Signal

Temari recognized the C-rank Earth Release Ninja Technique "Earth Release: Underground Submersion." As the eldest daughter of the Fourth Kazekage and three years older than Ino's group, she had ample combat experience and wasn't ruled by anger. She tapped her right foot against the ground, leaping high into the air, causing Ino's intended "Decapitating Earth Technique" to drag her into the earth to miss its mark.

"Wind Cutter!" Temari, now airborne, swung down a razor-sharp air blade over two meters long.

Ino, still under the effects of "Underground Submersion," shifted sideways two meters through the earth like a fish, dodging the wind blade. She looked up and retaliated in kind.

"Water Release: Water Severing Wave!"

Though Tsunade wasn't proficient in Water Release herself, her vast experience—combined with the fact that this technique originated from her great-uncle—meant she had witnessed it since childhood and heard detailed explanations of its intricacies. To maintain her Teacher persona, she had imparted many Water Release techniques to Ino, some of which she barely understood herself.

Thanks to this indirect tutelage from the Second Hokage, Ino's mastery of Water Release had improved by another ten percent. The water jet shot out with precision and speed, leaving Temari—mid-air with no leverage—no choice but to block with her most prized Ninja Fan.

With a metallic clang, the Water Severing Wave struck the fan, officially named the Three-Star Fan, producing a crisp resonance. Using the momentary buffer, Temari dodged the attack. Upon landing, she examined her fan with distress.

Though inferior to Uchiha Madara's Flame Fan, the Three-Star Fan was still a treasure crafted by Sunagakure's ancestors using God Tree branches and rare metals. Yet now, it bore a gash over two fingers deep!

Ino was equally surprised. She hadn't intended to go all out—this Water Severing Wave had been restrained. Had Temari failed to block it, she would have pulled back. But being stopped by a mere fan? That was unexpected.

Fear and fury surged in Temari. She fully unfurled the Three-Star Fan, channeled her wind-natured chakra into it, and unleashed a massive tornado toward Ino.

The attack's range was vast. Rather than evading with a low-level technique, Ino opted for her strongest Water Release defense—another of Tsunade's teachings, also inherited from the Second Hokage.

Gathering chakra between her chest and abdomen, she clasped her hands together and expelled it skyward: "Water Release: Water Colliding Wave!"

The sky seemed to rupture open as an endless deluge poured down. Guided by chakra, the water spiraled rapidly, forming a towering pillar connecting heaven and earth.

The colossal waterspout's rotation deflected Temari's wind blades effortlessly. This dual-purpose technique—both offense and defense—advanced with deceptive speed, pressing down like an overwhelming tide. Temari's maneuvering space shrank drastically, and even Shiranui Genma, the proctor, found himself scrambling awkwardly.

To Ino's friends and family, Water Release of this caliber was routine—the "Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave" was the truly awe-inspiring one. This was just standard fare. But to many Chunin and Jonin present, the technique's power bordered on absurd.

Even the Anbu ninja assigned to security couldn't help murmuring among themselves.

"Is that the Yamanaka Clan's Young Lady? She can actually perform such a large-scale Water Release without any water source? Isn't this Water Release Ninja Technique one of the Second Hokage's signature moves?"

A fellow Anbu whispered, "I heard she's now Lady Tsunade's disciple."

Lady Tsunade's disciple and Water Release of this scale—was there a connection? The first speaker pondered and found it somewhat plausible.

Facing the massive Water Shockwave that engulfed half the arena, Temari exhausted every method, even summoning her Summoning Beast, but to no avail. Every Wind Release Ninjutsu she unleashed was neutralized upon contact with the surging water. Ino continuously replenished the technique, maintaining its overwhelming force until the battle devolved into a contest of Chakra reserves.

Aside from Naruto and Gaara, Ino feared no one in a battle of endurance.

Temari's Chakra reserves were merely average. After barely a minute, she reached her limit and raised her hand in surrender.

The following matches proceeded swiftly.

Gaara faced Shino Aburame. After a few exchanges, Shino conceded, recognizing his disadvantage.

Naruto stubbornly fought Rock Lee, ultimately relying on his superior recovery to secure a hard-fought victory.

Kankuro forfeited outright.

Shikamaru defeated Hinata, only to face Sasuke next. Though Shikamaru fought diligently—his Body techniques, Genjutsu, and Ninja techniques all refined to a high level among the Konoha 12—he was no match for the Sharingan. Sasuke advanced to the next round.

Beneath the surface, Sunagakure and Otogakure had prepared their ambush, using the earlier matches as cover.

Now, they only awaited a signal.

And that signal was about to arrive.

Ino vs. Gaara!

From the high platform, the Third Hokage's gaze darkened as he turned to the "Fourth Kazekage." "Lord Kazekage, deploying your Jinchuriki in the exams—are you certain there won't be any issues?"

The "Fourth Kazekage" replied indifferently, "Unless I'm mistaken, your village also sent the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, did you not? I trust we both have sufficient measures in place to restrain them."

The Third Hokage nodded slowly. "Very well."

As Shiranui Genma announced, "Begin the match!" Ino immediately created two Shadow Clones.

Against an opponent like Gaara, conventional tactics were useless—only overwhelming force would suffice.

Ino and her clones formed Hand Seals in unison, summoning a sky-blotting swarm of water bubbles that filled the entire arena.

The bubbles shimmered with iridescent light under the sun, their surfaces coated in a familiar oil.

The Third Hokage paused mid-drag on his pipe. He had heard of this technique—Vapor Explosion—from Asuma and Kurenai, but witnessing it firsthand was another matter.

The "Fourth Kazekage" sneered, recalling past encounters. "This oil-infused Water Release... reminds me of your Jiraiya's handiwork."

The Third Hokage feigned ignorance. "Oh? You're familiar with Jiraiya, Lord Kazekage?"

The imposter merely smiled in silence.

The number of water bubbles in the arena had now exceeded a thousand. Gaara stood motionless with his arms crossed, though a layer of Sand Shield had already formed from the fine sand before him.

With a sharp cry, Ino waved her hand, sending a dense barrage of water bubbles crashing against Gaara's Sand Shield.

This time, Gaara was prepared. He didn't rely on a simple Sand Shield for defense. The outermost layer was coarse sand, followed by two additional shields, each progressively finer and more tightly packed.

He erected three consecutive layers of shielding defense.