The Byakugan is Too Demanding

During the escape.

He heard two voices simultaneously in his mind:

Izuna: "Use a Fire Style covering attack! I'll teach you a simplified version of Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

Tobirama: "No! You don't have enough chakra! Use Water Style ninjutsu combined with shuriken to disrupt them, then retreat while you have the chance!"

Qingyu took a deep breath and formed hand seals, but it was neither of the techniques suggested.

He was forming seals he had spent the last three days refining.

"Water-Fire Style: Rotation Barrier!"

"Hum!"

A translucent sphere of dual water and fire colors expanded from his palms, instantly forming a three-meter-diameter spherical barrier that encased both him and Nakamura.

Wind blades and Water Dragon Bullets slammed into the barrier, causing violent ripples, but it did not shatter.

"What kind of technique is this?!" the Kirigakure ninja exclaimed in shock.

Temari also frowned: "Defending against both Wind Style and Water Style simultaneously? How is that possible?"

Inside the barrier, sweat beaded on Qingyu's forehead.

This "Rotation Barrier" was a defensive variant he had developed based on the prototype of "Water-Fire Rotation," theoretically capable of neutralizing external attacks through the rotation of water and fire chakra.

But this was his first time using it in actual combat, and...

"Chakra consumption is 30% faster than projected," Tobirama analyzed rapidly. "The barrier structure is unstable; it can hold for twenty seconds at most."

"Twenty seconds is enough," Izuna said. "The window on the first floor of that building to the front-left is broken. Dash in and exit through the back door!"

Qingyu nodded, maintaining the barrier as he and Nakamura charged toward the building.

"Don't let them get away!" Temari swung her fan again, unleashing an even stronger Wind Style attack.

Qingyu: Still chasing! Keep chasing and I'll kill you!

The barrier vibrated violently, and cracks appeared on its surface.

Fifteen seconds.

They charged into the building.

Ten seconds.

They crossed the lobby.

Five seconds.

The back door was right in front of them!

"Earth Style: Earth Prison Dome!"

Earthen walls suddenly rose from the ground, sealing off the back door.

A figure stepped out from the shadows—it was Shikamaru.

"Sorry," Shikamaru said lazily. "This direction is within my base's perimeter. I can't let you pass."

Qingyu froze.

You old schemer, waiting for me here? Fine, take it, just take it!

The barrier shattered, his chakra nearly depleted.

With Shikamaru in front and pursuers behind, it was a desperate situation.

But just then, Shikamaru suddenly said: "However... if you're willing to share one scroll with me, I can help you deal with the trouble behind you."

Qingyu: "..."

Yamada (telepathic): "Captain! Shikamaru is way too underhanded!"

Nakamura: "Underworld tactics..."

Shikamaru: You'll have to pay extra!

"Don't look at me like that." Shikamaru spread his hands.

"My base is right next door. If you start fighting here, it'll be a huge nuisance for me, so... do we have a deal?"

Behind them, Temari and the Kirigakure ninja had already reached the entrance.

Qingyu gritted his teeth: "...Deal."

Qingyu: Don't let me catch you next time, or your ass is going to be in trouble!

"Smart!" Shikamaru formed hand seals. "Shadow Possession Jutsu!"

The four figures at the entrance froze simultaneously.

"Go now," Shikamaru said to Qingyu. "Head east; it's safe over there for the moment. Remember, you owe me a scroll."

Qingyu took one last deep look at Shikamaru before vaulting out of a side window with Nakamura.

After running for two streets, the two of them ducked into a hidden alleyway, gasping for breath.

"That brat from the Nara clan..." Nakamura said, still shaken, "he's so strong."

"It's not strength; it's intelligence." Qingyu leaned against the wall, his chakra nearly bottomed out.

"He was waiting there from the very beginning, waiting for us to be forced right in front of him before proposing a trade. He solved his trouble and earned a favor all at once."

Inside his mind, the two big shots were also offering their assessments.

"Decent tactical mind," Tobirama acknowledged, "fully utilizing the environment and the situation to achieve his goal with minimal cost."

"A bit too underhanded," Izuna scoffed, "but it is certainly effective."

Qingyu gave a bitter smile.

Why were they praising the opponent? There was no loyalty at all!

The battle just now had exposed many problems: his new technique was still immature, his chakra control wasn't refined enough, and there were gaps in his tactical predictions...

But at the same time, it confirmed one thing: the path of fusing Water and Fire was viable.

"Rest for five minutes," Qingyu said, taking a Military Ration Pill from his ninja tool pouch.

"Then we head back to the base. After this commotion, the other teams should rein themselves in, so the next two hours will be relatively safe."

Nakamura nodded.

Five minutes later, the two moved cautiously toward C-7.

On the way, they passed a "supply crate," and Qingyu opened it to take a look.

Inside were three smoke bombs and a blueprint for a simple explosive tag trap.

"Good stuff," he said, stowing them away, "we can improve our defenses when we get back."

When they returned to the base, Yamada reported that two teams had scouted the area during their absence, but had left after seeing the defensive layout.

"We're still at zero points," Nakamura sighed, "the other teams have probably already collected quite a few scrolls."

"Not necessarily," Qingyu said, "in that chaotic brawl earlier, the winners might not have been able to keep their scrolls, and besides..."

He looked out the window toward the distance, where new pillars of light were rising—the second batch of high-value points.

"The real slaughter is only just beginning."

At 1:00 PM, the exam entered its fourth hour.

Team Qingyu decided to take the initiative for once.

Their target this time was the nearest common scroll cache, located in an abandoned warehouse two streets away.

The three approached carefully, with Qingyu scouting in the lead.

The warehouse door was left slightly ajar, and it was deathly quiet inside.

"There's a trap," Tobirama warned, "the dust on the floor by the entrance is uneven. Someone went in, but they deliberately tried to cover their tracks."

"They might also be lying in ambush," Izuna said, "let me sense them... two people, their chakra fluctuations are very weak, they should be genin."

Qingyu signaled with his hands; Yamada and Nakamura flanked from both sides while he pushed the door open directly.

"Creeeak..."

The moment the door opened, three shuriken flew toward his face.

Qingyu had been prepared; he dodged with a side roll while simultaneously throwing two shuriken in retaliation.

"Clang! Clang!"

Two figures leaped out from the corner of the warehouse.

They were unknown genin from Konoha, looking panicked and flustered.

"Give us the scroll, and you can leave," Qingyu said.

The two genin exchanged a look, gritted their teeth, and charged forward.

The battle was a foregone conclusion.

Thirty seconds later, the two were subdued, and the scroll was in hand.

2 points.

"Sorry about that," Qingyu said before leading his team away.

On the way back to the base, they witnessed a brilliant surprise attack.

Neji Hyuga's team took down a Kirigakure team's base in just one minute, planting their own team flag.

"That boy with the Byakugan," Tobirama evaluated, "his taijutsu and insight are both top-tier. If you face him, I suggest avoiding close-quarters combat."

"Use long-range ninjutsu and traps to wear him down," Izuna added.

Qingyu silently took note.

The Byakugan still required too much manual operation—it actually required manual control? Could you recommend an eye that's a bit simpler!

There is, brother, there is!

Open!

However... nothing happened!

Three o'clock in the afternoon, the fifth hour.

The number of teams inside the examination hall had decreased to nine—four had been eliminated, and the rest were making their final sprint.

Team Qingyu held three scrolls in their hands, totaling seven points, ranking roughly in the lower-middle tier.

To safely secure a spot in the top eight, they needed at least one more scroll.