The remaining matches of the first round passed with far less tension. Next to enter the arena was Uzumaki Kushina.
Her appearance was accompanied by whispers in the stands. Her bright crimson hair was impossible to miss. It seemed to reflect the very temperament of the kunoichi.
Her opponent was a sturdy genin from the Sarutobi clan who specialized in earth techniques, but unfortunately he did not even manage to properly use his ninjutsu. Kushina instantly created about a dozen shadow clones and then, like a red whirlwind, rushed across the entire field, delivering a storm of powerful blows. The poor guy was kicked around the arena until he lost consciousness.
"The winner — Uzumaki Kushina!"
Next to stand out was Aburame Shibi. Unlike Kushina, his fight looked almost… quiet. At first the young man stood motionless, his hands in his pockets, his face hidden behind dark glasses. Meanwhile his opponent, not understanding the threat, began a close-range attack, trying to pressure him with brute force.
But that was clearly a reckless decision. From beneath Shibi's clothing, kikaichu insects slipped out. A black cloud of insects instantly rushed toward its target.
Although his opponent tried to resist and even used a water release technique against Shibi, his chakra drained far too quickly. Soon the Aburame ended the fight with a series of quick strikes. After that the insects obediently returned to their master.
In the stands his father — the head of the Aburame clan — nodded approvingly.
In the final match, to the surprise of many, Akimichi Choza shined. Although he did not demonstrate any new abilities, his Human Bullet Tank technique and partial size expansion simply gave his opponent no chance to counterattack.
When all the matches of the first round were finished, the examiner stepped into the center of the arena and loudly announced:
"The first round is over! Advancing forward are nine participants: Nara Kuro, Namikaze Minato, Uchiha Mikoto, Senju Nawaki, Hyuga Hiashi, Hyuga Hizashi, Uzumaki Kushina, Akimichi Choza, Aburame Shibi!"
The stands exploded with applause. On the balcony for mentors, Orochimaru and Jiraiya turned toward each other at the same time.
"All of my students passed, and yours didn't disgrace themselves either," Orochimaru noted calmly, the corners of his lips slightly raised.
Jiraiya burst out laughing and slapped his knee.
"Ha! Disgrace themselves?! You must be joking. With such an outstanding teacher like me, there couldn't be any other result. I'm more surprised that you managed too. Although, considering that your team has two heirs of great clans, maybe that isn't your achievement at all?"
"Not mine?" Orochimaru raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to check?"
"Of course! I'll beat you with one hand!" Jiraiya answered excitedly, only to receive a smack on the head from Tsunade standing nearby.
"What's wrong with you two?! You're behaving worse than genin!"
Hiruzen, who was sitting slightly farther away and observing the entire scene, only shook his head and quietly chuckled.
The examiner raised his hand, calling for silence.
"Now — the second round! The matches will also be decided by drawing lots. Uzumaki Kushina has drawn a free pass and automatically advances to the semifinals."
Kushina on the stands happily raised her fist.
"Thank you, luck! Dattebane!"
The examiner unrolled a scroll and loudly read the pairs:
"The first match of the second round: Hyuga Hizashi versus Akimichi Choza! Second match: Nara Kuro versus Hyuga Hiashi! Third match: Uchiha Mikoto versus Aburame Shibi! Fourth match: Namikaze Minato versus Senju Nawaki!"
Hearing this, Kuro slowly stood up, stretching his shoulders. Beside him Mikoto quietly exhaled, while Nawaki was already eager to step into the arena.
"Be careful. It seems that Hyuga has become noticeably stronger since our sparring in the academy," Mikoto cautiously noted.
"It would be disappointing if he hadn't," Kuro said with a smile, then shifted his gaze to Nawaki. "But you should actually take your match seriously."
"Ha! Don't even doubt it, I've always wanted to defeat Minato!"
"The first match of the second round: Hyuga Hizashi versus Akimichi Choza!"
Choza descended into the arena uncertainly, slapping his cheeks.
"Alright, let's try!"
Opposite him stood Hizashi. His Byakugan was already activated, and he carefully scanned his opponent.
"I'm not as weak as your previous opponent, so you might as well surrender."
"Not even in your dreams! For every fight I win, I get five extra dishes at home!"
"Begin!" the examiner commanded, ending their argument.
Choza did not hesitate and immediately attacked.
"Partial Expansion!"
His arm instantly grew several times larger and came crashing down on the opponent like a fly swatter. Hizashi used his speed advantage to dodge and began closing the distance.
"Too primitive," the Hyuga said quietly.
Choza gritted his teeth and attacked again, enlarging his second arm, but it was useless. Deciding to change tactics, he used another technique.
"Human Bullet Tank!"
Instantly increasing his body size, he turned into a massive living sphere that rolled toward the opponent with a roar. Although the technique looked impressive, it did not bring much result.
Hizashi waited for the right moment, and when Choza crashed into the wall he struck him with a series of precise palm blows, blocking multiple tenketsu.
"Gentle Fist!"
The Akimichi instantly shrank back to normal size and collapsed onto the arena, breathing heavily. He tried to stand, but it was useless.
"Enough! The winner — Hyuga Hizashi!"
Choza lay on the floor, clenching his fist in frustration, but he could no longer get up. Shikaku and Inoichi quickly jumped down and helped their teammate.
In the stands the representatives of the Hyuga clan nodded with restrained approval. After all, they had not come to watch Hizashi but his brother. And right then the examiner announced the next match.
"Second match: Nara Kuro versus Hyuga Hiashi!"
Kuro slowly descended into the arena, preparing for another fight. In truth, in his eyes Hiashi was not a particularly strong opponent. Not to mention long distance — even his speed was not enough to force Kuro to try seriously.
Hiashi already stood in the center of the arena. His white eyes shone with a cold light. There was no mockery or underestimation in his gaze, only concentration and readiness for battle. After all, the young man remembered that in the academy he had never once defeated him.
Kuro stopped a couple of steps away from him, and for a moment their gazes met.
"I'm not going to hold back, Nara. It's time for you to understand the difference in our strength," Hiashi said quietly.
Kuro slightly smiled at the corner of his lips and spread his hands.
"It would probably be embarrassing to lose in front of your clan. Especially considering that a representative of the branch family already advanced further."
Hearing the mockery, the white-eyed young man clenched his jaw until his teeth ground together and took a combat stance. At the same time his opponent stood completely relaxed.
Shifting his gaze between the two fighters, the examiner finally raised his hand and gave the command.
"Begin!"
At that very second Hiashi burst forward. The Byakugan was fully activated, his speed for a genin was incredible. He closed the distance in a fraction of a second and delivered a series of precise Gentle Fist strikes, aiming for the tenketsu.
But just a moment before the strikes could land, a stream of violet lightning burst from Kuro's body and crashed into the Hyuga, throwing him aside with a painful groan.
Seeing such a scene, all the spectators fell into complete silence, and only Jiraiya, turning to Orochimaru in confusion, asked:
"Did it seem to me, or did he not even form hand seals?"
Orochimaru did not answer, but his eyes burned with a predatory fire fixed on the arena. Enzo, standing nearby, even frowned slightly at the intensity of the future Sannin's gaze.
"Oh my, don't tell me that's all the future head of the great Hyuga clan is capable of. Come on Hiashi, don't disappoint me, try harder!"
Hearing this, the white-eyed young man slowly began rising from the ground, small electrical sparks still flickering around him. With burning anger in his eyes, he once again took a fighting stance.