The Byakugan Was Still Too Hard to Use

During the escape.

He heard two voices in his head at once:

Izuna: "Use Fire Release to blanket them with attacks! I'll teach you a simplified version of Majestic Destroyer Flame!"

Tobirama: "No! You don't have enough chakra! Use Water Release Ninjutsu and shuriken to distract them, then retreat!"

Qingyu took a deep breath and formed Hand Seals, but not for either of the techniques they suggested.

He formed the seals he'd been working out over the last three days.

"Water-Fire Style: Rotation Barrier!"

"Hum!"

A translucent sphere of swirling water and fire expanded from his palm, instantly forming a three-meter-wide spherical barrier that enclosed him and Nakamura.

Wind blades and water dragon bullets slammed into the barrier, making it shudder violently, but they couldn't break through.

"What kind of technique is that?!" the Kirigakure Ninja exclaimed in shock.

Temari frowned too. "It can defend against both Wind Release and Water Release? How is that possible?"

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

This "Rotation Barrier" was a defensive variant he'd developed from the prototype of Water-Fire Rotation. In theory, it could neutralize external attacks with rotating water and fire chakra.

But this was its first time in actual combat, and...

"Chakra consumption is 30% higher than expected," Tobirama quickly analyzed. "The barrier's structure is unstable. It can last twenty seconds at most."

"Twenty seconds is enough," Izuna said. "The first-floor window of that building to the front left is broken. Rush inside and go out the back!"

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

"Don't let them escape!" Temari swung her fan again, unleashing an even stronger gust of wind.

Qingyu: Still chasing me! Keep it up and I'll beat you to death!

The barrier shook violently, cracks appearing across its surface.

Fifteen seconds.

They rushed into the building.

Ten seconds.

They crossed the lobby.

Five seconds.

The back door was right there!

"Earth Release: Earth Prison Dome!"

A wall of earth suddenly rose from the ground, sealing off the back door.

A figure emerged from the shadows. It was Shikamaru.

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

Qingyu froze.

You sneaky bastard, you were waiting for me here! Fine, it's yours, it's yours!

The barrier shattered, and his chakra was nearly depleted.

Shikamaru ahead of them, pursuers behind.

A dead end.

But just then, Shikamaru said, "However... if you're willing to give me a scroll, I can help you deal with the people behind you."

Qingyu: "..."

Yamada (via message): "Captain! Shikamaru's way too sneaky!"

Nakamura: "That's just evil..."

Shikamaru: Pay up!

"Don't look at me like that." Shikamaru shrugged.

"My hideout is next door. It'd be a pain if you started fighting here, so... deal?"

Behind them, Temari and the Kirigakure Ninja had reached the entrance.

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

Qingyu: Don't let me catch you next time, or your butt's in danger!

"Smart!" Shikamaru formed Hand Seals. "Shadow Possession Jutsu!"

The four figures at the entrance froze in place.

"Go now," Shikamaru told Qingyu. "Head east. It should be safe for the moment. Remember, you owe me a scroll."

Qingyu gave Shikamaru a long look, then climbed out through a side window with Nakamura.

After running two streets, the two hid in a secluded alley, panting.

"That Nara Clan kid..." Nakamura said, still shaken. "He's strong."

"He's not strong. He's smart." Qingyu leaned against the wall, his chakra nearly gone.

"He was waiting there from the start, letting us get cornered before making his offer. He dealt with the problem and earned a favor at the same time."

In his head, the two old hands were weighing in too.

"Good tactical instincts," Tobirama said approvingly. "He made full use of his surroundings and the situation to achieve his goal at the lowest cost."

"He's just too sneaky," Izuna scoffed. "But it worked."

Qingyu smiled wryly.

Why were they complimenting the other side? They weren't loyal at all!

That battle had exposed plenty of problems: his new technique wasn't mature, his chakra control wasn't precise enough, and there were gaps in his tactical judgment...

But it had also confirmed one thing: the path of combining water and fire was viable.

"Rest for five minutes." Qingyu took a Military Ration Pill from his ninja pouch.

"Then we'll head back to our hideout. After all that commotion, the other teams should be more cautious. The next two hours ought to be relatively safe."

Nakamura nodded.

Five minutes later, the two cautiously made their way toward C-7.

On the way, they passed a "supply box." Qingyu opened it and looked inside.

There were three smoke bombs and a simple diagram for an Explosive Tag trap.

"Good stuff." He put them away. "We can improve our defenses with these when we get back."

When they returned to the hideout, Yamada reported that two teams had scouted the area while they were gone, but left after seeing the defensive setup.

"We still have zero points," Nakamura sighed. "The other teams have probably already gotten plenty of scrolls."

"Not necessarily," Qingyu said. "The winners of that melee might not have been able to hold on to their scrolls. Besides..."

He looked out the window. Another pillar of light had risen in the distance—a second batch of high-value targets.

"The real fighting is only starting now."

At one in the afternoon, the exam entered its fourth hour.

Team Qingyu decided to make one proactive strike.

Their target was the nearest ordinary scroll shop, in an abandoned warehouse two streets away.

The three approached cautiously, with Qingyu scouting ahead.

The warehouse door was ajar, and it was silent inside.

"There's a trap," Tobirama warned. "The dust by the entrance is uneven. Someone went in, but deliberately covered up their footprints."

"They might be lying in wait inside, too," Izuna said. "Let me sense them... Two people. Their chakra is faint, so they're probably Genin."

Qingyu signaled. Yamada and Nakamura circled around from either side while he pushed straight through the door.

"Creeeak..."

The instant the door opened, three shuriken flew straight at him.

Qingyu was ready. He rolled to the side, dodging them, and threw two shuriken back at the same time.

"Clang! Clang!"

Two figures leaped out from the corner of the warehouse.

They were two unfamiliar Konoha Genin, and they looked panicked.

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

The two Genin exchanged a glance, gritted their teeth, and charged.

The battle was completely one-sided.

Thirty seconds later, both had been subdued, and the scroll was theirs.

2 points.

"Sorry about that." Qingyu led his team away.

On the way back to their hideout, they witnessed an impressive ambush.

The team led by Neji Hyuga had taken out a Kirigakure team's hideout in just one minute and raised their own team flag.

"That Byakugan boy," Tobirama remarked, "has top-notch taijutsu and perception. If you face him, avoid close combat."

"Wear him down with long-range ninjutsu and traps," Izuna added.

Qingyu silently filed that away.

The Byakugan was still too hard to use. You actually had to control it manually! Was there an eye technique that was easier to use?

There is, brother, there is!

Activate!

But... nothing happened!

At three in the afternoon, the fifth hour.

There were only nine teams left in the exam—four had been eliminated, and the rest were making their final push.

Team Qingyu had three scrolls, worth 7 points in total, putting them somewhere in the lower middle of the rankings.

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