Konoha and Hidden Sand Joint Chunin Exams (Part 2)

Land of Wind

On the high platform of the arena on the edge of Sunagakure, the Fourth Hokage Naraku and the Fourth Kazekage Rasa sat side by side in two armchairs, while the audience seats were mostly filled.

Sunagakure is located in the desert. Even with green paths to guide them, wealthy people and nobles wouldn't endure the desert's aridity to come and watch ninja matches. The fact that the venue was nearly full was only due to the Hokage's visit.

The Chunin Ninja Exams, jointly organized by Hidden Sand and Konoha, along with the Hokage's visit, greatly increased the hype Chunin Ninja Exams.

"The resilience of Hidden Sand is indeed well-deserved."

A cheer erupted from the audience. Naraku head slightly and softly praised Sunagakure.

The second Murayama Tomonobu Genin, who fought against Hidden Sand for about ten minutes before narrowly losing to the Sunagakure Ninja.

Ninja battles of this caliber usually end quickly, so it's commendable that Murayama Tomonobu could fight for about ten minutes. He used every technique he could muster, including Fire Style ninjutsu, which drew cheers from the audience, who were clearly very satisfied.

Previously, female ninja Kawaguchi Shio narrowly defeated an Amegakure Genin. The three Konoha Genin currently have one win and one loss. The strongest, Ibuse Hangetsu, has not yet made her appearance. At the same time, Ibuse Hangetsu is also the main candidate for Naraku's visit and observation.

"Due to the desert environment, unpredictable sandstorms, and sudden disasters, anyone living in a place like the Land of Wind will develop an indomitable will."

Rasa acted humbly and politely, but his words were extremely cold.

"It seems the desert is a treasure trove."

Naraku front of the Kazekage; on the contrary, he seemed to really like this land.

"No, compared to a lush, verdant environment, the desert is like a place of exile."

Rasa wore a white mask, and his exposed eyes looked extremely fierce. Rasa seemed to realize that his words contained a hint of resentment towards his territory, and softly continued:

"For our Sunagakure, the desert is our home, where we've lived for generations, a place we can't bear to leave. It's also the place that embodies the will of the wind."

"Heh, it's Sunagakure's good fortune to have elected Kazekage like you."

Naraku chuckled and offered a compliment, "The Land of Wind's elite military policy, and Rasa's skill in manipulating Gold Dust, are all well-known. He often uses his Gold Dust Rasa to pan for gold in the desert, working overtime to do so."

Naraku admired Rasa's actions; he sacrificed his own happiness for the benefit of the village.

While the two powerful ninja from different countries were chatting on the high platform, two matches had already taken place in the arena, and Naraku's favorite contestant, Ibuse Hangetsu, finally entered the arena.

In the dueling arena

The Ibuse Hangetsu, had long, straight, golden hair that reached her waist. In her right hand, she carried a heavy, long-handled sickle, while in her left hand she gripped an iron chain connected to the end of the sickle's handle. At the other end of the chain was a weight the size of a fist.

Opposite the Ibuse was a boy of similar age, with brown hair, some camouflage paint on his face, and carrying a long object wrapped in bandages on his back.

The referee in the dueling arena raises his right hand high, blows the whistle, and slides his right hand down to signal the start of the duel.

Ibuse Hangetsu had a cold expression, his brown pupils staring at the Hidden Sand Genin opposite him, radiating a chilling killing intent.

The killing intent swept through, Hidden Sand Genin remained completely unaffected, his demeanor calm. He took out Kunai from his ninja tool pouch and fired it towards the Ibuse Hangetsu, a standard ninja tool probing attack.

Ding! Ding! Dong!

With a swing of his half-moon Kusarigama, the Ibuse Hangetsu parried all the ninja tools. At the same time, he slightly bent his knees, placed the scythe blade in his right hand on his left side, narrowed his brown eyes slightly, and then suddenly opened them, disappearing from the spot.

"Flash Cut!"

Click!

With a soft shout, the Ibuse Hangetsu appeared about ten meters behind the Hidden Sand Genin, taking a forward lunge with his back to the Hidden Sand Genin.

The Hidden Sand Genin was stunned as his body was Kusarigama- scythe, his upper body sent flying into the air.

The two halves of the Hidden Sand Genin's body turned into fine yellow sand and flowed to the ground. The long, bandaged object he had been carrying was knocked into the air, and a hand tore off the bandages, from which the Hidden Sand Genin jumped out.

The Hidden Sand Genin, having landed, shook his hands. After Hidden Sand that had separated his body into two pieces flowed away, it transformed into a wooden puppet. With a shake of his hands, the two halves of his body Genin, becoming a complete puppet.

The puppet floated in the air, emitting a piercing creaking sound, and charged towards the Ibuse Hangetsu.

The Ibuse Hangetsu turn, bending his knees slightly again, gripping the long Kusarigama in his right hand, with the blade resting on the outside of his left hand.

"Body Flicker Slash? How could the same move work twice!"

Upon seeing this familiar scene, the Hidden Sand Genin sneered and spread his arms wide. The puppet he was controlling also spread its arms wide, and two blades popped out from the puppet's forearms, dripping with purple liquid, which seemed to be poisoned.

"Die!"

The Hidden Sand Genin brought his arms together, and the puppet arm that had been flying towards the Ibuse Hangetsu also brought its blade together, delivering a beautiful puppet manipulation technique strike.

"Flash Cut!"

The Ibuse Hangetsu was completely unfazed by the attack before it, its figure vanishing from the spot, and the puppet controlled by the Hidden Sand Genin was split in two.

Click!

The sound of the wooden puppet collapsing had barely rang out when the Ibuse Hangetsu Body Flicker Slash not only destroyed the puppet but also powerfully charged towards the Hidden Sand Genin. The Hidden Sand Genin behind the puppet, holding Kunai, barely managed to block the slash, but was sent flying by the immense force.

The Ibuse Hangetsu, vanished again.

"Second Flash!"

They were able to unleash a series of Body Flicker Slash. The Hidden Sand Jonin referee standing to the side was visibly shocked by the Ibuse Hangetsu's fierce and continuous attacks.

Pfft!

An arm flew through the air, Hidden Sand Genin with rage, transformed into fine yellow sand.

The Hidden Sand Genin executed the Sand Substitution Technique fluently, but it was still a step too late. His arm was truly severed by the Kusarigama and fell to the ground from the air.

If the blow had struck the head, the Hidden Sand Genin would already be dead.

Aren't you going to surrender?

Ibuse Hangetsu turned around with a cold expression. With his previous strike, he could have easily decapitated his enemy.

The Chunin Ninja Exams of Konoha Hidden Sand were held amicably. Although Ibuse Hangetsu had a cold appearance, he understood the bigger picture of such an exam.

Otherwise, in the second exam, he could have easily swept through the competition and wiped out all the Genin.

Drop!

A sharp whistle blew, and the referee announced loudly:

"Ibuse Hangetsu!"

The referee was Jonin Hidden Sand, and the situation was clear: the Hidden Sand Genin defeated and had his arm severed; continuing the match would only lead to his death. If the match was stopped now, his arm could be reattached.

In this situation, the Hidden Sand Genin would definitely not surrender, otherwise they would be considered a disgrace by the village. The referee, unwilling to let someone skilled in Puppet Technique and sand manipulation sacrifice themselves meaninglessly, would directly declare the winner.

Fine sand rose from the arena and coalesced into a human figure, which was the Hidden Sand Genin who had lost the duel. The Hidden Sand Genin covered his right shoulder with his left hand, his face was pale, he took two steps and fell to the ground unconscious.

"Quickly, First Aid Squad!"

At the referee's shout, ninjas dressed in white uniforms rushed out of the arena's First Aid Squad, carrying a stretcher. They lifted the Hidden Sand Genin onto the stretcher, retrieved his severed arm, and hurriedly returned to the arena.

On the high platform

"Konoha truly produces a wealth of talented individuals..."

The Fourth Kazekage Rasa, uttered a soft sigh of praise. Rasa wore a white mask, so Naraku couldn't see his expression.

"His Kusarigama technique was superb; it was just luck."

Naraku replied softly, recalling that the Fourth Raikage had said something similar back in Kumogakure.