Nawaki Squad VS Rasa Squad

"They're here!"

Following Hyuga Suzuran's soft warning, the Sunagakure squad—Pakura, Karura, and Rasa—appeared on the battlefield. Pakura wore a look of slight disdain, staring provocatively at Nawaki as if savoring the confrontation before them.

"Little Round-Face, we meet again! You won't be lucky enough to have the proctor's protection this time." The haughty Pakura stared at her prey with keen interest.

"Hey! My name is Nawaki, stop calling me Little Round-Face! I should be the one saying that! This time, I'll make sure you see the true power of a Konoha ninja!" Nawaki waved his hand, pointing his index finger straight at Pakura.

Rasa calmly analyzed the situation and quickly assigned opponents to each member, his tone revealing unquestionable authority: "Hey, Pakura, handle that chubby kid. Karura, you deal with the Hyuga branch member, and leave that Uchiha to me. I'll finish him quickly and then support you both."

"I told you, don't put on that arrogant captain act in front of me!" Although Pakura was somewhat dissatisfied with Rasa's orders, she chose to comply; after all, teamwork was crucial on the battlefield. Karura accepted the task in silence, her expression calm as she prepared for the coming fight.

Facing Rasa's provocation, Uchiha Yan laughed in fury, his eyes flashing with unyielding light: "Finish me quickly? Then let me see your power!" His figure shot toward Rasa like an arrow released from a bow.

Hyuga Suzuran wanted to stop Uchiha Yan's impulsiveness, but before she could finish, he had already charged into the fray. Knowing she had to face her own enemy, she took a deep breath and prepared to engage Karura.

"I won't let you interfere with their fight!" The smiling Karura stood firmly in Hyuga Suzuran's path.

The horn of battle echoed through the forest; the duel between the six ninjas was like a meticulously choreographed dance, every movement filled with power and wisdom.

Pakura's Scorch Release ninjutsu was immensely powerful. The air around her distorted from the high heat, as if the entire space were under her control. The fireballs seemed imbued with life; as they streaked through the air, they left behind dazzling crimson trails accompanied by scorching heat waves, radiating a power that felt capable of melting everything.

Nawaki, however, remained unusually calm in the face of such attacks. After all, he had spent his childhood being beaten into shape by the freakishly strong Liuxia, learning how to survive. He might not be the strongest in a direct fight, but when it came to dodging and self-preservation, he was quite the expert.

His body wove between the fireballs, every movement precise and fluid. He kept his eyes locked on Pakura, observing her hand seals, micro-movements, and even the rhythm of her breathing to predict the timing and trajectory of her fireballs.

Though the fireballs were powerful, their flight speed and direction were relatively fixed, giving Nawaki enough time to react. Utilizing his superior taijutsu and his well-practiced Water Release, he leaped and rolled like an agile cat, skillfully avoiding attack after attack.

"Damn it, are you a monkey, Little Round-Face? Come and fight me head-on!" Pakura grew furious after missing repeatedly.

"If you're good enough, hit me then, dummy! I'm coming over, now I'm slipping away, nyah nyah nyah!" Nawaki taunted Pakura while dodging, trying to disrupt her rhythm. As he evaded, his brain worked at high speed, analyzing her attack patterns and potential openings. He knew that a Scorch Release user must consume a massive amount of chakra to maintain such high-intensity attacks; as long as he found the right moment, he could launch a counterattack.

On the other side, Karura's Wind Release ninjutsu, bolstered by her weapon, was exceptionally powerful. The trees in the forest seemed to tremble as leaves and dust were swept into the air, forming a massive vortex. The gale roared with a deafening sound, as if to swallow everything. Yet, amidst the ravages of this natural force, Hyuga Suzuran moved like an elegant dancer; her long hair and robes fluttered in the wind, but her steps remained remarkably steady.

Hyuga Suzuran's Byakugan allowed her to maintain clear insight amidst the chaos. Her eyes could peer through every subtle change in the whirlwind, capturing Karura's position and movements within the wind. Her body seemed to have reached a tacit understanding with the gale, moving lightly as the wind surged, skillfully utilizing its force to enhance her own mobility.

Though Karura's offensive was fierce, Hyuga Suzuran was not intimidated. She knew that while Wind Release could create powerful vortexes, it also required the ninja to concentrate intensely on control. Within Karura's onslaught, she searched for that split-second of relaxation—the inevitable moment Karura experienced while maintaining the technique.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Yan was locked in a bitter struggle. Rasa's Magnet Release was indeed cunning and powerful; he could manipulate Gold Dust through his chakra, turning it into an extension of his offense and defense.

Under Rasa's command, the Gold Dust swirled and danced in the air like giant golden pythons, lunging at Uchiha Yan. The luster of the gold shimmered in the sunlight, but beneath that beautiful glow lay lethal danger.

Uchiha Yan did not give up easily. Knowing that controlling Magnet Release required Rasa's high concentration, he began using shuriken to create distractions.

The shuriken carved arcs through the air, not only forcing Rasa to divide his attention but also creating an opportunity for Uchiha Yan to close the distance.

Uchiha Yan's taijutsu was not to be underestimated. His movements were swift and precise, every leap and roll filled with vigor.

He used his years of trained taijutsu to skillfully weave through the gaps in the Gold Dust. Though every step was arduous, he did not abandon his intention to reach Rasa.

However, Rasa's defensive web of Gold Dust was far too dense, and every step Uchiha Yan took was fraught with immense risk.

The Gold Dust danced around him, occasionally grazing his clothes, and a few grains even sliced his skin, leaving behind tiny bloody gashes. Uchiha Yan gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, convinced that if he could just get close, he could use Uchiha Swordsmanship to secure victory and prove the glory of the Uchiha!

Although Rasa held the upper hand in the fight, he found himself unable to defeat this obscure young ninja from the Uchiha clan, and he couldn't help but feel admiration for the abundance of talent in Konoha.

After all, he was the direct disciple of the Third Kazekage! Yet his opponent was clearly just a greenhorn who had just graduated. That such a young man could put up such a stubborn resistance for so long was truly astonishing.

Looking at his teammates, they were also locked in a stalemate, unable to determine a winner. Clearly, this battle could not end quickly, and if it dragged on, variables might arise. Without delay, Rasa knew he had to employ some strategy, so he decided to launch a psychological attack.

"Are all Uchiha ninjas like you, just rats that only know how to dodge and weave? How pathetic!" Rasa taunted, trying to enrage Uchiha Yan and shatter his composure.

Sure enough, under the verbal provocation, Uchiha Yan, who had been barely holding on, chose to force a breakthrough through Rasa's Gold Dust in a fit of fury!