61 - A Complete Process Targeting the Hyuga

Yuto Souta and his group, who had left early, didn't go far.

In fact, finishing the exam a few minutes ahead didn't make much difference from staying until the end...

The three of them headed straight to the second exam site, which wasn't yet open.

Though the exam had just ended, there were already quite a few people here—mostly younger ones.

But no matter how young they were... they couldn't be younger than these three kids whose combined ages didn't even reach adulthood.

The arrival of Team Minato immediately drew the attention of most people present.

Among them were plenty with provocative, hostile gazes.

"As expected of Konoha—letting such tiny brats join the Chunin Exam?"

"Can't wait to see this..."

A ninja with a Mist Village headband grinned, his jagged, saw-like teeth particularly striking.

"What... are you looking forward to?"

Uchiha Obito responded.

Tilting his head and stepping forward, the single tomoe in his eye was already active.

That iconic 1.5 Sharingan made several of the hostile onlookers flinch.

But once they saw it was just one tomoe, especially the Mist ninja, he regained his confidence...

"Not a big guy, but quite the temper..."

The Mist ninja sneered sarcastically, pulling out a kunai.

His long tongue slithered out, licking the kunai slowly and provocatively...

"Of course, I'm looking forward to how much fun the blood of you Konoha brats will bring me!"

The eyes of Team Minato's trio narrowed instantly.

This Mist ninja gave them a vibe... both arrogant and disgusting!

"Why do I feel like this guy's cut from the same cloth as those Hyuga bastards?"

Yuto Souta frowned.

Kakashi Hatake and Uchiha Obito nodded in deep agreement.

Since this guy was so similar to the Hyuga...

It'd be easy.

Team Minato's anti-Hyuga protocol kicked in.

Whoosh!

First, Uchiha Obito flung a shuriken, and in the next instant, Kakashi Hatake drew his short sword, charging straight at the target!

Fight's on!

Yuto Souta pegged this provocative Mist ninja, his hands blurring into afterimages as a Fire Release ninjutsu took shape.

"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

He'd gotten this technique from the Fire Release bundle two days ago.

The enemy was indeed provoking them, but Yuto Souta was calm at the moment.

Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed intent on making him the focal point of this exam. The proctor's words had already labeled the trio as "powerful geniuses."

That would undoubtedly thrust them into the spotlight... Three little kids, recognized as Konoha's geniuses—how could this group of spy-laden examinees not target them?

So, their response to this provocation needed careful consideration.

First off,

Both arms had to go... Forget outsiders—even with the Hyuga, if they needed breaking, they'd break.

Next, it was about how much strength they should reveal.

It had to feel like the behavior of Konoha's geniuses while also giving the impression of "these geniuses are still just kids."

A freshly learned Fire Release with no proficiency gains seemed like a good choice.

Clang!

The Mist ninja blocked Uchiha Obito's shuriken with his kunai.

The decisiveness and ferocity of the three kids caught him off guard. In that split second, Kakashi Hatake reached him first, slashing down hard with his short sword!

Ping!

The Mist ninja barely blocked the swift, heavy strike with his kunai.

But before the numbness in his arm or the shock in his mind could settle, Uchiha Obito—who was slightly slower than Kakashi—arrived.

After a week of intense training under Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Obito had shed his "smart tank charger" label.

Though his speed still couldn't match Kakashi's, he now carried the poise befitting an Uchiha... With his single tomoe gleaming, Uchiha Obito ducked low to dodge the Mist ninja's kunai, then smashed an uppercut right into the guy's jaw!

He wasn't taller than the Mist ninja.

In fact, he was quite a bit shorter.

Even so, he pulled off a signature Uchiha move.

Uchiha Lift-Off!

He hoisted the Mist ninja right into the path of Yuto Souta's Fire Release!

The Mist ninja was instantly bombarded by clusters of flames.

He didn't even have time to scream before losing consciousness!

Yuto Souta had clearly underestimated the power of this Fire Release...

Mastery of fire chakra nature, precise control with three-tomoe Sharingan, plus a 1.6x power boost from Ninjutsu Master...

Even at proficiency LV1, it wasn't much weaker than a normal ninja's well-practiced ninjutsu!

As the Mist ninja passed out, Uchiha Obito tossed him to the ground.

Alright, time for the final step.

Kakashi Hatake stepped up too.

The two boys raised their little feet high, aiming for the Mist ninja's arms.

"Stop!"

"No fighting before the exam!"

At that moment, a ninja in Konoha's standard green flak jacket appeared, looking stern and tense at the two kids in front of him.

Close call!

He'd watched the entire fight from the sidelines.

He'd been ready to step in and maintain pre-exam order at any moment.

But... if it was Konoha being provoked, he could adjust how strict he was.

After all, this was their turf—they couldn't just let these outsiders run wild.

Still, he hadn't expected the three kids to act so fast!

That coordination... from feint to ambush to final blow, the whole thing took less than four seconds!

It was basically the time from Yuto Souta casting his ninjutsu to the Fire Release hitting its target!

What kind of seamless teamwork was this?

Especially that kid daring to unleash ninjutsu behind his teammates.

Wasn't he afraid of hitting them?

And the two in front were bold too...

If Yuto Souta's Fire Release had slipped even slightly, their fates wouldn't have been much better than the Mist ninja's!

How much trust—and confidence in their chakra control or speed—did it take to pull off such a rapid, tight combo?

It wasn't just the proctor; every examinee present shared the same thought.

And then...

Crack—

While the proctor was still reeling in shock, the sound of breaking bones suddenly rang out...

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