Clash of Geniuses (3)

High above the arena, Hyuga Hoshishaku looked at Uchiha Setsuna with a hint of guilt after making his decision.

Since I cannot expose the Air Palm Pressure Point Secret Technique I developed, I am sorry, but I have to start playing dirty.

He thought to himself.

After dodging another Great Fireball, he used the Shadow Clone Technique to summon four clones.

He then aimed at the four corners of the arena and threw four kunai engraved with the Flying Thunder God formula.

Immediately after, as his opponent's Fire Style Ninjutsu surged toward him, the four figures flashed and appeared at the four corners of the arena.

Just as everyone, including Uchiha Setsuna, was confused, the four Hoshishakus suddenly formed hand seals.

Sealing Technique: Four Violet Flames Formation!

In an instant, a new barrier appeared on top of the arena, which already had a layer of protection!

This barrier was covered in purple flames, and one look was enough to know it could not be touched.

Following this, the four figures maintaining the barrier closed their eyes, lifted their legs, and began walking toward the center of the arena while keeping the formation intact.

He intended to trap his opponent to death with the barrier!

Furthermore, by closing his eyes, he cut off his opponent's last hope of using genjutsu as a desperate gamble!

Inside the barrier, Uchiha Setsuna had already realized the severity of the situation.

The look in his eyes as he stared at Hyuga Hoshishaku was filled with disbelief!

This brat not only learned the Flying Thunder God Technique from that evil white-haired Senju, but how did he also master a sealing technique of this scale?

Seeing the barrier shrinking, he created a clone and reached out toward the edge.

With a "pop," the clone's hand was burned to pieces the moment it touched the barrier.

After receiving the feedback, Uchiha Setsuna glared hatefully at one of Hoshishaku's clones, then began forming hand seals, attempting to break the barrier from the inside.

Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Technique!

Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation!

Fire Style: Dragon Flame Song!

Violent, scorching flames slammed into the Four Violet Flames Formation one after another.

Yet, the Four Violet Flames Formation did not ripple in the slightest!

At this moment, the villagers in the stands were shouting excitedly, while the people in the two waiting rooms were either wearing grave expressions or looks of someone who had just survived a disaster.

It was fortunate they hadn't encountered those two monsters on the field!

When Hoshishaku, while maintaining the barrier, forced Uchiha Setsuna to the center of the arena, he suddenly spoke to advise surrender:

"Give up, Uchiha Setsuna. You cannot break my barrier."

His only response was a hateful "Hmph."

Hoshishaku felt a bit helpless, but he had plenty of ways to deal with a prideful Uchiha: "If you don't surrender, I will manipulate the barrier so it doesn't burn your body, but your clothes will be burned away, which would be quite a disgrace. You wouldn't want to be seen stark naked by thousands of people, would you?"

Perhaps imagining such a scene, Uchiha Setsuna's face turned red and then pale; he almost flew into a rage and awakened his Mangekyo!

Seeing that the barrier was about to enclose him, Uchiha Setsuna, who had not yet awakened his Mangekyo Sharingan, finally raised his hand and decisively surrendered.

The referee entered the arena, announced the result of the match, and Hoshishaku dispelled his clones and the barrier.

Uchiha Setsuna did not linger for even a moment; he vanished from the spot, appearing to have used the Body Flicker Technique to flee.

Hoshishaku shrugged helplessly, glanced at his father on the sidelines, and after a nod of acknowledgment, walked toward Yuto, who was waving at him.

Off the field, Inaba Uchiha could no longer maintain his kind expression.

He looked at Hyuga Tianren with a strange gaze.

One could guess exactly what he was thinking.

Your son is so heaven-defying, what exactly were you worried about? Were you worried your son wouldn't be able to hold back and would kill the genius of our Uchiha Clan? Or were you just messing with me on purpose?

Hyuga Tianren wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with some embarrassment:

"I only knew that Hoshishaku had learned the Flying Thunder God Technique and might cause Uchiha Setsuna to lose his composure; I didn't expect the secret technique and sealing technique he developed to be this powerful."

The Uchiha Clan Head barely believed the other's explanation, a fake smile appearing on his face.

"Your Hyuga Clan has truly produced a great genius."

Hyuga Tianren smiled as well: "Indeed..."

"Hoshishaku, you're too amazing! I never knew the Sealing Technique could be used like that!"

As soon as he left the field, Yuto rushed over and said happily.

Hoshishaku glanced at the strange expressions on the faces of everyone in the Third Waiting Room and, feeling a bit ashamed, pulled Yuto to a corner to sit down.

"Actually, a ninja's combat mindset is also a part of their strength. Take me, for example—all my abilities were countered by Uchiha Setsuna, so I had to think about which abilities could break the deadlock."

Yuto scratched his head and said bluntly: "I couldn't do it. In the situation you were just in, other than using Water Style, I wouldn't have thought of using a sealing technique at all."

Hoshishaku covered his forehead helplessly upon hearing this: "Water Style can counter Fire Style; you wouldn't even need a sealing technique."

Yuto clapped his hands as if suddenly enlightened: "That's right, Water Release suppresses Fire Release!"

It's over, Hoshishaku thought to himself, he's just too dense.

After chatting for a few more moments, the two turned their attention back to the ongoing matches.

Aside from Kagami Uchiha and Uchiha Rinne, whom he had met once before, there were almost no acquaintances of Hoshishaku appearing in the upcoming bouts.

Yet, the combat scenes were far from dull.

With the average level being that of a Chunin, the clash of various ninjutsu, clan secret techniques, and Kekkei Genkai was truly dazzling.

During this period, a formidable character named Aburame Masaki appeared.

The moment the referee shouted the start, his opponent was enveloped in a swarm of insects, instantly losing the ability to fight.

If it had ended there, it would have been nothing out of the ordinary.

However, Aburame Masaki's opponent was a Jonin from the Gekko Clan whom Hoshishaku had previously inspected using System Inspection.

Caught completely off guard, he was defeated in a single move.

The expressions of everyone in the Third Waiting Room shifted instantly!

Hoshishaku wondered, if he were to face Aburame Masaki himself, how would he fight?

He would have to rely on releasing chakra from his entire body to create a pseudo-chakra armor, then strive to end the battle quickly before his chakra was exhausted.

But releasing chakra from his entire body probably wouldn't last more than a few minutes, right?

So, would he have to use Yin Release secret techniques to strike pressure points from a distance and end the fight in a flash?

Having figured out a countermeasure, he let out a sigh of relief.

However, when he turned his head and saw Yuto covered in goosebumps, he couldn't help but ponder how Yuto would fare against this member of the Aburame Clan.

He quickly calculated in his mind and soon reached a conclusion.

He could win.

Because Yuto simply had too much chakra.

Following this line of thought, he considered how he and Yuto would fare if they were to face Kureha Kurama and Hatake Saku.

As he pondered, the first half of the Top 100 tournament came to an end.

After the Jonin referee announced that the Top 50 matches would begin at two in the afternoon, the event came to a temporary halt.

The contestants in the Third Waiting Room stood up one after another and began to leave.

Hoshishaku and Yuto, mixed in among them, were surprisingly conspicuous.

As for the reason?

Naturally, it was because they were the shortest!

Among a crowd of half-grown kids ranging from twelve to seventeen or eighteen years old, these two little beans were far too eye-catching!