You Two, Come at Me Together!

Seeing that Noji Daishi had lost his reason and was saying things that fell far below his usual standards, Takizawa Dan gave a cold laugh and added fuel to the fire.

"Mr. Noji says that when facing a comrade, I should know to hold back. I actually agree with that. But it depends on the circumstances—and on the person!"

"Have you ever considered that if I hadn't been capable of defending myself, I'd be the one lying on the ground right now?"

"Your son's life matters, but does mine not? In your eyes, was I supposed to do nothing and just stand there, waiting for your son to break my arm and knock me unconscious?!"

Faced with Takizawa Dan's relentless barrage of words, Noji Daishi gritted his teeth unwillingly and lowered his head.

"I understand... I accept Lord Hokage's decision. My son was outmatched. He got what he deserved!"

Noji Daishi clenched his fists, then let them fall limply to his sides.

He knew he had lost completely today.

As for strength, his son had been utterly crushed by Takizawa Dan, a boy his own age, and beaten unconscious!

As for who was in the right, a thirteen-year-old had rendered him speechless in front of everyone and forced him to admit defeat!

Was he really going to attack a junior with no chakra in front of Lord Hokage and Konoha's senior officials, despite being a respected Jonin himself?!

Noji Daishi wasn't Miki Ichiro. He still cared about his dignity and couldn't afford to make a fool of himself!

"Fine. That's how this should have been decided in the first place." Takizawa Dan nodded, entirely unbothered.

Old man, did you think you could twist right and wrong just because you're a Jonin with seniority?

It's not that easy!

"Hmph!"

Noji Daishi snorted, committed Takizawa Dan's face to memory, then turned to leave.

He understood that this wasn't the time or place to keep arguing. He had already lost his best chance to deal with Takizawa Dan. If he kept this up, he'd be the one to suffer in the end!

After all, Takizawa Dan was only a Genin. Even if he passed the Chunin Ninja Exams, he'd still be a nobody. It would be easy enough to find an opportunity to make an accident happen to him...

Just as Noji Daishi was secretly plotting his next move, a calm voice came from behind him.

"My business with Nochi Yoshino is settled. But what about the matter between you and me?"

"You..."

Noji Daishi turned around in surprise and saw Takizawa Dan standing in the middle of the training grounds, staring straight at him with a murderous look in his eyes!

That gaze made him feel as if Death itself were watching him. A bone-deep chill ran through his body!

How was this possible? He was a Jonin who had taken countless dangerous missions and walked the line between life and death many times. Yet he had never met anyone with a gaze as terrifying as Takizawa Dan's!

"Originally, this was just an ordinary Chunin Ninja Exams match. Nochi Yoshino and I would decide the winner, and that would be the end of it. There wouldn't have been anything more to it."

"But, Mr. Noji, you insulted me again and again. You even interfered with the exam, refused to accept the result, and tried to avenge your son. Even after Lord Hokage and the other officials had made their decision, you still kept targeting me."

"Even a clay figure has a temper. This is no longer just about the Chunin Ninja Exams. It's become a personal feud between you and me! Today, one of us will die. Either you die, or I do!"

The entire crowd was stunned!

Takizawa Dan had only just earned his Genin qualification, yet he had openly challenged Noji Daishi, a Jonin!

No matter how they looked at it, this was utterly shocking!

"Takizawa Dan! You only got your Genin qualification by luck. You don't even have chakra! Don't tell me you really think you can challenge a Jonin?"

"Exactly! There are thousands of ninja in Konoha, but only fifty or sixty can become Jonin! They're the best of the best. What makes you think you can take them on?"

"Tsk, tsk... He's achieved a little something and already doesn't know who he is..."

After their brief stunned silence, the examinees began insulting and jeering at Takizawa Dan!

They thought he was being ridiculously presumptuous.

"This kid..."

Tsunade was stunned for a long moment before giving a wry smile and shaking her head again and again.

She had admired Takizawa Dan before, but now she couldn't help feeling exasperated.

It was good for young people to have spirit, and Noji Daishi had indeed gone too far. But did that mean Takizawa Dan could just challenge him on a whim?

Why had she spoken up for Takizawa Dan earlier? Wasn't it to use her influence to put this matter to rest?

Yet the boy hadn't appreciated it at all. Instead, he meant to challenge Noji Daishi himself!

For a moment, Tsunade began to wonder whether Takizawa Dan's impulsive nature really made him suitable to be her student.

"You... intend to challenge me?"

Even Noji Daishi was stunned when he heard Takizawa Dan's demand.

He had considered that Takizawa Dan might use some means to deal with him, and had run through every possibility in his mind.

But he had never imagined that Takizawa Dan would challenge him to his face!

That wasn't even a possibility! A mere Genin had no chance against him. Even a Chunin facing him would be doomed to lose.

Doing this was no different from suicide!

"That's right. I'm challenging you!" Takizawa Dan declared loudly. "I saw the look in your eyes just now. After what happened today, you clearly hate me with all your heart. If I don't find a way to kill you today, I'll be the one who dies someday!"

"So I'd rather settle this with you now!"

"Absurd!!!"

Another Jonin responsible for keeping order couldn't help leaping forward and bellowing at Takizawa Dan.

"Kid, what do you think we Jonin are? You can't just insult us and challenge us whenever you feel like it!"

His name was Kameda Hironori. He and Noji Daishi were cut from the same cloth. The two of them often operated as a duo, throwing their weight around Konoha and leaving countless people furious but afraid to speak out.

Seeing one of his close friends humiliated like this by a junior, Kameda Hironori could no longer contain himself.

This was outrageous! Even a mere Genin dared to challenge a Jonin now. If he didn't crush the boy in front of everyone today, would anyone respect the Jonin in the future?

Faced with the furious Noji Daishi and Kameda Hironori, Takizawa Dan merely laughed disdainfully, then said something that made everyone's eyes nearly pop out of their heads:

"You two, come at me together!"