36Typical ninja mindsetAI Model: gemini-3.0-flashChapter 36: Typical Genin Thinking
Bang! Bang! Bang!
After several muffled thuds, Dosu Kinuta was knocked to the ground by Sasuke, losing all signs of movement.
The chief examiner, Gekkō Hayate, approached him.
After a brief confirmation, he announced the result.
"The winner of the first round is—Uchiha Sasuke!"
"Phew..."
Sasuke let out a long breath.
His tensed nerves relaxed instantly, and his body lost its strength along with them.
Just before he was about to collapse, Kakashiappeared behind him.
"Good job. Leave the rest to me."
"Come with me to the back; I'll help you Seal this Cursed Seal."
...Team 8.
"That move just now... was it Guy's Eight Gates?"
Sasuke's performance was completely beyond Kurenai Yuhi's expectations.
Even though the Sharingan possesses copying abilities, high-speed Taijutsu like that cannot be performed through imitation alone.
Genius.
The word suddenly surfaced in Kurenai's mind.
She couldn't help but recall Kakashi in his younger years.
Immediately after, she looked helplessly at Naruto.
This kid was so certain that Sasuke would win.
It must be because, as his teammate, he had inside information that Sasuke had such a trump card.
Damn, I've been played!
"Alright." Naruto stretched his arms. "Give me the answer, Kurenai-sensei."
Left with no choice, Kurenai Yuhi had to start tutoring him in Medical Ninjutsu.
The opponents for the second round of matches were then revealed.
Shino VS Zaku.
"Good luck, Shino! If it's you, there's definitely no problem!"
Just as Kiba's words of encouragement left his mouth, the next second, Gekkō Hayate's voice came through.
"*Cough, cough*... Since the contestant Zaku has forfeited, the winner of this round is—Shino Aburame!"
Kiba: "..."
Kurenai: "What good luck, Shino. Congratulations on advancing to the finals early."
Shino: "Those Otogakure Ninjas seemed to have suffered heavy injuries in the Forest of Death. They barely managed to endure it, so they probably didn't expect there to be Preliminaries."
Next, the contestants for the third round were announced on the large screen.
Kankuro VS Kengyō Sumi.
Both sides entered the arena: on one side was a strange Sand Ninja with purple face paint, and on the other was a tall Konoha Ninja wearing a mask and glasses.
"Hmm, both sides look very strong..."
Hinata curiously observed the two. "Naruto-kun, who do you think will win this round?"
"Kankuro. I estimate he can end the match in ten seconds."
Naruto replied lazily.
Hinata was somewhat surprised: "Ten seconds?"
Kiba couldn't help but interject: "Hey, hey, hey, your loyalty is a bit off!"
"We're all Genin, so why do you think our Konoha Ninja will be taken out by a Sand Ninja within ten seconds?"
Kurenai also felt that Naruto's words were somewhat exaggerated.
Although as a Jonin she could feel that the Sand Ninja named Kankuro was indeed stronger than Kengyō Sumi,
to say the battle would end within ten seconds was simply looking down on Konoha Ninjas too much.
"I have some impression of this Kengyō Sumi."
Kurenai couldn't help but speak up. "He uses a special Flexible Taijutsu that allows him to twist every joint in his body to incredible angles."
"An average Ninja would find it very difficult to deal with the first time they encounter it. Although I also think Kankuro will win, it will surely be a hard-fought battle."
As soon as she finished speaking, Naruto burst out laughing.
"What... what are you laughing at!"
Kurenai Yuhi glared at Naruto, both embarrassed and annoyed, her tone carrying displeasure.
Naruto shook his head.
"That's typical Genin thinking, Kurenai-sensei."
Kurenai almost exploded with anger, then heard Naruto continue: "How about we make a bet?"
She was provoked into a state of agitation.
It was fine for a mere Genin brat to have guessed Sasuke correctly once and had his moment in the spotlight.
But now, he actually dared to question her authoritative judgment as a Jonin?
One must remember that Kiba, Shino, and Hinatawere all watching her.
If she didn't dare to agree and didn't teach this brat a lesson, how could she continue to be the instructor of Team 8 in the future?
Kurenai's eyebrows arched: "A bet it is! What are we betting?"
"Let's bet on whether Kankuro can end the battle within ten seconds."
Naruto pointed toward the arena.
"If you lose, Kurenai-sensei, then for the next month, you must be my private tutor for Medical Ninjutsu, on call whenever I need you."
Kurenai snorted coldly: "And if you lose?"
"Then I'll be at your disposal; you can do whatever you want with me."
Hearing this, Hinata panicked a little.
After all, ending a battle within ten seconds was too exaggerated.
"Na-Naruto-kun, isn't this a bit too..."
She spoke softly, wanting to warn Naruto not to be too rash, but she hadn't finished her sentence.
"Ah!"
Hinata suddenly let out a soft cry, her cheeks instantly turning bright red.
Naruto had reached out at some point and gently pinched the soft flesh on the outside of her thigh.
"Don't doubt me."
"┭┮﹏┭┮"
Seeing this scene, Kurenai became even more displeased.
"Fine... Fine! It's a deal, don't you dare go back on your word when you lose!"
"Don't worry, Kurenai-sensei, I am a person of my word."
At the moment the two finalized the agreement.
In the arena.
Gekkō Hayate raised his hand.
"Third round, begin!"
The moment the words fell, Kengyō Sumi moved first.
He circled behind Kankuro.
Before the latter could react, his hands firmly locked around his neck in a naked choke, leaving him unable to move.
"So fast!" Kiba exclaimed subconsciously.
The entire process took less than two seconds.
"You've lost, Sand Ninja."
Kengyō Sumi's voice came through his mask. "Hurry up and forfeit."
In the stands, many people's hearts sank.
Once this kind of choke was fully locked, there was almost no possibility of breaking it.
Kankuro, however, only gave a cold snort.
"Hmph, idiot."
This cold laugh completely ignited Kengyō Sumi's anger.
"What did you say?!"
He exerted force with both hands, his body twisting strangely.
The next second.
"Crack—!"
A crisp sound of bone breaking rang out.
"It's over." Shino shook his head helplessly. "His neck has been snapped."
Kurenai hadn't expected the battle to really be decided in such a short time.
However, the winner wasn't Kankuro, but Kengyō Sumi.
Her heart eased, and she looked at Naruto, just about to mock him.
Then, a "bang" sounded.
The huge Ninja tool wrapped in bandages on Kankuro's back suddenly burst open.
"What is that?!"
Everyone's eyes widened at the same time.
The real Kankuro jumped out from within, while the "Kankuro" whose neck had been snapped suddenly had its head rotate 180 degrees.
It was actually a Puppet controlled by Chakra threads.
"Now, it's my turn."
Accompanied by sharp blades popping out from the joint gaps,
the Crow Puppet's abdominal cavity swung open, and dozens of mechanical hidden weapons shot out simultaneously.
Kengyō Sumi didn't even have time to say the word "forfeit" before he collapsed to the ground the next second, devoid of breath.
From the moment Kankuro jumped out to Kengyō Sumi falling, the entire process took less than two seconds.
And from the start of the match to Kengyō Sumifalling, it was exactly nine seconds.
The chief examiner Gekkō Hayate only then reacted.
"*Cough, cough*... The winner of the third round is—Kankuro!"
Nine seconds. It really only took nine seconds.
Kurenai Yuhi was also stunned.
Her mouth was slightly open, and the mockery that hadn't yet left her lips was completely stuck in her throat.
"Kurenai-sensei, you've lost again."
Naruto's smiling voice rang in her ear, carrying a hint of devilish triumph.