The Power of the Pills

That dark purple, pill-shaped hidden weapon vanished while flying toward Neji Hyuga.

What was going on?

Neji Hyuga was clearly stunned by this sudden turn of events.

His Byakugan could see even the internal structure of that hidden weapon.

Yet he could not understand why it had suddenly disappeared.

It could be ruled out—it was definitely not Genjutsu.

Neji Hyuga instinctively looked toward Ye Fan.

The first thing he saw was that smug face, as though everything happening before him had been within Ye Fan's expectations.

Neji Hyuga did not dare relax. He hurriedly gathered more chakra into his eyes, gaining even sharper perception.

Although he still failed to find the vanished hidden weapon, at that moment, Neji Hyuga caught a strange scent.

The smell was difficult to describe, slightly pungent.

Frowning, Neji Hyuga determined that the scent was coming from midair.

It was most likely connected to the hidden weapon that had just disappeared.

He was not the only one who smelled it. Everyone in the stands caught the scent clearly as well.

"What a strange smell. It's like pepper powder stir-fried with moldy mushrooms."

Tenten twitched her nose and spoke thoughtfully.

"Tenten, you're the best with hidden weapons. What exactly was that strange little ball just now? Did you see how it disappeared?"

Rock Lee was focused on something else. He was still pondering that hidden weapon which had suddenly vanished.

"I've never seen one before. It felt like it evaporated in midair."

Tenten answered casually.

On the stands at the other end, Kiba Inuzuka said excitedly:

"Brother Ye Fan is finally getting started? This is really something to look forward to!"

"Kiba, do you know something?"

Shino Aburame could not help asking.

The scent drifting through the air had made the Chakra Bugs within him somewhat restless.

Kiba Inuzuka chuckled and said:

"On the way here, Brother Ye Fan mentioned that he would use smell to limit the Byakugan. I think he must be making his move now."

"Through smell?"

Shino Aburame looked utterly incredulous.

He had made several guesses before, but he had never considered that smell could limit the Byakugan.

If word of something like that got out, people would probably laugh at it.

"Brother Ye Fan didn't explain exactly how he'd do it, but I think we'll find out soon enough," Kiba Inuzuka said with a smile.

"But can it really be done? Neji Hyuga's Byakugan doesn't seem to have been affected."

As Shino Aburame spoke, he turned to look at Hanabi Hyuga nearby.

Hanabi Hyuga was also using her Byakugan.

She wanted to see every detail of the match clearly.

Her Byakugan did not seem to have been affected either.

Just as many people were wondering what Ye Fan was trying to do, his voice suddenly rang out, exceptionally loud.

"Everyone, my apologies."

With a smile at the corner of his mouth, Ye Fan flicked his wrist and produced several red pills the size of ping-pong balls.

In an instant.

Everyone's gazes fell upon the little red pills in Ye Fan's hand.

What was this supposed to be now?

"Kiba, why did Brother Ye Fan apologize to everyone?" Hinata Hyuga asked curiously.

Kiba Inuzuka froze at the question, then realized:

Yeah, why had Brother Ye Fan said something like that? That wasn't his style!

The answer was revealed very quickly!

Ye Fan threw the red pills in his hand.

Not at Neji Hyuga, but at the ground.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Like firecrackers, the red pills exploded the instant they struck the floor, releasing huge amounts of red gas.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Ye Fan threw another handful of red pills onto the ground.

In an instant, the entire hall was shrouded in red gas.

"Cough, cough! Ye... Ye Fan, what... what are you doing..."

Iruka's hoarse, pained voice rang out.

After all, he was in the arena and was the first to feel the power of the gas.

"You... bastard!"

Immediately afterward came Neji Hyuga's furious, stifled voice.

At first, the people in the stands did not understand what was happening.

But when the red gas spread to where they were.

They inhaled only a tiny amount, yet a fierce burning sensation instantly ignited their nasal passages. Breathing became difficult, and tears streamed uncontrollably down their faces.

"Everyone, hold your breath!"

No one knew who shouted it.

Holding their breath really did work. The burning in their chests lessened, though their noses still felt awful and their tears kept flowing.

"Everyone, close your eyes! This gas burns your eyes!"

Again, no one knew who shouted it.

In any case, beneath the red gas, they could not even see each other clearly. Keeping their eyes open was painful enough.

It felt as though someone had thrown chili powder into their eyes.

Their own tears alone were enough to blur their vision.

Now they finally understood how Ye Fan intended to limit the Byakugan.

Forget the Byakugan—anything with eyeballs was probably limited.

Damn it!

That was way too vicious!

What a dirty trick!

So that was why he had apologized earlier?

Inside the sealed hall, the irritating smell lingered for a long time.

If only someone among them knew a Wind Release Technique. Then they could blow the smell away.

As everyone suffered from tears, coughing, breathing difficulties, and a host of other symptoms, Ye Fan's voice rang out again.

"Sorry for putting everyone through this, but don't worry. This isn't poison and there won't be any aftereffects. Drink more water and get more fresh air, and the symptoms will disappear soon."

Ye Fan's voice was still as loud as ever, making everyone wonder:

Why the hell wasn't this bastard affected at all?

"...Every...one, go outside first. The make... cough, cough... make-up exam is over..."

Iruka's hoarse voice rang out. Though no one could see his current state, the sound of his voice made it clear that he was not doing well.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Everyone began running out of the hall.

If they stayed any longer, they would probably choke to death!

Once outside, everyone's condition finally eased somewhat.

Like fish out of water, they gulped down air in huge breaths, though tears still kept spilling from their eyes.

Gradually, their vision returned.

They looked at one another, each person more bedraggled than the last.

Before long, Neji Hyuga also ran out from inside.

His eyes were tightly shut, the corners of his eyes and his nose red. Like everyone else, he gasped for breath.

Then Iruka came out as well.

His eyes were shut too, and he coughed while his nose ran. His image as a teacher was completely ruined.

By then, those who had come out first were slowly recovering. When they realized Ye Fan was nowhere to be seen, they all grew curious.

"Where is Senior Ye Fan?"

Hanabi Hyuga was the first to speak.

Ignoring the burning pain in her eyes, she activated her Byakugan again, wanting to see how Ye Fan was doing inside.

Who would have thought.

Through her Byakugan, she saw an eerie scene!