Hattori Heizo patted himself down, dusting off the dirt, his gaze coldly fixed on Ran, who was gasping for breath on the ground.
For a traditional assassin, seeking a one-hit kill is a fundamental principle.
Although he had been warned in the Chunin Exam to avoid killing, he could still incapacitate an opponent with a single blow.
Ran felt as if a storm had erupted in her abdomen, churning her internal organs, leaving her in such pain that she could barely move.
She could only stare at Hattori Heizo in the distance, her eyes filled with shock and confusion.
"Mr. En, you can announce the results," Hattori Heizo said calmly.
Mito Men En adjusted his glasses, gRanced at Ran, who remained unable to get up, and after a moment of silence, said, "The winner of this round is Hattori Heizo."
Ran gave a wry smile, not expecting to be eliminated so quickly.
She looked at Hattori Heizo and said, "You're really amazing."
"It was alright," Hattori Heizo said, looking at the tattered remains of his outer garment on the ground.
"It's a shame the clothes got ruined; I quite liked this outfit."
"If you like it so much, don't throw it around like a ninja tool!" Ran retorted playfully, as that piece of clothing had caused her a lot of trouble.
"No matter how much I like it, it has to be used when necessary.
Well, looking at the final result, it ultimately served its purpose, and that's enough," Hattori Heizo said before turning his back and walking towards the stands.
"Hmph, what an annoying man," Ran muttered, wincing as a sharp pain shot through her abdomen.
"He really doesn't know how to be considerate of girls."
At this point, the medical ninjas on standby, seeing that Ran couldn't get up, knew her condition wasn't good and rushed over to check on her.
Sora had great confidence in the medical capabilities of the Hidden Leaf Village, so she wasn't worried about Ran's physical condition.
Instead, she thoughtfully recalled Hattori Heizo's fighting style.
"Did you see that, Chik, his fighting style?" I asked, nudging Chik with his elbow.
"Yes, but it's just a few parlor tricks," Chik said calmly, though his cheek twitched slightly.
"That technique of using clothing to conceal one's figure, though seemingly simple, isn't easily mastered," I said with a serious expression.
"Ran is also an excellent ninja, yet she was thrown off by a mere piece of clothing.
Multiple layers of doubt dulled her body, and as a result, she was taken down with one blow."
"If it were you, could you tell where that guy was hiding?" Chik asked, knowing that I was the smartest in their group.
"...I don't know," I replied after a moment.
A fine sweat beaded on Chik's face.
Even I lacked confidence, and he now felt that Hattori Heizo was indeed a very troublesome opponent.
He wasn't afraid of the opponent's strength, but he particularly disliked ninjas who specialized in such deceptive techniques.
It made direct confrontation impossible, leaving him with a feeling of having nowhere to exert his strength.
Just as the two were surprised by Hattori Heizo's strength, Ran had already returned to the stands, rubbing her abdomen, her expression looking less pained.
Sora asked, "Are you feeling alright?"
"Yes, the medical ninjas of the Hidden Leaf Village are truly impressive," Ran said with a smile.
"The Hidden Leaf Village always has its leading aspects," Sora remarked with a sigh.
"What do you think of Hattori Heizo's strength?"
Although they had observed the entire match, spectators often see more clearly than those involved.
From the sidelines, Hattori Heizo's techniques didn't seem like much, but for an opponent, the experience could be entirely different.
"Let me think... well, I don't know his actual strength, but his movements are incredibly agile and fast.
When he uses external objects, he often doesn't give you time to think; you can only rely on your first instinct and intuition to make a judgment," Ran recalled.
"Just like in the final moments, I only had time to deal with the clothes and the ground, and I couldn't consider what was behind me—was that guy transformed into a kunai and came up behind me?"
"Yes," I nodded slightly.
"Indeed, only the kunai I dodged could have appeared behind me," Ran sighed.
"That guy's technique is really too fast.
Just by throwing a piece of clothing, he can complete the hand seals for the Transformation Jutsu and be thrown out among it."
Chik saw Ran gRance at him, her gaze not looking too friendly.
He swallowed and said, "Ran, what do you mean?"
"I think you should just concede.
A straightforward person like you can't outplay that trickster," Ran said, placing her hands on her hips.
"Ah, don't joke around.
I think it's because you all overthink things that you get fooled by Hattori Heizo's techniques.
Just follow your intuition, and you'll be fine!" Chik exclaimed.
"Chik is what you'd call an 'intuition type.' Sometimes I truly suspect your intuition is like a wild beast's," I chuckled softly, shaking his head.
"But I don't think something as unreliable as intuition can discern Hattori Heizo's movements."
"No, perhaps it really can work.
Chik has a point; sometimes you don't need to overthink to find the right direction," Sora said at this moment.
"Chik, just fight in your own way; you don't need to imitate others.
That doesn't suit you."
"Teacher Sora!" Chik immediately exclaimed with renewed spirit.
"If there's time, I'd hope to give you some training.
I wonder if the advancing candidates will start the next exam immediately," Sora said, turning her gaze back to the arena.
The next contestants were Hatake Sakumo and Chizuru from the Hidden Sand Village.
Although the current conflict primarily involved Hatake Sakumo and Ryu, Fumori Masaki recognized the girl named Chizuru as Sasori's mother.
In other words, she was also someone who would have a connection with Hatake Sakumo in the future.
Hatake Sakumo waved to the others, then entered the arena.
He looked at the brown-haired girl named Chizuru, bowed slightly, and said, "Please guide me."
"You wouldn't happen to have transitioned from a samurai to a ninja, would you?" Chizuru asked, finding Hatake Sakumo's etiquette somewhat familiar.
"Yes," Hatake Sakumo nodded.
"I see, no wonder you said such things.
Honestly, I think you should go to the Rand of Iron, not the Hidden Leaf Village," Chizuru said.
"Not everyone can decide their own future.
It's an unfortunate reality, and I hope to change such helplessness in the future," Hatake Sakumo said earnestly.
Chizuru tilted her head.
She still couldn't understand Hatake Sakumo's thoughts, but she was very interested in his ideals.
"If only that were true," she said, sliding a scroll from her sleeve.
Hatake Sakumo's eyes narrowed, and electricity sparked at his feet.
Using the instantaneous burst of power from his Lightning Release, he appeared before Chizuru, raising his short blade and slashing down.
At that moment, a cloud of smoke exploded around Chizuru, and numerous wooden fragments floated up, enveloping her entirely and fiercely blocking Hatake Sakumo's strike.
"A defensive puppet, quite similar to the one that guy used," Hatake Sakumo murmured.
He suspected that Ryu had borrowed Chizuru's puppet earlier, as Ryu had used a distinctly combat-oriented puppet in the third exam.
Then, he saw openings appear on the puppet, which resembled a wooden doll, and short needles shot out.
A surge of electrical arcs instantly erupted from Hatake Sakumo's body, coiling around his skin.
Though the short needles were fast, they lacked weight, and upon being struck by the electrical arcs, they all ricocheted to the side, not a single one harming Hatake Sakumo.
Hatake Sakumo advanced instead of retreating, concentrating lightning at the tip of his blade.
He swiftly thrust forward, piercing through the puppet, yet feeling no sensation of hitting a human body.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Chizuru appear beside the puppet at some point, maintaining the chakra thread connection.
She formed hand seals for Wind Release, and a barrage of sharp, steel-wire-like wind bullets shot from her mouth.
Hatake Sakumo didn't dodge.
He directly kicked the bulky puppet with one foot, sending it flying.
He then slightly shifted his body, hiding beside the puppet, letting it bear the brunt of the wind bullets' cutting force.
Before Chizuru could manipulate the puppet's mechanisms to counterattack, he had already moved away from the puppet.
Chizuru moved her hands, manipulating the puppet to her side, cautiously watching Hatake Sakumo.
He was a Lightning Release ninja skilled in swordsmanship.
Despite her advantage in chakra nature, his speed was extraordinary, making it impossible to accurately capture her target.
"What a formidable opponent," Chizuru murmured softly.
Hatake Sakumo stared at Chizuru, slowly shifting his feet.
He could imagine how many mechanisms were hidden within that puppet, and there were definitely attacks that his previous Lightning Release armor couldn't block.
Chizuru herself didn't possess particularly troublesome abilities, merely the traditional Wind Release ninjutsu of a Hidden Sand ninja, but when combined with the puppet, it became quite formidable.
If he continued with his previous fighting style, Hatake Sakumo would have to spend time meticulously figuring out the puppet's mechanisms, waiting for an opportune moment.
However, this wasn't the optimal choice.
Hatake Sakumo knew that he couldn't rely on high-speed movement with Lightning Release for extended periods.
While Lightning Release stimulated bodily activity for rapid movement, it also put a strain on the body.
Unless one possessed a powerful physique like the Raikage, it was difficult for ordinary people to bear.
Hatake Sakumo's physique was excellent, but he couldn't use it as his standard combat mode like the Raikage.
This battle wouldn't last long, Hatake Sakumo told himself.
It was said that true masters of swordsmanship never engaged in prolonged battles; victory or defeat in a life-or-death struggle was often decided in an instant.
Hatake Sakumo, a former samurai, also yearned for such a realm, and in his heart, Fumori Masaki possessed that level of swordsmanship.
—I can do this.
Hatake Sakumo silently affirmed, his gaze towards Chizuru already transformed.
The moment their eyes met, Chizuru felt a chill run up her spine.
She felt as if she had been targeted by a wild beast, and she was its prey.
Because of Hatake Sakumo's declaration of ideals, she hadn't considered him a dangerous person, just a naive ninja.
Now, however, she forgot that thought.
Hatake Sakumo was radiating an oppressive killing intent, completely overshadowing her own aura.
—I must be careful.
Feeling fear, Chizuru instinctively manipulated her puppet to shield her body.
And at that very moment, Hatake Sakumo's eyes widened, and he immediately lunged forward like a wild wolf.
The short blade in his hand refracted a pure white light, looking at this moment like the sharp fangs in a wolf's mouth.
Seeing this scene, Fumori Masaki couldn't help but recall the description of Hatake Sakumo in the setting book—"When the White Fang gleams, it becomes the sharp tooth that eradicates darkness."
At this moment, it was as if this very phrase was being proven true.
Hatake Sakumo's figure vanished like a flash of lightning, leaving behind only a distorted arc of electricity.
With lightning speed, he pierced through the point where Chizuru and the puppet were about to converge.
"Ah!" Chizuru screamed.
She saw the puppet in front of her explode in a blinding white light, her vision blurring from it.
Then came a deafening sound that painfully vibrated her eardrums.
Her movements stiffened slightly.
Just then, she felt a cold sensation at her neck.
Instinct compelled her to stop moving, and she stood still obediently.
When Chizuru regained her composure, Hatake Sakumo was very close to her, his short blade pressed against her neck.
A drop of blood slowly seeped out, gradually dripping onto the pure white blade, a red dot on white, strikingly conspicuous.
Everyone held their breath, watching the arena in silence.
The scene that had just unfolded still lingered in their memories, and they believed they would never forget it.
In ninja battles, it was rare to completely overwhelm an opponent with sheer power.
Applying targeted measures based on intelligence was standard ninja combat.
But now, a young man had displayed exceptionally powerful strength, directly overpowering his opponent.
This wasn't uncommon; what was rare was the imposing aura emanating from Hatake Sakumo, which left everyone astonished.
"This child will surely become a master of the village in the future," Tobirama couldn't help but murmur to himself.
"Chizuru!" Ryu shouted, seeing this scene, and quickly descended from the stands, running to Chizuru's side.
Mito Men En didn't stop him, as he had already made his judgment: Hatake Sakumo was the victor, and he believed no one else would object, so he allowed the other candidates to approach.
Hearing the familiar voice, Chizuru's body went limp.
Ryu quickly supported her, and Chizuru clutched Ryu's sleeve, trembling as she said, "Ryu, I feel like I've lost all my strength."
"It's alright, the battle is over," Ryu said, although he felt unwilling to accept it, he could only acknowledge this fact.
Hatake Sakumo's gaze returned to normal.
Looking at Chizuru, who was so frightened that she had lost all her strength, he said apologetically, "I'm sorry."
"You bastard, don't think that's the end of it!" Ryu said, helping Chizuru stand up and glaring at Hatake Sakumo.
"If Chizuru can't win, I'll avenge her.
Just you wait."
"Ah, I will," Hatake Sakumo calmly replied, turning and walking towards the stands.
Ryu bit his lip tightly, mentally resolving to defeat Hatake Sakumo in the upcoming exams to give Chizuru some satisfaction.