Kitazawa checked over Sasuke, Shino, and the others. After confirming that everyone was unharmed, he returned to the top of the Wood Dragon.
Kosuke and Kurenai remained with him. In their place, Kakashi and Sarutobi Hiruzen entered the Forest of Death alongside the teams.
They were the instructors for Yakumo's team and Neji's team, so they needed to accompany them personally.
The left side of the Forest of Death, the mountain previously chosen by Sasuke's squad, welcomed new visitors.
Yakumo, Ino, and Karin arrived—but instead of climbing it, they hid behind it.
"Neji has the Byakugan and the Fate Breaking Bow. If nothing unexpected happens, he'll use the Fate Breaking Bow to suppress us from long range," Yakumo said in a low voice.
In the Forest of Death, the ones with the greatest natural advantage weren't Aburame Shino or Nara Shikamaru, but Hyuga Neji and Hyuga Hinata.
The range of their Byakugan was vast enough to cover the entire battlefield. No matter what their opponents did, they would be exposed under that vision.
"The Byakugan is really troublesome," Ino sighed.
"But we also have an advantage. As long as they get close to us, we can win—we have multiple control techniques," Yakumo replied gently.
"You have genjutsu, Karin has sealing techniques, and I have both genjutsu and Yin Release secret techniques."
Ino smiled unconsciously. "When that happens, Neji and the others will be the ones with headaches."
"The real problem is how to make them approach us on their own," Karin nodded and added.
"We just need to make the Fate Breaking Bow lose its intended effect. We won't move—we'll rely on this mountain and fight defensively," Yakumo said, taking out a prepared scroll.
"While we have time, let's add more defensive structures." Ino stood up immediately. "I'll go draw over a few large boulders."
"Then I'll set up sealing techniques nearby," Karin said, already scanning the surroundings.
She quickly identified suitable locations and began drawing sealing formulas.
Meanwhile, Neji, Tenten, and Tayuya advanced through a dense section of forest.
The many trees Sasuke had burned earlier had already been restored by Kitazawa's Wood Release.
"Neji, what kind of preparations are they making?" Tenten stopped and asked curiously.
"They're hiding behind the mountain and reinforcing their defenses," Neji glanced in that direction and replied.
"The Third Hokage-sama really did predict their actions correctly," Tenten said with a smile.
"Yeah," Neji nodded. "We'll execute the first plan first. If it fails, we'll switch to the second."
Hiruzen had prepared two strategies based on the abilities of the three of them.
The first plan focused on long-range suppression. The second combined long-range pressure with coordinated close-combat engagement.
Fifteen minutes passed in the blink of an eye.
As Kitazawa's voice echoed through the battlefield, Neji took out the Fate Breaking Bow.
He pinched the bowstring and drew it back. A Yin Release Arrow materialized out of thin air.
Spiral Arrow!
Neji's Chakra latched onto the Yin Release Arrow, causing it to spin violently as it shot forward.
Boom!
Crossing a distance of over a thousand meters, the Spiral Arrow slammed into the mountain and pierced straight through it.
"It's coming!" Yakumo unrolled a scroll without hesitation.
Genjutsu Creation! A wall manifested from the scroll, blocking their path.
The Spiral Arrow had already lost part of its power to the mountain, and after being stopped by the earthen wall, its momentum finally failed, lodging itself within the barrier.
"Change positions," Neji said calmly.
The Spiral Arrow was the most powerful piercing technique among the bow-type secret techniques he had mastered.
But the mountain's interference prevented it from unleashing its full destructive force.
Neji continued closing the distance toward Yakumo's team. He stopped and loosed another Spiral Arrow.
This one flew at a diagonal angle, bypassing the mountain entirely and striking a massive boulder Ino had dragged into place.
Yakumo's pupils contracted, and she instinctively opened another scroll. A wall appeared in front of them.
But this time, without the mountain to weaken it, the Spiral Arrow's power was overwhelming—it pierced straight through.
At the critical moment, Karin raised her hand.
Four sealing tags flew out, encircling the Spiral Arrow. An invisible surge of Chakra erupted, freezing the arrow in place.
Ino immediately hurled a kunai, knocking the immobilized Spiral Arrow aside.
"A sealing technique?" Neji sensed the growing difficulty, but his movements never paused.
A large amount of Chakra surged forth. A Yin Release Arrow vanished instantly.
It reappeared directly in front of Yakumo's team at extreme speed. With a faint tremor, it split into three, each one targeting a different person.
Yakumo reacted the fastest, once again summoning a wall from a scroll.
The three Yin Release Arrows struck it simultaneously. Before she could relax, a second Yin Release Arrow arrived.
With a sharp buzz, it split into six mid-flight.
Yakumo hurriedly deployed another scroll. A second wall rose. The six arrows smashed into it.
Crack. The wall fractured, fissures spreading across its surface.
Seeing this, the three of them immediately dodged to the sides.
The sound of cutting wind rang out. Another six Yin Release Arrows—split once more.
"Karin, watch out!"
While protecting herself and Ino with a wall, Yakumo turned her gaze toward Karin on the opposite side.
String Light Formation!
A circular black sealing array flared to life beneath Karin's feet. The two incoming Yin Release Arrows were instantly bound in mid-air.
"Sealing techniques really are incredible," Yakumo couldn't help but praise.
Ino nodded.
In normal battles, sealing techniques were difficult to apply effectively.
But in an outdoor battlefield—given sufficient preparation—a sealing ninja could completely change the flow of combat.
Neji couldn't help but frown. Among the top eighteen of the Genius Class, Karin had never been particularly eye-catching.
Her ability to make the top eighteen this time was largely due to her massive Chakra reserves and her Konoha-style taijutsu.
But seeing her now, Neji had to admit that Sealing Techniques truly lived up to their reputation as one of the most difficult branches of ninjutsu to master—on par with Medical Ninjutsu. Their effectiveness far exceeded his expectations.
"Should we execute the second plan?" Tenten noticed Neji's expression and asked.
"Let's go straight to the second plan!" Tayuya pulled out her bamboo flute impatiently.
The first plan had left absolutely no room for either her or Tenten to showcase their abilities. Even if it succeeded, all the credit would go to Neji alone.
With her pride, she naturally didn't want that outcome.
"Let me try one more time." Neji thought for a moment and pulled the bowstring again.
Explosive Arrow!
Multiple Arrows!
Neji released a massive surge of Chakra in a single burst. After firing two arrows consecutively, he couldn't help but feel a wave of fatigue.
Although the Yin power within the Yin Release Arrows originated from the Fate Breaking Bow itself, bow-based Secret Techniques still required his Chakra as a guide.
Overall, they were more Chakra-efficient than most Secret Techniques—but that didn't mean they consumed no Chakra at all.
The Explosive Arrow arrived first, detonating suddenly before it even reached Yakumo and the others.
An invisible, chaotic spiritual shockwave swept outward.
Ino and Karin immediately felt a sharp sense of discomfort. At that moment, the Multiple Arrows split into three and shot toward them.
Under normal circumstances, the Explosive Arrow would stun the targets, leaving them vulnerable to the follow-up attack.
But in front of Yakumo, the Explosive Arrow appeared almost amateurish.
She simply raised her hand, and a dense surge of Yin Release power poured out, blocking the spiritual shockwave entirely.
At the same time, she threw out a scroll, and a wall rose to intercept the Multiple Arrows.
"Execute the second plan," Neji said it immediately after seeing that the Explosive Arrow had failed.
In theory, he could have continued using the Fate Breaking Bow to drain their Chakra.
After all, the Yin Release Arrows drew their power from the Fate Breaking Bow itself—or rather, from the Zero-Tails sealed within it.
But Neji knew this approach wouldn't work on them.
The reason lay with Yakumo and Karin. Their Chakra reserves far surpassed those of ordinary people.
One possessed an immense amount of Yin Release power, while the other was an Uzumaki.
Neji continued firing arrows as he, Tayuya, and Tenten began closing the distance toward Yakumo's team.
Observation platform atop the Wood Dragon
"I have to say, the combination of the Byakugan and a bow is really something else," Maruboshi Kosuke laughed.
"If their opponents weren't Yakumo and Karin, they'd probably be overwhelmed by now."
Karin's Sealing Techniques could be prepared in advance. Yakumo's Genjutsu Creation required no hand seals.
That was precisely why they could withstand Neji's repeated bow-based Secret Techniques.
"In the end, this all comes back to Kitazawa," Kurenai said with a warm smile.
Whether it was Hinata or Neji, both of their bows came from Kitazawa's hands.
Tsunade hesitated, as if she wanted to say something. Her thoughts drifted to the World Extinction Arrow Kitazawa had once demonstrated to her.
Clearly, neither Neji nor Hinata knew that technique, so she kept silent. And even if they did, there was no way it could be used in a setting like this.
After all, the World Extinction Arrow possessed power comparable to a Tailed Beast Ball.
"The Spiral Arrow and Multiple Arrows are still a bit lacking in raw power," Tsunade finally assessed.
"If they were stronger, Yakumo and the others would be under tremendous pressure."
"That's true," Chen nodded. "Yakumo's team can hold out, but for Naruto's team—with so many taijutsu specialists—it would be extremely difficult."
Naruto and Rock Lee were both considered his semi-official students.
And since they would be facing Hinata, who also wielded a bow, in the next match, he couldn't help feeling slightly concerned.
"You're Naruto's instructor—have you arranged any tactics for them?" Kurenai turned to Kitazawa and asked.
"Of course, there are tactics," Kitazawa chuckled. "You'll see in the next match."
"Then let's see how Neji and the others deal with Yakumo's team first." Tsunade noticed that Neji's group had come to a halt.
From their current position, the mountain behind which Yakumo's team was hiding was clearly visible.
However, there was still a considerable distance between the two sides.
"Tenten." Neji handed the Fate Breaking Bow to her. "This distance is about right. You'll be responsible for drawing their attention."
Tenten nodded.
Although she didn't know bow-based Secret Techniques, she was exceptionally skilled with ninja tools—including bows.
Even ordinary Yin Release Arrows from the Fate Breaking Bow were more than sufficient for distraction.
"Tayuya." Neji turned to her.
"Leave it to me!" Tayuya answered confidently.
Neji nodded and stepped forward with her.
Tenten drew the bowstring, and a Yin Release Arrow shot out instantly.
Yakumo casually opened a scroll. A wall rose up in response.
At that moment, the ground trembled slightly.
"It's Tayuya's Three Angry Demons(Doki)," Ino stood up, glanced outside, and spoke at once. "But I don't see her."
"Watch out for her sound-based genjutsu," Karin warned quickly.
"We can use hand signs to communicate." Ino smiled and pulled out three pairs of earplugs.
Hand signs required no prior coordination—there were dedicated classes for that at the Ninja Academy. More precisely, they were called code and intelligence classes.
Ino couldn't help feeling a bit regretful.
If she had already learned the Mind Body Transmission Technique, communication would have been even more convenient.
"Even with earplugs, we still have to stay on guard," Yakumo took the earplugs and said calmly.
In truth, she didn't actually need them. With the strength of her Yin Release, it would be extremely difficult for her to fall under genjutsu.
"Yeah." Ino nodded and added, "I don't see Neji or Tenten either."
"Neji should be over in that direction, firing arrows." Yakumo pointed toward the direction from which the Yin Release Arrow had come. "And Tenten is skilled with ninja tools; she's probably lying in wait somewhere nearby."
"Either way, they're finally willing to engage us in close-quarters combat." Ino clenched her fists. "As long as they appear in front of us, we can control them."
Just then, the mountain before them suddenly shuddered.
"Are the Three Angry Demons trying to destroy this mountain?" Ino couldn't help feeling startled; it struck her as strange.
With Neji's Byakugan, whether the mountain existed or not was actually irrelevant.
"I'll go deal with Tayuya!" Ino said immediately.
"Take these two scrolls with you." Yakumo handed her two scrolls and said, "Don't go too far from me. Once you open a scroll, I'll be able to use Genjutsu Creation."
"Your Bloodline Limit is truly terrifying." Ino sighed before fitting the earplugs into place.
She circled around the mountain, moving in the opposite direction from Neji. Before long, she clearly saw the Three Angry Demons.
This mountain had been artificially piled up by Kitazawa; although tall, it wasn't especially thick.
Under the continuous battering of the Three Angry Demons, it wouldn't take long for it to collapse.
Ino removed one earplug and soon caught the faint sound of a flute. Tayuya was controlling the Three Angry Demons through the melody of her flute.
Ino scanned her surroundings and finally caught sight of Tayuya's trail.
She put the earplugs back in and dashed into the forest to the left. She was quite confident facing Tayuya head-on.
The moment she spotted her, she threw out a large flurry of petals.
Tayuya froze for an instant, and before she could change the tune of her flute, she was already caught in the genjutsu.
Ino vanished from her original spot and reappeared above her. She leapt down, driving a kunai straight toward Tayuya.
At the moment of impact, Tayuya moved. With blinding speed, she struck Ino's arm.
Ino's expression changed drastically. She felt the Chakra flow in her arm come to a complete halt.
This wasn't Tayuya. It was Neji.
Ino instantly released the scroll in her right hand. Brilliant lightning surged outward.
Neji frowned slightly but was forced to retreat.
"It's Neji!" Ino shouted at once.
"What?" Yakumo's and Karin's expressions changed instantly.
They weren't wearing earplugs, so they heard her clearly.
After all, there was only one Tayuya. Unless she approached them directly, they had no need for ear protection.
But this Tayuya had been Neji. Then, where was the real Tayuya?
Demonic Flute: Phantom Sound Chains!
The sound of a flute drifted into their ears. Yakumo and Karin reflexively looked up and saw Tayuya standing halfway up the mountain.
Karin's vision blurred as she was instantly dragged into a genjutsu. Ropes fell from the sky, binding her limbs and rendering her unable to move.
At the same instant, Yin Release power erupted from Yakumo.
A battle between genjutsu users depends first on who casts faster—and second on whose Yin Release is stronger.
And Yakumo surpassed Tayuya on both counts. She instantly unleashed Terrifying Illusion, trapping Tayuya in a genjutsu.
At the same time, she reached out and grabbed Karin's shoulder, helping her break free. But although she could save Karin, she couldn't save Ino.
The moment Ino revealed his identity, Neji had already closed in.
Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Thirty-Two Palms!
Neji struck with speed, precision, and ruthless efficiency. Thirty-two palms landed in rapid succession.
Ino was immobilized instantly, collapsing to the ground—eliminated with regret.
"Tenten!" After retrieving the identification token from Ino's body, Neji shouted immediately.
He turned his head and saw Tayuya completely locked down on the spot. The Three Angry Demons had also lost control, standing motionless.
It was an unsurprising outcome. Once Tayuya was forced into close range, Yakumo would defeat her almost instantly.
In fact, aside from Naruto, the same would have happened to anyone else. But under the current circumstances, their team hadn't lost yet.
Whoosh! A shuriken suddenly appeared in front of Yakumo and Karin.
Yakumo immediately unrolled a scroll. A wall rose up.
But in the next instant, the shuriken jerked and abruptly changed direction mid-air.
It shot upward, bypassing the wall entirely. This was the Manipulating Shuriken Technique.
Sealing Barrier!
Karin flung out four sealing tags just in time, pinning the shuriken in place.
But before they could relax, the shuriken split into two, then four—and in the blink of an eye, into countless blades.
After long practice, Tenten had finally mastered the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.
One had to remember that when Kitazawa first taught her, Tsunade hadn't even become the Fifth Hokage yet.
Facing the dense rain of shuriken, Yakumo and Karin were pushed into a critical situation.
Yakumo instinctively threw out the remaining scroll in her hand. A wall rose up—but it was pierced through almost instantly.
"Yakumo, go!" Karin immediately activated String Light Formation.
A circular sealing formula appeared beneath her feet. The sky full of shuriken paused for a brief moment—
Then resumed their descent.
"Karin!" Yakumo's heart jolted.
She was forced to retreat backward. Karin was engulfed by the shuriken, but Kakashi intervened just in time and pulled her out.
But Yakumo had forgotten someone.
Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm! Neji seized the opening and struck.
Yakumo, distracted by concern for Karin, was hit squarely and sent flying.
Body Flicker Technique!
Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!
Neji instantly flickered forward, both palms striking in rapid succession.
Terrifying Illusion!
Yakumo clenched her teeth and endured several palm strikes, finally managing to trap Neji within a genjutsu.
She gasped for breath, a heavy sense of stagnation spreading through her internal Chakra.
At that moment, the sound of rushing wind rang out. Yakumo instinctively looked up and saw a large number of ninja tools flying toward her.
She immediately unrolled a scroll. An earthen wall rose, blocking part of the incoming barrage.
The remaining ninja tools scattered and fell all around her.
Just as she tried to stand and retreat, several shuriken suddenly leapt up and bound her in place.
This was also the Manipulating Shuriken Technique.
Yakumo's expression changed—by then, it was already too late.
Ninja Tool: Binding Meteor!
A chain descended from above, binding her yet again.
"Yakumo, you lose!" Tenten's voice rang out from behind her.
Yakumo opened her mouth, but there was nothing she could do.
If Tenten launched another wave of ninja tools now, Yakumo would have no way to evade them. It was no exaggeration to say that she had already lost.
Yakumo let out a quiet sigh in her heart. This team battle had completely exceeded her expectations.
She had believed she would win—after all, Mangekyō Sharingan–level genjutsu was practically invincible within the Genius Class.
Yet she had lost this time, and it was not an unfair defeat.
From the very beginning of the team battle, her team had been caught inside Neji's carefully constructed layout.
Thinking back on it, there were four critical factors they had failed to anticipate.
The first was Neji having Tenten use the Fate Breaking Bow. They had mistakenly assumed Neji himself was the one firing arrows the entire time.
The second was Neji disguising himself as Tayuya. Because Ino failed to notice in time, she had actively approached him.
The third was Tayuya's appearance, pinning them down while Tenten unleashed her full strength.
In particular, the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique had completely caught them off guard.
And the final factor was Neji's sudden sneak attack, which caused Yakumo to lose the initiative altogether.
In the end, Tenten subdued her using ninja tools. Yakumo hadn't even seen her once from start to finish.
Above the Wood Dragon.
"That was truly an unexpected result," Kurenai spoke with visible surprise.
She understood Yakumo's strength well. In her view, aside from Naruto, no one else in the Genius Class should have been able to match her.
"I didn't expect it either." Kitazawa echoed.
This wasn't an exaggeration.
Previously, he had believed the three teams most likely to claim first place were Sasuke's, Naruto's, and Yakumo's.
Yet Yakumo's team had fallen in the very first round of the team battles.
"Neji's team coordination was simply too perfect." Chen praised. "They won because all three members contributed."
Unlike Sasuke's team earlier, which had prevailed purely due to Sasuke's overwhelming individual strength.
"It seems the old man hasn't lost his touch." Tsunade chuckled.
Neji's team instructor was Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Tactics this tightly interlocked would normally be extremely difficult for a group of ten-year-olds to devise—it was likely Hiruzen's handiwork.
"Actually, Yakumo's team responded quite well, but they were still lacking just a bit." Kosuke evaluated calmly.
"Kitazawa, will your tactics still work?" Kurenai smiled. "In the next match, Naruto's team will face Hinata's team, who are no weaker than Neji's."
It wouldn't be difficult for Hinata's team to replicate Neji's approach. After all, they also had a captain with a Byakugan and a bow.
"Talk is cheap—you'll see when you watch." Kitazawa shook his head lightly. "I'll go down and announce the results first."
He vanished from the platform and reappeared before the Genius Class.
At that moment, Iruka was recounting the final clash between Neji's team and Yakumo's team.
Seeing this, Kitazawa didn't interrupt and waited quietly.
"—In the end, Yakumo was bound by Tenten and forced to admit defeat," Iruka concluded.
The Genius Class erupted in an uproar.
Given Yakumo's previous invincible performance, everyone had assumed her team would win. The outcome was completely different from their expectations.
"Yakumo actually lost?" Sasuke frowned instinctively.
He had believed the three teams advancing to the third round would be his, Yakumo's, and Naruto's.
Now it seemed clear—team battles were full of uncertainty. He himself had nearly slipped up, while Yakumo had crashed out entirely.
He couldn't help wondering whether Naruto's team would be able to win.
"Our team can also use Neji's team's tactic." Shikamaru's eyes lit up.
"We certainly can." Hinata nodded.
"Then doesn't that mean Naruto will lose?" Kiba stared, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Naruto is Naruto, and Yakumo is Yakumo. Besides, Naruto already knows this tactic, so he'll definitely be on guard." Shino adjusted his glasses.
"Then naturally, we can't use the tactic exactly the same way." Shikamaru chuckled softly.
"Shikamaru must already have a new idea," Choji said after seeing his expression.
"We also have the tactics Kitazawa-sensei gave us!" Naruto raised a thumbs-up. "The youth of our Youth Team won't allow us to lose!"
Hinata felt a faint pang of envy at his words.
Their instructor was Chen, who was certainly capable—but in her heart, no one could compare to Kitazawa-sensei.
In a sense, she and Kitazawa had become opponents in this team battle.
"This is the meaning of holding team battles." Iruka glanced at Kitazawa and said. "To make you understand the power of a team, individual strength is ultimately limited."
There was nothing fundamentally wrong with that statement. Yet, from time to time, the Ninja World would give birth to individuals of truly invincible strength.
Before such people, no matter how many opponents stood against them, numbers alone were meaningless.
"Next is Naruto's team versus Hinata's team."
Kitazawa cleared his throat and said, "Both teams, enter the Forest of Death and prepare. The match will officially begin in fifteen minutes."
"Yes, Kitazawa-sensei." As soon as Naruto answered, he rushed straight into the Forest of Death with Rock Lee and Jugo.
By contrast, Hinata, Shikamaru, and Haku moved at a noticeably more relaxed pace.
Kitazawa glanced at Hinata, thinking to himself that since there was a system mission involved this time, he had no choice but to defeat them.
If there were no system mission tied to the final exam, he would have preferred to serve as the instructor for Hinata's team.
Because there were still fifteen minutes before the start, Kitazawa didn't hurry to follow Naruto's team.
Instead, he went to find Neji, Yakumo, and the others.
Several teams hadn't suffered any serious injuries. Kitazawa walked over to Ino and helped her release the Tenketsu sealed by Neji.
"Thank you, Kitazawa-sensei." Ino grabbed his hand, pulled herself to her feet, and spoke.
"I thought you'd be feeling pretty depressed," Kitazawa said with a smile.
"It's normal to lose to Neji." Ino shook her head and replied, "The only regret is that Yakumo didn't win this time."
Her clash with Neji had been a direct one-on-one encounter, and she had taken the initiative to close the distance. Losing under those circumstances was only natural.
What truly lay outside her expectations was Yakumo's defeat.
But that, too, perfectly illustrated the nature of team battles—completely different from individual combat, where anything could happen.
"All right, go wait outside first." Kitazawa patted her head gently.
He then checked the conditions of Yakumo, Neji, and the others once more.
After everyone left the field, he went to Naruto's team. They had already finished discussing their tactics.
Moreover, the rules of the team battle did not allow instructors to give guidance during the match itself.
This was meant to test the students' ability to adapt on the fly.
Kitazawa retreated into the shadows, waiting for the battle to begin.
On the left side of the Forest of Death.
"Let's do it here." Shikamaru surveyed the surroundings and said, "The trees are densest here—perfect for hiding."
"What's our plan?" Haku asked curiously. "Are we copying Neji's tactics?"
"We'll just use their first approach." Shikamaru smiled. "Hinata will suppress them from long range. All we have to do is wait for them to come to us."
"Wait?" Haku couldn't help but freeze for a moment.
"Lee and Jugo have no effective way to deal with Hinata's bow-based secret techniques."
Shikamaru explained calmly. "Naruto's Wind Release can interfere, but with his impatient personality, there's no way he'll just stand around and take hits."
"I understand." Realization dawned on Haku's face.
The reason Neji's team had been forced to close the distance was that Yakumo's team could afford to drag things out until time expired.
Naruto's team couldn't—both Naruto and Rock Lee were far too reckless.
"To make sure Naruto doesn't suddenly become patient," Shikamaru added, "Hinata should prioritize Lee and Jugo as her targets."
"Okay," Hinata replied simply.
"While we still have time, let's set some traps in this area." Shikamaru clapped his hands together. "Who knows? We might pull off an upset like Neji's team and eliminate Naruto's squad."
Time passed slowly.
Fifteen minutes later, Kitazawa's voice echoed through the Forest of Death, signaling the official start of the match.
Hinata immediately activated her Byakugan. She drew the bowstring—then suddenly paused.
"Jugo has used the Transformation Technique and blended in with Naruto's Shadow Clones."
Hinata spoke as she released the string. A Yin Release Arrow shot out.
"It looks like they've thought of a countermeasure as well." Shikamaru rubbed his temples. "Deal with Lee first."
"Charge!" Naruto shouted, thrusting his arm forward.
Hundreds of Shadow Clones surged ahead at terrifying speed.
At that moment, a Yin Release Arrow split into six, striking six Shadow Clones.
They vanished in puffs of smoke, but the remaining clones continued charging without hesitation.
Explosive Arrow! Hinata immediately shifted her strategy.
A Yin Release Arrow flew above the mass of Shadow Clones and detonated midair. An invisible spiritual shockwave spread outward.
The Shadow Clones instantly fell into a dazed state. Only the real Naruto remained unaffected.
The Explosive Arrow was essentially similar to Genjutsu—both were Yin Release techniques.
The Nine-Tails could snap him out of it with ease. Jugo and Rock Lee, however, were not so fortunate.
Seeing this, Hinata didn't hesitate and immediately aimed her bow at Rock Lee.
Spiral Arrow! A spinning Yin Release Arrow shot forward.
"Wind Release: Gale Palm!" Naruto was the first to notice the shrill whistle of the incoming arrow.
He clapped his hands, unleashing a fierce gust of wind that struck the Spiral Arrow and slowed it down.
A Shadow Clone beside Rock Lee slapped him directly, channeling Chakra to help him break free from the lingering effects of the Explosive Arrow.
Boom! The Spiral Arrow missed its target.
Explosive Arrow!
Multiple Arrows!
Hinata followed Neji's example, firing successive arrows in rapid succession.
The Explosive Arrow detonated first. Immediately after, the Multiple Arrows split into six, all aimed at Rock Lee.
At the critical moment, Jugo entered Cursed Seal of Earth: State Two without hesitation. The skin on both of his arms turned a dull grayish-yellow.
He stepped in front of Rock Lee, raised his arms, and swung them violently. Every Yin Release Arrow was blocked head-on.
The sheer force sent both Jugo and Rock Lee skidding backward several steps across the forest floor.
"Naruto, don't worry about us!" Jugo roared, "Take this chance to find their location!"
"You twenty, stay behind!" Naruto pointed at twenty Shadow Clones at random and ordered, "The rest of you, follow me!"
"They've split into several routes."
Hinata reported at once, "Jugo and Lee stayed in place, while Naruto and his Shadow Clones continued advancing."
"What's going on?" Haku couldn't help asking.
"It feels… off." Shikamaru frowned slightly and said, "Hinata, stop Naruto first."
Multiple Arrows! Hinata released the bowstring the moment he spoke.
Dull thudding sounds echoed again and again. Under the continuous barrage of Multiple Arrows, Naruto's Shadow Clones were rapidly reduced.
On the Wood Dragon.
"What kind of tactic is this from Kitazawa?" Kurenai asked, clearly confused.
"Naruto seems to be trying to force his way into close range with Hinata's team." Kosuke analyzed thoughtfully. "Does he plan to fight them head-on with taijutsu?"
Kurenai shook her head. "Hinata's team has already set traps, and Naruto's teammates aren't even moving with him."
"Perhaps Naruto intends to imitate Sasuke and take on three people by himself."
Sarutobi Hiruzen pondered for a moment before speaking. "With his strength, that's not impossible."
"Based on my understanding of Kitazawa, it shouldn't be that simple." Tsunade narrowed her eyes, thinking.
"Naruto has stopped!" Kosuke suddenly warned them.
Everyone instinctively turned their gaze toward Naruto. The next instant, a scene that stunned everyone unfolded.
Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!
Naruto unleashed all his Chakra and created three hundred Shadow Clones in one go.
Wind Release: Gale Palm!
Every Shadow Clone clapped their hands at the same time. A ferocious gale erupted, instantly forming a storm visible to the naked eye.
It swept through the dense forest like a tidal wave, uprooting trees and tearing them from the ground.
"What's happening?!" Shikamaru felt the earth tremble beneath his feet.
"Run!" Hinata's expression changed as she shouted urgently.
Shikamaru was momentarily confused.
Then he understood. Countless winds converged, dragging flowers, grass, and trees into the sky in a wild frenzy.
Wherever the storm passed, it was like a swarm of locusts devouring everything in its path.
All the traps Hinata's team had painstakingly set were forcibly triggered. Not only that, the dense forest they had been hiding in was completely swept clean.
"Naruto really has an absurd amount of Chakra…" Kakashi's mouth twitched as he muttered.
"What kind of brute-force tactic is this?" Kurenai pressed a hand to her forehead, torn between laughter and disbelief.
Tsunade fell momentarily speechless. She had tried to imagine Kitazawa's tactics—but she hadn't expected them to be this violent.
"This level of Chakra is outright bullying." Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but laugh.
"In the face of absolute Chakra," Kosuke said quietly, "terrain advantages lose all meaning."
At the same time, the entire Genius Class witnessed the spectacle. The disturbance was far too great to ignore.
"What just happened?" Ino asked instinctively.
"This has to be Naruto's doing." Sasuke paused briefly before speaking. "Aside from him, no one else could cause something like this."
"Isn't this basically cheating?" Kiba complained.
"You still need strength to cheat like that." Tenten shook her head.
"I thought his limit was a hundred Shadow Clones…" Tayuya felt as if her worldview had collapsed. This was simply inhuman.
Neji and Kimimaro both fell silent. Especially Neji.
He had relied on the Fate-Breaking Bow and flawless team coordination to defeat Yakumo's team, believing he still had a shot at first place.
Now, faced with Naruto's absurdly direct tactic, his confidence wavered again.
When the raging wind finally dissipated, a vast blank clearing had appeared inside the Forest of Death.
Hinata, Haku, and Shikamaru were hiding behind an ice wall, barely holding on.
But they all knew one thing. Without terrain to rely on, they could not defeat Naruto's team in a direct confrontation.
"They're coming!"
Shikamaru stared at the approaching swarm of Naruto's Shadow Clones and sighed. "All we can do now is give it everything we've got."
Explosive Arrow! Hinata loosed an arrow, and it detonated midair.
Nearby Shadow Clones staggered in confusion.
Konoha Dragon God! At that moment, Rock Lee shouted and began spinning at high speed. A green giant dragon charged forward.
Ice Release: Ice Rock Dome of Magnificent Nothingness! Haku hastily formed seals and summoned another ice wall.
The green dragon smashed straight through it. At the critical moment, Chen intervened and rescued Haku.
Watching Rock Lee's Konoha Dragon God, he couldn't help nodding in approval.
"Me too! Youth must never fall behind! Konoha Dragon God!" Seeing this, Naruto also began spinning. Another green giant dragon surged into existence.
"...?" Shikamaru's head filled with question marks.
At this moment, both Rock Lee and Naruto were spinning at extreme speed, making it impossible to lock onto their shadows.
Hinata also fell silent. Konoha Dragon God wasn't pure taijutsu—it was fused with Wind Release.
Its exterior was covered in razor-sharp wind blades. Getting close meant being shredded to pieces.
Spiral Arrow! With that thought, Hinata immediately aimed at Rock Lee.
A spinning Yin Release Arrow shot out. But the instant it touched the green dragon, a metallic clang rang out.
The wind blades coating the dragon blocked the Spiral Arrow completely, preventing it from advancing even an inch.
"…Let's surrender," Shikamaru said helplessly.
Hinata hesitated for several seconds. In the end, she quietly lowered the Moon Chasing Bow and put it away.