"How are we going to watch the match?" Tsunade looked at the dense Forest of Death and asked.
"We'll watch from the sky," Kitazawa replied calmly.
"You can fly?" Tsunade raised an eyebrow.
"I can't." Kitazawa formed hand seals and said, "But it can."
A seed fell to the ground. The earth rumbled, and thick vines burst upward. Driven by the Wood Release chakra, they continued rising toward the sky.
This was Wood Release: Wood Dragon Technique, though a weakened version.
The Wood Dragon halted in mid-air, its barbs interlocking to form a sturdy wooden ladder.
"Wow!" The Genius Class students exclaimed in unison. Kakashi, Chen, Iruka, and the others were equally astonished.
"Is this really how Wood Release is meant to be used?" Tsunade stared blankly for two seconds before complaining aloud.
"Ninjutsu is just a tool." Kitazawa shook his head. "As long as it achieves the goal."
"That's a very novel way of thinking." Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled.
It didn't align with traditional shinobi thinking, but he was retired—how Kitazawa chose to use his techniques was no longer his concern.
"Please." Kitazawa gestured politely.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Kakashi, and the others stepped onto the Wood Dragon and were carried upward.
Once airborne, the Wood Dragon extended numerous branches, forming a wide viewing platform.
"Kitazawa-sensei, what about us?" Naruto asked impatiently. Ino, Hinata, and the others looked at him expectantly.
"You can't watch this match." Kitazawa shook his head. "If you do, you'll see the terrain layout. That wouldn't be fair to Sasuke and the others."
Hearing this, the Genius Class students could only sigh in regret. It was a real pity—they couldn't watch the match or ride the Wood Dragon.
"Iruka will relay the battle situation to you." Kitazawa thought briefly, then added, "Use this time to think about tactics."
"Understood." Iruka accepted immediately.
"Teacher Tsunade." Kitazawa walked to the base of the Wood Dragon and asked, "Are you waiting for me by not going up?"
"No." Tsunade snorted lightly, then stepped onto the wooden ladder and climbed aboard.
Kitazawa followed, and the two quickly reached the mid-air viewing platform.
From there, the entire Forest of Death lay beneath them. Even so, some blind spots remained.
The forest was simply too dense. But for Sarutobi Hiruzen and the others, that hardly mattered.
With their level of strength, sensing Sasuke and the rest was effortless.
"Teacher Tsunade, please sit." Kitazawa opened a summoning storage scroll and took out several office chairs.
"Is there a time limit for the team battle?" After sitting down, Tsunade suddenly asked, "What if they just hide and refuse to engage?"
"There's a two-hour limit," Kitazawa replied. "Once time's up, whether the fight is finished or not, the winner will be decided based on performance."
In the survival games of his previous life, there was always a "poison circle" to prevent endless stalling.
On the left side of the Forest of Death. Sasuke, Kimimaro, and Sakura arrived at the foot of a mountain.
This mountain had been created by Kitazawa using Earth Release: Clay Earth Drop.
"Our opponents are Shino's squad." Sasuke stopped and spoke. "In a forest environment, Shino's Kikaichū have a massive advantage."
"This mountain has no vegetation. The moment the Kikaichū approaches, I'll be able to detect them."
Kimimaro and Sakura nodded, unsurprised. Their instructor, Kosuke, had already analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of every squad for them.
"However, staying here forever isn't a long-term solution." Sasuke continued.
"This mountain is completely exposed." Sakura's expression grew serious. "That means our position will be obvious. Shino's squad could set traps and box us in."
"Sakura's right." Sasuke glanced at her, slightly surprised.
Then he thought it through. She was consistently second in the written exams. That meant she actually understood ninja theory better than most of them.
"Do you have a plan?" Sasuke asked.
"I have a small idea!" Noticing his attention, Sakura became instantly energized.
"Go on." Sasuke nodded.
"Fight fire with fire." Sakura explained, "Sasuke-kun's Shadow Clone transforms into Kimimaro and stays here with us, while the real Kimimaro circles around from behind."
"Shino has Kikaichū." Sasuke considered briefly. "Flanking them won't be easy."
"Sasuke-kun just needs to keep Shino too busy to notice." Sakura paused, then added, "The key is your strength."
Sasuke fell silent.
The plan wasn't brilliant, but it suited him. If it succeeded, he would almost certainly earn the Captain Point.
Of course, there was a chance Kimimaro could take it instead—if he wiped out Shino's squad outright from behind.
But that probability was low.
"Kimimaro." Sasuke turned to him. "Any better ideas?"
Kimimaro hesitated for two seconds, then shook his head.
He wasn't a strategist. In Otogakure, his life had been nothing but killing and following orders.
"Time's tight. Execute Sakura's plan." Sasuke formed hand seals and created a Shadow Clone.
The clone used the Transformation Technique, turning into Kimimaro.
"To avoid detection by Shino and the others, we should use long-range ninjutsu bombardment to pin them down." Sakura offered the reminder proactively.
She wasn't trying to steal credit. She simply wanted Sasuke to notice her more.
Sakura was beginning to understand the value of team battles. Here, everyone had a chance to shine—unlike before, when Sasuke barely spared her a glance.
"Kimimaro." Sasuke spoke in a serious tone. "Be careful."
"I understand," Kimimaro replied solemnly.
Unlike Sakura, he fully intended to compete for the Captain Point. Flanking the enemy was unquestionably the best opportunity.
If he could eliminate Shino's squad before Sasuke did, the Captain Point would almost certainly be his.
Sasuke activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan. He scanned the surroundings and detected no Kikaichū.
"Go this way." Sasuke raised his hand. "Don't go too far yet, so you don't run into any Kikaichū."
Kimimaro nodded and moved toward the rear.
"Next, we'll wait openly right here." Sasuke withdrew his gaze and spoke calmly.
"Sasuke-kun, what if they never come?" Sakura thought of another issue and asked.
"Then we'll go to them." Sasuke frowned slightly. "If all else fails, I'll use Fire Release to force them out."
The rules of the team battle didn't prohibit burning down parts of the Forest of Death.
"As expected of Sasuke-kun!" Sakura instantly switched into fangirl mode, eyes shining. "That's so cool!"
---
Meanwhile, on the right side of the Forest of Death.
Shino crouched beside a stream. He reached down and placed his hand into the water.
Special Parasitic Water Insects spread along the stream, flowing outward in every direction.
"When I surveyed the terrain earlier, I noticed that this area has streams branching in all directions." Shino adjusted his glasses.
"It's a shame I don't have a Ninken." Kiba sighed. "If I did, we could track them by scent."
"It wouldn't be that simple," Shino replied calmly. "If they knew you had a Ninken, they wouldn't leave any scent behind."
But his Parasitic Water Insects were different. Very few people even knew they existed.
If Sasuke and the others only guarded against Kikaichū, they would be in serious trouble.
"That's true." Kiba nodded, then asked, "Aren't you using your Kikaichū?"
"I already released the Kikaichū the moment we entered the area," Shino answered.
"As expected of you!" Kiba looked astonished. "I didn't notice at all!"
"Shino really is reliable." Akimichi Chōji nodded in agreement. He hadn't noticed Shino's movements either.
"Sasuke has the Sharingan, so the Kikaichū can't follow too closely."
Shino continued, expression unchanged. "That's why I deployed the Parasitic Water Insects—to see if we gain anything unexpected."
"I have a feeling that, given Sasuke's personality and strength, he might come straight for us," Chōji said after a moment of thought.
"But Sasuke's squad doesn't have a Sensor Ninja." Kiba countered. "They won't be able to find us. I think they're waiting—like a hunter waiting by the stump for the rabbit."
"If that's the case, we can surround them with Kikaichū," Chōji suggested.
"That would be unwise." Shino shook his head. "Even if we seize the initiative, defeating them head-on will be difficult."
"Then what do we do?" Kiba asked, puzzled. "Just keep waiting?"
"Exactly. We wait." Shino replied coolly. "Don't forget—we all have a two-hour limit."
"If both sides wait, who do you think will grow impatient first?"
"That has to be Sasuke!" Kiba and Chōji answered in unison.
Although both sides faced the same time limit, Sasuke's squad—more precisely, Sasuke himself—would lose patience first.
He cared deeply about victory and was determined to take first place. With their strength, they genuinely had that potential.
Shino's squad, on the other hand, had no such obsession.
Their chances of taking first were slim to begin with. For them, giving their all in the team battle was enough.
"Battle starts!"
The moment the fifteen minutes ended, Kitazawa's voice echoed throughout the arena.
"I've already placed Kikaichū around the area." Shino stood up. "I'll detect any movement Sasuke's squad makes."
"Next, we set traps nearby and wait for them to walk into them." Chōji and Kiba nodded.
---
Time passed slowly.
"This is bad. They're thinking the same thing we are." Sasuke rubbed his brow. "Should we attack proactively?"
Sakura reminded him. "We only have half an hour left."
"Mm." Sasuke stood up. "This is our only option now."
If no decisive clash occurred within two hours, the match would be ruled a draw and rescheduled.
Sasuke had no intention of wasting time like that. In his view, their squad held an absolute advantage in strength.
"Should I call Kimimaro back?" Sakura asked again.
"No need." Sasuke thought it over. "The plan stays the same. We draw their attention head-on, and Kimimaro flanks them."
"Their strength is weaker," Sakura said as they moved. "They'll probably set traps and wait."
"I'm going to use Fire Release." Sasuke scanned the surroundings. "Wherever there are large concentrations of Kikaichū—that's where they're hiding."
"Sasuke-kun, you're amazing!" Sakura's eyes lit up.
"Let's go," Sasuke said calmly.
A moment later, Aburame Shino's gaze sharpened. He immediately called Chōji and Kiba over.
"Sasuke and the others are moving toward us?" Kiba, ever impatient, asked at once.
"Mm," Shino replied calmly. "My Kikaichū detected Sasuke and the other two starting to move."
"I actually guessed right!" Kiba grinned.
"You only guessed half of it." Shino took a deep breath. "My Parasitic Water Insects detected another Kimimaro."
"What?" Kiba was startled. "Two Kimimaros? A Shadow Clone?"
"I suspect the Kimimaro moving with Sasuke and the others is a Shadow Clone." Shino quickly deduced Sasuke's strategy. "The real Kimimaro is attempting to flank us."
"Good thing you have those Parasitic Water Insects," Chōji said with visible relief.
"Yeah." Kiba nodded. "Without them, we'd definitely assume all three were together and make a fatal misjudgment."
"So what now? Do we wait for them to trigger the traps?" Chōji disliked thinking and tossed the question straight to Shino.
"No." A spark of resolve flashed in Shino's eyes. "We deal with Kimimaro first—then go after Sasuke and Sakura."
"Using time difference to defeat them one by one?" Kiba's eyes lit up. "We might actually win!"
"You two stay here and use the traps to delay Sasuke and the others." Shino made his decision instantly. "I'll go handle Kimimaro."
"Can you manage alone?" Kiba asked, worried.
"The forest is the Aburame Clan's home ground." Shino paused, then added, "And if neither of you stays, these traps won't stop Sasuke and Sakura at all."
"Be careful!" Kiba said no more.
Shino nodded, but instead of leaving immediately, he released a clone formed entirely of Kikaichū.
Only after that did he turn and head toward Kimimaro.
---
Somewhere within the Forest of Death.
Kimimaro advanced swiftly yet cautiously.
Kikaichū were troublesome, but not impossible to sense. They weren't ordinary insects—they carried Chakra.
Fortunately, he hadn't sensed any along the way. Just as Kimimaro relaxed slightly and leapt over a stream, the water's surface suddenly exploded.
Several bees burst forth from beneath the water.
"Bees?" He had no time to think.
White bone segments erupted from his palms and stabbed forward. The bees were struck and instantly burst apart.
Yellow-and-black honey wax splashed over his arms and legs.
Kimimaro's expression changed sharply. The wax was incredibly sticky, severely restricting his movement—like being glued in place.
More critically, he recognized it at once. Shino's Honey Technique.
The next instant, familiar Kikaichū swarmed toward him from all directions. Kimimaro roared and forcibly activated Cursed Seal of Earth—State Two.
A violent surge of power erupted within him, allowing him to leap upward even while trapped by the wax.
Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Larch! Dozens of white bones burst from his body.
The Kikaichū were struck down one after another.
A loud buzzing suddenly sounded above his head. Kimimaro looked up instinctively.
More yellow-and-black honey wax was raining down. His pupils shrank as he accelerated desperately.
But the nearby Kikaichū and the lingering effects of the earlier wax finally took their toll.
His speed dropped to less than half of normal. The honey wax poured over his body in an instant.
Kimimaro could no longer move, falling to the ground like an insect sealed in amber.
"My apologies." Aburame Shino stepped out and spoke calmly.
"…" Kimimaro was left speechless.
He wanted to ask how Shino had found him—but it was meaningless now. By the rules of the team battle, losing the ability to resist meant defeat.
He was out.
Shino stepped forward and took Kimimaro's Identity Scroll. At that moment, he suddenly turned his head and saw a thick pillar of smoke in the distance.
"Sasuke's Fire Release?" Realizing this, Shino immediately rushed back toward Chōji and Kiba.
---
Five minutes earlier.
The Forest of Death was carpeted with fallen leaves.
Sasuke exhaled a massive fireball. The leaves ignited instantly, flames spreading rapidly outward.
Sakura stood beside him, eyes sharp as she scanned for danger.
"The flames met resistance about three hundred meters to our left." A moment later, Sasuke's eyes lit up as he spoke.
Without hesitation, he and Sakura rushed in that direction.
"It's Kikaichū!" Sakura arrived first, glanced at the charred remains on the ground, and spoke at once.
Before her words even finished, a loud boom erupted to their right. Flames shot skyward.
"Explosive tags." Sasuke smiled faintly. "We've finally found them."
The exploding tags were undoubtedly part of Shino's squad's traps. Their detonation had been triggered by Sasuke's Fire Release.
The two moved quickly toward the right. Soon, they reached an area where the trees grew thicker than anywhere else nearby.
"You've been discovered!" Sakura shouted.
But no one answered.
"You stand here." Sasuke activated his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and stepped into the dense forest.
A series of sharp swooshing sounds rang out. From within the thicket, a dense barrage of shuriken burst forth.
Sasuke snorted softly and used the Body Flicker Technique, cleanly evading them.
Immediately afterward, a piercing birdlike chirp echoed.
Lightning Release: Chidori Senbon! Sasuke swung his arm hard.
The lightning in his hand split and transformed into countless senbon, shooting straight into the forest.
In the next instant, three figures flashed and vanished. Sakura caught sight of them and instantly formed seals.
Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu!
A massive water dragon burst forward, smashing through the trees as it charged in. Suddenly, trees toppled, and a Three-Headed Hellhound emerged.
It opened its jaws and spat out three Earth Fang Bullets, all of which slammed into the water dragon.
Sasuke immediately locked onto Aburame Shino. He was clearly the most dangerous opponent.
Drawing the Sword of the Thunder God, Sasuke charged straight at him.
Seeing this, Shino raised his hands, and a swarm of Kikaichū poured out.
Sasuke slashed down without hesitation.
Lightning Release Chakra surged into the Sword of the Thunder God, lightning bursting outward and instantly annihilating the Kikaichū.
Just as Sasuke prepared to press the attack, a sudden sense of danger washed over him.
Explosive tags detonated beneath his feet, flames erupting upward to engulf him.
Sasuke's expression changed sharply, and he retreated at once. Fortunately, Sakura noticed in time and immediately formed seals.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
A curtain of water surged up around Sasuke, forming a protective barrier.
Seeing this, Sasuke let out a breath of relief. He instinctively turned toward Sakura—but his expression darkened instantly.
Because she had saved him, Sakura failed to defend against Chōji's attack.
Chōji used Human Bullet Tank, smashing into her and sending her flying.
Sasuke clenched his teeth and was forced to abandon his pursuit of Shino.
This was a team battle—losing a teammate would severely affect his score, even if he won. More importantly, without Sakura, he would be forced to fight three opponents alone.
After all, Kimimaro had gone off to flank them.
Lightning flared.
Sasuke accelerated and appeared in front of Sakura. He swung his sword, brilliant lightning engulfing Chōji completely.
Human Bullet Tank was forcibly canceled.
Chōji's hair stood on end from the electric shock. Fortunately, he was still under Multi-Size Technique; his thick skin and flesh prevented serious injury.
"Sakura, are you alright?" Sasuke didn't press the advantage, immediately helping her up.
"I… I'm fine, just a little dizzy." Sakura shook her head as she spoke.
Earth Release: Consecutive Fang Bullet! The three-headed wolf formed by Kiba instantly spat out a barrage of Earth Fang Bullets.
"Be careful." Sasuke flicked his wrist.
The Sword of the Thunder God moved with precise speed, shattering every Earth Fang Bullet.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique! Sasuke sheathed his sword and expelled a massive fireball.
Scorching heat filled the air.
Kiba didn't dare take it head-on and dodged immediately.
"Sasuke-kun!" Sakura suddenly shouted, "Behind you!"
Sasuke turned his head and saw a massive shadow looming overhead.
Super Open Hand Slap! Chōji's enormous palms clapped down toward him.
Body Flicker Technique! Sasuke vanished from the spot in an instant.
Seeing this, Chōji twisted his wrists and brought his hands crashing down toward Sakura instead.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
Sakura's expression tightened. Fighting through the headache, she raised a wall of water.
But Chōji's hands were simply too large, completely engulfing both her and the water wall. At the critical moment, Sasuke used the Body Flicker Technique and rushed toward her.
However, someone was a step faster. Aburame Shino suddenly blocked his path.
Shino's entire body broke apart into Kikaichū, surging toward Sasuke like a black cloud.
"Damn it!" With no other choice, Sasuke thrust his sword forward.
Violent lightning erupted, electrocuting the Kikaichū into charred remains.
"Insect Clone?" Sasuke's eyes widened.
Only now did he realize Shino hadn't been using his real body.
Boom!
While Sasuke was momentarily distracted, Chōji's Super Open Hand Slap struck Sakura.
Amid the smoke, Kosuke rushed in and carried Sakura away. But that intervention also meant Sakura's defeat and immediate elimination from the match.
Chidori! Sasuke reacted instantly, charging straight at Chōji.
"Chōji!" Kiba shouted in shock, spitting out three Earth Fang Bullets to stop Sasuke.
But Sasuke ignored him completely.
Chōji was in an extremely awkward position. With both hands pressed into the ground and his massive size, he couldn't dodge in time.
Hidden in the shadows, Kurenai prepared to intervene—but then lowered her hand again.
A dense swarm of bees suddenly burst out from the left. As they neared Sasuke, they detonated one after another.
Sasuke was forced to halt.
Chidori shifted into Chidori Current, lightning spreading across his body to form an armor-like barrier.
Seeing this, Chōji immediately canceled Multi-Size Technique and rapidly retreated.
Shino appeared beside him at once. Together with Kiba, Sasuke was instantly surrounded by three opponents.
"Shino." Sasuke couldn't help but ask, "Where did your original body go?"
Aburame Shino didn't answer. Instead, he took out Kimimaro's Identity Scroll.
Seeing it, Sasuke's heart sank. Kimimaro's Identity Scroll appearing in Shino's hand meant only one thing.
Kimimaro had been defeated.
---
On the viewing platform of the Wood Dragon
"I didn't expect the situation to turn out like this." Chen wore a surprised expression.
"I thought Sasuke's squad would have the advantage."
Sarutobi Hiruzen stroked his beard and said, "Who would have thought that in the blink of an eye, their squad would lose two members?"
"Sasuke's team suffered from a lack of information," Kakashi commented calmly.
"They were careless. They should've known about the Parasitic Water Insects." Kitazawa shook his head.
Aburame Shino's Kikaichū mutation experiments weren't a secret. Many students in the Genius Class knew about them.
Even though Shino hadn't revealed the Parasitic Water Insects before, he had already used other mutated Kikaichū.
"You're asking too much of them, but Shino's performance this time really is outstanding." Tsunade smiled lightly. "If this were the Chūnin Exams, I'd promote him on the spot."
"The current situation is extremely unfavorable for Sasuke." Chen sighed.
"One against three… Kakashi, do you think he can win?" Hiruzen pondered briefly and asked.
"Hard to say." Kakashi thought for a moment, then replied, "But there's still hope."
"I remember he learned your Hatake Swordsmanship?" Hiruzen mused. "He might actually pull it off."
Sakumo and Minato had been terrifyingly similar—most jōnin would fall instantly before them.
Even though Shino's squad still had three members, Kiba and Chōji would struggle to deal meaningful damage to Sasuke.
That said, anything could happen in a group fight.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Genius Class learned of the situation through Iruka's broadcast.
"This is incredible!" Rock Lee gave a thumbs-up. "Is this the power of youth from Shino's squad?"
"This has nothing to do with youth." Shikamaru shook his head. "It was Shino's Kikaichū that made the difference."
"This is Kitazawa-sensei's doing!" Ino declared with her hands on her hips.
"Indeed." Yakumo nodded. "Shino's mutated Kikaichū completely turned the tide."
"If we run into Shino's squad later, we'll have to be very careful," Tenten said with a serious expression.
"It's still too early to decide the winner." Neji shook his head.
"Sasuke can beat three people by himself?" Tenten asked in disbelief.
"I don't know," Neji replied calmly. "Anyone could win—but with Sasuke's strength, it won't be easy for him to lose."
---
Inside the Forest of Death
A tense standoff had formed.
"Sasuke, you no longer have any teammates. Surrender." Shino adjusted his glasses.
Chōji and Kiba were visibly excited. They hadn't expected to actually defeat Sasuke's squad.
After all, in terms of raw strength, there was a clear gap.
"The Uchiha don't know the word 'surrender.'" Sasuke gripped the Sword of the Thunder God, his expression unreadable.
"And the ones who'll lose… are definitely you."
"As expected, we'll have to fight." Shino wasn't surprised.
He immediately formed hand seals.
Bee Honey Technique!
Several bees flew out from his sleeves.
Sasuke knew Shino possessed two kinds of bees: explosive ones and those that sprayed beeswax.
With his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, he scanned them instantly. These were the bees that sprayed beeswax.
The exploding ones carried far more chaotic Chakra.
Instead of retreating, Sasuke advanced. The Sword of the Thunder God flared with lightning, electrocuting the bees into charred husks.
"What?!" Kiba had expected Sasuke to fall back.
Instead, Sasuke appeared right in front of Akimichi Chōji.
Genjutsu: Sharingan! Caught off guard, Chōji was instantly controlled.
Human Bullet Tank! Under the genjutsu's influence, Chōji crashed straight into Kiba.
Shino's eyes sharpened. He didn't rush to save them. Instead, he seized the opening and summoned a large swarm of bees.
Thousand Bee Stings Technique! The bees flicked their tails, launching poisonous needles at Sasuke.
Sasuke vanished from the spot. The Sword of the Thunder God glowed faintly white.
In the next instant, he bypassed every needle and thrust straight at Aburame Shino. This was Hatake Swordsmanship—lightning-fast.
Shino's pupils shrank.
Secret Technique: Insect Wall! The Kikaichū in his sleeves swarmed together instantly.
The Sword of the Thunder God pierced through the insect wall, stopping just five centimeters from Shino's chest.
Shino subconsciously exhaled in relief. But in the next moment, brilliant lightning erupted.
The Sword of the Thunder God surged with electrical energy.
Shino retreated immediately as more Kikaichū burst out. In his haste, he blocked most of the lightning, but a few arcs struck him, freezing his body in place.
Sasuke was about to press the advantage when he noticed Kiba.
Facing the genjutsu-controlled Chōji, Kiba immediately dispelled the Three-Headed Hellhound.
He sent a Shadow Clone to help Chōji break the genjutsu, while his main body and another clone launched Fang Over Fang.
Two violent tornadoes tore toward Sasuke.
Sasuke abandoned Shino at once. With Hatake Swordsmanship and a Body Flicker, he slipped between the two tornadoes.
The Sword of the Thunder God struck Kiba.
Bang! Kiba vanished.
The other tornado slammed toward Sasuke—
—but Sasuke Body Flickered again, evading it completely.
He turned and thrust. The Sword of the Thunder God stopped right in front of Kiba's throat.
"I… I surrender." Kiba spoke through clenched teeth, filled with reluctance.
Fortunately, his remaining Shadow Clone had already freed Chōji from the genjutsu. Kiba dispelled his clone and, like Sakura, was eliminated and became a spectator.
Shino recovered, and together with Chōji, they surrounded Sasuke from the front and back.
Both of their expressions were grave.
Three against one, and one had already fallen. Now it was two against one—and the outcome was even harder to predict.
Could they actually lose? Shino forcefully banished the thought and immediately performed the Summoning Technique.
A gigantic Queen Bee appeared.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't panic. After all, this wasn't the first time Shino had used his Queen Bee.
The Queen Bee rose into the air and sprayed a large amount of beeswax.
Bee Bomb Technique! Shino raised his hand, releasing the explosive bees.
Partial Multi-Size Technique! Chōji's arms and palms instantly expanded, but he didn't attack. Instead, he locked his gaze firmly on Sasuke.
The assaults from the two ninjas and the Queen Bee struck almost simultaneously.
An ordinary ninja would have been overwhelmed, but Sasuke possessed the Three-Tomoe Sharingan—every movement was crystal clear to him.
Shadow Clone Technique! Sasuke reacted instantly.
One Shadow Clone rushed toward Shino, while the other charged straight at the Queen Bee.
As for Sasuke himself, he appeared directly in front of Chōji. As the saying goes, pick the softest persimmon to squeeze.
Sasuke's plan was simple: eliminate Chōji first, then focus entirely on Shino.
The sound of rushing wind tore through the air. The moment Chōji saw Sasuke, he swung his massive palm downward.
Konoha Style: Willow! With just that brief exchange, Sasuke seized the opening.
Chōji was frozen in place instantly. Sasuke thrust his sword forward, stopping it right before Chōji's heart.
Two bangs sounded almost at the same time.
Shino dealt with Sasuke's two Shadow Clones. But there was no joy on Shino's face.
Because Chōji was out.
And now, it was a one-on-one battle between him and Sasuke.
Shino felt a wave of helplessness. What had been an overwhelming advantage vanished in the blink of an eye.
Still, he didn't blame Kiba or Chōji.
The Three-Tomoe Sharingan's perception, Lightning Release's speed, and the famed Hatake Swordsmanship—combined, it was perfectly reasonable for Sasuke to defeat them.
Shino knew he would likely lose. But having fought this far, surrender was not an option.
Moreover, there was still a chance. Sasuke had just fought three opponents at once—his Chakra reserves should be running low.
Indeed, Sasuke could feel his Chakra draining rapidly, so he deliberately shifted to the more Chakra-efficient Hatake Swordsmanship.
Shino had witnessed that sword style before. Almost by instinct, he formed seals.
Secret Technique: Insect Wall!
After blocking the Sword of the Thunder God, Shino raised his hands again, and several bees flew out from his sleeves.
Sasuke didn't retreat. To Shino's surprise, he suddenly used Konoha Great Whirlwind.
Sasuke kicked straight through the bees. They exploded instantly, spraying beeswax in every direction.
Shino reacted immediately, retreating on instinct to avoid being caught. He had intended to trap Sasuke with beeswax at close range.
But Sasuke had seen through it—and turned the technique back on him.
Sasuke released the Sword of the Thunder God and punched the hilt. The blade shot forward like a shuriken, streaking straight toward Shino.
At the critical moment, Kurenai appeared and caught the Sword of the Thunder God.
Seeing this, Shino stopped and let out a quiet breath of relief.
Sasuke, meanwhile, collapsed onto the ground, drenched in sweat, as if he had just been pulled from water.
Yet his spirit burned brightly. He had won. One against three.
"We still lost, huh." Shino's voice was calm—he had expected this outcome.
"You did very well." Kurenai praised him gently. "You were only lacking a bit of luck."
Had Shino chosen Kimimaro as a teammate, the outcome might have been very different.
On the observation platform atop the Wood Dragon
"Winner—Sasuke's squad," Kitazawa announced the result the moment the battle ended.
"Sasuke's strength is already at the level of a jōnin." Tsunade nodded in satisfaction.
She could already imagine how brutal the joint Chūnin Exams would be in two years for the genin of other villages.
"The combination of Hatake Swordsmanship, Lightning Release, and the Three-Tomoe Sharingan is extremely effective."
Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but praise him.
There was one thing he didn't say aloud. Sasuke would likely surpass Sakumo Hatake one day.
Though unspoken, Kakashi silently agreed. The growth ceiling of bloodline-limit ninjas was undeniably higher.
And Sasuke's talent could only be described as one in ten thousand.
"Tsunade-Sensei." Kitazawa then took out the drawing box and said, "You draw first. I'll go heal them."
"Neji's squad versus Yakumo's squad." Tsunade nodded and drew two slips.
"It seems my squad's luck isn't very good." Sarutobi Hiruzen chuckled. He was Neji's squad's instructor.
"Apparent strength doesn't mean everything." Kakashi shook his head. "Sasuke nearly lost to Shino and the others."
He was Yakumo Kurama's squad's instructor.
"I'm heading down now." Kitazawa leapt from the platform, landing steadily on the ground.
At that moment, the Genius Class was buzzing with discussion over Sasuke's victory.
Many had thought he would surely lose fighting three against one. No one expected such a comeback.
"Neji's squad and Yakumo's squad—prepare yourselves. The match begins in fifteen minutes." After announcing this, Kitazawa walked into the Forest of Death.
Neji's expression grew solemn. Without a word, he headed into the forest with Tenten and Tayuya.
Yakumo, Ino, and Karin entered from the opposite direction.