Chapter 977: In for a Surprise
The following battles featured female trainees from the Konoha Ninja Academy. While all these trainees belonged to Class A of the graduating year, the overall intensity of the confrontations among the graduating Kunoichi wasn’t particularly high. An exception to this was the match between Uchiha Kiyomi and Shimizu Mika, which left many spectators astonished.
Prior to the Uchiha Kiyomi and Shimizu Mika bout, three other fights garnered considerable attention due to the noteworthy skills of the participating trainees. The first match showcased a duel between Shion and Haruno Sakura. The second one unfolded between Kurama Yakumo and Yamanaka Ino, and the last of the three featured a battle between Hyuga Hinata and Tenten.
Haruno Sakura hails from a commoner background, in contrast to Shion, whose true identity as the heir of the Shrine of the Land of Demons remains unknown to most villagers. Shion’s potential future role as the ruler of that country is also concealed. However, the public is aware of Shion’s status as the adopted little sister of Godaime Hokage. Many eagerly anticipated witnessing her true strength.
Unfortunately, to the disappointment of the onlookers, the battle between Shion and Sakura concluded almost as soon as it began. While Sakura had received personal instructions from a Jonin over the past seven years, her proficiency in Genjutsu and Taijutsu paled in comparison to Shion’s, who had been trained in the art of Fuinjutsu by Kuroto even before enrolling in the Konoha Ninja Academy.
The battle had just commenced when Shion swiftly implemented a sophisticated Fuinjutsu Array around Sakura. This intricate Array constrained Sakura’s movements within a three-dimensional cubical barrier, steadily constricting and posing a genuine threat to crush her into a bloody pulp if she didn’t acknowledge defeat and concede the fight.
The outcome was decisively one-sided, with Sakura having little chance from the outset. The result of their confrontation didn’t come as a surprise to anyone.
…
The second highly anticipated battle unfolded similarly to the first. Yakumo Kurama, endowed with the unique Kekkei Genkai of the declining Kurama Clan, stood on one side. Despite the clan’s waning influence over the past two decades, their Kekkei Genkai remained exceptionally potent, even surpassing that of the Uchiha Clan in the realm of Genjutsu.
Yakumo’s personal prowess was formidable, capable of inflicting tangible physical harm through Genjutsu as the conduit. Additionally, she had the privilege of training under Uchiha Shisui, one of the foremost Genjutsu masters in the entire Shinobi World, since her enrollment in the Konoha Ninja Academy.
the Yamanaka Clan. These techniques granted her the ability to infiltrate others’ minds, manipulate their consciousness, and extract valuable intelligence. This formidable skill set might have been advantageous for Ino, if not for her opponent being Yakumo.In attempting to invade Yakumo’s mind, Ino fell victim to a powerful Genjutsu. She found herself ensnared in an illusion featuring thousands of centipedes, cockroaches, and other unsettling bugs crawling all over her body. Overwhelmed by disgust and discomfort, Ino lost concentration and eventually succumbed, foaming at the mouth and losing consciousness.
In contrast to the battle between Shion and Haruno Sakura, the intricacies of the fight between Yakumo and Ino eluded most spectators. The contest concluded swiftly, leaving the audience bewildered as the events unfolded too quickly for them to comprehend.
…
The subsequent highly anticipated battle featured Hyuga Hinata against Tenten, drawing considerable attention. Hinata, a member of the prestigious Hyuga Clan, shared lineage with the Hokage. Given the surprise element in Neji’s previous battle with Naruto, spectators were eager for another engaging match in the clash between Hinata and Tenten.
As anticipated, the duel between the former heiress of the Hyuga Clan and the daughter of Konoha’s top weapon seller did not disappoint. Hinata, having received training from Yui since a young age, showcased her refined skills. Meanwhile, Tenten demonstrated her unique combat style, adept at utilizing an array of weapons she had devised over time. The clash between these two skilled combatants promised an engaging spectacle.
Undoubtedly, Tenten stands out as the most talented among all the trainees of her year when it comes to wielding a diverse array of weapons. Impressively, her skills extend beyond weaponry, displaying notable talent in Fuinjutsu, Space-Time Ninjutsu, and the Puppet Technique. While on regular days, Tenten maintains a low profile as a typical Class A trainee without flaunting her abilities too much, the graduation test has provided her with the opportunity to truly showcase her exceptional talents. Remarkably, she has yet to suffer a single defeat throughout the challenges.
Tenten harbors aspirations of becoming an exceptional Kunoichi akin to Senju Tsunade. Despite lacking talent in Iryō Ninjutsu due to challenges in Chakra Control, she compensates with her unique fighting style, rendering her undefeated thus far. Her determination and innovative approach to combat make her a formidable force on the battlefield.
Certainly, Hyuga Hinata is a force to be reckoned with. Despite her kind nature and initial reluctance towards combat, she has undergone rigorous training and education from a young age under the guidance of Yui. Hinata’s determination to become someone capable of standing beside Naruto serves as her driving force, and akin to Naruto, she consistently pushes herself with the unwavering support of her teacher and best friend, Shion.
Hinata’s expertise lies in the Gentle Fist technique of the Hyuga Clan, a skill she has honed through dedicated practice. Not content with just mastering her clan’s traditional techniques, Hinata has diligently worked on advancing her Chakra Control, following Yui’s teachings. This dedication led her to delve into the realm of Iryō Ninjutsu. Incorporating this healing technique into her fighting style, Hinata has gained the ability to not only seal her opponent’s meridians with Gentle Fist attacks but also target their nerves and muscles using Chakra Scalpels. This added dimension makes her an even more formidable and versatile fighter in battle.
With their impressive skills and determination, both Tenten and Hinata have emerged victorious in their respective battles thus far. As they stand opposite each other, poised for the impending clash, the referee signals the commencement of their battle, declaring, “Begin!”
…
Kakashi directed his gaze at Kuroto, inquiring, “So, what are your thoughts on this fight, you were extremely certain about the fight between Haruno Sakura and Shion, as well as Yakumo Kurama and Yamanaka Ino, what do you think of this one?”
Kuroto responded with a shrug, “It’s hard to say for this one…”
Shisui expressed doubt, “Hard to say?”
Kuroto nodded and elaborated, “I don’t have much insight into Hinata’s progress. Yui is her primary trainer, and due to my focus on Naruto’s training and other responsibilities, I’m totally clueless about Hinata’s current set of abilities.
Objectively speaking, Hinata should be stronger and have a higher chance of winning, but that’s contingent on her closing the distance and successfully landing Gentle Fist attacks on Tenten. Given Tenten’s fighting style, it might be challenging for Hinata to bridge that gap effectively.”
Kakashi wore a surprised expression as he muttered, “So you’re suggesting Tenten has a higher chance of winning?” He then shook his head, “No, that shouldn’t be the case. If Hyuga Hinata has mastered the ‘Revolving Heaven,’ it would be very difficult for Tenten to break through her defense.”
Kuroto concurred with Kakashi, saying, “Indeed, with the ‘Revolving Heaven,’ Hinata could repel all the weapons thrown at her by Tenten. Even Explosive Tags wouldn’t be very effective. However, it’s worth noting that this Ninjutsu consumes a significant amount of Chakra, so Hinata cannot sustain its use indefinitely.”
“Which means it’s another battle of attrition, huh? Whether Tenten will run out of her weapons first, or Hyuga Hinata will run out of her Chakra first.” Said Shisui.
Kuroto was about to nod, “Mayb–” but then he noticed Yui’s expression on the other side of the stands and stopped halfway. Yui had a confident smile on her face, which meant that the fight would not go as they were predicting. Understanding this, Kuroto became curious and paid closer attention to the fight, “Unless there is an element of surprise.”