Chapter 78 - 8

Chapter 8: Many Wives, Much Fortune! The Match Begins!"Look," Naruto said with an innocent face, "I am the 'core,' and I'm also the youngest, looking the weakest. Team B will definitely want to capture me first. So, I'll let them capture me, or rather, let them think they can capture me."Temari suddenly understood: "You mean to… pretend to be captured, and then counter-attack?""More accurately, it's to distract them." A cunning light flashed in Naruto's eyes, "When I am being 'hunted,' Big Sister Izumi and Big Sister Hebiichigowill have the opportunity to set up real traps. Big Sister Temari can provide long-range support, and Hinata can monitor the entire situation with her Byakugan. And as for me…"He patted his chest:"I am from the Uzumaki Clan, my Chakra is endless. Even if I get captured, I can use tricks like Shadow Clone to escape."Mei Terumī was silent for a few seconds, then laughed out loud: "You child… you really make people love and fear you at the same time. Alright, continue training! Train until the sun goes down today!"On Team B's side, the atmosphere was not so harmonious."Kurotsuchi! How many times have I told you not to charge alone!" Mabui put her hand to her forehead."My Lava Release clearly hit!" Kurotsuchi protested unconvinced."You hit a Shadow Clone." Samui said calmly, "The real body had already circled behind you. If this weren't training, you would have 'died' three times already."Sakura said weakly: "Um… can I practice Medical Ninjutsu instead… I'm not good at fighting with my fists…"Saya hid behind her puppet: "S-sorry, I held everyone back…"Kurenai Yuhi looked at this scene, rubbing her temples with a headache.The age gap brought not only differences in ability but also differences in thinking patterns and combat habits.Mabui and Samui were accustomed to efficient, calm combat styles, while Kurotsuchi was a typical Iwagakure 'charge-in' type, and Sakura and Sayawere still in the stage of needing protection."Take a ten-minute break." Kurenai Yuhiannounced, "Then we'll change things up. Kurotsuchi, you and Sakura are a team. Mabui, you and Saya are a team. Samui, you act alone. We will simulate a scenario where squads split up to fight."After the group training began, the results were actually better.Although Kurotsuchi was impulsive, she learned to be cautious while protecting Sakura.In order not to hold others back, Sakura practiced Chakra control desperately, and unexpectedly displayed good Taijutsu talent outside of Medical Ninjutsu.Mabui discovered that Saya's puppets were very suitable for setting traps and reconnaissance, and the two collaborated to design several sets of ingenious trap combinations.Samui focused on stealth and one-hit-kill techniques.Kurenai Yuhi looked at the three gradually forming groups, feeling slightly relieved.Perhaps… this could work.On the third day, the day of the match.The simulated combat zone was a circular area with a diameter of one kilometer, containing forests, rivers, hills, and ruined buildings.Two flags were planted on the central high ground.Team A's blue flag, and Team B's red flag.The rules were simple: protect your own flag, capture the opponent's flag, and the first to capture the flag wins."Both sides, take your positions!" Kushina, acting as the referee, stood on the observation tower outside the zone.Mei Terumī's team (Team A) chose to plant the flag on the third floor of the ruined building, which was easy to defend and difficult to attack.Team B hid the flag in the canopy of a tree deep in the forest, which had high concealment."The match, begins!"Team A moved.According to the plan, Izumi and Hebiichigo were the first to leave the ruins, sneaking into the forest from the left and right.Temari stayed on the top floor of the building, using binoculars to scout.Hinata used her Byakugan on the second floor to monitor a radius of one hundred meters.Naruto was on the first floor… playing with pebbles."Is he really playing with pebbles?!" On the observation tower, a purple-haired girl couldn't help but say.Kushina smiled: "Just watch."On Team B's side, Mabui analyzed quickly: "Team A's formation is a standard defensive formation. Izumi and Hebiichigo are for reconnaissance and guerrilla tactics, Temari is long-range, Hinata is for early warning, and Naruto is the bait… No, wait."She suddenly thought of something: "It's too standard. So standard that it's like they are deliberately showing it to us."Samui nodded: "A trap.""But where is the trap?" Kurotsuchi asked.Mabui pondered for a moment: "There are two possibilities. First, Izumi and Hebiichigo leaving is a ruse, and they are actually lying in ambush near the building. Second, Naruto is not the bait at all; he is the true attack core."Kurenai Yuhi added from the side: "There is one more possibility: they predicted our prediction.""Then let's split into three routes." Mabui made a decision, "Samui, you go scout the ruins, but don't go too deep; confirm if Izumi and Hebiichigo have really left. Kurotsuchi, Sakura, you go to the river area; that's the only way to Team B's flag, set an ambush. Saya and I will guard the flag and use puppets to scout the forest."The plan was reasonable.But what they didn't know was…On the first floor of the ruins, Naruto appeared to be playing with pebbles, but in reality, he was using the pebbles to arrange a simple map.Every few minutes, Hinata would run down from the floor above and report in a low voice: "Big Sister Izumi has reached Zone C… Big Sister Hebiichigo has reached Zone E… Big Sister Temarisays she saw Big Sister Samui stop two hundred meters east of the ruins…"Naruto nodded and moved a few pebbles."Then… the first phase is a success. Big Sister Samui really came to scout. Next…"He looked up to the second floor: "Hinata, tell Big Sister Temari that she can start the 'performance'."On the top floor of the ruins, Temari received the signal and grinned.She raised her fan towards the sky… "Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"The huge wind pressure blew towards the forest, the leaves rustling loudly, creating a massive commotion."Is she crazy?" The purple-haired girl on the observation tower exclaimed, "Doesn't that expose her position?"Kushina, however, smiled meaningfully.In the forest, Izumi, who was sneaking towards Team B's flag, heard the wind and immediately changed direction.Hebiichigo accelerated forward.In the river area, Kurotsuchi and Sakura heard the wind and immediately became alert."It's Temari's Wind Release!" Kurotsuchi said, "She's in the direction of the ruins!"Sakura gripped her Kunai nervously: "S-should we go over to provide support?""No, stay here." Although Kurotsuchi was impulsive, she wasn't stupid, "This might be a lure-the-tiger-off-the-mountain tactic."East of the ruins, Samui saw the Wind Release and frowned slightly. But she didn't rush forward; instead, she continued to observe.Just then, she saw a figure.Naruto.