The sharp gust of wind from the punch whistled past Neji's cheek.
Even if it was just a glancing blow, the black iron knuckle duster carried terrifying force.
Neji's cheeks still felt a burning sting, as if they had been scraped by a razor blade.
He shuddered, his mind, clouded by rage, instantly cleared by the chilling killing intent.
" Hinata -sama... actually attacked first?"
Neji stared incredulously at his cousin, whose demeanor had completely changed.
Is this still the same timid girl who wouldn't even dare to look him in the eye?
" Neji, Lord Kenya is right."
Hinata did not back down; her pure white eyes stared firmly at Neji.
"Fate is not meant to be complained about, but to be defied."
"If my Gentle Fist can't change anything, then I'll use these iron Iron Fist to fight my way through!"
After saying that.
Hinata once again swung her fist, which was covered in black knuckle dusters, and launched an attack.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The dull thud echoed through the training hall.
Although Hinata's Taijutsu are still quite immature, the destructive power of those black iron knuckle dusters is truly astonishing.
Neji dared not take the attack head-on and could only rely on his Byakugan and Gentle Fist footwork to dodge awkwardly.
The situation on the field reversed instantly.
The once arrogant Hyuga was now being forced to retreat repeatedly by a little girl wearing brass knuckles.
The examiners and Jonin in the stands were dumbfounded.
This art style is getting more and more outrageous.
final.
Due to mental confusion and insufficient vigilance.
Neji was hit in the shoulder by Hinata's hook that grazed the edge of the box, and he fell out of bounds with a thud.
"The winner Hinata Hyuga!"
Gekko Hayate announced the results, his tone tinged with disbelief.
This dramatic showdown ended in such an absurd way.
The preliminary rounds continue.
Kenya indulged in his sharp tongue to his heart's content in the VIP seats.
He didn't leave the training hall until all the matches were over, stretching and yawning.
Inside the training hall outside the tower.
The candidates who just finished the competition are taking the time to rest and reflect.
Tenten, the ninja tool expert of Class 3.
He was currently squatting in the corner, looking at his deflated ninja tool pouch with a worried expression.
"Sigh, this qualifying round has been too exhausting; I've almost used up all my Kunai and Shuriken."
Tenten sighed, painfully calculating the accounts.
"If I buy another batch of high-end ninja tools before the finals, I'll have no money left for half a year's living expenses."
For ordinary ninjas, the consumption of ninja tools is an astronomical figure.
Moreover, her fighting style, which relies primarily on throwing techniques, is practically throwing money around.
Just when I was worrying about money Tenten.
"Click... click..."
A familiar chewing sound rang out beside me.
Keep your head up Tenten.
Just then, Senju Kenya, who had been spouting sarcasm all day from the stands, walked over while picking his teeth.
"Little girl, what's troubling you?"
Looking at Tenten's bitter face, Kenya casually asked.
"I'm worried that I don't have enough ninja tools."
Although Tenten was somewhat intimidated by Kenya's sharp tongue, she also knew that he was an extremely wealthy man, and couldn't help but complain.
"The regular Shuriken are too weak, and the high-end ones are too expensive. I'm almost bankrupt."
Upon hearing this...
Kenya chuckled.
" Shuriken? What's the use of those things besides looking flashy?"
"Applying it to a person is like scraping, a complete waste of money."
Upon hearing this, Tenten immediately became indignant.
"What do you know! My throwing technique is unerring; given enough quantity, I can even suppress Jonin!"
"Is the quantity sufficient?"
Kenya raised an eyebrow and walked to a specially made steel plate in the training ground used for testing power.
"How about this one?"
Before he could finish speaking...
Kenya did not Hand Seals; he simply waved one hand.
Wood Release!
"Swish, swish, swish--!"
Accompanied by a series of sharp, whistling sounds.
Thousands upon thousands of black wooden splinters, gleaming with a cold metallic sheen, resembled a black rainstorm.
It gushed forth from Kenya's palm!
These Black Iron Wood spikes are not only numerous, but each one is also sharpened to an extremely sharp edge.
Its weight is several times greater than that of steel of the same volume.
"Splashing..."
The Black Iron Wood spikes piled up like a small mountain in front of Tenten.
"This... this is Wood Release?!"
Tenten stared wide-eyed, touching the cold splinters in disbelief.
This hardness, this weight.
It was more perfect than any high-grade ninja tool she had ever seen!
"Take these and play with them. I have more if you need more."
Kenya waved his hand generously.
"I can make hundreds of thousands of these a day, at zero cost."
"Try using it to throw projectiles; I guarantee it's a million times better than your junk."
Tenten swallowed hard.
She picked up a Black Iron Wood splinter and weighed it.
Then he took a deep breath and began to use his throwing technique.
"Whoosh!"
The Black Iron Wood spikes transformed into a black Inazuma, instantly shooting towards the specially made steel plate dozens of meters away.
"Clang--Pfft!"
A crisp crack was followed by a piercing, teeth-grinding sound.
Tenten stared at the steel plate in disbelief.
The Black Iron Wood spike had actually pierced right through the several-inch-thick explosion-proof steel plate!
And it embedded itself deeply into the wall behind it!
That power!
Its penetrating power is practically comparable to that of Wind Release!
"My God! This... this is practically a god-tier weapon!"
Tenten, he was so excited that he trembled all over, and his big eyes shone with a fanatical light.
With this unlimited supply of powerful Black Iron Wood spikes...
Her combat power would definitely be several levels higher!
"Uncle! You're so handsome!"
Overjoyed, Tenten rushed over and hugged Kenya's arm, jumping and hopping with excitement.
"Thank you, uncle! During the finals, I'll definitely use these splinters to turn them all into hedgehogs!"
Kenya reluctantly pulled his arm away.
"Alright, alright, stop gushing over him."
"Practice hard, or you'll embarrass me."
He waved his hand, turned around, and walked out of the training hall.
The preliminary rounds have ended.
Next comes a month-long period of rest and preparation.
The entire Konoha was enveloped in a calm before the storm.
The candidates from all the major ninja villages are training intensively, preparing to make a name for themselves in the finals.
Meanwhile, Kenya continued to live a comfortable life as the old master in the Senju mansion.
Occasionally, he would go to inspect the Iron Fist Chamber of Commerce's business and, incidentally, give Sasuke and Naruto some pointers (and a good beating).
Time flies.
A month later, the finals began, Konoha was brightly decorated and bustling with people.