Hyuga Clan

"Mm, Wasabi did well."

The Third Hokage watched Wasabi Mitarai step in to block Kirito's attack and praised her. The faint worry that had just arisen in his heart immediately vanished.

Even if Chizuru disliked him, she was still one of Konoha's outstanding young sprouts. Nothing could be allowed to happen to her.

Then, he fixed his gaze on Kirito in the crystal ball, a gratified expression appearing on his face.

As expected of the genius Mito-sama and he had taken notice of. At only eight years old, he had developed Magnet Release, a Kekkei Genkai Konoha did not possess. He truly was a heaven-blessed prodigy.

"With this, Konoha will have an inheritance of Magnet Release as well."

The Third Hokage thought cheerfully, then narrowed his eyes slightly as he thought of something interesting.

The next moment, he immediately said, "Someone."

As soon as he spoke, a masked Anbu ninja appeared before the Third Hokage on one knee and respectfully said, "Your orders, Third Hokage-sama."

"Go bring Kirito here."

The Third Hokage ordered.

"Yes."

The Anbu ninja accepted the order, then used the Body Flicker Technique to leave.

"The match is over. The winner is Kirito Tonsaka. You have no objection, do you, Chizuru?"

After successfully blocking Kirito's attack, Wasabi Mitarai immediately announced the result.

Chizuru snorted coldly and nodded in acknowledgment.

She might have been competitive, but she was no sore loser. She knew that without Wasabi Mitarai's rescue just now, she would likely have been seriously injured. Her defeat had been inevitable.

"Haha, I caught you off guard. Sorry about that."

Kirito dispelled his ninjutsu and walked over with a grin, carrying an iron rod over his shoulder. Then he held out his hand, preparing to form a reconciliation seal with Chizuru.

Seeing this, Chizuru reluctantly extended two fingers and completed the reconciliation seal with Kirito. She quickly pulled her fingers back afterward and shot him a vicious glare.

She would definitely get back at him for today's loss someday.

It was just Magnet Release. Chizuru Uchiha was not afraid of it.

After I get back today, I need to cultivate Water Chakra Nature as soon as possible.

Chizuru quietly made up her mind.

She knew the weakness of Magnet Release Ninjutsu. It could be countered with Water Style Ninjutsu. Wet Iron Sand would drastically increase a Magnet Release Ninja's chakra consumption.

And she knew Kirito's weakness better than anyone.

After completing the reconciliation seal with Kirito, Chizuru walked over to Wasabi Mitarai and said with a faint blush, "Thank you, Sensei."

Although she did not hold much respect for Wasabi Mitarai, who was only a Chunin, it was a fact that the woman had saved her just now. She was still deeply grateful.

Hearing Chizuru, who normally treated her poorly, thank her, Wasabi Mitarai immediately felt as delighted as if she had drunk a delicious iced beverage on a scorching summer day. A faint smile slipped onto her pretty face, which usually remained icy and aloof.

"Ah, Sensei Wasabi smiled."

Nawaki immediately noticed and shouted it out.

As soon as he said that, everyone turned their eyes toward Wasabi Mitarai, the icy beauty who was normally so stern and unsmiling. Surprise appeared on their faces, and they began chattering away. Some of the gossip-loving girls even revealed the fact that Wasabi Mitarai did not have a boyfriend.

"Huh, it's true! Look, look!"

"Sensei really is beautiful when she smiles. Too bad she's always so fierce normally."

"That's right. If Sensei smiled more often, lots of people would definitely pursue her. She wouldn't still be single."

Wasabi Mitarai's face flushed red when she heard the students' words. She punched Nawaki on the head, then quickly resumed her icy beauty demeanor. With a cold glare, she suppressed the gossiping students once more before loudly announcing, "Next pair, Karen Hyuga and Nawaki Senju."

"Yes! It's finally my turn."

Nawaki, who had been clutching his head and crying out in pain, was instantly overjoyed when he heard that.

He quickly went to the open space used for matches and said to Kirito, who was leaving the field, with fighting spirit blazing in his eyes, "Kirito, use Magnet Release against me later too."

"Sure, but talk after you win."

Kirito replied with a faint smile.

"Just wait. I'll take care of my opponent soon enough."

Nawaki said confidently.

His progress over the past two years had been obvious. Although his win rate was still extremely low when sparring with Kirito and Chizuru, he had always kept up with Kirito and never fallen behind.

With the various Shadow Clone tactics he had developed and the many Earth Style and Water Style Ninjutsu he had mastered, he was already able to trade blows evenly with the Chunin in his clan.

Therefore, he firmly believed that his strength ranked only below Kirito and Chizuru's in the class.

"Don't get careless and underestimate your opponent, idiot. How many times have I told you?"

Seeing Nawaki getting a little carried away, Kirito immediately reminded him.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah."

Nawaki replied perfunctorily, then looked toward a Byakugan girl with bandages wrapped around her forehead.

After spending two years together, Nawaki naturally knew some things about this Byakugan girl.

Karen Hyuga was from the Hyuga Branch Family. She usually acted timid and submissive around everyone, a pretty but weak-looking girl. Although she excelled in Theory Class and had consistently ranked second in the class, her Practical Combat Class results were only around the middle.

So it was not that Nawaki was getting carried away. It was simply that this opponent was completely beneath his notice.

He, Nawaki, might not be able to defeat a Jonin, but handling a Genin would be effortless.

Seeing that his warning had been ineffective, Kirito stopped trying to persuade him. He turned and left, then looked at Karen Hyuga as she emerged from the crowd, a trace of appreciation flashing in his eyes.

Unlike the careless Nawaki, he knew very well that this seemingly timid girl was a true genius.

How could someone who had consistently ranked among the top two in Konoha's Theory Class and the top three in her grade be a simple character?

Unfortunately, after she had been branded with the Caged Bird Seal not long after school began, she had become insecure and timid. She had also grown extremely withdrawn, choosing to shut herself off.

But Kirito knew that beneath her timid exterior lay a strong heart, and she had never given up pursuing freedom.

He could tell from how she had continued diligently studying Sealing Jutsu.

A Cursed Seal was, after all, a type of Sealing Jutsu.

Kirito had often seen her teaching herself Sealing Jutsu in the library, and they had even discussed Sealing Jutsu together.

But after some time, she stopped coming to the library, stopped discussing Sealing Jutsu with him, and even began avoiding him.

Kirito had guessed some of the reasons behind it, but there was nothing he could do.

Kirito could not estimate how strong a genius who had constantly worked to undo the Caged Bird Seal truly was. But if Nawaki got careless and underestimated her, he would definitely suffer badly.

Karen Hyuga timidly stepped out of the crowd. When she passed Kirito, who was smiling at her, she instinctively lowered her head.

"Good luck, Karen."

As Kirito and Karen Hyuga passed each other, he spoke softly.

Karen Hyuga's eyes immediately widened. A happy smile appeared on her little face, and her gaze soon turned resolute as her Byakugan activated.

In an instant, Karen Hyuga's bearing underwent a tremendous change. The timid, weak-looking girl Nawaki had seen now began to appear strong.

"Karen Hyuga. Please guide me."

After completing the Fighting Seal with Nawaki, Karen immediately assumed the opening stance of the Gentle Fist. Staring at Nawaki with her activated Byakugan, she spoke seriously.

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