ALL NOVEL Chapter 38: Chapter 38
Though his sight could follow Ay's movements, the gap in their reaction times was undeniable.
"Lightning Release: Thunderclap Horizon Dance!"
The terrifying taijutsu cleaved Uchiha Tono's Great Fireball Jutsu in half with ease. As the deadly hand blade approached, the only thing Tono saw was darkness before collapsing into unconsciousness.
"So, that's the Third Raikage's kid?"
"He certainly has the makings of a powerful ninja."
When the dust settled, and Ay was seen carrying Tono out of the arena, Tsunade's gaze lingered on the young man for a while. For some reason, she had a nagging feeling—like this wouldn't be the last time they crossed paths.
"An Uchiha prodigy, defeated?"
"That kid from the Cloud Village... He's terrifying. He actually took down an Uchiha!"
With Uchiha Mikoto already securing her place in the semifinals, Uchiha Tono's defeat didn't come as too much of a shock to the Leaf villagers. There was a trace of regret, sure, but after the initial surprise, they still clapped for Ay, a show of respect from the audience. That's the spirit of the top village in the shinobi world.
"Third match: Rasa vs. Senju Hiroki!"
The moment Tsunade's voice rang out, Fujiwara Tetsuya saw a noticeable shift in Hiroki's expression. The Senju wasn't expecting to face such a formidable opponent this early in the tournament.
"It's the kid from the Sand Village? How did Tsunade arrange this?"
"Hiroki's strong, but to overcome someone with Magnet Release? That seems like a tall order."
On the southern side of the arena, high atop the stands, several prominent Senju clan members and Jonin watched their kin step onto the battlefield. Their faces were tense, as if they already knew the outcome.
"How could this happen in a simple Chunin Exam? The pride of the Senju clan, cut down so early..."
It was clear they placed the blame on Tsunade. After all, the Uchiha had Mikoto making it into the semifinals. But for the Senju, Hiroki's journey seemed destined to end here, at the quarterfinals.
The truth was, anyone with enough insight had already guessed the result of this match. And as the battle progressed, their predictions were spot on. No matter how much Hiroki struggled, his water and earth-style jutsu couldn't breach the protective shield of golden sand that Rasa effortlessly controlled.
"Is this really the genius of the Senju? How disappointing."
"Looks like the great Senju clan is truly fading into obscurity after the deaths of the First and Second Hokage."
"Well, this fight has gone on long enough."
"Magnet Release: Gold Sand Cushion!"
With a swirl of glittering sand, Rasa levitated above the arena, rising to the same height as the surrounding walls. The spectacle was enough to make Tetsuya drool with envy.
Flying through the air—wasn't that every man's dream? Sure, standing on a cloud of sand wasn't quite as cool as riding a sword, but Rasa was pulling off something that was unattainable for most.
"Magnet Release: Gold Sand Spears!"
Spears of golden sand whirled through the air at high speed, tearing through Hiroki's defenses with ease. The instant they closed in on him, they morphed into chains, binding him tightly in place.
"Winner: Rasa of the Sand Village!"
As Hiroki's defeated expression sank in, Tsunade didn't bother offering any words of comfort. She simply shot a glance at Rasa, quickly moving to usher the contestants out of the arena.
Little did she know, that single glance sent chills down Rasa's spine. He was silently thankful that he hadn't gone too far—otherwise, he would've paid the price for underestimating the presence of a Senju like Tsunade.
The clan may have fallen, but someone like her could still shake the world.
"Watch closely, Mikoto! You'll be basking in my glorious victory next!"
Hiroki's dejected face faded from Tetsuya's mind as he locked eyes with Uchiha Mikoto. Standing up slowly, he prepared to take the stage.
After all, the protagonist always gets the final match, right?
"Tetsuya, don't let your guard down."
"If my sources are correct, the Hyuga Clan has gone all out for this Chunin Exam. They've already taught Hyuga Momaru the clan's secret technique: the Rotation."
"If you're careless, you'll regret it."
A Hyuga ninja with mastery over the Rotation technique was a far greater threat than one without. Known as an "absolute defense," it could nullify almost any physical attack.
Tetsuya shrugged. "I've been waiting to test the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan for ages."
That so-called "absolute defense" was only unbeatable if the attacks were on the same level. If he could hit hard enough and fast enough, Rotation wouldn't be so absolute after all.
"Fujiwara Tetsuya!"
"Hyuga Momaru!"
With the confidence that came from mastering Rotation, Momaru strolled forward, his attitude so smug it practically radiated arrogance.
"So it's the Hyuga kid," someone in the crowd murmured.
"The Hyuga Clan is no joke. With the Byakugan's insight, Tetsuya won't have it easy."
"True, but don't forget what happened yesterday! That level of water-style jutsu isn't something you can brush aside."
The clash between a great clan and a declining one was a classic matchup. Normally, most would bet on the Hyuga to win, but after seeing Tetsuya's raw power in the earlier rounds, the crowd seemed divided. Opinions were sharply split.
"Tetsuya..."
Off in the corner, where he usually stood, Tanaka Jirou was watching Tetsuya with concern. He couldn't help but worry. The Hyuga Clan was one of Konoha's elite families—during the glory days of the Fujiwara, Tanaka, and Uesugi clans, even they had to look up to the Hyuga.
To break through that wall would be harder than anything Tetsuya had faced before.
"Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms!"
Momru made the first move, launching into his clan's signature style.
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