"I can kill her myself!"
Gaara sneered coldly at the corner of his mouth, quickly raised his palm, and a giant sand claw drilled out of the sand sphere, grabbing fiercely towards Karin!
"Vajra Seal!"
Vajra Lock Chains emerged from Karin's back, directly binding the sand claw, yet another sand claw suddenly drilled out, aiming at Karin's body!
"It's too late..."
Seeing the giant sand claw reaching towards her, Karin immediately realized it was a trap set by Gaara!
Gaara used one sand claw to attract Karin's Vajra Seal and bind the claw unable to move, while unscrupulously using another sand claw to grab Karin!
In the audience stands.
Akihara Kagura watched as the fiery battle unfolded in the exam hall.
Kakashi Hatake arrived late with Uchiha Sasuke, but it was too late; the announcement of Uchiha Sasuke's elimination had already been made.
"Can't Sasuke be given another chance?"
Kakashi Hatake glanced at Akihara Kagura, hoping this old friend might help, though he knew it was unlikely.
"It's too late."
Akihara Kagura shook his head, eyes still tightly fixed on the field, casually asking, "Who do you think will win this battle?"
"..."
Kakashi Hatake helplessly shook his head, looking towards the battle: "If Karin doesn't have other means, her chances of winning are slim. That young fellow from the Hidden Sand Village has strength far beyond many Genin, even more exceptional than some Jonin. His yellow sand is quite bizarre..."
"Well, let's watch then..."
Akihara Kagura leaned against the railing, watching the battle with great interest, wondering whether Gaara's mother's yellow sand defense was stronger, or his own Curse Mark was.
The next moment!
The situation inside the arena abruptly reversed!
Karin raised her arm, and the black Curse Mark flowed like water, revealing a pattern on her arm. Her fist smashed the incoming sand claw!
"Wait a minute..."
Kakashi Hatake suddenly noticed the Curse Mark on Karin's body and turned to Akihara Kagura: "The Curse Mark on Karin's arm, how does it compare to the one on Sasuke..."
"It's different."
Akihara Kagura interrupted Kakashi Hatake, glanced at Uchiha Sasuke, and continued: "The Curse Mark on Sasuke might also be Natural Energy. I can sense that Natural Energy, but it hasn't been tamed. The Curse Mark on Karin is my doing because I can use Sage Mode, those Curse Marks are tamed Natural Energy..."
"Can you help remove Sasuke's Curse Mark?"
Kakashi Hatake looked at Akihara Kagura, hoping his friend could help.
"Are you sure?"
Akihara Kagura proposed an intriguing analogy: "The Curse Mark might have flaws, but it can provide him with the power of revenge; just like your Sharingan depletes your Chakra, yet offers very useful assistance..."
"But..."
"How does it provide me with the power of revenge?"
Uchiha Sasuke directly interrupted Kakashi Hatake, speaking solemnly: "If I can harness the power of the Curse Mark, can I seek revenge against Uchiha Itachi?"
"There's a good chance."
Akihara Kagura neither affirmed nor denied, just looked towards the battlefield again: "Perhaps you can first observe the power of the Curse Mark before making a decision..."
The battle in the arena escalated again!
Karin and Gaara's fight grew more intense!
Yellow sand flew wildly in the arena, with sand claws emerging now and then from the sand. Gaara even transformed the entire field into yellow sand!
The ground was clearly no longer safe!
Karin raised her arm again, the Curse Mark on her arm flowed and gathered in her body like a stream, unfolding a pair of dark yet crystalline butterfly wings behind her—this was her Curse Mark's second form!
"Interesting power..."
Fourth Kazekage Rasa, sitting in the stands, couldn't help but praise, judging the Curse Mark Karin used as excellent.
At the very least...
Enough to easily rival the Curse Seal of Heaven!
"Lord Rasa's son is also quite outstanding..."
Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke with a smile, complimenting Gaara.
Among the high platform's rulers from the Great Country Ninja Village, perhaps only the elder from The Hidden Mist Village, Yuan Shi, was somewhat awkward, as only Genin from the Hidden Sand Village and Konoha remained in the arena.
However, Elder Yuan Shi from The Hidden Mist Village seemed unconcerned about his village's ninja performance, fingers quietly tapping on the back of his hand, as if awaiting a signal.
Sarutobi Hiruzen thought the Hidden Mist elder was unhappy about their village's results, and, feeling awkward to continue bragging, decided to offer a consolation prize: "Lord Yuan Shi, actually, Chojuro from your village performed quite well, his Water Release skills were sufficient to be promoted to Chunin..."
"Is his Water Release impressive?"
Yuan Shi lifted his eyes slightly, seemingly indifferent to everything, slowly turning his gaze back to Sarutobi Hiruzen: "How does his Water Release compare to our teacher's?"