Chapter 68: Izayoi's Opponent

Chapter 68: Izayoi’s Opponent

Four rounds of duels, nearly all ending in instant knockouts.

In under ten minutes, the preliminaries surged into their fifth match.

This round, however, dragged on—so long, in fact, that many spectators couldn’t help but yawn.

The cause of this delay? None other than the long-awaited clash between Yamanaka Ino and Sakura Haruno.

Like Naruto Uzumaki’s mastery of Wind Release, Sakura had advanced far beyond her original abilities—but only slightly.

She’d learned one genjutsu from Kakashi Hatake: the D-ranked "Naraka View Technique", which forced opponents to witness the horrors that terrified them most. During the Survival Exercise, Sakura herself had been defeated instantly by Kakashi’s genjutsu.

If her opponent had been Minako, perhaps Sakura could have won.

Unfortunately for her, her foe was Yamanaka Ino, a specialist in Yin Release and the heir to the Yamanaka clan’s secret techniques.

The "Naraka View Technique" was effortlessly dispelled by Ino.

Conversely, while Ino, as the Yamanaka heir, had already mastered the Mind Body Switch Technique, the Yamanaka clan’s role was traditionally supportive—their signature technique carried no offensive power.

Though Ino successfully infiltrated Sakura’s mind, her consciousness was violently expelled by a second personality lurking within Sakura’s psyche.

One genjutsu countered, one clan secret technique neutralized.

These former best friends, once inseparable, now stood as natural rivals, forced to rely on the basics taught at the Ninja Academy to decide their fate.

Three Body Technique, shuriken throws, kunai melee combat, taijutsu duels… Both girls displayed impeccable fundamentals, true honor students.

Yet to the jonin watching, it was as dull as children playing pretend ninja.

Even Izayoi and the others found the match underwhelming.

Only Minako felt a pang of empathy—realizing these honor students were just like her.

In the end, both girls collapsed from exhaustion, just as they had in the original story, eliminating them from the official tournament.

By the time they awoke, the ninth round was already underway.

The sixth match was Tenten versus Temari—a one-sided rout. Temari’s Wind Release utterly overwhelmed Tenten, leaving her helpless.

The seventh match pitted Nara Shikamaru against Sazanami Gen’ichi, one of Kiba Inuzuka’s teammates. Born into a ninja family like Sakura, Gen’ichi’s father was an ordinary chunin with a surname.

Gen’ichi’s skills were decent—he’d mastered the C-ranked "Water Release: Wild Water Wave", a basic but versatile water technique. With sufficient chakra, it could rival B-ranked Water Release jutsu.

Unfortunately, his combat experience was lacking, and his intelligence paled in comparison to Shikamaru’s.

The moment he unleashed his water technique, sending Shikamaru vanishing behind a torrent, the outcome was sealed.

Shikamaru first retrieved a kunai with his teeth, then used the Shadow Imitation Technique to pin Gen’ichi in place. The moment he removed the kunai from his mouth, Gen’ichi surrendered.

As Gen’ichi’s defeat concluded, the eighth match began: Minako versus Neji Hyuga.

Faced with Neji—a prestigious talent from the Hidden Leaf’s noble Hyuga clan and last year’s top graduate—Minako didn’t even bother stepping onto the arena floor. She raised her hand and forfeited immediately.

The ninth match, then, was Naruto Uzumaki versus Kiba Inuzuka!

"Perfect! It’s that idiot Kiba—I’m totally winning this!"

The moment he saw his opponent’s name, Naruto leapt onto the railing, shouting excitedly.

Kiba, equally delighted, shot back with a scowl: "Dead-Last! That’s my line!"

Marching into the arena, Kiba sneered at Naruto: "Dead-Last, beg me for mercy now, and I’ll let you lose gracefully. Or just surrender!"

In Kiba’s eyes, Naruto hadn’t changed since months ago. Against him and Akamaru, victory seemed certain.

But Naruto grinned just as arrogantly: "Watch me take you down in one move!"

"Hah! One move? Dead-Last, you’re still half-asleep!" Kiba roared with laughter, turning to Akamaru. "Akamaru, let’s teach this Dead-Last a lesson!"

"Woof!" Akamaru barked in reply.

"Round nine… begin!"

The moment Hayate Gekko’s voice fell, Naruto formed the Ram seal and shouted: "Shadow Clone Technique!"

Days had passed since the Five Elements Sealing Technique’s effects began fading. Though Naruto couldn’t yet create hundreds of clones instantly, conjuring a dozen was effortless now.

Poof! Poof!

Sharp popping sounds echoed as white smoke billowed into existence.

When it cleared, over twenty Narutos had encircled Kiba and Akamaru.

"Shadow Clone Technique?! How are there so many?!" Kiba gaped.

The shock spread to the genin on the second-floor balcony—even the jonin were stunned.

The experienced jonin recognized this wasn’t a standard Shadow Clone Technique, but the forbidden Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu.

"Wind Release…"

Before Kiba could recover, Naruto and his clones began forming hand seals.

The jonin’s eyes widened as they recognized the sequence unfolding.

By the time Kiba reacted, Naruto and his clones had already roared the technique’s name: "Great Breakthrough!"

Whoosh!

Howling gales erupted, tangible gusts of wind striking like invisible hands, hurling Kiba and Akamaru skyward.

Then, phantom hands materialized, batting the pair midair like ragdolls caught in a cyclone.

Even the spectators on the second floor felt the force—genin clung to railings, eyes squeezed shut, while jonin raised arms to shield themselves.

When Kiba’s sensei, the jonin instructor of Team 8, saw his students spinning toward a deadly collision with the wall, he flash-stepped to catch them, ending the match.

"Round nine… winner: Naruto Uzumaki."

Hayate, feet planted firmly, arms raised to shield his face, announced the result.

"Ha! See that, idiot Kiba? That’s how strong I am now!" Naruto crowed, hands on hips, laughing triumphantly.

Victorious against a former superior, Naruto’s chest swelled with euphoria.

His mind raced with fantasies of defeating Izayoi, stomping Sasuke Uchiha, and even Rock Lee kneeling in defeat.

His face tilted upward, laughter turning lecherous, drool slipping from his lip—until Hayate snapped him back to reality, prompting him to strut arrogantly back to the balcony.

The screen flickered with new names.

As the text settled, murmurs rippled through the crowd.

Displayed boldly: Izayoi vs. Rock Lee.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end