Chapter 47 — The Bright Future of Konoha
The entire arena fell silent.
Everyone held their breath as Ren and Lee stood motionless in the center of the shattered battlefield.
Crack...
A small sound echoed.
Under countless gazes, Ren's knees suddenly buckled.
"Cough—!"
Blood escaped his mouth as he dropped to one knee.
The crowd erupted.
"What?!"
Genma calmly walked forward and raised his hand.
"The winner is Ren!"
Everyone froze.
Naruto nearly jumped out of his seat.
"What?! Are you okay in the head? It's Ren who fell to his knees!" he shouted in confusion.
Many others started complaining as well.
But Shikamaru, Hinata, and Ino remained silent.
So did the Jonin.
So did the Hokage.
Guy's tears flowed endlessly.
"What a youthful match!"
Whoosh!
The next second, he disappeared from the stands and appeared beside Lee.
Only then did the others finally notice.
Lee was unconscious.
Yet he was still standing.
"He... he's still standing?" Sakura muttered in disbelief.
The realization struck everyone at once.
Naruto fell silent.
So did the rest of the rookies.
The weight of their weakness settled heavily on their shoulders.
Naruto clenched his fists so hard that his nails dug into his palms.
He knew Ren was stronger than him.
But this...
This was on a completely different level.
And even Lee—the thick-brow guy he had always thought was strange—was this strong.
Meanwhile, he couldn't even properly follow their movements.
Forget exchanging blows.
He couldn't even see most of the fight.
"Damn it..." Naruto muttered.
Shikamaru stared at Ren and Lee as medical ninja carried them away.
Part of him wanted to simply dismiss everything as talent.
But he couldn't.
His eyes drifted toward the massive weight gear lying in the arena.
Most of the battle had been fought with pure taijutsu.
That wasn't talent alone.
That was hard work.
Years of hard work.
"Tsk... looks like we're being left behind," he muttered quietly.
Nearby, Team Sand was equally shaken.
Temari stared with wide eyes.
"Monsters..."
"No wonder Konoha is called the cradle of geniuses."
Kankuro clicked his tongue.
"Tsk. With monsters like them, no wonder Konoha is still the strongest village."
The siblings exchanged hesitant glances.
A dangerous thought surfaced in both their minds.
Is the Konoha Crush really a smart plan?
They weren't the only ones thinking it.
Many Sand and Sound shinobi were beginning to question the mission.
But none dared say it aloud.
Up on the platform, Hiruzen stood proudly.
The battle had made him happier than he had been in years.
Konoha had produced two extraordinary young ninja.
And Ren...
The old Hokage smiled warmly.
"Learning several jutsu..."
"Recreating Monster Strength by himself..."
"And..."
His smile deepened.
"A heart that carries the Will of Fire."
Many had missed it.
But Hiruzen hadn't.
At the moment of impact, Ren had dispersed the Chidori's penetrating power.
He had willingly sacrificed victory to avoid seriously injuring Lee.
That desire to protect a comrade pleased the old Hokage greatly.
Far away, hidden among the spectators, a certain ninja licked his lips.
"Hehehe..."
"Fascinating."
A pale face hidden beneath a disguise watched the arena carefully.
Orochimaru.
"To possess that kind of strength at such an age..."
His eyes narrowed.
"Konoha truly is blessed with countless geniuses."
His gaze slowly shifted toward Hiruzen.
"The old leaves should burn so new ones can grow."
A smile stretched across his face.
"Isn't that what you taught us, Sensei?"
Then his eyes returned to Ren.
"But that brat..."
"He is an unexpected obstacle."
---
Naruto released a long sigh.
For the first time, he truly understood the gap between himself and the strongest of his generation.
"I need to train harder."
His blue eyes hardened.
"I can't be left behind."
"I'm gonna become Hokage, after all."
Then he turned around.
"Hey, Hinata! Wanna go to Ichiraku? Just as thanks for cheeri—"
He stopped.
Hinata and Ino were already gone.
"Huh?"
Naruto scratched his head.
"Where did they go?"
Sakura rolled her eyes.
"It's her match next."
"And they wanted to check on Ren."
"Oh..."
Naruto laughed awkwardly.
"Is that so?"
Yet a strange feeling appeared in his chest.
One he couldn't quite understand.
---
Inside a temporary medical room, Ren sat on a bed while a medical ninja examined him.
A soft green glow covered his injuries.
"Hmm."
"Nothing serious."
"You'll be fine in no time."
The medic continued using Mystical Palm.
Ren smiled.
"Thanks."
BANG!
The door flew open.
"Miss Ino is here to see her poor little Sensei!"
Ino dramatically announced her arrival.
Several medics immediately glared at her.
Ren rubbed his forehead.
"Miss Bundle of Chaos, can you keep your voice down?"
"This is a medical room."
Ino pouted.
Hinata ignored the conversation completely.
Her Byakugan activated.
Veins bulged around her eyes as she carefully inspected Ren's body.
After confirming that most injuries had already been healed, she finally relaxed.
A small sigh escaped her lips.
Ren noticed.
"Your match is next, right?"
Hinata nodded.
"Don't get injured."
Although he knew she was stronger than Neji, he still doubted she would go all out against him.
Hinata smiled sweetly.
"You'll be watching, right?"
Ren smiled back.
"Of course."
"It's my first student's match, after all."
The medic blinked.
Teacher?
Student?
Aren't they the same age?
After a few seconds, he decided not to think too deeply about it.
"You can leave."
"Your injuries aren't serious."
"Just report to the hospital afterward for another checkup."
With that, he walked away.
The moment he left—
Whoosh!
Ino immediately attached herself to Ren's arm.
"Well then, Mister Patient."
"Let's go enjoy the match."
Ren sighed.
"I don't need support. I can walk perfectly fine."
Ino completely ignored him.
Hinata's eye twitched.
She glared at Ino.
Just then—
"Hinata Hyūga!"
Her name echoed through the arena.
"Tsk."
With a snort, she turned and walked toward the battlefield.
Clearly annoyed at Ino's clinginess.
---
Neji stood waiting in the arena.
Soon, Hinata stepped onto the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Ren and Ino returned to the stands.
Kakashi glanced toward Ren.
"Great job."
"That was a nice match."
Ren smiled.
"How's Lee?"
"He'll be okay."
"No serious injuries."
"Just needs rest."
Ren nodded.
Nearby, Naruto suddenly pointed dramatically.
"I'll become stronger too! Believe it!"
"Oi!"
"Stop shouting."
Ino glared at him.
Naruto immediately shrank back.
At that moment, Genma raised his hand.
"Final match of the semifinals!"
"Hinata Hyūga vs Neji Hyūga!"
The crowd cheered.
Neji looked at Hinata calmly.
"Lady Hinata, quit the match. You are no mat—"
Whoosh!
Before he could finish speaking, Hinata attacked.
Neji's eyes widened.
He immediately dodged and assumed his Gentle Fist stance.
"Very well."
"If you wish to be defeated, then so be it."
Clap! Clap! Clap!
Palm strikes collided.
The two Hyūga exchanged blows at incredible speed.
After several exchanges, both jumped backward.
"Byakugan!"
"Byakugan!"
Veins bulged around their eyes.
Neji frowned.
"You have improved, Lady Hinata, but you are still not—"
"Shut up."
"Fight with your hands, not your mouth."
Whoosh!
Her arms blurred.
Before Neji could react—
Tap! Tap! Tap!
Several tenketsu points on his arms were sealed instantly.
"Wha—?!"
Pain shot through his body.
His eyes widened in disbelie. Hinata was complete focused in the fight.
He's watching.
I can't lose.
Not after how hard he worked for us.
A memory flashed through her mind.
Ren spending nights writing books and notes.
Creating training guides by hand.
Designing specialized equipment new Fuinejutsu.
Finding isolated islands for training.
Working himself to exhaustion.
All for them.
For two girls he barely knew.
And he never asked for anything in return.
The least she could do—
Was not waste all that effort.
So she trained.
Again and again.
And she refused to lose.
To anyone. Her eyes burned with determination and resolve.
"Lightning Style: Gentle Fist Arts — Sixty-Four Palms!"
CRACKLE!
Lightning chakra sparked around her fingers.
A Yin-Yang diagram appeared beneath her feet.
Neji's face changed.
"Two Palms!"
Tap!
"Four Palms!"
Tap! Tap!
"Eight Palms!"
"Sixteen Palms!"
"Thirty-Two Palms!"
"Sixty-Four Palms!"
BAM! BAM! BAM! BAM!
Her hands became afterimages.
Lightning surged through Neji's body.
Every strike sealed another tenketsu point.
Every strike further paralyzed him.
He couldn't even fight back.
Hiruzen shot to his feet.
His mouth hung open.
"This..."
"A new version of Gentle Fist?"
Neji was a genius.
One of the strongest Genin in the village.
Yet he couldn't even resist.
Soon disbelief turned into joy.
"Konoha truly has new leaves to protect it."
Many Jonin stared at the arena.
Completely speechless.
Asuma's cigarette fell from his mouth.
"That girl..."
Kurenai smiled proudly.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.
Nearby, Ino pouted while hugging Ren's arm.
"Tsk. Show-off."
Yet her smile betrayed her true feelings.
She was clearly happy.
Ren smiled.
"She trained really hard."
Ino puffed her cheeks.
"Me too."
"Just wait."
"I'll be the one to defeat her in the finals."
"Of course you will."
Ino instantly brightened.
Naruto stared at Hinata.
"So strong..."
Admiration filled his eyes.
Then his gaze lingered.
"She's cute..."
His face immediately turned red.
"Ehh?!"
"What am I thinking?!"
He hurriedly shook his head.
Nearby, Shikamaru sighed.
The laziness had vanished from his eyes.
"Troublesome."
"Looks like there'll be less time for naps."
Sakura clenched her fists.
"I won't fall behind."
"I'll train harder."
Back in the arena, Neji desperately tried reopening his blocked tenketsu.
Hinata refused to give him the opportunity.
"I'm sorry, Neji-nii."
"But I can't lose."
"Not this match."
"And not any match in the future."
Neji stared at her.
At this completely different Hinata.
"You've changed..."
A final strike landed.
Thud!
Neji collapsed unconscious.
Hinata looked down at him sadly.
"So have you, Neji-nii."
Genma immediately raised his hand.
"Winner — Hinata Hyūga!"
The crowd erupted into cheers.
Hinata exhaled deeply.
Then she turned toward the stands toward Ren.
Ren noticed her gaze as a smile appeared on his face.
"Good match."
Hinata's face instantly lit up.
As if she had won a war.
Naruto saw the exchange.
A sour feeling rose inside him.
Why is it always Ren?
I was the one she cheered for earlier.
So why do her eyes always search for him?
"Good match!"
"Just wait for the finals!"
"I'll be the one to defeat you!"
Ino shouted.
Hinata grinned.
"Challenge accepted, blonde."
Ren simply smiled.
Watching the two.
Up on the platform, Hiruzen looked happier than he had in years.
He stood and addressed the crowd.
"The semifinals have concluded!"
His voice echoed throughout the arena.
"In one month's time, the finals shall begin."
"I hope all participants use this time to train and prepare themselves."
The crowd erupted into cheers.
And with that—
The second round of the Chunin Exams came to an end.