"It's her!"
"Grass shinobi again!"
"Damn it, what are they doing at the hospital?"
The moment they spotted Ryuzetsu and Chino, the Hidden Leaf group erupted in a mix of shock and anger!
Shion, unaware of the context, hurriedly asked, "What's going on?! Sasuke, were you defeated by them?"
Sasuke's face darkened as he shook his head.
Though it wasn't Ryuzetsu or Chino who had injured him, it was still a Grass shinobi, and seeing them now made his blood boil!
Sakura, piecing things together, whispered to Ino, "Could it be… they're the ones who beat you, Shikamaru, and Choji?"
Ino quickly protested, "I was just careless!"
"Okay, okay!" Sakura brushed it off casually, eyeing Ryuzetsu and Chino in the distance. "They look about our age—shorter than me, even—and they took down all three of you? That's unbelievable!"
Kiba, Hinata, and Shino, overhearing, turned to Shikamaru for details about the Grass shinobi.
Shikamaru stayed calm, his gaze locked on Chino. "They're strong—especially in taijutsu. Way stronger than me or Choji!"
Choji muttered, "We were careless last time!"
Shikamaru shook his head. "No, even if we weren't, in close-range taijutsu, we're probably no match for her!"
Hinata grew nervous. "What do we do? It looks like they're waiting for us!"
Sakura gasped. "Are they seriously here at the hospital to challenge us? That's… that's bold!"
The Hidden Leaf group's expressions shifted.
Even the usually laid-back Shikamaru looked grim.
"Hmph!"
Sasuke let out a cold snort, ready to step forward.
Sakura grabbed him. "Sasuke, your injuries aren't fully healed!"
"Dealing with two Grass shinobi? A little injury won't stop me!"
Sasuke didn't budge.
If it had been Shoji Kozu, who'd injured him before, he might've hesitated. But against two random Grass shinobi? He refused to believe he couldn't handle them.
Just then, Shikamaru and Shino blocked Sasuke's path.
Sasuke snapped, "What are you doing?"
Shikamaru said, "You're the strongest among us right now. Even if we fight, you shouldn't go first! Let us test their strength instead!"
Shino nodded slightly. "Mm!"
Seeing Shikamaru's resolve, Sasuke relented. "Fine!"
The Hidden Leaf group then approached Ryuzetsu and Chino.
With all the recent sparring and challenges in the village, shinobi from various villages had been injured, making the hospital especially busy these days.
So, when a crowd of Hidden Leaf shinobi surged toward two Grass shinobi, everyone—medical ninja, injured shinobi from other villages, or bystanders—either stepped outside or leaned out of windows to watch.
Ringo Ameyuri, receiving treatment at the hospital, was alerted. From the third floor, she peered out the window, smirking. "Interesting!"
Below.
The Hidden Leaf group reached Ryuzetsu and Chino. Shikamaru stepped forward and demanded, "What exactly are you two doing here?"
Chino, unfazed by her previous victories, put her hands on her hips. "I'm here to challenge you!"
"Tch!"
Kiba spat in disdain.
The others glared angrily.
Shikamaru frowned. His worst fears were coming true, and now the question was who would step up to fight first.
As he hesitated, Kiba, eager to reclaim some pride, spoke up. "I'll take her on!"
Shikamaru looked concerned. "But your injuries?"
"No problem! Against a shrimp like her, I'm more than enough!" Kiba paused, then called out, "Akamaru, let's do this!"
The Hidden Leaf group stepped back, clearing a space for Kiba.
"Be careful!"
Ryuzetsu gave Chino a quick warning before retreating to the sidelines.
Knowing Chino had defeated Shikamaru, Choji, and Ino, Kiba didn't hold back. He immediately ordered Akamaru to use Beast Human Clone, then formed hand signs. "Fang Over Fang!"
In an instant, two identical Kibas transformed into whirlwinds, charging at Chino.
Whoosh.
Chino darted forward with a flash.
The anticipated clash didn't happen.
In a single exchange, Chino spotted the flaw in Fang Over Fang. Using her small frame, she slipped through the gaps, then swiftly turned and caught Kiba off-guard, ending the fight in an instant.
"How is that possible?!"
As Kiba and Akamaru were sent crashing, the Hidden Leaf group paled. Even Sasuke froze, instinctively activating his Sharingan.
Hinata and Sakura rushed to help Kiba up. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine!"
Kiba's face darkened as he shook his head, returning to the group with Hinata and Sakura's support.
Chino exchanged a glance with Ryuzetsu, encouraged by her nod. She turned to the Hidden Leaf group. "Who's next?"
"Damn it!"
Seeing her relentless attitude, Sasuke's temper flared.
But before he could act, Shino stepped forward. "Your opponent is me."
Buzz buzz buzz.
The moment he spoke, countless parasitic insects poured from Shino's sleeves, swirling around him like a black mist!
Shikamaru whispered, "Shino's insects are weak to large-scale attack ninjutsu but aren't fazed by regular taijutsu, so…"
Before he could finish, the fight took an unexpected turn.
Chino flashed forward again, using her extraordinary speed to charge Shino. Shino retreated, directing his insects to attack her from all sides.
But something bizarre happened. As the insects neared Chino, they seemed to freeze, as if intimidated, and hesitated to advance.
Chino slipped through the insect curtain and landed a single punch, sending Shino flying.
"What?!"
The Hidden Leaf group exchanged stunned looks.
Hinata hurriedly activated her Byakugan, then gasped. "Such… such powerful chakra!"
In her Byakugan's vision, Chino's chakra blazed like a flame, enveloping her entire body, making it nearly impossible to discern her chakra pathways.
As the fight continued, the crowd of onlookers grew, many pointing and whispering. Hidden Leaf shinobi, challenged at their own hospital's doorstep and losing two fights in a row? If word got out, it'd be a massive embarrassment.
"This is bad!"
Shikamaru felt cornered.
After Kiba and Shino's defeats, he realized their opponent was formidable. His, Choji's, and Ino's losses weren't unjustified.
Among the academy students, probably only Shinji, Yakumo, and a fully recovered Sasuke stood a real chance of winning.
Even Kimimaro and Neji might not be guaranteed a victory against her.