The Third Hokage stared at the Byakugan girl; the fact that she could actually suppress the Ichibi Jinchuriki gave him a headache. He silently pulled out his pipe and began to smoke... The final match of the preliminaries ended abruptly while many were still reeling from the series of shocks.
Akimichi Choji, facing Dosu Kinuta of the Sound Ninja, performed his family's secret Multi-Size Technique.
His body instantly grew massive, turning into a high-speed spinning ball that charged at his opponent with the whistling sound of wind.
However, Dosu merely raised his arm, which was wrapped in a strange device, and aimed it at Choji.
"Resonating Echo Drill!"
A burst of high-frequency, invisible sound waves instantly erupted, precisely piercing through his body.
"Ugh!"
His massive body was smashed against the wall, creating a large hole. Choji's vision went black as he lost consciousness, and his Multi-Size Technique instantly deactivated.
An instant defeat!
It was clean and efficient, so much so that people barely had time to react.
"The winner, Dosu Kinuta."
Gekko Hayate announced with a cough.
With that, the preliminaries were settled.
The final list of candidates for the third round of the exams was confirmed: Uzumaki Naruto, Hyuga Hinata, Uchiha Sasuke, Nara Shikamaru, Temari, Kankuro, Gaara, Shino Aburame, and Dosu Kinuta.
It was worth noting that Yakushi Kabuto chose to withdraw at the very beginning of the preliminaries. This seemingly mild-mannered "Senior" left the public eye with his trademark smile, exiting this overt struggle to slip back into deeper shadows.
Gekko Hayate announced the final decision.
"The above nine candidates have qualified for the third round of the official exams! The final exam will be held in one month."
As the news was announced, the candidates who passed the preliminaries reacted differently.
Naruto pumped his fist and shouted boisterously.
"All right! Just you wait, I'll definitely pass the exam!"
Sakura was full of worry, praying in her heart that Sasuke would recover as soon as possible.
Shikamaru had his hands in his pockets, a "what a drag" expression on his face as he muttered under his breath.
"The opponents are getting more troublesome one by one, seriously..."
Temari and Kankuro exchanged a glance and left with Gaara.
Shino Aburame pushed up his sunglasses and stood silently in the corner, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him, with only the faint buzzing of insects surrounding him.
Dosu Kinuta stood alone in the distance, expressionless, as if waiting for something.
As for Hinata, after the list was announced, she didn't even spare anyone a second glance. She was the first to turn and walk out of the tower hall with steady steps, leaving all the noise, discussion, and inquisitive gazes behind her.
This was just the beginning.
The real storm was not under the spotlight of the arena, but would take place a month later, accompanied by the cheers of the final round—the bloody and dark "Konoha Crush Plan."
Returning to her secluded courtyard in the Hyuga Clan Compound, Hinata skillfully set up the shadow concealment formation disk to block external probes and activated the Small Spirit Gathering Formation Disk to gather energy from heaven and earth.
She sat cross-legged at the center of the formation eye, her mind calm, and then connected to the System in her head.
This next month would be her crucial preparation period.
Her goal was clear: to deal with the potential variables during Orochimaru's assassination of the Third Hokage, especially the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, and the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, who were summoned back from the Pure Land by a Forbidden Jutsu.
Even as weakened Edo Tensei bodies, they were by no means ordinary.
The First Hokage's vast, life-filled Wood Release and his unfathomable Senjutsu Aptitude, even if the Edo Tensei body couldn't perfectly utilize them.
The Second Hokage's vast, ever-changing Water Release, which was eerie and unpredictable, and that elusive Flying Thunder God Technique... any one of these was enough to be troublesome for an ordinary Kage-level powerhouse.
"I must be fully prepared."
Hinata's thoughts raced.
"Edo Tensei bodies are nearly immortal. Conventional physical attacks and most Ninjutsu have limited effects. I need powerful Soul attacks or sealing methods specifically targeting immortality... I'll pass on the Reaper Death Seal."
She quickly opened the System's exchange list, her sharp gaze scanning the available items.
She had accumulated many points in the Forest of Death and the preliminaries, enough to exchange for some urgent, key items to deal with the upcoming crisis.
She quickly locked onto several targets.
1. "Soul Suppression Sealing Talisman": Exchange Price: 2,000 points per sheet. A high-level Talisman specifically for spirit bodies, undead creatures, and Soul-binding techniques.
2. "Ninth Heaven Thunder Art: Introduction": Requires 8,000 points. Extremely yang and powerful, it subdues evil and slays demons. It has a natural restraining and purifying effect on sinister and foul-attributed energy, with an extremely fast attack speed.
3. High-Grade Spirit Stone: Requires 1,000 points per piece. A crystal containing pure and massive spiritual power, which can be used to quickly recover consumed spiritual power in high-intensity combat, ensuring sustained combat capability to deal with potential battles of attrition.
"Exchange three 'Soul-Suppressing Spirit-Sealing Talismans', 'Ninth Heaven Thunder Art: Introduction', and two High-Grade Spirit Stones." Hinata made her choice decisively with a thought.
[Exchange successful! 16,000 points consumed! Current point balance: -950 points.]
(System Note: Detecting that the host's points are briefly negative. In view of the host's excellent past performance, an exception has been made to provide interest-free credit service! Please earn points as soon as possible to make up for the deficit~ Love you~)
Hinata's lip twitched slightly.
She didn't expect the System to actually allow credit, but as long as it could improve her strength to deal with the crisis, this bit of debt was trivial; these investments were guaranteed to pay off.
As the points were deducted, a stream of profound information about the "Ninth Heaven Thunder Art: Introduction" flooded into her mind. Three "Soul-Suppressing Spirit-Sealing Talismans" emitting a faint purple light with flowing runes, and two crystal-clear High-Grade Spirit Stones that seemed to have misty Spiritual Energy flowing inside them, also appeared before her.
She picked them up, feeling the newly added Thunder Profound Truth and the resources prepared in her space.
"Let's begin."
With a thought, her main consciousness instantly entered the Cultivation Space attached to the System.
She would devote herself entirely to the comprehension and cultivation of the "Ninth Heaven Thunder Art: Introduction" here, striving to master this powerful Evil-Vanquishing Thunder Art in the shortest time possible.
At the same time, she released a Clone in the outside world to begin other training.
Dual-threaded cultivation, proceeding simultaneously!
She wanted to use this precious month with the highest efficiency to adjust her state to its Peak and master new trump cards sufficient to deal with her opponents.
While Hinata was racing against time to prepare for slaying Kage-level powerhouses, the others in Konoha were not idle either.
Naruto followed Jiraiya for special training regarding Chakra Nature Transformation, and Kakashi guided Sasuke toward the path of Chidori by his bedside.
Guy took the newly recovered Lee through rehabilitative exercises, and Shikamaru was forced into tactical simulations by Asuma...
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