"Damn it!"
The surrounding clamor sent Sasuke's blood boiling. Gritting his teeth, he tried to stand and fight again, heedless of his condition. The Cursed Seal on his shoulder began to spread under his surging emotions, faintly threatening to break its seal.
Kakashi pressed a hand on Sasuke's shoulder, shaking his head.
Sasuke glared. "Kakashi!"
Kakashi silently shook his head again.
In Sasuke, Kakashi saw echoes of his younger self. At eleven or twelve, hailed as a genius, he too had been reckless in pursuit of victory.
The creation of Chidori was a reflection of that mindset.
His sensei, the Fourth Hokage, had seen the risks of using Chidori without a dojutsu Bloodline Limit to support it. Yet Kakashi hadn't cared, using it without hesitation against enemies.
As his experience grew, Kakashi matured, shifting from reckless aggression to a more cautious approach.
This was why his win rate later became so high. Even against Kage-level opponents, he could use various tactics to hold them off, avoiding quick defeats.
But there were always exceptions!
When an enemy's ability far exceeded expectations, instant defeat was inevitable, even for someone as seasoned as Kakashi.
In the original timeline, Kakashi faced Itachi upon his return and was instantly defeated by Itachi's Mangekyo dojutsu, Tsukuyomi.
The current situation was no different.
The Grass shinobi's taijutsu was far beyond Sasuke's expectations. Caught off guard, his instant defeat was hardly surprising.
Shikamaru's face darkened as he thought, She wasn't even using her full strength against us! Damn it, I fell for such a simple trick!
He had sent Kiba, Shino, and the others to test her strength, hoping Sasuke could observe and prepare. But now he realized she'd used his strategy against him, leading to Sasuke's crushing loss!
…
Atop the hospital roof.
Shizune, rushing back with Yakumo, heard the clamor below.
"What's happening down there?"
Yakumo peered down, puzzled, seeing only one Grass shinobi left in the field while Sasuke lay to the side, surrounded by a crowd.
Shizune was equally shocked. "Sasuke lost that fast?"
Tsunade said grimly, "More accurately, he didn't even block a single hit!"
"How is that possible?!"
Yakumo and Shizune exclaimed in unison.
"That's the reality. That's the shinobi world!" Tsunade turned to Yakumo. "Now, it's up to you!"
Yakumo's expression hardened as she looked at Chino in the field.
Tsunade continued, "Her taijutsu is exceptional—likely enhanced by some secret technique, and she probably has a Bloodline Limit!"
Yakumo observed carefully, listening intently.
Tsunade added, "Ninja with strong chakra usually aren't weak in ninjutsu, so don't underestimate her ninjutsu either!"
Shizune chimed in, "That's all the intel we have. Yakumo, be careful out there!"
"Mm!"
Yakumo nodded lightly.
Tsunade instructed, "Don't fight at the hospital entrance. Take it to the Forest of Death—it'll give you an advantage with your Wood Release!"
"Understood!"
With that, Yakumo leaped from the rooftop.
Whoosh.
Landing in the field, Yakumo rose slowly, locking eyes with Chino. "Your next opponent is me!"
"It's the Kurama clan's heiress!"
"Yakumo Kurama's finally here!"
"Just one Grass shinobi has pushed Hidden Leaf this far!"
As Yakumo appeared, the crowd's noise quieted, their chatter dropping to whispers.
Chino was instantly drawn to the Ketsuryugan in Yakumo's eyes.
Since the Warring States era, when the Blood Pool clan was exiled to Hell Valley by the Uchiha, the Ketsuryugan had vanished from the shinobi world.
Thus, both the Koryugan and Ketsuryugan were entirely new dojutsu Bloodline Limits in Hidden Leaf.
Most couldn't tell that Yakumo's Koryugan had transformed into Ketsuryugan—not even Tsunade noticed.
But to Chino, a remnant of the Blood Pool clan, one glance was enough to recognize the Ketsuryugan in Yakumo's eyes!
Why does she have our clan's Ketsuryugan?
The question gnawed at Chino's mind.
Yakumo spoke up. "This is a hospital. Fighting here would disturb the patients. Let's take this somewhere else!"
Without giving Chino a chance to question her, Yakumo flashed away, speeding toward the Forest of Death.
Chino, eager to understand why Yakumo had the Ketsuryugan, didn't hesitate. Whoosh. She chased after her.
Ryuzetsu, seeing this, had no choice but to follow.
She sensed things were spiraling, but with the Leader's orders, she had to press on regardless.
Kurotsuchi moved silently, following them.
Gaara and his group exchanged glances and trailed behind.
The shinobi from other villages called out to each other, rushing after them in a swarm.
Even Ringo Ameyuri, mid-infusion in the hospital, yanked out her IV and leaped from the window, joining the crowd heading to the Forest of Death.
Just like that, as Yakumo and Chino left, the massive crowd in front of the hospital dispersed.
…
In the Hokage's Office.
The Third Hokage, Koharu Utatane, and Mito Menma were discussing the Chunin Exam's start date when an Anbu delivered news of the Grass shinobi blocking the hospital entrance.
Bad news followed one after another.
When word came that Sasuke had been instantly defeated, the Third could no longer sit still. He stood and looked out the window. "What's going on with Hidden Grass? What are they trying to do?"
Koharu frowned as well.
Hidden Grass's actions were blatantly provocative.
Mito Menma said, "The priority now is dealing with this challenge. Sasuke's been defeated, Neji's injured, Kimimaro's ill—Hidden Leaf's only remaining prodigies are Yakumo and Shinji!"
The Third replied, "Tsunade's at the hospital. If I'm not mistaken, Yakumo's probably already stepped in!"
Wood Release and the Mangekyo Sharingan were trump cards that guaranteed a shinobi's baseline strength.
With Wood Release, Yakumo was practically unbeatable. Sasuke, if not for his depleted dojutsu, would've been in a similar position!
Koharu suddenly asked, "What if… Yakumo loses too?"