"Winners, Naruto's Squad!" Kitazawa stepped forward and announced the result.
Naruto and Rock Lee immediately stopped spinning, and the two green dragons vanished.
Under normal circumstances, Konoha Dragon God appears blue. However, because both of them were wearing green bodysuits, their color had changed accordingly.
"Are any of you injured?" Kitazawa looked over Hinata, Shikamaru, and Haku.
"No." The three shook their heads in unison.
"Then go rest first."
Kitazawa had watched the battle from close range, confirmed they were fine, and didn't bother checking further.
He still had another task to deal with—restoring the devastated Forest of Death.
Wood Release: Deep Forest Emergence! Kitazawa formed hand seals with both hands.
Centered on him, the ground surged upward as massive trees burst forth one after another.
In the blink of an eye, the area Naruto had blown completely bare was once again covered by dense forest.
Fortunately, he was a Wood Release ninja. Anyone else would have had no solution.
If the Forest of Death were left to recover naturally, it would take at least several decades to return to its original state.
Kitazawa didn't leave immediately.
Under his control, the forest continued to stir, dragging the trees that had been blown away back toward the area.
Those trees would rot in time and become nutrients for the land.
Wood Release differed fundamentally from other elemental techniques—it did not create inanimate constructs.
The trees produced by Wood Release were no different from naturally grown ones. Even without Chakra, they could continue living on their own.
After securing the area, Kitazawa turned and walked outward. Before long, he arrived in front of the gathered Genius Class students.
"The first round of the team battle has ended. The second round will involve Naruto's Squad, Sasuke's Squad, and Neji's Squad."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Because there are three squads, one team will sit out this round. The decision will be made by teacher vote."
Although the vote hadn't happened yet, he already knew the outcome.
Most likely, Naruto's Squad would be the one sitting out. After all, their overall strength was the highest.
"In half an hour, the second round will begin." Kitazawa continued, "Use this time to rest and recover your Chakra."
"Yes, Teacher Kitazawa!" Naruto and the others responded in unison.
Kitazawa nodded and returned to the observation platform atop the Wood Dragon.
"Kitazawa, did you set up Naruto Squad's tactics in advance?" Kosuke asked curiously.
"Their squad is mostly taijutsu-focused. Hinata has a huge advantage over them, especially since Jugo and Lee are pure taijutsu ninjas."
Kitazawa smiled lightly and replied, "If Naruto doesn't take the initiative, winning would be very difficult."
Naruto's strength could certainly endure a prolonged, head-on fight. But that would waste time.
Using the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique combined with Wind Release to overwhelm the opponent was simply more efficient.
Moreover, variables existed. Hinata's squad also had Shikamaru, whose intelligence bordered on frightening.
If Shikamaru came up with a counter-plan, Naruto's Squad could end up losing momentum. If that happened, Kitazawa's system mission would become impossible to complete.
"The first round is over. Let's vote now." Kitazawa handed a stack of blank cards to Sarutobi Hiruzen, Kakashi Hatake, and the others.
"Among the six of you, a tie is possible." Tsunade extended her hand. "I'll vote too."
Kitazawa nodded and placed a card in her palm.
Once everyone finished writing the name of the squad they wanted to sit out, Kitazawa collected the cards.
He had already made his decision and wrote: Naruto's Squad.
He then took out a lottery box and dropped the cards inside. After the others added theirs, he sealed the box.
"I'll have Iruka count the votes." Kitazawa grabbed the ballot box and leapt down.
To ensure fairness, he handed it to Iruka to announce the result.
"Naruto's Squad: five votes. Sasuke's Squad: one vote. Neji's Squad: one vote." Iruka raised his voice. "Naruto's Squad will sit out the second round."
Neji and Sasuke both quietly exhaled. This outcome worked perfectly for them.
By placing the strongest squad—Naruto's—at the end, they could settle the winner between themselves first.
Afterward, they would face Naruto's Squad for first place. No matter the outcome, there would be no complaints.
Naruto scratched his head. He actually didn't want to sit out. After all, it meant missing a match.
But since the decision was already made, there was nothing he could do but wait for the results between Neji's Squad and Sasuke's Squad.
If Naruto were given the choice, he would definitely pick Sasuke's Squad. That way, they could fight up close.
Neji's Squad relied heavily on ranged combat, making them annoying to deal with. Unless they used the tactics Kitazawa had taught them.
But in Naruto's eyes, that wasn't fun at all. He preferred battles where fists met flesh.
"Keep resting." Kitazawa returned to the observation platform atop the Wood Dragon.
---
Time passed slowly.
Half an hour later, Kosuke and Sarutobi Hiruzen stood up and entered the Forest of Death.
Following them were the squads they were supervising—Sasuke's Squad and Neji Hyuga's Squad.
"I feel like Neji's Squad has the upper hand." Kiba watched them disappear into the forest and asked, "What do you think?"
"I agree." Choji nodded.
Neji's Squad had left an extremely deep impression during the first round.
"Sasuke doesn't have Naruto's Chakra reserves, so he can't just flatten the battlefield." Ino pondered aloud. "I can't think of a clear way for him to win."
"Sasuke may not match Yakumo in raw power, but he's more versatile and has more tactical options."
Shikamaru hesitated briefly before continuing, "And Neji's Squad's tactics have already been exposed."
"Neji's Squad will inevitably rely on the Byakugan and the Fate Breaking Bow." Shino agreed. "It's difficult for them to change their core strategy."
"Hearing that, are you saying Neji's Squad will lose?" Kiba asked, surprise evident on his face.
"Not necessarily," Shikamaru replied casually. "Fifty-fifty."
While they were discussing, Sasuke's Squad was having its own conversation.
"Sasuke-kun." Sakura frowned and asked, "How should we deal with Neji?"
The ultra-long-range pressure created by the combination of Byakugan and the Fate Breaking Bow left her feeling helpless.
Aside from passive countermeasures, she couldn't think of any good options.
"We definitely can't just sit and wait as Yakumo's Squad did." Kimimaro finally spoke up. He had no intention of becoming a target again.
"Exactly." Sasuke paused briefly, then continued, "Neji's bow-type Secret Techniques aren't powerful enough. We just need to rush straight to their front."
"But during that process, Neji can still use his bow-type Secret Techniques to disrupt us." Sakura blinked and spoke.
"That's unavoidable. In this arena, he can lock onto us no matter what." Sasuke shook his head. "Once we're moving, it's actually less dangerous."
Moving targets were always harder to hit than stationary ones.
"Right!" Sakura suddenly thought of something and said, "We can choose the path with the most obstacles!"
"Hm." Sasuke nodded. "You'll handle route selection."
"Got it!" Sakura immediately took out a map.
It was drawn from memory after surveying the area yesterday. On the right side of the Forest of Death.
"Hurry and set up the traps," Neji observed Sakura's movements with the Byakugan.
Based on Sasuke's strength and personality, he could easily guess their plan.
Yakumo's squad hadn't acted that way for a reason. Their speed simply wasn't enough.
Yakumo was naturally frail, while Ino and Karin were relatively weak.
If they didn't stay put and defend, they would likely be worn down halfway by Neji's bow-type Secret Techniques.
But Sasuke's squad was different. Aside from Sakura, both Sasuke and Kimimaro were fast—and neither feared bow-type techniques.
"So we're not approaching them proactively this time?" Tayuya asked with some doubt.
"Because they intend to approach us," Neji replied calmly. "This team battle will turn into our defense."
Tenten wasn't surprised at all.
"It's fine. If we defend, our advantage is still considerable." Neji said gravely. "I'll handle long range, you handle mid-range, and Tayuya handles close range. We'll maximize their Chakra consumption."
"So it's a war of attrition." Tenten nodded. "Tayuya, let's set the traps."
"Don't worry—we're definitely taking first place!" Tayuya clenched her fists.
She hadn't taken first since joining the Genius Class. This team battle was undoubtedly their best chance.
Fifteen minutes passed quickly, and Kitazawa's voice rang out.
"I'll go in front. Sakura in the middle. Kimimaro in the rear." Sasuke finished speaking and drew the Sword of the Thunder God.
Sakura nodded, gripping her kunai tightly.
Kimimaro raised both arms, palms outward, as five snow-white bones burst forth from his limbs.
"Go!" Sasuke leapt forward, following the route Sakura had mapped out.
The sound of wind tearing through the air echoed.
A Yin Release Arrow detonated overhead. An invisible mental shockwave rippled outward like waves across water.
But Sasuke was already prepared. His Three-Tomoe Sharingan trembled as Chakra surged. Two invisible mental forces collided in midair.
Sakura and Kimimaro felt a wave of discomfort wash over them. But it stopped there—no dizziness, no loss of control.
Sasuke's gaze hardened as Lightning Release Chakra flowed into the Sword of the Thunder God.
Without hesitation, he slashed at the air. Lightning erupted and instantly enveloped six Yin Release Arrows.
"So strong, Sasuke-kun!" Seeing this, Sakura exclaimed excitedly.
"Talk less. Conserve energy." Sasuke glanced at her in warning.
Sakura immediately covered her mouth and fell silent.
"Kimimaro, be ready. We'll swap positions soon." Sasuke needed to preserve Chakra for the final confrontation.
The two of them would rotate to counter Neji's bow-style Secret Techniques, keeping their squad at peak condition.
"I can help too," Sakura spoke up quickly. "I can use Medical Ninjutsu to ease your fatigue."
"Rest midway, then use it." Sasuke finished speaking and raised the Sword of the Thunder God in front of him.
A spinning Yin Release Arrow struck the blade. The impact forced him to stagger backward.
Another Yin Release Arrow followed immediately. Kimimaro stepped forward, crossed his arms, and used his bones to deflect it.
"Keep moving!" Sasuke shattered the Spiral Arrow and accelerated forward again.
"I can't block them all." Neji continued firing as he spoke. "Tenten, get ready."
Tenten, an expert with ninja tools, was ready to coordinate a layered barrage once Sasuke's squad entered range.
"When do I summon my beast?" Tayuya asked impatiently.
"Wait a bit longer," Neji explained. "My attacks and Tenten's are indiscriminate. If you summon now, you'll become a target as well."
On the viewing platform atop the Wood Dragon.
"This team battle has turned into an attack-defense war." Kurenai sighed softly.
"At the moment, Sasuke's side has the advantage," Kakashi said casually.
"It's only just begun." Chen pondered. "Once Tenten and Tayuya join in, Sasuke's pressure will increase dramatically."
"If Tenten and Tayuya can reach Sasuke's group," Kitazawa added, "that means they've entered his attack range."
"That's true." Kurenai paused, then said, "Which means Sasuke's side might not actually be under more pressure."
"Risk is opportunity." Kakashi evaluated calmly.
As time passed, Sasuke's squad had already covered more than half the distance.
"Tenten!" Neji calculated the range and shouted at the right moment.
Manipulated Tool · Heavenly Chain Disaster! Tenten was already prepared.
At Neji's signal, she hugged a massive scroll with both hands and hurled it forward with all her strength.
In midair, the scroll unfurled. Countless ninja tools rained down, blotting out the light.
"Sakura!" Sasuke kept his Three-Tomoe Sharingan active.
The moment the scroll appeared, he noticed it.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall! Sakura rapidly formed hand seals.
Water surged outward, spreading and forming a circular wall around them. A storm of ninja tools slammed into it, shaking the barrier violently.
Seizing that brief moment, the three sprinted forward.
Sasuke ran while pulling shuriken from his pouch. He threw six at once.
Multiple Arrows! Neji immediately nocked an arrow.
A Yin Release Arrow trembled, split into six, and perfectly intercepted the shuriken.
"They're definitely there!" Sasuke snorted coldly. "Position confirmed!"
Twin Rising Dragons! Tenten hurled two scrolls.
Under her control, the scrolls transformed into massive twin dragons in the air, their mouths spewing endless ninja tools.
"Move up quickly!" Sakura formed seals again, reusing Water Release: Water Formation Wall.
Kimimaro flickered behind the barrier with the Body Flicker Technique. Even so, he couldn't fully evade it.
Tenten's barrage was too dense for the water wall to block everything. He formed a bone blade and scattered the stray weapons.
"Sasuke-kun?" Seeing Sasuke standing still, Sakura looked confused.
"I've locked onto them," Sasuke replied calmly. "I'm going straight in."
He immediately formed seals.
A sharp bird cry echoed. Lightning erupted, wrapping around his entire body.
He shot forward at blinding speed toward Neji and the others.
Tenten's ninja tools struck him—only to be blown away by the lightning, causing no damage.
This was Lightning Release: Chidori Current.
Though its defensive power was inferior to Water Release: Water Formation Wall, it was more than enough to repel ordinary ninja tools.
"Sasuke-kun—once he gets close, they'll focus entirely on him." Sakura inhaled deeply. "When our side's pressure drops, we can rush over to aid Sasuke-kun."
Kimimaro nodded.
He could actually leave. But Sakura alone couldn't stop Neji and Tenten's ranged assault, so he had to stay.
"Tayuya, summon your Summoning Beast." Neji, looking solemn, said, "Sasuke will arrive soon."
Tayuya's heart raced as she drew a bamboo flute. She was well aware of Sasuke's strength. Thinking of facing him made her nervous.
"Tenten, I'll fire an Explosive Arrow first. Then use the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique. We'll take out Kimimaro and Sakura."
Neji thought for a moment before speaking.
If they could eliminate Kimimaro and Sakura, Sasuke would be forced into a one-against-three situation.
But compared to Shino, Neji held an advantage against Sasuke. He possessed the Byakugan and Gentle Fist; a single close-range hit would secure victory.
Neji drew his bowstring. Seeing this, Tenten also took out a shuriken.
Meanwhile, Sasuke had entered their line of sight.
His speed was extreme. Combined with Lightning Release: Chidori Current, he resembled a bolt of lightning surging toward them.
Boom!
Sasuke triggered an exploding tag trap.
He leapt again, using Lightning Release: Chidori Current to harden his defense; his speed never faltered.
Demonic Flute: Illusionary Warriors Manipulating Melody! Tayuya sounded her flute, and three Angry Demons charged straight at Sasuke.
Explosive Arrow! Neji released his arrow.
Tenten threw a shuriken and formed hand seals.
Sasuke noticed Neji's and Tenten's actions. He frowned slightly and made an immediate decision.
A one-against-three fight might look cool, but the risk was too high. Moreover, Neji's squad was stronger than Shino's, and Sasuke wasn't confident.
Boom! A bone-clad Doki slammed down.
At the critical moment, Sasuke vaulted onto the massive wooden staff and soared into the air.
He swung forcefully, sending the Sword of the Thunder God flying, precisely striking the Explosive Arrow.
The Explosive Arrow detonated instantly. Because it exploded too early, Sakura and Kimimaro were unharmed.
But Sasuke also lost his Sword of the Thunder God.
Another Doki seized the opportunity, its bone claws—like three blades—thrusting toward him.
Sasuke's Chidori Current defense was solid, but such massive bone claws would likely overwhelm him.
He dodged immediately.
"Watch out!" Kimimaro's pupils contracted as dozens of bones burst forth from his entire body at once.
Tenten's shuriken had already multiplied into countless copies, covering both Kimimaro and Sakura.
"Kimimaro, get out!" Seeing this, Sakura formed hand seals as she spoke.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique! A water dragon twice its usual size appeared before her.
It shuddered violently as it collided with an uncountable barrage of shuriken.
Sakura staggered back, gasping for breath, and formed another hand seal. Although the water dragon was much larger, it still couldn't block them.
In a single second, it was pierced through by shuriken, water splashing everywhere.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
Sakura barely managed to raise a water wall in time. But under the relentless shuriken assault, the wall began to waver within moments.
Sakura sighed inwardly, knowing she had done her best. The Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique was an A-Rank Ninjutsu; its power was astonishing.
That was precisely why she let Kimimaro retreat.
If at least one of them escaped, then relying on Sasuke's strength, a two-against-three situation could still be turned around.
Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Larch!
Kimimaro didn't hesitate and retreated outward. All his bones stirred, as if dozens of ninja swords were flinging the shuriken away.
Once he exited the shuriken's range, he turned back and saw Sakura being rescued by Kosuke.
That meant she had been eliminated. Kimimaro cast one last glance before sprinting at maximum speed toward Neji and the others.
At the same time, he pulled out a pair of earplugs and blocked his ears.
He lacked the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and couldn't ignore Tayuya's sound-based genjutsu. Physically isolating himself was the best option.
"What a pity." Neji, having only managed to deal with Sakura, felt a pang of regret.
But he had no time to dwell on it, as Sasuke bypassed the sluggish Three Angry Demons and closed in.
"You all go after Kimimaro," Neji spoke gravely. "I'll hold Sasuke!"
Even with the Fate-Breaking Bow, defeating Sasuke would still be difficult. The best plan was for Tenten and Tayuya to defeat Kimimaro first, then come back to assist.
With their containment, Neji could confidently defeat Sasuke. Tenten and Tayuya responded instantly, acting without hesitation.
"It's not that easy!" Sasuke heard Neji's order and immediately raised his hand.
Lightning crackled across his body and spread outward at high speed.
Tenten reacted quickly. She tugged both hands at once.
A trap near Sasuke was triggered. First, an exploding tag detonated—then a shuriken shot out through the flames.
The lightning was immediately severed in that section.
Sasuke frowned and drew a white short sword. The Sword of the Thunder God had been given to him by Kitazawa.
But this white short sword was a gift from Kakashi.
He had temporarily lost the Sword of the Thunder God earlier when he used it to intercept the Explosive Arrow.
The current situation didn't allow him to retrieve it, so he switched to a ninja blade instead.
Sasuke sliced through the shuriken and lunged forward with a single step.
A sharp, wind-cutting sound rang out. Six Yin Release Arrows sealed off his surroundings.
Seeing this, Sasuke could only use the white short sword to knock down the arrows one by one.
Meanwhile, Tenten and Tayuya exited the lightning-filled area and confronted the bone-covered Kimimaro.
Sasuke cast a brief glance in their direction, then shifted his gaze back to Neji. The two locked eyes for two seconds.
Spiral Arrow! Neji released an arrow without hesitation.
Sasuke reacted instantly. He slashed the Spiral Arrow with his sword.
The spiraling force made his right hand tremble slightly. Planting his feet, chakra surged through his arm, and he sent the Spiral Arrow flying away.
Multiple Arrows! Neji continued drawing his bow, readying another shot.
Six Yin Release Arrows surrounded Sasuke.
Hatake Swordsmanship!
Sasuke erupted in a burst of speed. His entire body slipped cleanly through the gaps between the six arrows.
At the same time, the white short sword flashed like lightning as it slashed toward Neji.
So fast! Neji immediately felt the pressure.
He twisted his right hand, raising the Fate Breaking Bow to block the white short sword.
A sharp bang rang out! Neji's left hand followed through, striking in tandem.
Sasuke reacted swiftly, kicking upward and striking Neji's wrist. The white short sword pivoted midair and thrust outward.
Neji stepped back, opening up distance.
Eight Trigrams: Vaccum Palm!
He thrust his right hand toward Sasuke. A compressed shockwave of air surged forward.
At such close range, an ordinary person wouldn't have time to react.
Fortunately, Sasuke possessed the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. He caught the flow of chakra and instantly used the Body Flicker Technique.
After evading, Neji drew his bow once more. Explosive Arrow! A Yin Release Arrow shot out and detonated in midair.
Sasuke's body jolted as he quickly relied on the Three-Tomoe Sharingan to block. He let out a low hum as massive pupil power surged from his eyes.
Genjutsu: Unknown Fire!
Because the distance was too short, Neji was instantly caught in the genjutsu, frozen in place.
Hatake Swordsmanship!
Seeing the genjutsu take hold, Sasuke swung his sword without hesitation.
At the brink of death, Neji forcefully dispelled the illusion. But he was still a step too late.
Blood sprayed.
Neji's sleeve was torn apart, leaving a deep wound carved into his right arm.
Grimacing through the pain, he hastily raised the Fate Breaking Bow to block Sasuke's white short sword.
Another sharp bang echoed! Using the recoil, Neji leapt backward, widening the gap.
"Neji!" Tenten smelled the blood, turned around, and her face instantly drained of color.
Shikotsumyaku: Dance of the Willow!
Kimimaro seized the moment of Tenten's shock, breaking free from the Three Angry Demons' entanglement and drifting toward her like willow fluff.
"Tenten!" Tayuya shouted urgently.
Because Kimimaro wore earplugs, her sound-based genjutsu had lost its effect. She could only use sound to command her Three Angry Demons.
Seeing Tenten in danger, she immediately changed the tone of her flute.
Revolt of the Demon World!
The Three Angry Demons halted and instantly spewed out three monsters formed of spiritual energy.
They had long bodies and enormous teeth, resembling three bizarre insects. The creatures had no solid form, floating through the air like living beings as they pursued Kimimaro.
"What is this?" Kimimaro glanced instinctively, his heart trembling.
But he clenched his teeth and continued advancing toward Tenten. The sharp rush of cutting wind rang out again.
A Yin Release Arrow streaked toward him. Kimimaro frowned and dodged.
That moment of delay allowed the three monsters to close in. They opened their jaws and snapped at his limbs.
Kimimaro's scalp tingled. He didn't dare take the attacks head-on and accelerated to evade. Yet the three monsters were just as fast, relentlessly chasing him.
"Neji!" Tenten immediately threw out a scroll.
A storm of ninja tools shot toward Sasuke. Neji quickly raised the Fate Breaking Bow and drew another arrow.
Sasuke leapt backward, formed hand seals, and spat out a massive fireball.
Seeing Neji temporarily safe, Tenten and Tayuya turned to confront Kimimaro. Tenten knew that only by defeating Kimimaro could she return to help Neji.
At that moment, Kimimaro was being chased by the three monsters, looking somewhat disheveled.
Fortunately, his speed still held a slight advantage. Without hesitation, he charged straight toward Tayuya.
Only by defeating her could the three monsters lose control. But Tenten's ninja tools arrived at that instant.
Sasuke glanced toward Kimimaro. He, Tayuya, and Tenten fell into another chase.
Sasuke felt a trace of relief. At least the situation was still manageable for their side.
Neji stared solemnly at Sasuke.
Tenten and Tayuya couldn't break away. They couldn't defeat Kimimaro alone and had to support each other.
Not only did Neji lack their assistance, but he was also injured. Blood continued to flow from his right arm, the weakness growing more severe.
Worse still, he still needed that arm to draw his bow. That only aggravated the wound further.
Neji grit his teeth and abandoned the Fate Breaking Bow. He faced Sasuke directly, assuming the Gentle Fist stance.
"Your right arm is injured. How long can you keep going?" Sasuke raised the white short sword, his voice calm as he spoke.
Neji didn't answer, merely staring back at him.
A piercing birdlike cry echoed. Lightning instantly cloaked Sasuke's body.
Neji's heart tightened. The presence of lightning naturally restrained the Gentle Fist.
Sasuke didn't hesitate and rushed straight at Neji. The white short sword flashed like a crescent moon as it thrust forward.
Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!
Neji struck with both palms.
His left palm collided with Sasuke's white short sword, while his right palm slammed toward Sasuke's arm.
"Your right palm is too slow!" Sasuke kicked, knocking Neji's right palm aside.
At the same time, he twisted his wrist, and the white short sword slashed toward Neji's left palm.
Even with chakra protection, it was still cut. A faint line of blood appeared across Neji's left palm.
He ignored it and immediately shifted tactics, abandoning precise chakra-point strikes in favor of grappling and evasive movement.
With the Byakugan's support, he fought in a disheveled state—but endured.
Sasuke glanced at Neji's blood-soaked right arm.
As Neji's condition worsened, Sasuke stopped using Hatake Swordsmanship.
Konoha Style: Willow!
The white short sword in Sasuke's hand suddenly trembled.
Neji felt his body instantly bound in place. At the same time, his vision was filled with overlapping afterimages of the blade.
Neji reacted quickly and dispelled the genjutsu.
But Sasuke's white short sword was faster. When the afterimages vanished, the blade hovered at Neji's throat.
Neji, having just broken free of the illusion, stared at the white short sword. He opened his mouth and said helplessly, "I concede."
Sasuke gave a slight nod, turned around, and went to assist Kimimaro.
"I'll go down there." Kitazawa vanished from atop the Wood Dragon.
A second later, he reappeared in front of Neji.
Mystical Palm Technique! Kitazawa extended both hands and placed them on Neji's right arm.
Neji instinctively glanced toward Tenten and Tayuya. After Sasuke joined the battle, they were defeated very quickly.
Neji sighed, but he also knew he couldn't blame them. Their squad had given it their all, but Sasuke's squad possessed slightly stronger hard power.
"Alright, just rest for two days." Kitazawa withdrew his hands as he spoke.
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei." Neji shook his hand, feeling that his right arm was completely fine.
Kitazawa then walked over to Tayuya and Tenten. With the battle over, both Sasuke and Kimimaro came to a stop.
"The winners are Sasuke's squad," Kitazawa announced the result while treating Tayuya.
She had been relentlessly chased by Kimimaro, her body riddled with bone scratches. Tenten, on the other hand, was fine.
The moment Sasuke appeared, he used his Sharingan to control her—she had no chance to resist and was defeated.
Without Tenten's interference, Kimimaro immediately subdued Tayuya.
The fight ended in a flash.
"Kitazawa-sensei." Tayuya hesitated for two seconds before saying, "I want to learn genjutsu."
"Haven't you been learning genjutsu all along?" Kitazawa shot back.
"I mean proper genjutsu." Tayuya bit her lip. "My sound genjutsu was easily broken by their earplugs. It was useless."
"I'll teach you after the break." Kitazawa chuckled lightly as he spoke.
That saved him some trouble. He had originally planned to create two sound-based genjutsu for Tayuya, but he'd been too busy to research them.
Teaching existing genjutsu would suffice. After all, sound-based genjutsu did have its limitations.
"Let's head out first." Kitazawa withdrew his hand and spoke.
The group left the arena. The members of the Genius Class learned of the battle's outcome through Iruka.
"You truly are my lifelong rival!" Naruto gave a thumbs-up and said, "Looks like we'll have another youthful battle!"
"Neji performed well." Shino adjusted his glasses and added, "Our team fight had no mistakes."
"Yakumo, if our earlier tactics had been like Sasuke's squad, could we have won?" Ino's eyes lit up as she asked instinctively.
"Hardly." Yakumo shook her head. "If it were us, we'd have been suppressed by Neji and Tenten in the first two phases."
"Indeed." Ino paused, then continued, "Sasuke's Sharingan and Kimimaro's Shikotsumyaku aren't afraid of bow-type Secret Techniques or ninja tools."
"Hm." Yakumo gave an example. "In long-range raids, we'd be about on par with Sakura."
Sakura had lost to Tenten's Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique. She and Karin were similar in that regard.
"In the end, Sasuke is just too strong." Shikamaru sighed.
Normally, Neji would excel in close combat thanks to the Byakugan and Gentle Fist.
But Sasuke was no ordinary ninja. Lightning Release, Hatake Swordsmanship, the Sharingan, and Konoha-Style Swordsmanship gave him a decisive edge in close combat.
"I think Kimimaro was also crucial." Kiba retorted, "If Kimimaro hadn't held back Tayuya and Tenten, Sasuke probably wouldn't have won."
After all, although Neji was weaker than Sasuke, the gap wasn't huge. More importantly, Neji possessed the Byakugan, allowing him to keep up with Sasuke's movements.
Shino's squad, by comparison, was relatively weaker.
"Looks like you already understand the importance of teamwork." Kitazawa appeared in front of them.
"Kitazawa-sensei." Hinata and the others quickly greeted him.
"Kitazawa-sensei!" Naruto asked impatiently, "When does the next team battle start?"
"Two p.m," Kitazawa replied.
"Huh? That late?" Naruto immediately looked surprised.
The others were also puzzled.
"You've been fighting for so long—aren't you hungry?" Kitazawa smiled. "Have lunch first. After resting, you'll join the final battle at two p.m."
"I'm not hungry!" Naruto clenched his fists as he spoke.
"Team battles value fairness." Kitazawa looked at him and asked, "Sasuke's group just went through an intense fight. Are you sure you want to face them right now?"
"Then let's do it in the afternoon." Naruto nodded emphatically as he replied.
"Two p.m., same place. Everyone, be on time." Kitazawa said with a smile.
"Goodbye, Kitazawa-sensei!" Naruto and the others exchanged farewells and headed home.
"We'll go eat now. See you this afternoon."
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Kosuke, and the others didn't linger and turned away. In the end, only Tsunade and Kurenai remained.
"Shall I treat you to a meal?" Kitazawa blinked and asked.
"Lady Tsunade, what do you think?" Kurenai looked toward Tsunade as she spoke.
She herself was indifferent. But Tsunade was the Hokage, so her opinion carried weight.
"How about eating at the casino?" Tsunade touched her chin and said, "The final team battle is still two hours away, anyway."
"Eh?" Kurenai looked surprised. "Does the casino even serve lunch?"
"Is that really the point?" Kitazawa's mouth twitched as he asked, "Tsunade-sensei, you're the Hokage—how can you always have the casino on your mind?"
Tsunade instinctively shot him a glare. But she recovered in the very next second.
Without Kitazawa, going to the casino was meaningless for her. After all, she had no money. Never mind—she would wait until after the team battle.
"Then let's eat back home." Tsunade pursed her lips. "You cook."
A chance for revenge? Kitazawa gave her a look and silently noted the grudge in his little notebook.
Tsunade turned and walked toward Konoha Village.
Kurenai gave Kitazawa a thumbs-up. Although she got along well with Tsunade, traditional ninja thinking prevented her from being as casual as Kitazawa.
After all, Tsunade was the Hokage. In theory, a single sentence from her could decide life or death.
Kitazawa froze for a moment, then recovered. He cleared his throat lightly and said, "Let's head back."