina's fighting style to no end. Later, he even told the head of the Yamanaka Clan that she was an excellent ninja.