"The third round, begin!"
As Hayate Gekko's voice fell.
Kin Tsuchi was just about to retrieve a needle with a bell attached from her ninja tool pouch, aiming to throw it at Hinata and unleash her Sonic Illusion Technique.
However, Hinata, who was two meters away from her, seemed to teleport instantly, leaving an afterimage as she appeared right in front of Kin.
The speed was so fast that Kin's body couldn't react in time.
Tap tap tap...
Hinata's fingers, wrapped in a blue Chakra Aura, mercilessly struck Kin's body.
The astonishing finger strength caused her fingers to sink into Kin's flesh through her clothes.
Chakra penetrated through the fabric and skin, striking acupuncture points, blocking the flow of Chakra in Kin's meridians while also delivering excruciating pain.
Before Kin could even scream, Hinata's attacks, as swift as a gale, had already struck her over a dozen times in succession.
Finally, Hinata delivered a palm strike to Kin's body.
Boom!
A distorted stream of air erupted from Kin's back.
When the shockwave dissipated, Kin's eyes were lifeless, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth. Her knees buckled, and she collapsed to the ground.
"Thank you for the lesson."
Hinata's voice was gentle, yet she looked down at Kin from above, the veins on her temples slowly fading away.
Click! Click! Click!...
Meanwhile, on the second-floor viewing platform, the sound of camera shutters clicking repeatedly echoed.
Izayoi, who had transformed into a photographer, grinned from ear to ear, his smile radiant.
If he weren't still young and their relationship not yet public, he would have shouted out loud right then and there.
"My wife is so cool!"
"Wh-what just happened?"
"How did Hinata use the Body Flicker Technique like that? It was so... so fast, and there was no stiffness at all!"
"That movement style feels so familiar... where have I seen it before?"
"..."
The young ninjas were utterly stunned.
Especially Yamanaka Ino and Haruno Sakura, whose feelings mirrored Kin's—they felt completely outclassed by Hinata.
Over at Might Guy's team, Hyuga Neji clenched his fists, his eyes filled with unwillingness.
The young lady has grown stronger again! His mind replayed the sparring matches he had with Hinata over the years, from their initial evenly matched bouts, to gradually being suppressed by her, and finally being completely overwhelmed.
With that level of finger strength and Chakra, Hinata didn't even need to complete the minimum thirty-two strikes of the Gentle Fist to inflict internal injuries, cause her opponent to vomit blood, or even knock them out.
Even though Neji had mastered the Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven, he wasn't confident he could defeat Hinata.
Beside him, Tenten, noticing Rock Lee's trembling gaze, asked, "Lee, was that high-speed movement that Neji's clansman just used?"
"It was high-speed movement, but it's different from mine," Rock Lee nodded, then shook his head.
Might Guy smiled and explained, "It's Nature Transformation. Neji's clansman has mastered Lightning Release Nature Transformation, just like Uchiha Sasuke before her. She uses Lightning Release Chakra to stimulate her cells and boost her speed. Ah, youth!"
"So that's how it is," Rock Lee finally understood why Sasuke's speed had been so astonishing.
At first, he could barely react to it, but in the next moment, Sasuke would burst forth with incredible speed.
He had thought it was an ability of the Sharingan, but it turned out to be Lightning Release Nature Transformation.
"Not bad, Hinata has also mastered the technique of Lightning Release Chakra Stimulation Cells. The Hyuga Clan is another branch of the Otsutsuki Clan left in the Shinobi World.
Although over the millennia, their bloodline has diluted to a blue Talent, and their surname has changed to Hyuga, it doesn't mean that the Hyuga Clan cannot use Ninja Techniques.
The reason the Hyuga Clan only uses Kekkei Genkai and Gentle Fist is that the Gentle Fist Secret Technique is most suitable for their Kekkei Genkai, offering both offense and defense, effective at both long and close range, and capable of being cultivated to the level of an Elite Jonin. That's why they haven't wasted time learning other Ninja Techniques.
Izayoi isn't as rigid as the Hyuga Clan. He mastered the technique of Lightning Release Chakra Stimulation Cells and immediately taught it to Hinata, who has the Lightning attribute, allowing her to transform the Body Flicker Technique into a high-speed movement technique, enhancing her attack speed.
Clearly, Izayoi was right.
Hinata, using Lightning Release Chakra Stimulation Cells, has no stiffness in her Body Flicker Technique, and her attack speed is as fast as Rock Lee's when he removes his weights, swift as the wind.
"This generation's Main Family Lady is truly outstanding."
Hiruzen Sarutobi, holding his pipe, exhaled a puff of smoke and chuckled lightly.
Then, his gaze shifted to Izayoi, who was checking the film, and his smile suddenly turned playful.
To cultivate the Main Family Lady to such a level is truly remarkable! But with such an excellent heir, how will you manage to stay by her side?
Over at Team 7, Kakashi Hatake asked Uchiha Sasuke, "Sasuke, did you teach Hinata?"
"No, it was Izayoi who taught both Hinata and me," Uchiha Sasuke shook his head.
Uzumaki Naruto, whether out of envy or something else, couldn't help but tease, "You really are Izayoi's little brother!"
This time, Uchiha Sasuke didn't shoot Naruto a murderous glare.
Because he was tempted.
If he really became Izayoi's little brother, would he be willing to teach him the Secret Art? Thinking about Izayoi's timely intervention and the sense of security he provided, Uchiha Sasuke felt that having such a leader might not be a bad thing.
The thoughts of the proud second young master remained unknown to anyone.
Hearing Uchiha Sasuke's reply, Kakashi Hatake couldn't help but glance in Izayoi's direction, his evaluation of this top student rising even higher.
To dominate such a special generation of new talents, a civilian genius no less, is truly extraordinary! A vast amount of Chakra, Lightning Release Chakra Stimulation Cells, a powerful Fireball Whirlwind, and an unknown Secret Art...
At this moment, Kakashi Hatake seemed to see a younger version of himself.
At the age of twelve, he not only became a Jonin but also developed the Chidori.
And his Chakra was equally astonishing! Thinking of this, Kakashi Hatake couldn't help but become curious about Izayoi's strength, looking forward even more to the upcoming match.
Sharing Kakashi Hatake's thoughts was Orochimaru.
So even though the battle of Dosu's trio had ended, Orochimaru didn't leave but continued to watch the upcoming matches.
The fourth round quickly began, Misumi Tsurugi vs. Kankuro.
Misumi Tsurugi, one of Yakushi Kabuto's teammates, though ostensibly a Genin of the Leaf Village, was actually one of Orochimaru's spies planted in the village."
Moreover, this spy was quite peculiar, as if he was afraid others wouldn't know about his connection with Orochimaru. He directly used the Soft Physique Modification developed by Orochimaru, allowing his body parts to stretch and contract freely. If this could be combined with the Akimichi Clan's Multi-Size Technique, Izayoi would be willing to call it the ultimate divine skill, surpassing even the Eight Gates Formation.
In battle, Misumi Tsurugi, like a python, quickly entangled Kankuro.
However, it turned out that this Kankuro wasn't the real person but a transformation of his puppet, Crow.
By the time Misumi Tsurugi realized this, it was already too late.
Emerging from the bandages wrapped around the puppet, Kankuro controlled Crow and swiftly dealt with Misumi Tsurugi, securing an easy victory.
Just like how Zaku Abumi had earlier ambushed Uchiha Sasuke, strength that hadn't yet reached the Super Kage-level meant that a ninja's battle was ultimately a battle of intelligence.
If neither side knew the other's information, the fight wouldn't just be about the power of their Techniques but also their tactics and intellect.
Clearly, Misumi Tsurugi was far inferior to Kankuro in this regard.
(End of Chapter)