Conceding

Han looked somewhat disheveled after Yugito Nii's hit, and her once-pristine white skirt was now stained with quite a bit of dirt.

However, the countless shards of ice scattered around Han's feet also indicated that Yugito Nii's attack had not accomplished much.

"They're both incredible!"

Watching the two women on the platform, Kakashi said sincerely, "If I were fighting this round, I wouldn't be confident of beating either of them."

Han's abilities spoke for themselves.

Her ninjutsu required no hand seals, and her Kekkei Genkai gave her an almost infallible absolute defense.

Even against Yugito Nii's unexpected attack just now, she had somehow emerged completely unscathed.

Kakashi had never seen anyone control ninjutsu the way Yugito Nii did. Moreover, he knew that her strengths went beyond that; her close-quarters combat skills were what made her most formidable.

"Ice Release: Swallow Snowstorm!"

Just then, Han suddenly attacked from the platform. As the temperature rapidly dropped, countless snowflakes actually condensed in the air.

"Ice Release: Grass Bracken Dance!"

She unleashed two ninjutsu in succession, and the snowflakes in the air suddenly began spinning rapidly like spiraling shuriken, hurtling straight toward Yugito Nii's body.

Yugito Nii, standing on one side of the platform, turned her gaze toward the attack. Blue flames surged from her claws, completely enveloping her body.

At the same time, she pushed off lightly with her toes and twisted through the air with a cat's agility.

"Cats have nine lives. Ninjutsu like this can't do anything to..."

Before she finished, the airborne Yugito Nii suddenly saw that the platform beneath her feet was already covered in ice spikes. Their exposed, gleaming tips brought her words to an abrupt halt.

"Fire Release: Fire Rat Ball!"

With nowhere to land and snowflakes still flying through the air, Yugito Nii had no choice but to immediately unleash Fire Release, shattering the ice below her to create a temporary foothold.

"Ugh..."

"Hm?" As he watched their spectacular duel, Liumu suddenly sensed a surge of chakra like Gyuki's earlier. His eyes immediately turned toward Yugito Nii, who was struggling to move on the platform.

"Finally going to use it?"

"Stop!"

At that moment, the Kumogakure Jonin responsible for judging the match suddenly leaped onto the platform. Lightning burst beneath his feet as he immediately pressed both hands onto Yugito Nii's shoulders.

"You lost."

"I-!"

Yugito Nii looked at the Kumogakure Jonin with a frown, her expression full of defiance.

The Kumogakure Jonin said quietly, "Have you forgotten the agreement?"

"I..." At his words, Yugito Nii closed her eyes and sighed. Her expression remained unsettled for a long time before she finally looked up and said, "I understand."

Under everyone's gaze, Yugito Nii raised her right hand and called out to the assembled ninja, "This round... I concede!"

The entire Shinobi World knew of the Two-Tails' existence, but probably few knew who its jinchūriki was.

To appear in these Chunin Exams, Yugito Nii had privately promised Kumogakure's higher-ups that she absolutely would not use the Two-Tails' power.

Having sensed that fleeting fluctuation of chakra, the Jonin referee had no choice but to stop Yugito Nii before she unleashed it.

"So it was her!"

The yellow-eyed ninja gave a subtle smile, a sound like a snake's flickering tongue seeming to rise from his throat.

"Next match: Konoha's Kui versus Konoha's Liumu."

"My turn again." Hearing his name, Liumu stood and brushed the dust off his backside.

Kakashi came over to warn him. "Kui specializes in..."

"No need to warn me." As Liumu walked past Kakashi, he patted him on the shoulder and smiled. "Thirty seconds! I'll be back down in thirty seconds."

Liumu facing Kui this round meant Kakashi had a bye. With only one or two more matches after this, the competition would be over.

In the Chunin Exams, virtually everyone who reached the final ten had a chance of being promoted directly to Chunin.

Thus, both Liumu and Kakashi were essentially assured of becoming Chunin. The remaining matches were merely a formality.

Kui was a member of the ANBU directly under the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. He specialized in Lightning Release and was often responsible for the Sealing Squad during missions.

Kakashi had wanted to warn Liumu to watch out for his opponent's methods of attack, but...

"Begin."

"Lightning Release: Lightning Pillar!"

The instant the match began, Kui seized the initiative. His hands rapidly formed hand seals, and three stone walls suddenly rose from the platform, surrounding Liumu.

"Hm?"

Before Liumu could react, several bursts of lightning emanated from the stone walls.

Countless arcs of electricity flashed into existence, filling the air with a humming roar.

"Liumu!"

Seeing Liumu take the ninjutsu head-on, Kakashi immediately cried out in worry from below the platform.

However...

With a bang, the three stone walls shattered. Liumu slowly emerged through the rubble with a furious expression, glaring at Kui as he said, "Look what you've done!"

Kui: ???

Kakashi: ???

Everyone: ???

The lightning just now had set Liumu's wig on fire. His head was now bare, just as Kakashi had seen it on Hokage Rock.

"Pfft..."

"Who the hell just laughed?"

Burning with rage, Liumu swept his gaze across everyone present before fixing it on Han.

"Oh, it was you. Never mind, then."

"Pfft... Hahaha!"

At this point, Kui finally could not hold it in either. Watching Liumu hopping mad, he grinned and laughed aloud.

Liumu: !!!

As the saying went, heads could roll and blood could flow, but the hairstyle had to stay!

It was bad enough that the system had traded away his hair for the Saitama template. Now, even wearing a wig, Kui had exposed him.

This...

Was! Un! For! Givable!

"Kui, was it?" Liumu's eyes blazed as he spoke each word distinctly. "Don't say I'm bullying you. I'll give you a chance to fight back."

As Liumu spoke, he slowly clenched both fists. Under his immense strength, several sharp cracks immediately rang out from his joints.

"Lightning Release: Sixfold Lightning Pillar!"

Kui naturally knew that Liumu was Jiraiya's disciple. Judging by his earlier displays, he clearly had not shown his full strength.

Underestimating an enemy was a ninja's greatest failing. Kui did not want a moment of carelessness to end in defeat, so his second attack was his strongest ninjutsu.

Watching the six earthen walls rise around him, Liumu pushed off lightly and vaulted out of the stone enclosure before the lightning erupted.

Then...

"Rest! In! Peace!"

His right fist, drawn back at his waist, slowly punched forward. A powerful blast of force slammed straight into Kui's face.

Die!

"Minato!"

A yellow flash suddenly appeared in a corner of the stone chamber and caught the airborne Kui around the waist. With a whoosh, not a trace of either figure remained.