Second Round Showdown

"The winner has been decided. Uchiha Toru wins."

Shikaku stepped forward and announced the result.

Toru walked over and formed the Seal of Reconciliation with Genma. Taking the opportunity, Genma thanked Toru. "Thanks."

Toru smiled faintly and said nothing.

Although Toru had won this battle, Genma had also displayed considerable strength.

"Uchiha Toru's strength is probably already at the level of a Jonin. Shikaku truly took in a fine disciple."

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed.

Minato smiled. "Yes. Toru's excellence is unlike anything I've ever seen."

Sarutobi Hiruzen continued, "But Genma Shiranui is also a good child, a talent worth cultivating."

"The Third thinks so too? I also think Genma has exceptional agility and quick reactions. He's proficient in ninjutsu, and his strength has already reached Chunin level." Minato voiced his thoughts.

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded slightly. "A talent worth cultivating."

"Then promote them both."

With a single word from Sarutobi Hiruzen, Toru and Genma were both promoted.

However, the matches continued.

The next match was Uchiha Obito versus Might Guy.

"They're both Uchiha, yet Obito and Toru seem like completely different types," Sarutobi Hiruzen remarked.

Minato scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Obito is actually a good child too."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded slightly.

On the field, Obito walked out with complete confidence this time.

He felt that his month of hard training had paid off, and that his previous loss had merely been due to carelessness.

This time, Obito would wipe away his humiliation.

Both fighters had entered the field, and Shikaku was ready to announce the start of the match.

At that moment, Nohara Rin shouted from the second floor to cheer Obito on.

Obito's attention instantly shifted away from the field. He stared at Rin with a foolish grin.

As a result, he failed to hear Shikaku's announcement.

"Battle begins!"

Obito was still spacing out with that silly smile when Might Guy had already rushed before him and planted a Leaf Hurricane squarely on his face.

Obito immediately spun through the air and flew away.

"Y-you sucker-punched me!"

Obito lay on the ground with his head ringing, already unable to fight.

Shikaku announced Might Guy's victory.

Guy explained with an innocent expression, "The match had already started."

On the second floor, Rin sighed helplessly.

Kakashi mocked him again. "As expected of Obito."

After humiliating himself that thoroughly, Obito naturally had no chance of being promoted to Chunin.

Even Minato found it a little embarrassing. "That kid really can be unreliable sometimes."

Sarutobi Hiruzen smiled and nodded, showing that he did not mind.

After that, everyone fought in pairs one after another.

In the end, Yuhi Kurenai, Asuma, Nohara Rin, Kakashi, Might Guy, and Toru successfully advanced, for a total of six people.

The first match of the second round was Kakashi versus Might Guy.

Kakashi and Might Guy first engaged in an intense taijutsu clash.

Neither of them used any ninja tools, relying solely on their fists and feet.

It was clear that Kakashi was deliberately going easy on Might Guy.

Otherwise, if Kakashi had taken out his father's keepsake—the White Fang Short Sword—Might Guy would have found it difficult to even get close.

To fight Kakashi, Guy opened the Eight Gates, though he only opened the second gate, the Gate of Healing. Its effects allowed him to exert one hundred percent of his body's strength without feeling fatigue.

Even so, Guy put considerable pressure on Kakashi.

The two darted and maneuvered around the arena, as though the entire Training Ground was barely large enough for them.

This spectacular taijutsu contest left everyone dazzled.

It also made Kakashi's little fangirl, Nohara Rin, reveal an admiring expression.

This displeased the injured Obito, whose eyes had just been wrapped in bandages. He dejectedly slumped over the second-floor railing.

He resolved to pass next year's Chunin Exams in one go and make Rin see him in a new light.

Kakashi and Guy's battle continued for quite some time.

Then, the side effects of the Eight Gates began to show.

Guy was panting heavily. Although he could not feel fatigue, the burden on his body did not disappear.

As a result, his speed was forced to drop somewhat, allowing Kakashi to seize an opening.

Kakashi gathered Chakra in his palm, then took the opportunity to strike Guy in the chest.

Guy dropped to his knees, powerless all over.

The Eight Gates were forcibly released, and the side effects instantly robbed Guy of his ability to fight.

Toru's Six Eyes flickered as if he had seen through something.

Once Kakashi came upstairs, Toru walked over and asked, "That move just now was Lightning Release, right? Something you developed yourself?"

Kakashi nodded. "Yeah, but it isn't fully developed yet. My original idea was to use Lightning Release and a charging thrust to pierce through the enemy, but right now it only has a paralyzing effect."

Toru could not help applauding. "Gathering Lightning Release in your palm? You're pretty creative."

Kakashi looked at Toru. "Once I finish developing it, I'll teach you this move. It'll fulfill the promise we made before."

Toru had once taught Kakashi the Rasengan, and Kakashi had decided then to repay him with another technique capable of rivaling it.

Kakashi believed that once his technique was complete, it would be enough to rival the Rasengan.

After all, the Rasengan's creator was the famed Yellow Flash, Namikaze Minato. That showed just how confident Kakashi was in both himself and his new technique.

The two did not chat for long, as the next match soon arrived.

Yuhi Kurenai versus Nohara Rin.

I can't lose. Toru is watching from up there. Kurenai thought.

Unbeknownst to her, Nohara Rin was thinking the same thing. Kakashi is watching me from up there. I have to win.

The two girls were thus filled with the desire to win.

At Shikaku's command, the two girls charged at each other simultaneously, using Kunai as they clashed in taijutsu.

Kurenai was a genjutsu-type ninja, while Rin was a medical ninja, so both believed the other's taijutsu was her weakness.

Yet the outcome surprised them both. Only then did they realize that their opponent was stronger than they had expected.

Kurenai's taijutsu had indeed once been her weakness, but with Toru's help, she had raised it to the passing standard for a Chunin.

Rin, meanwhile, had never been weak to begin with. Her Chakra control was extremely precise, which not only helped with medical ninjutsu but also enhanced her frontal combat ability.

Although Nohara Rin was usually well protected by Kakashi and Obito, she was by no means a useless flower vase.

Of course, neither was Kurenai.

After exchanging blows for a while, neither could gain the upper hand. They then retreated and threw their Kunai at each other.

However, Kurenai noticed that something was wrong with the Kunai Rin had thrown and hurriedly dodged backward.

With a boom, the Explosive Tag Kunai detonated.

It was not over yet. Rin used a Wind Release Whirlwind. Though it was not very powerful, it could spread the scorching flames produced by the explosion.

Fortunately, Kurenai had mastered the Body Flicker Technique. She flickered backward and avoided the flames.

Kurenai rapidly formed hand seals.

Demonic Illusion: Tree Bind Technique!

Since Rin had not expected Kurenai to evade that surprise attack and had let down her guard, the genjutsu successfully struck her.

Seeing this, Kurenai immediately rushed forward with a Kunai in hand, intending to circle behind Rin and hold her hostage. That would count as her victory.

However, Rin struggled and stabbed the Kunai in her hand into her own thigh, breaking free of the genjutsu's control.

Rin then pressed her Kunai against Kurenai's abdomen from behind, while Kurenai pressed her Kunai against Rin's throat.

Both of them froze, then looked toward Shikaku.

Shikaku was also stunned, so he looked to the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Sarutobi Hiruzen stroked his beard. "Call it a draw. Both of them are outstanding kunoichi."

And so, this fight between the girls finally came to an end.