As soon as the knocked-back Tsuchi Kin landed, she was directly controlled by the classic genjutsu, Binding Stakes.
She quickly pressed her hands together and bit the tip of her tongue, trying to dispel the genjutsu. The moment she succeeded, a flurry of water orbs struck her.
The power of the Water Release · Water Orb technique was actually quite average, but that depended on who was using it.
With her advanced Water Release talent and high-level chakra control ability, Haruno Sakura easily made each water orb fired by this technique possess the striking power of a normal genin's punch.
Although it still didn't sound like much, it was as if Sakura had punched Tsuchi Kin more than ten times in a row, directly knocking her unconscious from the blows.
"Heh~ it wasn't that hard either."
Sakura stretched lazily, then realized many people were watching her, shocked by her hand seal manipulation just now.
One-handed seals were already a skill many couldn't master, yet Sakura had actually been able to simultaneously form seals for both a Water Release technique and a genjutsu, releasing them almost at the same time. This display was even more astonishing.
Even Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but ask, "Anko, you're relatively close to them. Was that move something she developed herself?"
"Probably... Sakura is actually very outstanding, especially talented in chakra control."
Anko told half the truth. Then Sarutobi Hiruzen asked about Sakura's chakra affinities. Upon hearing that Sakura only had Earth and Water affinities, he sighed and said, "What a pity."
It was clear Sarutobi Hiruzen had developed an appreciation for her talent.
Sakura was a civilian-born ninja, skilled in chakra control and ninjutsu. If she had also been talented in either Earth or Lightning Release, he wouldn't have hesitated to guide her.
Sakura didn't know she had missed a great opportunity, but she probably wouldn't have cared even if she did.
She knew very well where all her strength came from. So, after Gekkō Hayate announced her victory, she proudly turned and waved enthusiastically at Nojuro Ryun.
Only after Ryun helplessly raised his hand in response did Sakura leave, urged on by Gekkō Hayate.
Now even more people were looking at Ryun. Even Gekkō Hayate couldn't help but glance at him a few more times, all seemingly curious about how Ryun possessed such charm.
"Just who is that guy? Do you have any info on him?"
Temari couldn't help but ask Kankuro. Kankuro replied coldly, "I'm not in charge of intel work. Besides, he's not even a ninja, how would I know?"
"That day he gave you a real beating, and you didn't bother gathering intel on him afterward?"
"Your little brother got beaten up, and you, as his sister, didn't go seek revenge for him?"
"Is that any way to talk to your sister?"
"Sis, you've secretly glanced at him several times now. You're not into this type of guy, are you?"
Just as Temari was about to resort to underhanded means to teach her annoying little brother a harsh lesson, Gaara said coldly, "Stop arguing. It's your turn, Kankuro."
Kankuro looked up, surprised to see that it really was him.
He walked onto the field reluctantly, looked at his opponent, and then frowned.
It's this guy?
Naruto, wiping his nose, strode up triumphantly, excitedly shaking his fist at Sakura, signaling that he would definitely win.
As for Sasuke, he was no longer in the venue. Kakashi was probably applying the Evil Sealing Method to him right now.
Even Orochimaru had silently disappeared, likely going to persuade Kakashi not to lay a hand on his coveted Sasuke.
Ryun rubbed his chin, pondering the logic of this match-up.
Naruto vs. Kankuro? Didn't they want Naruto to win?
Well... except for Tsurugi Misumi, the remaining opponents were all tough, but Kankuro was still a bit too extreme for Naruto.
Unless—
Ryun's eyes lit up slightly as he understood.
"Hey, you jerk! That day you bullied Konohamaru and Moegi, I, as their big brother, am going to get revenge for them!" Naruto pointed his thumb at himself. Kankuro's previously calm expression immediately started twitching.
Although Ryun hadn't injured his vitals that day, he had still been laid up for several days.
That incident was also a disgrace in Kankuro's eyes, because he didn't think the gap in strength between himself and Nojuro Ryun was that huge.
He was a puppeteer and hadn't used his puppet back then. Once he used his puppet, everything would be different.
Then, he slammed his newly repaired Crow puppet heavily onto the ground, saying, "Fine then, I'll cripple this little brother of yours first, then go find your big brother for revenge."
Kankuro pointed his thumb at Nojuro Ryun. The ninjas who knew about the incident between Ryun and Kankuro that day smiled knowingly; those who didn't, looked at Ryun again. Why were you involved in everything?
Ryun watched Kankuro with interest. This time, he had truly touched Naruto's berserk button.
Sure enough, Naruto glared furiously at Kankuro and said, "He's not my big brother! Can't you see straight, you idiot? I won't acknowledge anyone as my big brother!"
"It seems only by knocking you flat on the ground will you understand how foolish your words just now were!"
During the bell-snatching exercise, Ryun had bet with Naruto and Sasuke on whether Kakashi would be late. The losing Naruto and Sasuke had blushed and called Ryun "big brother" once.
However, they regarded this as a humiliation deep down and were holding their breath, determined to defeat Ryun in the future. Now, Naruto's emotions had clearly erupted.
Kankuro wasted no more words and revealed his puppet, Crow.
The moment the fierce and menacing puppet appeared, it startled Naruto. He had never seen such a terrifying ninja tool.
Then, Kankuro manipulated the puppet to charge forward, grabbing Naruto in its embrace, seemingly about to end the match directly.
With a bang, Naruto in Crow's arms turned out to be a Shadow Clone.
Kankuro's pupils contracted. When— no, the question was, where was the real Naruto?
The next second, the kunai at the waist of the Shadow Clone Naruto transformed into the real Naruto.
He had originally planned to use this move to ambush his enemy, but now he had to reveal himself right next to the puppet, making his situation somewhat awkward.
But it didn't matter. Naruto pressed his hands together to form seals, then unleashed a technique he had recently learned.
Wind Release · Gale Palm!
With a clap of his hands, the wind was compressed into a violent gale, tearing at the puppet Crow in front of him.
Kankuro initially tried to use the hidden daggers and poison needles on Crow to attack Naruto, but under such a powerful hurricane, his puppet uncontrollably lifted off the ground.
Kankuro, familiar with Wind Release, knew that against this kind of wind, poison needles and mist were useless.
Frowning, he quickly retracted Crow, preparing to create distance and stall for time.
After all, controlling the puppet and firing its mechanisms didn't consume much chakra, but Naruto using Wind Release was different. Although Wind Release · Gale Palm was only a C-rank Wind Release technique, its power was relatively high, and it consumed a fair amount of chakra.
Or rather, Wind Release techniques generally had this characteristic. He refused to believe that Naruto, a mere genin, could unleash powerful Wind Release techniques multiple times.
Then, Kankuro realized his mistake. He had encountered a Wind Release user even more extreme than his sister.
Naruto looked with surprise at Kankuro's alarmed expression and smiled smugly.
He had had to sweet-talk Kakashi quite a bit to learn this technique; he hadn't expected it to be this powerful.
Since this guy controlling the mechanical doll was afraid of his Wind Release, he'd just blow this ninja away with it.
Then, to everyone's astonishment, Naruto used the Shadow Clone Technique, splitting into ten Narutos who surrounded Kankuro.
Next, under Kankuro's horrified gaze, all ten Narutos began their techniques simultaneously.
Wind Release · Great Breakthrough!
Wind Release · Gale Palm!
Six Narutos respectively used the two Wind Release techniques, while the remaining ones threw kunai and shuriken at Kankuro.
Although Naruto's shurikenjutsu was practically non-existent, it didn't matter when the Wind Release techniques were blowing from behind!
At that moment, Kankuro was somewhat mentally unbalanced. Just who had more tricks up their sleeve—him with his puppet's myriad mechanisms, or Naruto with his current onslaught of techniques?
With no other choice, Kankuro was forced to use a life-saving maneuver, protecting himself inside Crow, attempting to use the puppet's tough exterior to withstand Naruto's Wind Release.
But then Naruto reluctantly pulled out a handful of senbon.
"Wait, I give up!"
Kankuro quickly crawled out from inside Crow and chose to surrender.
It wasn't that he was completely out of options or that the senbon could shatter his Crow puppet.
Rather, Kankuro needed to conserve his strength for the upcoming battle during the Konoha Crush. Crow couldn't afford to be damaged again.
Seeing Kankuro's firm resolve, Gekkō Hayate could only declare Naruto the winner.
Naruto ran around the venue ecstatically, and his performance earned applause from Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Compared to the original story where he won with a fart, Naruto's current performance, though still immature, showed he already possessed some real skill.
Naruto's excitement hadn't worn off before he was drawn to the next match on the field.
Temari slammed her large iron fan onto the ground with dissatisfaction. Kankuro's defeat filled her with shame.
She was determined to teach the next ninja a harsh lesson. And her opponent was Tenten.