Then Matsubara No's gaze changed, becoming firmer and more resolute.
"Getting serious? In that case, I'll get a bit more serious too," Satoru immediately used Armament Haki: Hardening. His arms immediately turned black. Obviously, he wasn't holding back either.
Then Matsubara No roared:
"Eight Gates! Open!"
Satoru had felt something off from the start. Which ninja doesn't know ninjutsu? Even the most basic Three Basic Techniques?
He thought Matsubara No was a pure taijutsu fighter, mastering only that, and maybe having some aces at most.
But even Satoru hadn't expected this guy named Matsubara No to also open the Eight Gates!
"Eight Gates: Gate of Opening, open!"
"Eight Gates: Gate of Rest, open!"
Matsubara No opened two of the Eight Gates in succession, and a stream of white energy burst from his body.
"Take this! Satoru! You're an opponent I like!" Matsubara No didn't continue opening gates but attacked Satoru again.
"Here you come!" Satoru wasn't scared at all. Just two opened gates — he could still handle that.
Satoru, enhanced by Armament Haki, wouldn't suffer much even taking the attack head-on. But the current Matsubara No's speed was truly astonishing.
"Eight Gates?! What connection does this guy have to the current Might Duy?"
In the current timeline, even Might Duy hadn't appeared yet, let alone Might Guy or Rock Lee. And Matsubara No knowing Eight Gates likely meant Might Duy trained him.
"Ha!" Matsubara No didn't give Satoru a second to relax; his attacks rained down on Satoru.
And Satoru ignored it, directly engaging Matsubara No in a fierce clash.
Matsubara No's speed was very high. Facing Satoru's counter, he dodged immediately too.
"Just two opened gates won't work on me."
"Primary Lotus!" When Matsubara No prepared to use this technique, Satoru interrupted him right away.
Satoru's Monstrous Strength came in handy. He destroyed the already nearly ruined arena again. Matsubara No had no footing left.
"I told you? Just two opened gates can't beat me," Satoru said to Matsubara No.
"You seem familiar with the Eight Gates too?" Matsubara No asked in turn.
"A little," Satoru replied.
"Looks like you're right. In this state, I can't even touch you!"
"Therefore! Gate of Life, the third gate, open!"
"Reverse Lotus!" Matsubara No's speed became even higher now. His skin began to flush with blood, and his body emitted green energy.
Even Satoru couldn't help but admire his speed.
Then Matsubara No kicked Satoru away, used hand bandages to bind him, and at incredible speed slammed toward the ground.
"Satoru!"
"Get up!!"
"This guy won't lose so easily," Uchiha Jinpu said from the stands.
And indeed, Satoru, hit by Reverse Lotus, turned into a large wooden log with a loud boom.
"Body Replacement Technique? Bad! When?!" Matsubara No was shocked. He could use Reverse Lotus only once and hadn't expected to hit a clone!
"The moment I hit the ground with Monstrous Strength!" Satoru suddenly teleported and punched Matsubara No in the stomach, knocking him down.
"I not only destroyed the ground with Monstrous Strength but used Body Replacement Technique at that moment. While all eyes were on you, I already figured out how to deal with you."
"Sorry, though I said I'd fight you head-on, it's still not worth it. After all, there's one more fight ahead, and spending too much energy isn't good for me."
Satoru was still standing, but Matsubara No couldn't get up anymore.
Though the Gate of Life was the last safe zone in the Eight Gates, it still had a huge side effect on the user. The Eight Gates released immense power but damaged the body just as much. Though Matsubara No was a taijutsu fighter and undoubtedly trained a lot, using Eight Gates was still very taxing for him.
"You probably can't move now, right? This technique is forbidden after all. Wonder what connection you have to Might Duy?" Satoru asked.
"Ha... Eight Gates aren't only his..." Saying this, Matsubara No lost consciousness. But before falling, he looked very satisfied.
For Satoru, Matsubara No was a respectable opponent.
"I declare the winner! Satoru!" When the Third Hokage announced Satoru's victory, the entire arena erupted in applause.
Satoru was only six years old. He was Konoha's undisputed supernova and the biggest dark horse in this tournament.
Young, incredibly strong, and handsome — he was definitely the idol of the youth in everyone's eyes.
As for the other ninja named Taigaku, he was somewhat unknown. Having reached the finals of the chunin exams, Taigaku should have gotten considerable spectator support, but the situation was the opposite.
Everyone loved more spectacular fights. But Taigaku's fights almost always ended with a direct knockout of the opponent, and in the previous fight, his teammate forfeited outright. So this time, far more people supported Satoru than Taigaku.
Satoru knew this guy had altered his appearance with Transformation Technique, but he was definitely a Root ninja, that is, Danzou's clone with transplanted Byakugan.
Since Satoru had just finished his fight, he was allowed a short rest.
And in the rest room, Satoru met that very participant named Taigaku.
"It's you, right? I didn't mistake you?" Satoru asked.
"Oh? So you recognized me? I thought you wouldn't," Taigaku said.
"Only the Shimura clan has Baku as a summoning beast. Obviously, you're that Root member in the cat mask," Satoru said very confidently. "What's your goal?"
"None. If anything, just to test you?" Taigaku replied.
"Test me? Want to lose to me again?" Satoru asked in turn.
"Lose? Last time you didn't catch me; I escaped in the end. This time we'll see who beats whom, yeah? I'm looking forward to it," Taigaku said.
"You... aren't you afraid of being exposed?" Satoru asked.
"Ha! Of course not!" Taigaku shook his head. "Come on! This time I'll at least beat you."
Satoru shook his head too:
"Well, we'll see!"
The two finally stepped onto the arena again. The Third Hokage started the ceremony again, but this time it was the last.
"Konoha chunin exam finals! Taigaku vs Satoru! Hope you show good results!" The Third Hokage was also a bit proud inside. After all, his student was fighting for the ultimate victory.
"Begin!" Taigaku narrowed his eyes and immediately said: "Byakugan!"
Then veins appeared around his eyes, and the eyes themselves turned white.