Chapter 75: The Finals Begin
Happy times always pass by in a flash.
In the blink of an eye, the date arrived at August 5th of Konoha Year 60.
Only two days remained until the final rounds of the Chunin Exams.
Izayoi, who had spent half a month playing with Hanabi, finally bid farewell to the reluctant Karin, carrying several large scrolls.
However, before leaving, Izayoi instructed Karin, "Karin, on the desk in my study, there's a scroll that hasn't been put away yet. It contains the training method for a certain jutsu. After I leave, remember to practice diligently. I hope that when I come back in a while, you will have already mastered that jutsu."
Hearing that Izayoi would come back to see her in a while, Karin perked up instantly, immediately standing at attention and promising, "Yes! I won't let you down, Izayoi-kun."
"Then we'll head back now. Goodbye."
"Karin-neechan, bye-bye." Hanabi also waved goodbye to Karin.
Karin smiled and waved back, watching as Izayoi carried Hanabi on his back and vanished in a Body Flicker Technique.
At six o'clock in the afternoon, Izayoi returned to Konoha with Hanabi right on schedule.
"So many carriages, and so many people..."
Walking along the central street, Hanabi looked around, slightly amazed.
"After all, the Chunin Exam finals are the day after tomorrow. Those ordinary people don't know the Body Flicker Technique, so they definitely have to come early," Izayoi chuckled.
"Onii-chan, Hanabi will definitely be there to cheer you on! Don't you dare lose!" Hanabi said to Izayoi, clenching her fist.
"Don't worry, Onii-chan is going to win for sure." Izayoi gazed in a certain direction, his eyes seeming to penetrate all obstacles, a confident smile on his face as he murmured, "In every aspect."
After handing the sealing scroll containing souvenirs to Hanabi at the Hyuga clan's gate, Izayoi waved goodbye to Hanabi and returned home to make the final preparations for the grand event that would arrive the day after tomorrow.
...
August 7th, Konoha Year 60.
The sky had barely begun to lighten when Konoha's central street started to bustle with activity, gradually swelling into a clamorous throng.
By the time the sun blazed high in the sky, even fireworks were being set off.
Whether they were ordinary civilians in simple clothes or wealthy elites in elaborate attire, arriving in carriages or carried on human-powered litters, everyone was making their way to Konoha's plaza.
An hour before the exams were scheduled to begin, the plaza was already packed without a single empty seat.
Many people who had come from distant lands and foreign countries, but had failed to secure tickets, even blocked the entrances, arguing with the ninjas.
After confirming that they truly couldn't enter, they didn't leave but stayed outside the plaza, preparing to imagine the scenes through the sounds.
It was a pity that ninjas weren't shrewd enough. If they had kept some tickets internally to scalp outside or set up a betting ring, they would have made a fortune.
"Izayoi-kun, long time no see."
After a month apart, Hinata finally left her home and came to Izayoi's house.
The side effects of the artistic photoshoot had long been dissolved by her intense longing.
The moment she saw Izayoi, Hinata, uncharacteristically proactive, threw herself into his arms, her hands tightly embracing his waist, her voice and eyes filled with yearning.
"Long time no see, Hinata."
Izayoi also hugged the girl back tightly, and even though he felt a strong pressure against his chest, he surprisingly had no impure thoughts.
Since the age of six, the two had been inseparable, and this was the first time they had been apart for so long.
For Izayoi and Hinata, who had long been accustomed to having each other by their side, their lives feeling incomplete without the other, this month had been incredibly difficult.
Izayoi was slightly better off, as he had his little sister-in-law to keep him company.
But for Hinata, this period had truly been agonizing.
Especially in the past two days, listening to Hanabi recount her trip and seeing the various photos of Izayoi and Hanabi together, Hinata had felt a rare pang of jealousy towards her younger sister.
That was why, as soon as the vacation ended, she couldn't wait to come and find Izayoi.
This separation, instead of weakening their bond, had only deepened it.
After embracing in silence for a long while, Izayoi and Hinata finally separated and had breakfast together.
While Hinata was washing the dishes, Izayoi returned to his room, took out one of the birthday gifts Hanabi and Hinata had prepared for him – a white long robe with flame patterns – and the large scrolls he had brought back from Sakura Street, and went into the en-suite bathroom.
By the time Hinata had finished putting away the dishes and untied her apron, Izayoi had already come out of the room.
Then, the two of them left the house together, heading towards Konoha's plaza.
Konoha Plaza was a spherical open-air structure. Like the Forest of Death, it was a special training ground not usually open to the public except for special occasions.
Whenever the plaza was opened, it signified an important festival.
Entering the plaza through the contestants' passage, Izayoi saw that the proctor and some of the contestants had already arrived in the spacious examination area.
Looking at the proctor with a senbon needle in his mouth, Izayoi knew that the protagonist of Shippuden would still not escape his death.
"I thought you two were busy on a date and forgot about the exam time."
As soon as Izayoi and Hinata joined the group, they were immediately met with Sasuke Uchiha's sharp-tongued remark.
Hinata remained bashful, while Izayoi chuckled softly. "Judging by the looks of you, this month doesn't seem to have been very pleasant for you."
"Quite the contrary, this month has been excellent for me." Sasuke Uchiha's lips curled into a slight upward arc, a proud smile on his face as he said confidently, "If we meet in the finals, I guarantee I'll give you all a big surprise."
"I'll be looking forward to it."
Izayoi glanced at Sasuke Uchiha's neck. Seeing no sign of the Cursed Seal of Heaven, he knew that Sasuke, like in the original story, must have spent this time training with Kakashi Hatake.
If things went as expected, he should have mastered Lightning Release: Chidori.
This would mean that Sasuke Uchiha's Lightning Release nature transformation had reached a certain level, allowing him to begin the form manipulation stage and learn Chidori Stream and Raikiri.
The stronger Sasuke Uchiha became, the happier Izayoi would be.
Time ticked by, and the remaining contestants arrived one after another.
Just like Sasuke Uchiha hadn't been late, Naruto Uzumaki also didn't arrive at the exam grounds being chased by a herd of bulls.
On the VIP seating platform, Hiruzen Sarutobi and Orochimaru, disguised as the Fourth Kazekage, had also taken their seats.
Checking the time on his pocket watch, Genma Shiranui looked at the ten contestants before him and said slowly, "Time is up. Any contestant who hasn't arrived will be automatically disqualified, and their opponent will automatically advance to the next round."
Hearing this, many contestants' gazes turned towards Naruto Uzumaki.
Of the eleven contestants, only Dosu Kinuta was absent.
Naruto Uzumaki, having won without a fight, immediately put his hands on his hips and laughed triumphantly. "Hahaha... that guy must have been scared of the great me and ran away!"
"Now, let me explain the exam rules to you." Genma Shiranui took out a clipboard and crossed out Dosu Kinuta's name on the list before continuing, "You've all been through the Ninja Academy, and you're all aware of no-holds-barred duels. The rules for the finals are that any means can be used, and you won't be held responsible for killing your opponent because the death consent forms you signed during the second exam are still valid."
"So, those who overestimate their abilities would do well to surrender decisively at critical moments, otherwise, dying will be a pointless death. Don't expect me to step in to save you at the last second."
"Contestant number two has automatically forfeited, so Naruto Uzumaki, who drew number one, advances to the next round. Now, Hinata Hyuga, who drew number three, and Temari, who drew number four, please remain. The rest of you, please proceed to the contestants' waiting area."
As Genma Shiranui finished speaking, Gaara, Kankuro, and Neji Hyuga left the arena immediately.
Izayoi and the rest of their group cheered Hinata on before heading towards the stands in the contestants' waiting area.
"That's great! Big sister's match is the first one! Big sister, do your best!"
Watching Hinata and Temari remain on the field, Hanabi in the audience seats instinctively shouted loudly.
"Hanabi, mind your manners," Hiashi Hyuga reprimanded.
"Yes."
Knowing she shouldn't bring shame to her family in public, Hanabi quickly composed herself, sitting upright with a serious expression on her small face.
"Hinata Hyuga, right? Are you really just a newly promoted Genin this year?"
On the field, Temari sized up Hinata, who was clearly three years younger than her but possessed a figure that completely dwarfed her own, a physique that even mature women might not possess. Temari's eyes and the corners of her mouth twitched slightly.
Coupled with the information she had received – that Hinata had a handsome childhood friend who had been the top student from enrollment to graduation, mastered several nature transformations, and developed an S-rank Storm Release ultimate technique. Moreover, after graduation, they had been teammates, inseparable since childhood. Even Temari, as the Kazekage's daughter and the Sand Village's princess, couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy.
To be so perfect in appearance, inner qualities, and background was already enough, but even her partner was?
This woman, she must have saved the world in her past life!
Hinata was unaware of Temari's thoughts.
However, hearing Temari's words, she couldn't help but feel a wave of shyness.
She didn't know why, but women of her age, and even those older, always stared at her... assets, with expressions of envy and jealousy.
It was clearly a heavy burden.
Of course, that was Hinata's initial thought.
But after discovering that Izayoi also liked them, even having a nosebleed because of them, Hinata no longer felt they were a burden affecting her strength, but rather a source of pride.
Thinking of this, Hinata's shyness instantly vanished, and the corners of her lips curled into a slight smile.
In Temari's eyes, however, it seemed that Hinata was looking at her meager assets with a disdainful smile.
The Sand Village's princess instantly flew into a rage.
With a thump, Temari took down her Three-Star War Fan from her back and slammed it heavily on the ground, sneering at Hinata, "Heiress of a prestigious clan, I hope your strength can satisfy my Three-Star War Fan."
And the words "prestigious clan" seemed to flip a switch within Hinata, reminding her of something.
Glancing in the direction of her sister and father, the veins at Hinata's temples visibly throbbed, her expression serious as she looked at Temari and said, "I will give it my all."
Their gazes instantly locked into a single line, sparks flying.
The powerful aura also piqued Genma Shiranui's interest. He removed the senbon from his mouth, raised his arm, and shouted, "Chunin Selection Exams Third Round – Finals! Hinata Hyuga VS Temari... Begin!"
(End of this chapter)