Similarly, anyone else defeated by Kiyoshi had simply been negligent.
"You Mist ninja really are unreasonable."
Kiyoshi looked at Tomei Meimei, disheveled and unable to move, crouched down, lifting her head gently.
"Now, you've lost. It's time for me to deal with you."
Seeing her tense expression, as if on the verge of tears, Kiyoshi's Sharingan spun faster.
Just like that—
Such a cute girl crying really looked… good.
Kiyoshi smiled.
Tomei Meimei always appeared soft and elegant, far too monotonous.
Seeing her cry… wasn't it quite beautiful?
"So… lightning style…"
When Kiyoshi first began learning ninjutsu, his first lightning-style technique had been Lightning Style: Lightning Finger.
It had accompanied him ever since.
"Ah~~~!!"
Under the punishment of Kiyoshi's lightning, Tomei Meimei instinctively released her most proficient Water Style jutsu.
Pff!
Scattered droplets of mist hit the ground.
But in pain, a ninja's chakra control weakens.
Now, Tomei Meimei couldn't even release her full Water Style.
"Uu… uu…"
Large tears fell slowly, one by one, wetting the ground.
The floor became damp; it was impossible to tell if the moisture came from condensed mist or her tears.
She was ruined.
Everything was ruined.
Tomei Meimei's gaze darkened as she looked at the high walls and countless spectators.
After this, she could no longer survive as a ninja, could she?
She…
Grief surged through her. She wanted to rise and punch Kiyoshi hard.
But her body still couldn't move.
Kiyoshi gently tapped her cheek and asked:
"What's one thousand minus seven?"
Seeing Tomei Meimei completely unresponsive, unable to speak after her defeat, Kiyoshi smiled again.
"All adverse situations in this world happen because one's ability is insufficient."
Kiyoshi snapped his fingers.
The world around Tomei Meimei became noisy.
Looking around, she realized she had somehow stood up!
No—she hadn't truly stood—she was trapped in a genjutsu!
Tomei Meimei instantly understood. After clearing the mist, Kiyoshi had immediately cast a genjutsu, dragging her into an illusory world.
"You…"
Her voice carried disbelief—how could Kiyoshi be so cruel?
"You're too weak, Tomei Meimei."
Kiyoshi shook his head.
Tomei Meimei tried to form hand seals and rush forward.
But after just two steps, her legs nearly gave out.
Her… legs had no strength.
Her earlobes flushed red.
Her soaked clothes revealed the truth.
Though it was a genjutsu, the human body obeys the brain.
When the brain perceives something as real, the body responds involuntarily.
"You… are remarkable."
Thinking of her fallen comrades and her recent suffering, she gritted her teeth. Her lips were nearly cut, yet she regained some remaining composure.
There would be another chance. She would reclaim today's battlefield.
"The victor… Uchiha Kiyoshi!"
The chief examiner saw Tomei Meimei awkwardly walking out, and from the audience seats immediately announced Kiyoshi's victory.
"You have ten minutes to rest before the next challenge."
"Understood."
Kiyoshi nodded.
He remained in place, recovering chakra consumed in the fight.
His ocular power, however, continued to surge.
"I can feel it."
Kiyoshi sensed warmth in his right eye; the previously stagnant water level in the cup began to rise.
His bottleneck… had once again made significant progress.
For non-Uchiha ninja, such limits are almost insurmountable.
Only the Uchiha can rapidly synchronize their power through mental focus.
Ten minutes wasn't rest—it was strengthening and adaptation.
He had… grown stronger.
...
In a Konoha hospital room, Uchiha Hazuki watched Yamada Hiroyuki undergoing emergency care, worry etched across her face.
Recent missions had become increasingly dangerous, with frequent conflicts with other nations' ninja.
"Doctor, how is he?"
Hazuki asked urgently.
"He's out of immediate danger, but the situation isn't optimistic."
Her expression darkened. "Then… is there no way to treat him?"
"He was seriously injured near the heart; the meridian system there makes surgery difficult. Only highly skilled medical ninja like Lord Nonou or Lady Tsunade could perform such precise operations."
Hazuki's hope flared.
But the doctor's next words extinguished it.
"Unfortunately, Lady Tsunade hasn't performed surgery for years, only occasionally visiting the hospital. Lord Nonou is busy teaching disciples and handling other affairs, rarely performing such surgeries."
Previously, it might have been feasible. Now, Nonou seemed to be preparing for final retirement duties, buried in paperwork daily.
"But Hiroyuki was injured on a mission."
Hazuki wanted to emphasize that his injuries were for Konoha's sake.
"Look around—how many aren't hurt on missions?"
The doctor gestured to the hallway full of injured ninja.
Being a ninja is high-risk; injuries are far more common than for civilians.
"Don't lose heart."
The doctor looked at Hazuki and said slowly:
"Lord Nonou has a disciple, also from your Uchiha clan, possessing the Sharingan. His medical ninjutsu is excellent—perfect for this precise surgery."
Hazuki was astonished.
Kiyoshi was so skilled in medical ninjutsu?
"Don't underestimate him. The Sharingan complements surgery perfectly."
The doctor left with documents, busy as always.
Hazuki's gaze flickered.
Two nurses wheeled Yamada Hiroyuki into the room; she followed.
On the bed, Hiroyuki looked pale, breathing with oxygen assistance, his body wrapped in many bandages.
"Hiroyuki…"
Hazuki's eyes dimmed, nearly fainting. She sat beside the bed after a long moment.
Now Hiroyuki was only temporarily stable; follow-up surgery was still required.
Hazuki stayed until the afternoon.
"Cough… Hazuki, is that you?"
A weak voice reached her.
"It's me."
Hazuki responded quickly.
"How do you feel?"
"I'm okay… just some pain in my heart."
Hiroyuki's voice was faint, face pale, lips colorless.
"Did the doctor say how long it will take to heal?"
Hiroyuki asked.
(End of Chapter)
_____________________________
Every bit of support, no matter how small, makes a huge difference and helps me continue this journey!
Want to read ahead?
Join me on Patreon to unlock these ranks:
Genin ($5): 5 Advanced Chapters.
Chunin ($9): 10 Advanced Chapters.
Jonin ($15): 20 Advanced Chapters.
Kage ($19): 30 Advanced Chapters (A full month ahead!).
"Link to my Patreon is available on my WebNovel Profile Bio! Just click on my author name to find it."