The next match was Tenten against Temari.
Fairly speaking, Tenten was calm, experienced, and most importantly, she possessed the heart of a strong person. Compared to Sakura, who would cower and squat with her head in her arms at every turn in the original timeline, Tenten was considered a strong Female Ninja.
As soon as Gekkō Hayate, the referee, shouted "Start!"
Tenten launched a fierce offensive.
Shuriken, Kunai, senbon, sickles, and chain-flails were summoned from scrolls. Then, using arm swings and waist twists, she threw them out. Within a five-meter radius centered on Temari, numerous Ninja tools were thrown, creating a magnificent rain-like spectacle.
The Third Hokage had an A-rank Ninjutsu for area-of-effect attacks called Shadow Clone Shuriken Technique. This technique required eight hand signs, after which a giant Shuriken imbued with the Shadow Clone Technique would be thrown. The giant Shuriken would then transform into tens of thousands of Shuriken during its flight, launching a torrent of attacks on the enemy.
The Third Hokage had taught his Shuriken technique to many people, including Kosuke, the Fourth Hokage, Orochimaru, and Konohamaru. Its advantages were saving money, saving money, and saving money!
Tenten didn't need to learn the Shadow Clone Shuriken Technique; such an A-rank Ninjutsu was too difficult for her. Her Chakra was insufficient, and her spirit and hand signs were also lacking, but she had money!
Shadow Clone for Shuriken? Just throw money at it!
Aside from being a bit expensive, her Twin Dragons could achieve an effect equivalent to the Shadow Clone Shuriken Technique.
Tenten started with a fierce assault, and Temari defended flawlessly with her Ninja fan. Ino glanced at Hyuga Neji nearby. The Hyuga Clan's genius had a complex expression. From a bystander's perspective, Ino guessed he was probably thinking, "Rich woman, I don't want to work hard anymore."
Ino and Tenten had a good relationship. She saw that Tenten's prolonged attack was not breaking through, and her stamina, Chakra, and throwing speed were rapidly decreasing. Temari was currently charging up a big move, so Ino wanted to help.
Her mind whirred, and she chatted casually with Shikamaru next to her.
"Sigh, who do you think will win?"
Shikamaru's strength might not be exceptional, but after spending so much time with young miss Ino, his discerning eye had developed.
He didn't think too deeply and lazily said, "Tenten's attack can't last. If you ask me, the Da Li Shi from Hidden Sand Village will win."
As soon as he uttered the name "Da Li Shi," he knew he had messed up.
These past two days, Ino had been rambling about the Hidden Sand Village's three-person team. This Da Li Shi, that panda-eyed one, just like Sasuke and Tenten called Naruto a dead last. At this age, giving each other nicknames and using them was a common occurrence. Shikamaru didn't think there was any problem, it had become second nature. So, when his mouth slipped, he just blurted it out.
"Ahhh!" Temari was furious. She exerted force with both arms and fanned Tenten seven or eight meters away with a single swing. She did not continue her attack but instead glared fiercely in the direction of Shikamaru and Ino like a mother wolf. Fudō, the master of passing the buck, subtly pointed to the side, meaning, "I didn't call that nickname; it was this rich young master beside me who said it. If you have the guts, go find him." Shikamaru's expression was panicked, and his hands gripping the railing trembled slightly.
Temari gritted her teeth in anger, her face pale. Da Li Shi? Is that a word used to describe a woman? If I can't get married in the future, will you take responsibility?
She even forgot about her opponent, Tenten, and stared intently at Shikamaru, looking as if she was ready to charge over and fight to the death right then.
Kankuro on the other side of the stands was almost going crazy. His younger brother was unreliable, and now his older sister was also unreliable. He was having such a hard time!
Seeing that Temari's anger could no longer be suppressed, he quickly signaled: "Shhh! Shhh—shhh!"
When Temari looked back, he shook his head vigorously, meaning, "Don't be impulsive. We are indeed planning to destroy Konoha, but that's a month from now! If you suddenly erupt now, our army hasn't even left home yet." Not only did he shake his own head, but he also released his puppets and controlled them to shake their heads as well, shaking them so hard that their puppet necks almost broke. Only then did he temporarily suppress Temari's anger.
Tenten regrouped and fought Temari for over thirty more rounds, but ultimately she was no match for the Hidden Sand Village's eldest princess. There was nothing she could do; Temari's Wind Release was simply too much of a counter to her, plus Temari's strength was indeed great.
"Go rest, go rest, don't be angry, please don't be angry!" Kankuro soothed his older sister. If it were Temari's usual temper, she would have already been wildly slashing in all directions with her Ninja fan. But now, to refute Shikamaru's slander of "Da Li Shi," she forcibly suppressed her temper, pretending to be a gentle young girl who couldn't even twist open a bottle cap. She was enduring it with great difficulty.
Shikamaru covered his head, feeling incredibly annoyed. Ino, on the other hand, had successfully passed the blame and was quite pleased.
The next match was Shikamaru against Kin, and Shikamaru won easily.
Then it was Naruto against Choji.
Choji tried very hard. Besides his original Human Bullet Tank, he had also mastered some Partial Expansion Jutsu. He expanded his right hand to grab Naruto and slammed him onto the ground, hitting him more than ten times consecutively. Unfortunately, he was ultimately no match for Naruto, that cheat. Naruto won this match.
The eighth match was Ino against Hyuga Neji.
"Everyone, cheer for me!" Compared to the cold-faced Neji, Ino was very popular. Waving to her companions, she was the first to enter the arena.
The two stood five meters apart.
Two geniuses who graduated from the Konoha Ninja Academy looked at each other at this moment, both seeing the fighting spirit in the other's eyes.
"I heard your Ninjutsu is very strong, but you're not good at close combat. Do you need to create more distance?" Hyuga Neji said in a deep voice.
"Joke. You are a genius, I admit that, but you won't win against me." Ino didn't believe that the current Hyuga Neji could cause her much trouble, and her tone was very confident.
Gekkō Hayate, the referee, saw that they were both ready, raised his right hand, and then brought it down heavily: "Start!"
Hyuga Neji's speed was very fast. With a shift of his feet, his left hand forward and right hand back, his body moved like a swimming dragon, starting with the Hyuga Clan's secret technique, Gentle Fist. Eight Trigrams Palm.
He stepped on the Eight Trigrams, his figure elusive. The five-meter distance was covered in an instant, and his left palm shot out, cutting towards Ino's right ribs.
This method of dueling with both parties standing still was very unfair to Ino. If the distance were thirty meters, she could easily defeat Hyuga Neji, but five meters was more troublesome.
Her speed was no slower than Neji's, but there was a clear difference in Taijutsu and strength. At this moment, she retreated quickly, and while in mid-air, with no time to form hand signs, she threw three Kunai flying in a triangular formation.
Neji raised his elbow and palm, effortlessly batting away the Kunai. He dashed forward two steps, then his arm vibrated, his right palm upright, striking directly at the center!
Ino pushed off the ground with her foot, creating distance again. She gripped her Kunai in a reverse grip and lunged to stab Neji's palm.
Neji's arm instantly became like a flexible snake, curving in an arc to grab her wrist. Ino, rumored to be weak in Taijutsu, was much more agile than Neji had anticipated. Using her right leg for support, she fiercely kicked Neji's ribs.
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