On the battlefield, Liuxia's figure moved like a ghost in the dead of night, every step silent yet swift and deadly. After defeating Rasa with his Rasengan, he had not only secured a decisive victory on the battlefield but also planted the seeds of despair in Pakura's heart. Pakura knew that against such a powerful opponent, she and Karura had almost no chance of winning. Seeing Nawaki catching his breath nearby, ready to rejoin the fight, only made her heart sink further. But as a ninja, she refused to give up!
Pakura's Scorch Release Ninjutsu was like her unyielding will. One fireball after another shot toward Liuxia's Shadow Clones, and each explosion was accompanied by her furious roar, as if she were releasing all her frustration and defeat along with the flames. The firelight illuminated her determined face. Sweat ran down her forehead and dripped onto the scorched earth, where it rose in wisps of white steam.
However, Liuxia's Shadow Clone Technique was truly exquisite. Each clone seemed to possess its own independent fighting instincts, and they attacked Pakura from all sides, leaving her no chance to defend herself. Her fireballs were fierce, but the clones' nimble dodges and counterattacks repeatedly neutralized her assaults. Their movements were perfectly coordinated, like a well-trained army, and each attack struck precisely at a weakness in Pakura's defenses.
After dealing with Rasa, Liuxia quickly turned his attention to Pakura. His figure darted across the battlefield like a ghost, giving her no chance to catch her breath. He knew he had to end the fight quickly before anything went wrong.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!" Liuxia performed his Water Release Ninjutsu once more. At his call, a colossal water dragon surged toward Pakura with overwhelming force. The Water Dragon Bullet was incredibly fast and powerful, forcing Pakura to divide her attention to deal with the sudden attack. Wherever it passed, the water scoured the earth, uprooting soil and grass and carving deep trenches into the ground.
Pakura quickly formed Hand Seals, trying to counter Liuxia's Water Dragon Bullet with her Scorch Release Ninjutsu. But Liuxia's assault was too fast, and she reacted a fraction too slowly. The Water Dragon Bullet struck her defenses head-on, snuffing out her fireball barrage and sending her flying. Her body arced through the air before crashing heavily onto the ground in the distance, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Pakura hit the ground hard, overcome by exhaustion and frustration like never before. Her heart was filled with resentment, but she also acknowledged Liuxia's strength. Her body was wracked with pain, and every breath felt like dancing on the edge of a blade. Yet her gaze remained resolute, showing no sign of surrender.
Meanwhile, as she fought Hyuga Suzuran, Karura saw Pakura defeated and was overcome by a sense of helplessness. She knew that continuing the fight would only cause more injuries. If they kept going, her team would suffer a complete defeat in the Chunin Ninja Exams. But if they adapted, there was still time to obtain a scroll.
After one exchange of attacks, Karura and Hyuga Suzuran briefly stopped fighting. Karura took a deep breath, determination in her eyes.
"Stop, Hyuga Suzuran." Karura's voice was firm. "We've lost. I don't want to keep fighting for nothing."
Hyuga Suzuran paused, then refrained from attacking and cautiously maintained her defensive stance. "What do you mean?"
Karura took their team's scroll from her ninja tool pouch. She stepped forward, gently set it on the ground, then backed away. "This is our team's scroll. I'm handing it over to you."
Hyuga Suzuran and Liuxia both noticed Karura's actions. They exchanged a glance, each seeing the other's surprise. Liuxia walked over and looked at Karura. "Does this mean you're admitting defeat?"
Karura nodded. "Yes, we admit defeat. But it's only temporary. The ninjas of Sunagakure won't give up just like that."
Liuxia was silent for a moment. Then he turned to Hyuga Suzuran and spoke slowly. "Let her go. There's no need to make things harder for her."
Hyuga Suzuran stepped aside, clearing a path for Karura. Karura picked up the scroll and gave Liuxia and Hyuga Suzuran a deep look. Then she turned, helped Pakura up, and together they carried the unconscious Rasa away.
As Karura and Pakura left, the tension on the battlefield gradually faded, replaced by mutual respect and understanding between warriors. Liuxia turned to Nawaki, a relaxed smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
"Hey, Nawaki, looks like you're still too weak. You need to train harder." Liuxia teased him, his tone playful, though his eyes were full of concern and encouragement.
Nawaki wasn't entirely convinced, but he knew he still had plenty of room to improve after that battle. He scratched his head and gave a sheepish grin. "Haha, you're right. I've still got a long way to go before I can match you, Liuxia. I'll have to learn a lot more from you."
The two exchanged smiles, and the tension on the battlefield gave way to ease and friendship. Then Liuxia turned toward Uchiha Yan, his expression growing serious. Though he and Uchiha Yan weren't close, his sense of duty as a ninja compelled him to look after his comrade on the battlefield.
Uchiha Yan lay on the ground, panting, pain written across his face. Liuxia approached and began examining his injuries. His movements were practiced and methodical. Even though they weren't close friends, Liuxia wouldn't leave a fellow ninja to suffer.
"Don't move," Liuxia said, his voice calm and firm. "Your injuries are serious. You need treatment right away."
Uchiha Yan gave a slight nod. He gritted his teeth and endured the pain without making a sound. Gratitude showed in his eyes. They might have competed and clashed before, but at a crucial moment, Liuxia had proved himself a dependable teammate.
Liuxia quickly formed Hand Seals and used Medical Ninjutsu. His chakra slowly flowed into Uchiha Yan's body, stimulating the injured cells and promoting the healing of his wounds. As Liuxia's Medical Ninjutsu took effect, Uchiha Yan's breathing gradually steadied, and the pain on his face slowly eased.
Once Liuxia had finished the initial treatment, Nawaki's curiosity was piqued. He turned to Liuxia, surprise flickering in his eyes at the new skill he had just discovered his teammate could use.
"Liuxia, when did you learn Medical Ninjutsu? You never showed me this when I was injured!" Nawaki scratched his head and couldn't help asking.
Liuxia stood up and gently dusted his hands. "Oh, this? I learned it while I was 'playing' with Tsunade. She taught me a few basic medical techniques, and I didn't expect them to come in handy today. Why didn't I treat you? I was lazy."
Just then, Uchiha Yan slowly sat up. His injuries had eased, but there was still a stubborn edge to his manner.
"Hmph, don't think this means I'm grateful to you, Liuxia." Uchiha Yan's voice carried a hint of disdain, but anyone could see the gratitude in his eyes.
Liuxia simply smiled faintly, unfazed by Uchiha Yan's prickly attitude. "I don't need your gratitude, Uchiha Yan. I was just doing what I should."
Seeing this, Nawaki couldn't help but interject. "Hey, Uchiha Yan, you're being way too tsundere. Liuxia helped you out a lot when it mattered."
Uchiha Yan glared at Nawaki. "Tsundere? Hmph. I just don't want ordinary people like you looking down on me." He struggled to his feet. Though he was still a little unsteady, his pride wouldn't let him appear weak in front of his teammates.
"All right, we should head for the finish line," Liuxia cut in, his expression turning serious again. "Uchiha Yan, you might need more treatment. We can't stay here much longer."
Uchiha Yan didn't want to admit it, but he knew his condition did require further treatment. He gave a quiet snort. "Fine, you win this time, Liuxia. I owe you one."
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