With the second round of the Chunin Exams concluded, the remaining candidates were granted half a month of free time.
For many Genin, this break was anything but rest. Across Konoha, training grounds filled with young shinobi pushing themselves relentlessly, all hoping to achieve a breakthrough before the final stage.
At one such training ground, Kushina stood wearing a black ninja outfit, hands on her hips as she looked around in confusion.
"Where are Mikoto and the others?" she asked.
Uchiha Hayashi, who had arrived earlier, dropped lightly from a tree branch. His gaze briefly swept over the energetic redhead before he replied calmly, "I already asked Big Brother Sakumo to train Mikoto. Nawaki is with Tsunade Sensei, and Minato left for Mount Myoboku last night."
"To eat bugs?" Kushina blinked.
"That too," Hayashi said.
"Oh, I see." Kushina nodded, then her lips curled into a mischievous smile.
Hayashi narrowed his eyes slightly. "What are you planning?"
"Nothing at all," she replied innocently, then leaned forward with excitement. "So, what are we training today?"
"There aren't many techniques left that need intensive work," Hayashi said. "Your Renzoku Bakudan already handles most combat situations."
He was stating a fact. Despite knowing many jutsu, Hayashi relied on only a few in actual battle.
"Really?" Kushina's shoulders drooped in disappointment.
Hayashi smiled faintly and patted her head. "How's your relationship with the guest living inside you?"
"You mean Kurama?" Kushina thumped her chest confidently. "Pretty good. He just talks too much and never shuts up."
"That's good enough," Hayashi said, deliberately ignoring the second half. "Then I want you to fight me using the Nine-Tails' power. Over the next two weeks, if you manage to defeat me even once, passing the Chunin Exams will be guaranteed."
"Eh?" Kushina stiffened. "Isn't that dangerous?"
She rarely rejected his ideas, but the Nine-Tails' chakra was something she associated with enemies, not allies. Using it against Hayashi, or any Konoha shinobi, made her uneasy.
"The Anbu already reported the last chakra leak," Hayashi replied evenly. "Today, the Hokage gave permission."
Kushina frowned. "Didn't Uncle say before that I shouldn't use it?"
"Who knows," Hayashi said lightly.
In truth, even he found the decision strange. The Third Hokage was cautious by nature. Such a concession could only be related to their previous conversation.
As for why Hayashi was chosen to oversee this training, the reasons were simple. His Sharingan naturally suppressed Tailed Beasts, he was close to Kushina, and most importantly, he stood firmly within the Hokage's trusted circle.
Seeing Kushina hesitate, Hayashi continued, "This Chunin Exam is filled with monsters. Rasa from Sunagakure, shinobi from Kumogakure, some of them already surpass Special Jonin. Minato realized this too, which is why he followed Jiraiya Sensei to Mount Myoboku. Don't you want to take first place?"
Kushina clenched her fists.
"…If Hayashi says so," she muttered after a long pause. "I'll talk to the Big Fox and ask him to lend me more chakra."
"Good," Hayashi said. "Only chakra. Don't let his will take over."
Even now, the memory of the Nine-Tails rampaging through Kushina years ago made his spine tighten. That power was still something he could not confidently subdue.
Moments later, Kushina opened her eyes. Crimson pupils flickered briefly before fading back to black.
"The Nine-Tails' chakra boosts your reserves and speed," Hayashi said. "Over the next two weeks, you need to master it as your trump card."
"Got it!"
No visible red chakra leaked from her body, and her appearance remained unchanged. Yet the instant she kicked off the ground, her speed nearly doubled.
So this is Tailed Beast power.
Hayashi caught her punch and redirected it with taijutsu, but Kushina followed immediately with a rising knee aimed at his abdomen.
He leapt back just in time. Her foot slammed into the ground where he had stood, cracking the earth in a web of fractures.
Speed, strength, precision. All of it had surged.
After several more exchanges, Hayashi said, "Show me a ninjutsu. Use proper hand seals."
Kushina formed seals, and Wind Release: Vacuum Bullet condensed in her palm, dyed crimson by the Nine-Tails' chakra.
Her seal speed had not improved.
So it doesn't enhance fine control.
She launched the technique. Due to imperfect control, the jutsu stalled midway through its second phase, only partially formed.
Even so, countless red-tinted wind blades erupted outward.
Hayashi activated Chidori Current instantly, lightning crackling around him as he endured the storm.
Kushina waited until the attack dissipated before charging again.
"How does it feel?" Hayashi asked. "Any strain?"
"Feels fine," she replied between rapid exchanges. "I'm adjusting."
Trees collapsed around them as they traded blows.
"Good," Hayashi said. "Let's move to stage two."
Kushina inhaled deeply and nodded.
When she opened her eyes again, her pupils were fully red, feral and sharp, true beast eyes. Chakra seeped from every pore, pressing heavily against the air.
"Round two," Hayashi said. "Begin."
Kushina's chakra-infused punch cratered the ground as Hayashi vanished. Lightning Release propelled him forward in a straight-line burst.
The pressure escalated instantly.
Each step Kushina took forward, Hayashi matched, forcing her to adapt faster.
When they finally separated, her breathing was ragged.
"Let's stop here," Hayashi said.
But the voice that answered was not Kushina's.
"She pushed herself too hard and blacked out," the Nine-Tails rumbled. "Ambition's fine, kid. Just don't rush it."
Hayashi nodded silently.
"You have no idea how obsessed this brat is with you," the Nine-Tails added, glaring, though on Kushina's face it looked more sulky than threatening.
The fox released its hold. Kushina collapsed, and Hayashi caught her before she hit the ground.
"I'm sorry," he murmured softly, unsure who the apology was meant for.
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