Team Battle! (Seeking Follow-ups and Monthly Votes)

July 12th, 1:30 PM.

Shita Genichi arrived outside Training Ground 29.

Not long after, Uchiha Namiichi and Yamanaka En arrived as well.

The three of them climbed over the fence to enter the grounds and approached the examiner.

Unlike the training grounds in the core area of Konoha, this one was set deep within a forest and covered a vast area.

After waiting for a moment, another squad arrived.

Shita Genichi's eyes lit up: "Kakashi, as expected, we're matched up!"

The opponents were none other than Team Kakashi.

He had seen Kakashi's other two teammates yesterday; one was a Chunin from the Sarutobi Clan, and the other was a Chunin from the Hyuga Clan.

The two sides stood ten meters apart.

The examiner held a flag, and after confirming both sides were ready, immediately waved it: "Start!"

As the words fell, the examiner leaped backward, landing on a tree branch.

Both squads moved in unison.

Uchiha Namiichi charged forward, while Shita Genichi formed the Tiger seal.

Demonic Illusion: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!

Opposite them.

The three members of Team Kakashi did not charge forward immediately.

The Sarutobi Ninja formed seals, and the Hyuga Ninja's veins bulged as he activated his Byakugan.

The next moment, their vision was sealed, plunging them into absolute darkness.

However.

The Byakugan's sight pierced through the area of absolute darkness; while forming seals to dispel the illusion, he warned Kakashi.

He prioritized dispelling the illusion for Kakashi first.

Because Uchiha Namiichi was targeting Kakashi.

Clang!

Ninja blades clashed.

Uchiha Namiichi used the momentum to leap backward while sheathing his blade, forming seals in mid-air. He opened his mouth and exhaled, a massive fireball crushing toward Kakashi.

Just then, Shita Genichi and Yamanaka En simultaneously cast the Demonic Illusion: Binding Technique.

In other words, a paralysis jutsu.

Kakashi had just landed when he was frozen by the two of them.

Rumble!

A wall rose up, perfectly blocking Uchiha Namiichi's Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu.

The Hyuga Ninja in the back hurriedly dispelled the illusion on Kakashi.

At that moment, two figures flashed out from the left and right sides of the wall.

It was Shita Genichi and Uchiha Namiichi.

Having just regained his freedom, Kakashi leaped up and clashed with Uchiha Namiichi once more.

Meanwhile, Shita Genichi engaged the Sarutobi Ninja.

Clang, clang, clang!

The sound of dense collisions rang out through the forest.

After a dozen exchanges, Shita Genichi kicked the Sarutobi Ninja away.

The Sarutobi Ninja slammed into a tree trunk and slumped to the ground.

Enduring the sharp pain in his chest, he was about to form seals to cast a ninjutsu when his gaze went blank.

Mind Body Switch Technique!

The Sarutobi Ninja leaped up and lunged straight at Kakashi.

Meanwhile, Shita Genichi had already charged toward the Hyuga Ninja.

If not for the Hyuga Ninja, the earlier Bringer-of-Darkness Technique might not have instantly wiped out Team Kakashi, but they would have lost the initiative and been quickly defeated.

It just so happened that the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique could suppress the Sharingan, but it had no way to suppress the Byakugan.

Because the dark vision had a range, while the Byakugan's sight could see through the darkness.

Therefore, regardless of whether Kakashi could block the combined assault of Uchiha Namiichi and Yamanaka En, Shita Genichi had to eliminate the troublesome Hyuga Ninja first.

Once the Hyuga Ninja was dealt with.

He would only need one Bringer-of-Darkness Technique to secure Kakashi's defeat.

The Hyuga Ninja knew this as well, but he did not retreat, choosing instead to meet the challenge head-on.

He understood that if he retreated, Kakashi would be forced to face a three-man pincer attack.

Perhaps he could target Yamanaka En directly and trade one for one.

But in the end, he would still have to face the remaining two.

Therefore, entangling Shita Genichi was the optimal solution.

And the hope for victory rested on Kakashi.

Kakashi understood this point perfectly.

Seeing out of the corner of his eye that Shita Genichi had targeted the Hyuga Ninja, he knew the situation had become extremely critical.

If he could not break through the blockade of the two men in front of him, or even take one of them out, he would surely be defeated.

Because he was well aware of Shita Genichi's strength; Hyuga Haru would not be able to hold out for long.

The breakthrough point lay with Yamanaka En, but Uchiha Namiichi was far too troublesome to deal with.

It was the first time Kakashi had witnessed the true power of the Sharingan, which saw through his movements and intentions with absolute clarity, allowing Uchiha Namiichi to intercept him precisely every single time.

On the other side.

Shita Genichi held his short blade and parried all the shuriken launched by Hyuga Haru, then flicked his wrist, sending the short blade flying forward.

Hyuga Haru slapped the blade away with his palm, then exclaimed in shock, "So fast!"

Shita Genichi rushed before his eyes in the blink of an eye. Hyuga Haru had no time to think and immediately responded with Gentle Fist, as Shita Genichi was currently empty-handed.

But the next moment, Shita Genichi's right hand drew a blade.

Clang!

The bright flash of the blade was like a bolt of silk.

Shita Genichi swept past Hyuga Haru.

Hyuga Haru's body froze in place as he looked down.

He saw that the clothing at his waist had been sliced open, and there was a shallow bloodstain on his skin.

He knew this could not have been a mistake by Shita Genichi; he had held back.

"What incredible Kenjutsu!"

That strike just now was too fast; Hyuga Haru hadn't been able to react at all.

Only by mastering Rotation could I have blocked that blade.

Hyuga Haru thought to himself, then leaped backward to exit the match.

Shita Genichi looked toward Kakashi's side, just in time to see the Sarutobi Ninja, whose body was being controlled by Yamanaka En, kicked away by Kakashi.

But immediately after, Kakashi was also caught by Uchiha Namiichi, who found an opening and kicked him away in turn.

Swish!

Shita Genichi vanished from his spot.

Just as Kakashi steadied his footing, Shita Genichi's long blade was already resting against his neck.

The examiner leaped down from a tree and announced, "Sakumo Squad wins!"

Kakashi couldn't help but say, "Your speed has gotten even faster."

Shita Genichi chuckled, "Likewise."

Sarutobi Fufu chimed in, "You two should stop complimenting each other. I think Genichi's Genjutsu is even more terrifying."

"That was the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, right? That is an ultra-high-difficulty Genjutsu, yet you only needed a single seal."

"It's a good thing we had Haru's Byakugan, otherwise we would have been defeated within a minute."

Shita Genichi asked curiously, "Isn't the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique supposed to be a single seal?"

At this, the examiner laughed, "Only ninjas who have mastered Genjutsu can cast it with a single seal; most people can't do that."

"As far as I know, the hand seals recorded in the Scroll of Seals can be performed in two ways."

"Genichi, your talent for Genjutsu is truly formidable. It has been a long time since I've seen someone your age master such a high-level Genjutsu."

"Keep it up!"

With that, the man vanished.

Shita Genichi spread his hands helplessly.

The version he had learned only required one seal.

After packing up their things, the two squads walked out together.

The next morning at 8:30.

Shita Genichi arrived at the venue for the third round of individual matches, which turned out to be a massive indoor arena.

There were spectator stands and electronic screens here.

Everyone who passed the first written exam gathered here for the individual matches, as there were no eliminations in the second round.

As the time neared nine o'clock, the number of people in the arena continued to grow.

Once nine o'clock struck, the proctor appeared and announced the rules: "Individual matchups will be drawn at random. The loser is eliminated, and the winner will continue to compete."

"Begin now!"

Swish!

Up in the spectator stands, Shita Genichi and the others couldn't help but look toward the massive electronic screen as two names appeared.

"Sarutobi Fufu, Nomura Taisei!"

Kakashi's companion, Sarutobi Fufu, immediately leaped into the arena.

Shita Genichi and the others all called out to cheer him on.

The individual matches had officially begun!