251-255

Chapter 251: Class 1 vs. Class 2  

"Oh? Then let’s wait and see!"  

Yoru chuckled, clearly disagreeing with Yugito’s assessment.  

"So you think Class 4 will lose?" she pressed, intrigued.  

"I never said that—don’t put words in my mouth!" He raised his hands defensively, playing innocent.  

"Then… a draw?"  

"Like I said—wait and see! Spoiling the fun ruins the suspense!"  

Yoru remained cryptic, refusing to give a straight answer. But his smirk said it all.  

"A draw? But Class 4 clearly has the upper hand!"  

That’s what everyone else thought, too. Yet what unfolded next forced them to admit—Yoru had called it perfectly.  

Class 5 adopted a turtle strategy, dragging the match into a grueling war of attrition until Class 4 burned out. Result: Draw.  

"You freak… Can you see the future or something? How did you predict that? Class 4 was dominating!" Yugito glared at him, half-impressed, half-annoyed.  

"Just a hunch. Stop looking at me like I’m some kind of monster—I can’t actually predict anything."  

Yoru sighed as she scrutinized him. Was it really that shocking? He’d always been a little too sharp.  

"Fourth match: Class 7 vs. Class 8!"  

The final battle began.  

"This one really will end in a draw," Yugito declared confidently.  

This time, Yoru simply nodded.  

Five minutes later—just as she’d predicted—the match concluded in a stalemate.  

"Next up: The Exemption Match!"  

The referee’s voice cut through the chatter as his gaze swept over the three victorious teams—Class 1, Class 2, and Class 3.  

"Class 2’s opponent will be chosen from the two remaining winning teams. Check the screen!"  

A murmur of excitement rippled through the crowd as the matchup flashed on display.  

Class 2 vs. Class 1.  

"Finally! We get to see what Class 2’s really made of!"  

"They called Class 1’s last match perfectly—let’s see if it was just a lucky guess."  

The audience buzzed with anticipation. Class 1 was the undisputed powerhouse—their ability to handle B-rank missions spoke for itself. Meanwhile, Class 2 had yet to prove anything.  

"Hah… We’re really being underestimated here." Nakamura Shouta smirked, cracking his knuckles.  

"Then let’s shut them all up—starting now." Natsume Yuuki rested a hand on her sword, her confidence unshaken.  

"I’ll back you up perfectly." Sashimi Yoshiko smiled sweetly, tucking away her sewing kit.  

Across the arena, Class 1’s leader, Kurokawa, locked eyes with Yuuki.  

"Bring it, Class 2. We won’t hold back this time—show us what you’ve learned this past month!"  

"You’ll see soon enough." Yuuki’s reply was cool as she nodded to the referee.  

This wasn’t just another match.  

The entire village was watching.  

Even Mizukage Terumī Mei had arrived, her presence silencing the crowd. Many jōnin had petitioned her to remove Yoru as an instructor, arguing his methods were ruining promising talent. But she’d deferred judgment—until today.  

"If Class 2 fails here… Yoru’s reputation as a teacher is done."  

Not that he seemed to care.  

"BEGIN!"  

Two blurs shot forward—Yuuki and Shouta closed the gap in an instant, their fists lashing out like vipers. Kurokawa and his team barely dodged in time, forced into retreat.  

Meanwhile, Yoshiko stood still, her hands a blur of seals.  

"Wait—her hand signs are too fast! She’ll mess up the jutsu!"  

"Is she panicking? At that speed, the chakra flow will—"  

"SHE DID IT?!"  

A sharp cry cut through the disbelief as Yoshiko’s voice rang out:  

"Ninpō: Stone Senbon!"  

A storm of razor-sharp stone needles erupted from the ground, barreling toward Class 1 as they landed.  

"What the—?! Their speed is insane!"  

The crowd’s attention snapped back to Yuuki and Shouta. Their initial sprint had been nearly as fast as a Body Flicker—without using ninjutsu.  

How?!  

Kurokawa gritted his teeth. "Mayoi, counterattack! Sōtarō, with me—we’ll block!"**  

Chapter 252: A Thirty-Second Battle  

"Counterattack? You really think we’d give you the chance?"  

But the moment Kurokawa spoke those words, Natsume Yuuki’s voice cut through the air.  

Her hands blurred into afterimages as she formed seals at a speed that left the entire audience stunned.  

"Suiton: Suiryūdan!" (Water Release: Water Shockwave!)  

Her cheeks swelled before she unleashed a colossal tidal wave, crashing toward Kurokawa’s team and cutting off Unmo’s movements.  

"Fall back!"  

Kurokawa and his teammates scrambled away—but they didn’t notice Nakamure Shouta’s grin.  

A terrifying aura erupted from him as his hands flew through seals in under two seconds. Violent lightning surged across the ground beneath Kurokawa’s feet.  

"Raiton: Kangekiha!" (Lightning Release: Surge Wave!)  

"Shit—!"  

Kurokawa’s eyes widened, but it was too late to react.  

"AAAHHH—!!!"  

The three of them convulsed in the electrified water, screams tearing from their throats.  

The lightning lasted only two seconds before fading.  

Natsume Yuuki lunged forward, her blade stopping just an inch from Kurokawa’s forehead as she looked down at them coolly.  

"Sorry. We win."  

"Win? Just like that?"  

"No way… The First Unit lost already?"  

The crowd was speechless.  

How? That was way too fast!  

Since when was the First Unit this weak? They’d been defeated in under thirty seconds.  

"Their rhythm was completely controlled. Kurokawa never stood a chance." Yagura exhaled, impressed, before turning to Yoru. "What the hell did you do? How did these three get so strong in just a month?"  

Yoru shrugged. "Simple. I just reinforced their fundamentals. The rest fell into place naturally."  

"Over the past month, I sharpened their chakra control, increased their hand-seal speed, and honed their combat instincts. Then I drilled them in nonstop battles until all of it became second nature."  

"Now, they can enhance their strength, speed, and reflexes through precise chakra manipulation. Faster seals mean faster, stronger jutsu. Their growth was inevitable."  

"Winning like this? Only natural."  

Listening to his explanation, Yagura wanted to call bullshit.  

He knew there was more to it. Natsume Yuuki’s team hadn’t just improved individually—their teamwork, timing, and tactical synergy were on another level entirely. That was why they’d won so decisively.  

"Well, no one can criticize Yoru’s training methods now," Mei Terumī mused inwardly, relieved. "The results speak for themselves."  

"So… How’d we do? Not too shabby, right, Yoru-sensei?"  

Natsume Yuuki and her teammates returned under the crowd’s stunned gazes, eyes bright with anticipation.  

Yoru smirked. "More than ‘not shabby.’ You three earned this. Feels good, doesn’t it?"  

"Eh, a little." Natsume waved a hand dismissively, though her grin betrayed her. "Would’ve been more fun if the First Unit were stronger, though. Barely broke a sweat."  

Sashimi Yoshiko and Nakamure Shouta nodded in agreement.  

The surrounding students collectively twitched.  

"How much stronger do they need to be?!"  

The First Unit was already top-tier! And yet, they’d still lost effortlessly. What kind of monsters were these three?!  

Natsume might as well have said, "None of you stand a chance."  

"We’ll settle this in the individual matches. Next time, we won’t lose like this."  

Kurokawa and his team approached, faces set with determination.  

Natsume grinned. "Sure. Just make sure you’re actually fun to fight this time."  

Kurokawa’s eye twitched. "Count on it, Natsume Yuuki."  

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Naturally, their exchange sent whispers rippling through the crowd.  

"Kurokawa vs. Natsume Yuuki? Oh, this’ll be good."  

"Can’t wait to see that showdown!"  

"Hell yeah, bring it on!"  

Arena – Individual Matches: Round Two  

"First matchup: Now loading!"  

The referee’s voice rang out as names flashed across the screen.  

And when the first pair appeared, the audience collectively lost it.  

Natsume Yuuki vs. Kurokawa!  

The very duel Kurokawa had just called for—granted instantly.  

"Guess the universe wants to see this fight too. Fine by me." Natsume sighed dramatically. "Take thirty minutes to recover. I don’t like easy wins."  

Kurokawa’s face darkened. The condescension in her tone was infuriating. But with his current condition, he had no choice but to swallow his pride.  

"Team strength doesn’t equal individual skill. Underestimating me would be a mistake."  

Natsume shrugged. "Oh, I’d never underestimate you."  

Her tone said otherwise.  

Kurokawa’s jaw clenched as he stormed off to receive medical treatment. He’d face her at full power—no excuses.  

"Who do you think will win? Natsume or Kurokawa? Both are insane…"  

The debate ignited instantly, with no clear answer in sight.  

Chapter 253: Who Will Emerge Victorious?  

"I think it’ll be Natsume Yuuki. She just radiates strength!" 

"Nah, I’m betting on Kurokawa. Team battles and solo fights are different—he might surprise us!"  

"Exactly! When Kurokawa graduated, he ranked first in every category. Out of all nine classes, aside from the untested Class 2, no one’s beaten him one-on-one. He’s probably the strongest in our year!"  

The debate raged on, opinions clashing like blades.  

Yet, their instructors, Yoru and Yagura, remained eerily calm, not joining the discussion at all. Many couldn’t hide their disappointment—they’d hoped to pry some intel out of them.  

Of course, Yagura didn’t bother asking Yoru for his thoughts. He already knew how this fight would end. No point in wasting words.  

As for Yoru? Pure laziness.  

Half an hour passed in a flash.  

Natsume Yuuki and Kurokawa stepped into the arena, facing off.  

"Begin!"  

The moment the referee signaled, Yuuki lunged like a panther, her blade flashing toward Kurokawa. He barely managed to leap back, startled by her speed. Mid-retreat, he hurled a volley of kunai to stall her advance.  

"Whoosh!"  

But Yuuki was faster than he anticipated. She weaved past the kunai, closing the gap in an instant—her sword slashing a clean gash across Kurokawa’s chest.  

"Rip!"  

Fabric tore. The crowd gasped.  

Already on the back foot? Is Yuuki this strong?!  

She didn’t let up. Pressing forward, she thrust her blade straight at Kurokawa’s heart.  

"Dodge!"  

Fūma and Tarō shouted in unison.  

Kurokawa barely twisted away, but Yuuki shadowed him like a specter. A whip-like kick sent him reeling, arms barely shielding his head before he crashed into the arena wall.  

"Boom!"  

Yuuki followed like a raging beast, slamming him deeper into the rubble.  

The audience erupted.  

How?! Kurokawa’s getting dominated from the start!  

"Since when is Yuuki this powerful?!"  

Many clenched their fists. Kurokawa, the one who’d taken on B-rank missions and even defeated chūnin-level opponents, was supposed to be their generation’s strongest. Yet here he was, utterly outclassed.  

She was barely holding her own against a chūnin examiner at graduation. Kurokawa crushed his. How’d she surpass him so fast?! Did she cheat the system?!  

"Pfft. Is this guy even a challenge? I could take him."  

Nakamura Shōta’s scoff turned heads. The crowd froze.  

He could beat Kurokawa? And from the sound of it, Yuuki was the strongest of their trio—even Shōta couldn’t touch her.  

"Then… Kurokawa’s doomed?"  

For the first time, Fūma and Tarō doubted their leader.  

Thankfully, Mashiro Yoshiko softened the blow. "Don’t underestimate him, Shōta. Kurokawa’s strong—he’s just caught off guard."  

Shōta shrugged, falling silent as the fight resumed.  

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Just as Yuuki moved to finish Kurokawa—  

"Poof!"  

A log substitution. Three kunai shot from behind her.  

But Yuuki was ready. Her sword deflected them all.  

No matter. Kurokawa’s hands were already sealed. "Raiton: Earth Flow!"  

Crackling lightning spiderwebbed across the arena. Kurokawa grinned. "Nowhere left to run—except the walls!"  

Yuuki retreated, but his smirk widened. "Too slow!"  

The lightning surged up the walls, sealing her in.  

"She’s done for!"  

How could a water-style user counter this?  

"Clever. But not enough."  

Yuuki’s face stayed serene. She planted her sword into the ground, balancing effortlessly on the hilt—untouched, like a crane perched above a storm.  

"Then try this!"  

Kurokawa’s lightning morphed into a snarling hound, lunging for her throat.  

"Now dodge this!"  

The arena became a tempest of electricity.  

"Impressive. He’s earned Raigā’s approval for a reason."  

Even Yoru praised him. The crowd’s hope flared—  

Until Shōta snorted. "Please. My Raiton’s as good as his, and Yuuki still wrecks me daily. She eats lightning users for breakfast."  

No one could imagine her escape.  

All eyes locked onto the arena.  

Chapter 254: Still Overpowered  

“Suiton: Hien (Water Release: Flying Swallow)!”  

Natsume Yuuki formed the hand seals calmly, then leapt into the air. Beneath her, water rapidly condensed, shaping itself into a flock of swallows that carried her aloft. At the same time, countless others shot toward Kurokawa like explosive projectiles.  

“ROAR!”  

Facing the onslaught of water swallows, Kurokawa didn’t dare underestimate them. Focusing his chakra, he sent his Raiton: Raikōken (Lightning Release: Lightning Hound) charging forward.  

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!  

Despite being made of water, the swallows packed terrifying force. The lightning hound was shredded instantly, holes riddling its form as more swallows broke through and surged toward Kurokawa.  

His expression darkened. These weren’t mere droplets—they felt as solid as iron. Dodging frantically, he refused to let a single one land.  

“Heh, if Yuuki-nee’s using this move, you might as well surrender now,” Nakama Shouta grinned from the sidelines, confidence oozing.  

The spectators were confused—but not for long.  

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!  

The swallows struck the ground with the force of cannonballs, cratering the earth and sending debris flying. Even the arena walls trembled under the assault, chunks breaking away like paper.  

“Gulp… Is this really Suiton? How is it this strong?”  

Murmurs spread through the crowd. No one had ever seen a fresh graduate—just a month out of the academy—wield water techniques with such destructive power.  

“The scariest part? This technique draws moisture straight from the air, minimizing chakra drain. At this rate, Kurokawa won’t last much longer. Yoru, I’ll admit it—you’re a better teacher than I am.”  

Yagura’s praise made Fuun and Tarou tense. Was Kurokawa really about to lose?  

The pressure on Kurokawa was relentless. The swallows left no opening—no chance to counterattack, no moment to breathe. As he dodged desperately, his eyes flicked to Yuuki, descending gracefully on her water platform, utterly composed.  

For the first time, a flicker of helplessness crept into his heart.  

“But I won’t give up. I’ll fight with everything I’ve got!” he swore silently.  

Yet—  

“It’s over.”  

Yuuki’s voice was cool as she glanced at him. Her hands came together, then blurred through another set of seals.  

“Suiton: Suikadan (Water Release: Water Fang Bullet)!”  

A surge of dense water chakra erupted. Before Kurokawa could react—before his brain could even process the movement—a spiraling water projectile slammed into him.  

CRACK!  

Pain exploded through his body as he was hurled backward, crashing into the arena wall—just like in the team battle. Yuuki stood before him once more, her blade resting at his throat, her expression unchanged.  

“Sorry. Still my win.”  

“DAMMIT!”  

Frustration twisted Kurokawa’s face. That same helplessness gnawed at him. Was he really weaker than Natsume Yuuki?  

But while he stewed in defeat, the crowd erupted in shock.  

“That’s it? Kurokawa lost? Just like that?”  

It happened too fast. One moment, the battle was raging—the next, it was over.  

“Looking forward to our next match. Your Raiton almost had me this time. Show me something even stronger next time, okay?”  

Yuuki sheathed her sword with a smile. The wind caught her hair, strands of ink-black silk dancing like they, too, sought freedom.  

For a heartbeat, the scene burned itself into memory—her effortless grace, the sunlight catching her grin. In that moment, she became the untouchable ideal in the hearts of every boy present.  

Even Kurokawa was spellbound, snapping back to reality only when the referee called his name twice. Amidst the crowd’s cheers (and jeers), he trudged off the field.  

“Hell yeah, Yuuki-nee! That was insane!” Nakama Shouta pumped his fists.  

Yuuki smirked. “Stay cool.”  

Then, the screen flickered again—new matchups rolling into place.  

[Fuun vs. Sakishime Yoshiko]  

An unexpected pairing. Another First Squad vs. Second Squad showdown.  

“Is this rigged? Are they testing Second Squad’s overall strength?”  

“If the next match is Second Squad again, then yeah, definitely rigged.”  

Whispers spread, but Yoru could only shrug.  

“Not my doing. Just luck.”  

No conspiracy here—just fate having a laugh.  

“Please go easy on me.”  

Sakishime Yoshiko bowed politely, her tone humble. Fuun returned the gesture, but her gaze never wavered—sharp, calculating.  

“BEGIN!”  

The instant the referee signaled, Fuun leapt back, hurling a barrage of shuriken with pinpoint accuracy. Her assassination training showed—every throw aimed to cripple.  

No surprise. Fuun had ranked second in their graduating class. Yoshiko, sixth, was no slouch either.  

With quick seals, Yoshiko slammed her palms to the ground.  

“Doton: Senbon Shower (Earth Release: Thousand Needles)!”  

Rocks shattered into a storm of spikes, deflecting the shuriken and surging toward Fuun.  

Fuun barely dodged, hands already forming another set of seals.  

“Suiton: Mizu Giri (Water Release: Water Cutter)!”  

Her foot stamped down, water erupting beneath her. Razor-sharp streams sliced through the air, scattering the stone needles and rushing at Yoshiko.  

“Ninpō: Kyūketsu no Jutsu (Ninja Art: Absorption Technique)!”  

A scroll unfurled. The moment Yoshiko’s hand touched it, a swirling void yawned open, swallowing the water blades whole.  

Without pause, she retaliated—another volley of shuriken forcing Fuun into retreat.  

“…Is Fuun getting overpowered too?”  

Someone’s murmur echoed the crowd’s thoughts.  

Many nodded.  

Chapter 255: Another Defeat  

"Is Fūma about to lose too?"  

Tarō gripped the railing, watching the match with gritted teeth. If they lost again, Class 1’s reputation would be in tatters.  

The crowd’s eyes flicked to Yoru, Yagura, and the other higher-ups, hoping for some sage commentary. But the leaders stayed silent, focused on the battle—except for Mei Terumī, whose sharp gaze betrayed unspoken thoughts.  

Inside the Arena  

Fūma had just dodged Mashiro Yoshiko’s shuriken… only to suddenly leap back, putting even more distance between herself and the scattered blades.  

Why?  

The audience frowned. What was the point?  

They soon got their answer.  

"Huh. You’re sharper than I expected," Yoshiko mused, fingers twitching. "Guess trapping you won’t be that easy."  

Then—the shuriken yanked themselves free from the ground, flying back to her. Sunlight glinted off nearly invisible wires coiled around her forearm bracers.  

"I watched your match during the Bell Test last month," Fūma said coldly. "Your wire-and-kunai tactics even fooled Yoru-sensei’s water clone. Did you think I’d fall for it twice?"  

With a stomp, she lunged at Yoshiko, closing the gap for close combat.  

"Melee? Gladly." Yoshiko smirked, shifting her stance. Their fists and palms collided—crack!—neither yielding an inch.  

Boom! Thud! Crash!  

For two girls, their clash was anything but delicate. Every strike was precision itself—elbows, knees, every limb a weapon. The arena trembled as they traded blows, weaving from one end to the other.  

"This might take a while," spectators murmured. Their taijutsu was too evenly matched.  

"Heh. It’s over," Nakamura Shōta chimed in, grinning. "Fighting Yoshiko up close? Bad call."  

The crowd blinked. Over? They’re dead even!  

Fūma heard him too. Anger flared—how dare he underestimate her?  

Then—a flicker of light.  

Her instincts screamed. She twisted away mid-strike, eyes darting to the glint.  

Wire.  

A net of nearly transparent threads coiled around her feet, one tug away from ensnaring her.  

"Tch. You noticed," Yoshiko sighed, yanking her wrist back anyway. A spiderweb of wires hissed upward—but Fūma was already gone, a substitution log left in her place.  

No matter. Yoshiko snapped the wires free and pivoted, fist slamming into Fūma’s gut the moment she rematerialized. "Gotcha."  

Thwip!  

Before Fūma could recover, shuriken grazed her sleeves—anchored by fresh wires. A tug, and she was trussed up like a fly in a web.  

Match over.  

"Again? Class 1’s getting rolled!"  

No one doubted Fūma’s skill. Yoshiko was just that good.  

"Wait… if Tarō’s next opponent is Shōta—"  

The crowd’s pitying stares swiveled to Tarō, Class 1’s last hope. His face darkened.  

"Next match!" the proctor called.  

The screen updated. A collective exhale—Tarō wasn’t paired with Shōta.  

Shōta pouted. Tarō slumped in relief… then froze.  

Since when did I fear him?  

"Well done, Yoshiko-nee!" Shōta cheered as she returned.  

"You ruined my trap with your big mouth," she said sweetly, threading a needle. "Do it again, and I’ll stitch your lips shut."  

Shōta backpedaled, hands up. "Eep! S-Sorry! You know I can’t help yapping!"  

His instant surrender suggested this wasn’t his first warning.