Chapter 30: Overly Careless?
Chapter 30: Overly Careless?
"...'
Kisame Hoshigaki's figure appeared about thirty meters away from Feng Ye.
His right arm had been severed at the shoulder, and he was now using his left hand to cover the wound on his right shoulder. Beads of cold sweat dotted his forehead as he endured the pain, but his initial composure was long gone.
Too young.
Feng Ye sighed inwardly as he observed Kisame's state.
At this point in time, although Kisame stood out in terms of chakra control, without Samehada, his abilities weren't as exaggerated. Moreover, his combat experience paled in comparison to the Kisame who had killed Isaribi the shark-user and joined the Akatsuki.
The ninjutsu Kisame had used earlier, including the Water Clone that lured Feng Ye in and the subsequent Water Prison Technique, might have worked on someone else.
But Feng Ye had anticipated these moves from the very beginning.
Information asymmetry.
If both sides had equal knowledge, perhaps Kisame at this stage could have put up a decent fight. But with the intelligence disparity, it was a one-sided crushing defeat.
"Hmm?!"
Just as Feng Ye was about to finish off Kisame, he suddenly glanced sideways, his eyes narrowing.
In that direction, three figures were rapidly approaching.
"More company..."
Feng Ye spared Kisame a glance before performing a single-handed seal, vanishing from the spot with a soft whoosh.
Rushing towards them were three genin from Kumogakure.
Unlike Kisame's group, these Kumo-nin hadn't deliberately hunted down other genin teams, but they had still taken out two teams.
If it were teams from other villages, having obtained enough scrolls and being close to the finish line, they would most likely choose to rush to the end. But Kumo-nin were known for their impetuous personalities, and upon sensing the disturbance here, the three of them unanimously decided to head towards the source of the commotion.
After all, they would have to fight in the third stage anyway, so why not take the opportunity now to eliminate some competitors? That was their reasoning.
"It's a Water Release ninjutsu... Must be those from Kirigakure."
"Didn't expect to run into Kiri-nin, but it's a good chance to take them out here."
Kamoi, with his dark complexion, had faint lightning arcs flickering on his right arm. As he spoke, he rubbed his fist, a slight smirk playing on his lips.
When it came to Kiri-nin, the Kumo-nin could be said to be the least afraid. On one hand, Lightning Release was strong against Water Release, and on the other hand, Kumo-nin were typically brawlers, while Kiri-nin were mostly assassins—a style that Kumo-nin were well-equipped to counter.
However—
Just as the three of them drew near the battlefield, one of them suddenly paled, sensing something amiss. "Watch out!" he shouted.
Kamoi's expression changed, and in an instant, his body was enveloped in a layer of lightning as he sidestepped to the right, barely evading a slash that cut through the mud below him.
Swoosh!!
Feng Ye took two steps back, having missed his mark, and turned to face Kamoi.
"As expected of Kumo-nin, your speed and reflexes are indeed impressive..."
Swoosh! Swoosh!!
The other two Kumo-nin moved in from the left and right, trapping Feng Ye in the center. Kamoi, his eyes cold, offered a mocking smile. "Thought you were from Kiri, but turns out you're from Konoha."
As soon as he finished speaking, Kamoi performed a single-handed seal and pressed his hand towards the ground. In an instant, lightning raced across the ground towards Feng Ye.
Swoosh! Feng Ye leaped backward, evading the attack.
The two Kumo-nin rushed in from the sides, but Feng Ye, in the narrow gap between their attacks, displayed an uncanny speed, slipping through their assault.
The other two also revealed fierce gazes, flanking him from the left and right once more in a pincer attack, aiming to take down Feng Ye together.
Inside the Central Lookout Tower, Kurenai Yuhi furrowed her brows as she watched the scene unfold on the screen.
"He's pushing his luck," she remarked.
After taking out two members of the Kirigakure team and severely injuring Kisame Hoshigaki, Feng Ye had already done enough. It was unnecessary for him to attack the team from Kumogakure as well.
Feng Ye's speed seemed slightly slower than when he had fought the Kirigakure ninjas earlier, indicating that his condition might have declined and he was no longer at his peak.
One of the Kumogakure ninjas had a speed comparable to Feng Ye's, and the other two were barely keeping up.
In this situation, it would be difficult for Feng Ye to defeat the Kumogakure ninjas, let alone escape.
"..."
The other Konoha proctors also looked tense.
Although Kisame Hoshigaki hadn't been killed by Feng Ye, his arm had been severed, his scroll had been destroyed, and he was effectively eliminated. If Feng Ye were to fail here, there would be no need for the third stage of the Chunin Exam, and the three Kumogakure ninjas could pass directly.
"He shouldn't be so careless."
"If he had just entered the third stage normally, he wouldn't lose in a one-on-one fight against any of the Kumogakure ninjas."
Kurenai voiced her concerns as she watched the scene unfold on the screen.
Beside her, Hiruzen Sarutobi also knitted his brows.
He had praised Feng Ye earlier for his mature judgment, which seemed beyond his years, but now it appeared that Feng Ye's success had gone to his head. After defeating two Kirigakure ninjas and severely injuring Kisame, Feng Ye seemed overconfident and had abandoned the safest choice.
"He's still just a nine-year-old, after all... Getting a few wins under his belt has made him a bit too proud," Hiruzen thought, shaking his head inwardly.
"At this distance, he should be able to make it to the finish line," said Inoichi Yamanaka, watching the screen intently.
As long as Feng Ye could reach the finish line, the problem wouldn't be too big. After passing this stage, the third stage would be a one-on-one competition, and Feng Ye would have a high chance of winning against any opponent.
Hiruzen nodded slightly.
Feng Ye still had a chance to make up for this mistake, and by defeating the Kirigakure team, he had already displayed impressive strength.
However, at that moment, a dissenting voice piped up.
"No."
"It won't be that simple, Hiruzen-sensei."
Orochimaru, with his arms folded across his chest, had a gleam in his snake-like eyes as he watched the screen. "I think you may be underestimating that child."
Even though they were watching through a surveillance screen and not witnessing the battle firsthand, Orochimaru felt that Feng Ye wouldn't be so reckless and rash as to provoke the Kumogakure ninjas after his fight with the Kirigakure ninjas.
Especially since, even now, surrounded by three Kumogakure ninjas, Feng Ye hadn't shown the slightest hint of panic!
To him, it seemed more like... Feng Ye was observing his opponents.
(Happy New Year to all! Remember to wear your masks during the celebrations!)
(End of Chapter)
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