https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-331-A-Charm-That-Has-No-Place-to-Rest-25-/12559486/
Chapter 330: Sasuke Thinks He's Ready! 【15】
Chapter 330: Sasuke Thinks He's Ready! 【15】
The second stage of the Chunin Exams concluded swiftly.
Out of all the participants, forty-seven candidates advanced to the next round, including the original twelve Konoha rookies. Whether it was due to luck or some other reason, they had all made it through.
The weaker team, led by Kiba Inuzuka, relied on Akamaru's instincts to avoid most of the 'difficult' and 'hell' level opponents, ultimately defeating the weakest team.
This turn of events even caused Feng Ye, who was treating the Chunin Exams as a live-action film of the Fire Shadow, to chuckle. Moreover, Naruto, Sasuke, Tenten, and Rock Lee had not encountered each other yet.
And so, the third round commenced.
The Konoha rookies were not as fortunate this time.
Among the remaining forty-seven candidates, there was one 'hell' level opponent—Hinata Hyuga—as well as difficult opponents like Haku, and those on par with them, such as Naruto and Sasuke. One could say that to win this round, even with the best of luck, one would need a certain degree of strength.
"Then, the next match... Uzumaki Naruto versus Inuzuka Kiba."
The proctor for the third round of the Chunin Exams, Moonlight Hayate, made the announcement in a sickly voice.
Upon hearing this, Kiba's face fell, while his teammates, including Shikamaru Nara, exchanged glances that seemed to wish him good luck.
Nowadays, Naruto was no longer the dead-last of the class but the son of the Fourth Fire Shadow, a genius on par with Sasuke, and essentially an opponent no one wanted to face.
Moments later,
Kiba was pinned to the ground and brutally beaten by Naruto.
Kakashi, the chief examiner, stood at the edge of the corridor overlooking the third round's arena. As he watched this scene, a slight smile appeared on his face. It was at this moment that he suddenly turned his head.
"Big brother?"
"I came to take a look."
Feng Ye, who had emerged from the corridor on the third floor, smiled at Kakashi and quietly walked over to the railing, gazing down at the arena below.
Unnoticed, he observed the ongoing Chunin Exams.
After Naruto defeated Kiba, the screen above the exam arena randomly selected the next pair of opponents—Uchiha Sasuke versus Hyuga Hinata!
Smack!
Seeing this grouping, Kakashi hit his forehead and turned to Feng Ye, who was standing next to him. "How is Hinata's training coming along?"
Although he hadn't paid much attention to Hinata's progress, he was aware that she was Feng Ye's disciple and the inheritor of Hagoromo Otsutsuki's chakra.
"Hmm..."
"At her current level, she could probably take on ten Sasukes. Unless Sasuke's Sharingan has evolved from two tomoe to the Mangekyo Sharingan." Feng Ye replied with a slight smile.
Kakashi tilted his head, "Actually, influenced and inspired by your battle with Kaguya Otsutsuki, Sasuke's Sharingan has already advanced to three tomoe."
"Is that so?"
Feng Ye glanced at Sasuke with a hint of surprise.
Below,
Sasuke jumped down from the second-floor railing, landing in the center of the arena. As he faced Hinata, who was walking towards him from the opposite side, a glint flashed in his eyes.
Hinata Hyuga...
The Fire Shadow's disciple...
As Itachi Uchiha's younger brother, Sasuke was well aware that Hinata's teacher was none other than the current Fire Shadow, Hatake Kakashi. This wasn't much of a secret in Konoha anymore. After all, with the Uchiha and Hyuga clans being the two foremost families in Konoha, it seemed only natural to many that the heirs of both the clan heads were disciples of Feng Ye.
However,
While this arrangement might seem reasonable to the Konoha higher-ups, Sasuke didn't see it that way. He didn't think Hinata was qualified to be mentioned in the same breath as his brother, Itachi Uchiha.
Moonlight Hayate looked at Hinata and Sasuke as they stepped into the arena and asked.
"None," they replied simultaneously.
After a brief pause, Sasuke spoke to Hinata, "I think I understand why you became the disciple of the Fire Shadow. I don't consider you to be on par with my brother, but if I defeat you, I might earn the Fire Shadow's recognition."
As Itachi's younger brother, Sasuke had always sought his acknowledgment and strived to follow in his footsteps. Now, encountering Hinata, the only other disciple of Feng Ye aside from Itachi, presented an opportunity he relished.
This was his chance to prove himself!
Sasuke's words stirred something within Hinata, who hadn't been in her usual state of focus. She clenched her small fists and her expression turned serious.
"I'm sorry... But I also seek Master's recognition, so I won't lose to you."
Hinata didn't have a strong competitive streak, but there was one thing she cared about deeply—not disappointing Feng Ye as his disciple. Ever since becoming his disciple, her father, Hiashi Hyuga, had been instilling this mindset in her, and she had been working hard toward that goal.
Witnessing this exchange, Kakashi, standing at the railing on the third-floor corridor, couldn't help but cover his forehead and let out a silent exclamation.
"Really now... Why provoke her?!"
Indeed, Sasuke had become inflated with pride after unlocking the three-tomoe Sharingan. He believed he had become formidable.
If it weren't for Sasuke's words, he might have had a chance to catch Hinata off-guard and exploit her lack of focus with his three-tomoe Sharingan to secure a victory. But now, Kakashi foresaw Sasuke getting brutally beaten by Hinata.
As Moonlight Hayate signaled the start of the match, Sasuke and Hinata simultaneously activated their Sharingan and Byakugan. Ten meters apart, their ocular powers clashed.
Buzz!
Sasuke cast a genjutsu on Hinata!
Hinata resisted with her Byakugan, amplified by Hagoromo Otsutsuki's chakra!
Whoosh!
Sasuke lunged forward!
Hinata sent Sasuke flying!
Crackle!
Sasuke unleashed his Chidori!
Sasuke rushed forward again!
"Such powerful lightning-style chakra..."
"Then..."
Hinata's Byakugan captured the Chidori's chakra, along with Sasuke's incredible speed and movements. She unleashed all the Hagoromo Otsutsuki chakra she could muster.
A torrent of chakra surged beneath her feet, causing the ground to crack like a spider web in all directions. The resulting shockwave left Ino, Sakura, and the others stunned, their jaws nearly dropping.
"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!"
Buzz!
Hinata unleashed a massive palm strike! The immense chakra condensed into a giant palm imprint!
Boom!
Sasuke's Chidori was blown apart! Sasuke was slammed into the ground!
Sasuke was brutally beaten! Sasuke began to question his life choices!
Watching this unfold, Kakashi quietly covered his eyes.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
