On the field.
Faced with Natsuri's relentless Ninjutsu attacks, Chojuro couldn't even get close.
Although Hiramekarei managed to neutralize all of Natsuri's Ninjutsu, Chojuro's Chakra consumption was far greater than Natsuri's.
After shattering another Wind Release Ninjutsu, the Hiramekarei in Chojuro's hand had more than doubled in size.
Suddenly, the bandages wrapping around Hiramekarei reached their limit and broke apart inch by inch, revealing the blade within which was filled with a large amount of Chakra.
The two small holes on the Hiramekarei resemble a steam engine, spewing out two powerful jets of air.
The blade gleamed with a soft blue light, and even viewers without the Sharingan could clearly see the Chakra within it.
[Hiramekarei - Liberation!]
Chojuro, relying on his own Chakra, finally completed the complete release of Hiramekarei.
I knew it! I could do it! Now it's time to fight back!
Chojuro's eyes were filled with excitement. He glanced at Natsuri in the distance, but didn't move an inch. He waved Hiramekarei in front of him.
A blade of light, visible to the naked eye, flashed towards Natsuri.
Natsuri's Shadow Clone vanished instantly, while Natsuri's main body was also severed in two. The blade's aura continued unabated, flying towards the edge of the arena.
"Clang~"
The illuminated sealing barrier completely blocked the blade's edge.
Chojuro's previously excited face was suddenly filled with panic.
I killed someone! I killed the opponent whom the Mizukage had repeatedly instructed me not to let suffer a humiliating defeat!
Chojuro, who kept feeding himself chicken soup during the battle, became more and more excited as the fight progressed, completely forgetting Mei Terumi's instructions.
In a state of utter panic, Chojuro fainted.
As Natsuri rushed forward, she saw that Chojuro had already lost consciousness and stopped. She cautiously approached him, and after confirming that he was completely unconscious, she looked at the referee's position with a puzzled expression.
The Genjutsu I just used clearly didn't have a hypnotic effect!
Chojuro did indeed free Hiramekarei on his own and even managed to unleash a strike, but the direction of the attack was completely different from where Natsuri was standing.
All because Chojuro glanced at Natsuri one more time before swinging his sword!
Mei Terumi, standing on the platform, looked at the unconscious Chojuro with a gleam in her eyes. Although Chojuro had lost, Hiramekarei had a new master.
It's not a loss by any measure, especially since losing to the monster's sister beside him isn't unexpected.
The audience initially looked puzzled, but then erupted in enthusiastic cheers.
Natsuri's fighting style clearly caters to the audience's tastes, which is the path Ren chose for Natsuri.
Before Orochimaru figured out the truth, Ren didn't really want anyone else in his clan to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Natsuri's fighting style in the preliminaries was too reckless; she won purely by relying on her massive Chakra and the unique characteristics of her own Chakra to fight head-on.
It's true that the Uchiha Clan also values Taijutsu, but Natsuri has a unique advantage, so why does she still need to fight with people in a hand-to-hand combat style?
Wouldn't it be better to utilize that amazing Chakra advantage and directly overwhelm the enemy with damage?
The only time Ren fought purely using Taijutsu was when he was fighting Root, while inside a barrier. Close combat has never been Ren's style.
"Father, the battle is over!"
Sasuke Uchiha looked at Fugaku, who had returned to sit down beside him, and reminded him.
"I know, I'll just wait here for the next match."
After replying, Fugaku turned his gaze back to the field, by which time the referee had already announced the winner.
Chojuro was carried away on a stretcher by the medical team, while Natsuri walked towards the exit alone.
As Natsuri walked alone through the long corridor, a figure suddenly appeared in front of her.
"Come with me, Natsuri."
"No, I want to watch the game."
Natsuri declined the visitor's invitation and continued walking towards the lounge.
Half a minute later, Natsuri, who had just changed her clothes, was about to leave the lounge.
I noticed a white patch growing on the clothes I had just changed out of.
Who is it?
Behind Natsuri, vortex-like spatial ripples appeared.
One of the hands reached out and patted Natsuri on the shoulder. In the next instant, Natsuri twisted and disappeared from the spot.
The white object on the clothes he changed out of transformed into a White Zetsu, which, after looking at the empty lounge, burrowed into the ground and disappeared.
Outside Konoha.
From the location where the Iwagakure troops were stationed, groups of Iwagakure Ninja suddenly began to rush towards Konoha, which was just a stone's throw away.
This put all the remaining troops stationed outside Konoha on high alert, and the sensory ninjas from each village focused their attention on the Iwagakure.
Inside the competition venue.
One by one, figures rose to their feet, unleashing their Chakra, as if preparing to do something.
Instead, they were met with longswords drawn from their sheaths, slicing across their necks.
Countless heads flew up and fell.
The beheading of nobles from the Land of Earth instantly turned the eyes of the few Iwagakure ninjas who were able to enter Konoha bloodshot.
Just as they were about to act, they suddenly sensed an attack coming from beside them.
Are there any Konoha spies among your companions?