The appearance of the Rasengan did not cause much of a stir.
That was because Natsuki had shared the Rasengan.
Aside from him and Kushina, Minato, Nawaki, and Nonō had also learned the Rasengan.
"Second match of the third round, Minato versus Nonō!"
Gaku walked to the center of the field and announced the next match.
"Don't think about winning or losing. Just treat this as a final assessnt of the taijutsu you've learned during this period."
Natsuki reached out, patted Nonō's head, and said.
Nonō entered the field with a serious expression.
Although Minato felt that he would win, he did not dare to look down on her.
After all, Nonō's sensei was Tsunade.
If a punch with monstrous strength ca down and he took it head-on, he would be seriously injured.
"Begin!"
After Gaku finished speaking, he retreated to the side of the field.
Nonō stepped forward in a flash, clenched her right hand, and swung it out.
This attack style looked no different from Kushina's.
But that was normal.
Taijutsu taught by the sa sensei would naturally be similar.
Minato reacted very quickly. With a light sidestep, he avoided the punch.
After creating so distance, he flicked his right hand and threw out three kunai.
Minato did not look at the result and imdiately ford hand seals.
Nonō locked her gaze on the three kunai and quickly took out three kunai from her pouch as well.
The six kunai collided in the air and fell one after another.
At that mont, Minato had already finished forming seals.
Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!
He took a deep breath, leaned back, and spat out a series of wind bullets.
Chakra Enhanced Strength!
The wind bullets were too fast, and Nonō no longer had ti to dodge.
She clenched her fist, and chakra surged out as she swung.
The force tore through the air and also tore apart the wind bullets.
But there were too many wind bullets, forcing Nonō to keep throwing punches.
By the ti all the wind bullets disappeared, she felt a wave of fatigue.
Minato naturally would not waste ti.
While she was swinging her fists, he ford seals again.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!
A violent gale ford out of thin air in front of him and swept toward Nonō.
Although Wind Release: Great Breakthrough was a C-rank Wind Release, its power depended on the amount of chakra poured into it.
In the original work, Orochimaru used Wind Release: Great Breakthrough to directly destroy the surrounding trees.
Nonō imdiately stepped forward.
With a boom, the ground cracked. Under the cover of the air wave, force mixed with shattered stones flew up, forcing the gale to pause.
Minato flicked both hands.
Six kunai shot out under the force of the gale.
Nonō dodged to the left, avoiding the kunai while also leaving the range of the gale.
She took a breath, then charged toward Minato.
At the sa ti, she stretched out her hand.
A surge of chakra erged and began spinning wildly.
But her Rasengan attack did not succeed.
Wind Release: Gale Palm!
Minato clapped his hands together, and fierce wind wrapped around his body.
His entire body suddenly accelerated, turning into an afterimage.
Before Nonō could react, he had already brushed past her.
But Minato had extrely strong reaction speed.
As he passed by, he turned his head and threw out a wooden kunai.
Nonō felt a pain in her back and was struck.
She stopped, dispersed the Rasengan, and directly conceded.
After all, if that kunai had not been wooden, she would have been seriously injured.
"Nonō really is very suited to being your student."
Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction.
Minato's performance had been within his expectations.
But Nonō had given him quite a few surprises.
"Her talent is very good."
Tsunade praised her.
In the original work, Nonō was able to do very well in Root, so naturally, she did not rely only on dical ninjutsu.
"I hope there will be more and more dical ninja like her."
Hiruzen said with a smile.
A ninja who could both fight and heal was undoubtedly needed by Konoha, or rather, the entire ninja world.
"Winner, Minato!"
After Gaku announced the result, Minato and Nonō left the field.
"Nonō really has beco much stronger."
Kushina said with emotion.
She still rembered that the previous Nonō had only been a pure dical ninja and did not know taijutsu or anything like that.
"Not just her."
Nawaki said in a low voice, "Minato's progress is also very great."
He had always believed that in this Chunin Exam's individual battle, the ones who posed the greatest threat to him were Natsuki and Minato.
Now, it seed that this was indeed the case.
There was no need to say much about Natsuki.
Judging from Minato's performance just now, defeating him would not be easy.
"Nonō, you did very well."
Natsuki t Nonō's gaze and said with a smile, "You already have Tsunade-sensei's style."
When Nonō heard this, a gentle smile appeared on her face.
"Third match of the third round, Nawaki versus Kae!"
A mont later, Gaku spoke.
"It looks like Duy's luck is better."
Nawaki shook his head and said.
"I'm not your opponent."
Kae was very self-aware as she said this.
"Youth ans giving it your all!"
Duy waved his fist and said.
"Whether soone becos a Chunin depends not on victory or defeat, but on their performance."
Natsuki reminded them.
In the original joint Chunin Exam, only Nara Shikamaru beca a Chunin.
But in fact, he lost to Temari of Suna in the third round's individual battle.
Although he was the one who conceded.
Nawaki and Kae entered the field.
"Besides sealing jutsu, what else has Kae learned?"
Natsuki asked curiously.
His impression of Kae was still from before graduation.
When she was at the Ninja Academy, she only knew sealing jutsu, the Three Basic Techniques, and so basic taijutsu.
"Sensei taught her Fire Release."
Minato answered.
"I thought it would be taijutsu again. I didn't expect Fire Release."
Natsuki paused, then said, "Fire Release against Water Release is at a disadvantage in terms of nature."
Minato nodded and said, "Kae knows that too, which is why she thinks she can't win."
While the two of them were talking, the battle on the field officially began.
With a boom, a water dragon and a huge fireball collided.
Mist rose, and chakra airflow swept outward.
After a montary stalemate, the water dragon tore the fireball apart and flew toward Kae.
Although it had already shrunk by a size, the water dragon still looked fierce and terrifying.
Kae quickly dodged to the side.
She ford hand seals again and spat out an even larger fireball.
The fireball blocked the water dragon.
But Nawaki's next Water Release ninjutsu followed right after.
Water Release: Water Bullet Barrage!
Nawaki raised his hand, and a series of water bullets flew out like bullets.
Kae's pupils shrank, and she felt troubled.
She subconsciously raised both hands and threw several kunai.
But the kunai were quickly knocked away.
Kae no longer had ti to use Fire Release, so she dodged to the left.
In fact, she had only learned two Fire Release techniques.
After all, she had only graduated not long ago.
Although Kae was not slow, she still could not outrun the string of water bullets.
Her entire body trembled and was sent flying.
Seeing this, Nawaki quickly dispersed Water Release: Water Bullet Barrage.
"I concede."
Kae endured the pain in her back and said.
After she left the field, the dical ninja at the side walked up to her and treated her.
The third round reached the fourth match, which was also the final match.
Just as Nawaki had said, Duy's luck was better.
First, he was matched against the only genin outside the three squads.
Second, although that genin's strength was not bad, compared to Natsuki, Nawaki, Kushina, and the others, he was very ordinary.
In the end, Duy relied on the Konoha Whirlwind series of taijutsu and won.
"The genin entering the fourth round are Natsuki, Nawaki, Minato, and Duy!"
Gaku paused, then said, "After a fifteen-minute break, the fourth round will begin!"
"I didn't expect the four of us to be the ones left in the end."
Nawaki spoke.
In fact, what he had not expected was Duy.
In his view, although Duy's taijutsu was indeed excellent, it was still sowhat inferior to Kushina and Nonō's monstrous strength.
It could only be said that it really was luck.
Minato and the others nodded slightly.
Their thoughts were similar to Nawaki's. They all felt that Duy had been very lucky.
Natsuki smiled and did not explain.
In terms of strength, Duy was probably second only to him.
Fortunately, it was Duy. If it were the more talented Might Guy, perhaps he would have been able to open all Eight Gates by the age of twenty.
At that ti, even Natsuki would not be able to withstand it.
They were both opening all Eight Gates, but Guy could severely injure Uchiha Madara and nearly kick out the ending.
But Duy could only kill four of the Seven Ninja Swordsn at the cost of his life.
Without a doubt, his talent was worse.
At his current age, he definitely could not open all Eight Gates. At most, he was around the level of soone close to Jonin.
In addition, he was a pure taijutsu ninja, so he was easy to counter.
"Duy, I have a question."
Nawaki looked at Duy and asked, "Why do you shout the nas of your taijutsu when you fight?"
Natsuki raised an eyebrow and thought to himself, good question.
In the original work, all ninja would shout the nas of their ninjutsu.
But after transmigrating, Natsuki realized that no one did that.
After all, shouting it out wasted ti and energy, and it also reminded the enemy.
Ninja battles were intelligence battles. Shouting out the na of a ninjutsu on one's own initiative was no different from handing intelligence to the enemy for free.
"Youth is ant to be shouted out!"
Duy raised his thumb and said.
The corner of Nawaki's mouth twitched.
As expected, asking was the sa as not asking.
"I wonder who my opponent will be in the next match."
Nawaki changed the topic and said.
"Anyone is fine!"
Duy said excitedly, "Being able to enter the fourth round ans my youth already has no regrets!"
Nawaki was imdiately speechless.
No wonder the other genin were unwilling to team up with him. It was impossible to have a proper conversation like this.
If he could choose, he would choose to et Natsuki last.
At that ti, they would et at the peak, decide first place, and it would beco a fine story.
The break soon ended, and Gaku walked back into the field.
Everyone subconsciously looked at him.
"First match of the fourth round, Minato versus Duy!"
Gaku announced loudly.
"Then doesn't that an my opponent is Natsuki?"
Nawaki imdiately felt regretful.
It looked like he and Natsuki were destined to be unable to et in the final.
Minato felt slightly relieved.
Although in his view, it was the sa no matter who his opponent was, Natsuki's strength was ultimately above his. If he t him, there was a high chance he would not be able to enter the final.
The current result could be considered the best outco.
He would defeat Duy and enter the final, then decide first place with Natsuki.
Although Minato knew he was not as strong as Natsuki, he had also improved quite a bit during this period. He could use this chance to see the gap between them.
Duy was very simple, simply excited.
Entering the Chunin Exam for the first ti and eting so many geniuses was double happiness for him.
The two of them entered the field.
Minato looked at Duy and began thinking of a strategy.
Without a doubt, he was a pure taijutsu ninja.
Aside from taijutsu, he had not used any ninjutsu.
Minato thought of Nonō, whom he had fought earlier.
To be honest, Nonō had given him even greater pressure.
After all, monstrous strength plus Rasengan could deliver a fatal blow to him.
"Konoha Whirlwind!"
As soon as the battle began, Duy shouted excitedly.
What followed was a spinning kick aid at Minato.
When Minato heard him shout Konoha Whirlwind, he had already guessed what he was about to do.
He retreated and easily avoided Konoha Whirlwind.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!
Minato ford hand seals calmly.
A violent gale blew toward Duy.
Although Duy dodged, the gale covered too wide an area, so he was still affected.
His body was blown back several steps.
But he did not care at all and shouted, "Konoha Rising Stone!"
Duy stomped down fiercely, and his body flew into midair.
Aiming at Minato's head, he struck down with his elbow.
The great force, combined with the impact of falling from above, made this blow appear heavy and powerful.
Minato naturally was unwilling to take it head-on.
After all, he was not a power-type ninja.
Although Duy was very fast, Minato still reacted. He rolled across the ground, causing the attack to miss.
He quickly got up and ford hand seals.
Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere!
Both were B-rank Wind Release ninjutsu. Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere was a series of wind bullets, while Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere was a single giant wind bullet.
A visible round gale erupted in an instant.
"Konoha Strong Whirlwind!"
Duy twisted his body and kicked out.
But in the next second, his entire body was sent flying.
He crashed heavily onto the ground, and the ground cracked.
His right leg, which he had kicked out with, was already dripping with blood.
"The gap between him and Minato is too great."
Seeing this, Hiruzen comnted.
"Duy is only an ordinary taijutsu ninja, after all."
Orochimaru said casually.
"But if he only has this level of strength, why would Natsuki recomnd him?"
Tsunade noticed the problem.
"Being able to reach the fourth round already proves that his strength is decent."
Hiruzen was stunned for a mont, then said, "It's only reasonable that Natsuki recomnded him."
"I understand Natsuki."
Tsunade shook her head and said.
Orochimaru subconsciously glanced at her.
He rarely heard words like that from Tsunade's mouth.
"Then let's see whether Duy can still surprise us."
Hiruzen said with a cheerful smile.
He felt that Tsunade had misjudged him.
If Duy truly had such great strength, how could he still be a genin after nearly ten years since graduation?
And throughout all that ti, he had never displayed anything extraordinary.
After all, as Hokage, if a genius or strong person appeared in the village, he would be able to learn about it imdiately.
"Mi. Minato, you really are too strong!"
Duy struggled to his feet.
Although he was injured, his face was still filled with excitent.
Seeing this, Minato was sowhat puzzled.
Was he still not giving up?
"This is youth!"
The expression on Duy's face suddenly changed as he shouted, "Eight Inner Gates! Gate of Opening, open! Gate of Healing, open! Gate of Life, open!"
In an instant, with him at the center, a powerful surge of chakra shot into the sky.
His expression was twisted and fierce, and green chakra covered him like a cloak, making his aura look imposing.
"What happened?"
Minato's pupils could not help trembling.
How had he suddenly beco so terrifying in the blink of an eye, as if he had been injected with a stimulant?
"Konoha Whirlwind!"
Duy's body disappeared from where he stood.
Minato only vaguely caught a trace of an afterimage.
At the critical mont, his reaction speed played its role.
He subconsciously raised both arms and blocked in front of himself.
With a cracking sound, he felt as if he had been hit by a truck, and his body flew backward uncontrollably.
The terrifying force caused his feet to leave deep marks on the ground.
"What is going on?"
Nawaki jumped up at once.
"How did Duy suddenly beco so strong?"
Kushina asked blankly.
Nonō, Suzaku, Kae, and the others were also shocked and confused.
"Eight Inner Gates? How is this possible?"
Hiruzen's body trembled, and his entire body froze.
"I didn't expect soone to actually learn the S-rank forbidden technique, the Eight Inner Gates."
Orochimaru slowly said.
"It really is unbelievable."
Tsunade let out a breath and said, "I heard that when all Eight Gates are opened, the user's strength will be no less than the Five Kage."
"But the training conditions are far too harsh."
Hiruzen said, "Aside from talent, it also requires incomparable perseverance. I originally thought no one would be able to learn it."
"I wonder how many gates he can open."
Tsunade looked at Duy curiously.
After opening three gates, he had completely gained the upper hand.
Minato was not specialized in taijutsu to begin with.
But Duy's current speed was too fast, giving him no ti to form hand seals.
Rasengan!
After being forced back again, Minato could only try to launch his final counterattack.
"Gate of Pain, open!"
Duy sensed the danger and opened another gate.
Green chakra surged out, and invisible waves of air spread outward in circles.
Duy kicked out directly.
Duy kicked out directly.
The kick wrapped in green chakra shattered the Rasengan, then sent Minato flying.
Minato was thrown high into the air, then fell heavily to the ground.
After sending up a cloud of dust, he struggled a few tis, but in the end, he still lay on the ground.
"I must be under a genjutsu!"
Nawaki said, dumbfounded.
Kushina and the others did not know what to say.
Was this still the taijutsu ninja they rembered?
(To be continued.)
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