Chapter 98: Kimimaro vs. Hinata

Kankuro's sudden surrender stunned everyone present.

The battle had just begun, only one round of confrontation, and he surrendered?

This guy's desire to fight was too low.

"Kankuro surrenders, the winner is Suigetsu."

Moonlight Hayate directly announced the result.

But Suigetsu was extremely unhappy.

"Hey! What are you doing, kid? Surrendering right from the start? Can't you handle it?"

Kankuro didn't say anything and left with his puppet.

Suigetsu was holding back his anger and was about to explode when he noticed Kimimaro's gaze and could only swallow his anger.

He returned to Kimimaro's side and said, "Boss, what's wrong with this guy? Is he looking down on me?"

"Don't forget, we and Sunagakure didn't come here to really become Chunin. As a puppeteer, once Kankuro's mechanisms are exposed, his combat power will inevitably be greatly reduced. It's normal for him to choose to give up when he sees that things are not going well."

"Tsk, what a gutless guy."

Upon hearing this, Suigetsu also understood Kankuro's difficulties, but he was still unhappy.

Everyone looked at Kankuro with some confusion, but no one delved deeper.

Because the next round of matches had begun.

Haruno Sakura vs. Yamanaka Ino.

The famous battle of the weaklings in the Chunin Exams.

Sakura hadn't yet confirmed her development direction, and Ino was a support-type ninja.

Naturally, their fight wouldn't be very good to watch.

In the end, the two ended the battle in a draw.

This was a match specifically designed to eliminate people, and a draw meant both were eliminated.

"Hey, Sakura, are you okay?"

"Ino, how are you feeling?"

Naruto and Shikamaru stepped forward and brought the two back to the rest area.

The final punch had left both Sakura and Ino unconscious.

"They're just a little exhausted and will wake up soon."

Kimimaro stepped forward to check on the two, and as soon as he finished speaking, they woke up.

"Wow, Kimimaro, you were right. Sakura, how are you feeling?"

Naruto looked at Sakura with concern.

"I'm fine."

Sakura looked at Ino beside her.

The two smiled at each other, their grievances resolved with a smile.

The point of contention between them was Sasuke. Now, after a big fight, both of them had come to terms with it.

No matter who won Sasuke in the end, they were still friends.

The matches continued.

Tenten vs. Temari.

A match with a disparity in strength.

Tenten, who used ninja tools, had no advantage in the face of Temari's Wind Release and was easily defeated.

Nara Shikamaru vs. Kin Tsuchi.

Shikamaru successfully defeated Kin, the weakest of the Otogakure trio, with his intelligence.

Naruto vs. Inuzuka Kiba.

A victory obtained because of a fart.

"Kimimaro vs. Hyuga Hinata!"

As soon as this matchup was announced, everyone was shocked!

Team 7, Team 8, and the Sunagakure team all knew very well how strong Kimimaro was.

With the partial strength he had displayed so far, Hinata had no chance of winning.

When Hinata saw this list, she nervously gripped the hem of her clothes.

"Hinata's luck is really bad, she actually encountered Kimimaro, she's definitely going to lose this time."

Sakura shook her head helplessly, feeling sorry for Hinata.

"Sakura, do you know this Kimimaro's strength?"

Ino asked curiously.

Sakura nodded slightly.

"He might be the strongest Genin in this Chunin Exam. Although I don't want to admit it, even Sasuke is probably no match for him at all."

"So powerful?"

Ino was surprised.

"His strength has already far surpassed the Genin level."

Sakura could still recall the battle on the bridge that day.

Kimimaro was unscathed, while Sasuke and Naruto were covered in wounds.

And that headshot in mid-air left a deep impression on her.

Sakura felt that she still couldn't block that attack even now.

Ino looked at the figure not far away and muttered, "More handsome than Sasuke, stronger than Sasuke? Seems easier to approach than Sasuke too."

Recalling how Kimimaro had taken the initiative to come and check their injuries just now, he did seem more approachable.

If Ino knew that Kimimaro only came over to get the photo reward, she probably wouldn't think that way.

"Hinata! Come on! Although that Kimimaro guy is strong, you can't lose to him easily!"

Naruto cheered for Hinata, and Hinata was immediately filled with strength.

"Naruto-kun is watching me, I must work hard."

Hinata mustered her courage and prepared to enter the arena.

"Hinata, give up if you can't do it. We've already seen Kimimaro's strength. Even with his injured eye, you can't handle him."

Kiba Inuzuka had already been sent to the infirmary by Naruto, leaving only Shino to persuade Hinata.

"Yes, I know. But I will definitely do my best."

Seeing Hinata's serious expression, Shino didn't say anything more.

"Boss, your opponent is that Hyuga girl, you two really have a lot of fate."

Suigetsu teased.

Kimimaro ignored Suigetsu, jumped down from the rest area, and landed in the competition arena.

Both sides were in position, and the match began.

"You're not my opponent, give up."

Kimimaro didn't want to fight Hinata. After all, he had just gotten benefits from her, and it wouldn't be right to turn around and beat her up.

"I... I know I'm not your opponent. But... I won't give up easily."

Hinata rarely mustered up the courage and assumed a fighting stance.

Kimimaro raised an eyebrow, knowing that the fight was unavoidable.

"Alright, then let me see your strength."

The battle was about to begin.

In the rest area, Neji crossed his arms and silently watched Hinata in the arena.

"Hmph, you clearly don't want to fight, but you still want to act tough. Lady Hinata, you still haven't grown up."

As Neji said this, a trace of unwillingness flashed in his eyes, along with an inexplicable emotion.

At the same time, his gaze swept over Kimimaro.

In this Chunin Exam, there weren't many people Neji couldn't see through, and this Otogakure Genin was one of them.

Through his Byakugan, he surprisingly couldn't see through Kimimaro completely.

There seemed to be a powerful chakra within Kimimaro resisting the Byakugan's prying.

This resulted in Neji being able to see very limited things.

He could sense that this person harbored many secrets.

The eyes under the black eye patch were even more hazy.

"This guy, what's his origin?"

Even Neji himself didn't know that he had developed a worry for Hinata in his heart.

"Excuse me."

Hinata greeted politely, and then unleashed her Gentle Fist!

The basic Gentle Fist was perfectly displayed in Hinata's hands.

Having learned Gentle Fist under Hiashi Hyuga's guidance since childhood, and being diligent enough, Hinata's fist technique was naturally well-formed and extremely standard.

But the power of fist techniques never lay in being standard, but in flexible application.

In this aspect, Hinata lacked the crucial combat intelligence.

In contrast, Naruto's combat intelligence was completely maxed out.

Hinata's Gentle Fist strikes were all executed, but Kimimaro's feet constantly shifted positions, dodging every single one.

Although the Gentle Fist was strong, it couldn't touch his body at all.

"This is..."

At this moment, the Byakugan under Kimimaro's black eye patch slightly contracted.

Something interesting had happened.

(End of Chapter)