章 111: Chapter 111
The battle between Sasuke and Rock Lee did not last long. After all, Rock Lee's body had already reached its limit.
After an unknown number of punches, Rock Lee was knocked out by Sasuke's blow, falling to the ground, unconscious, his condition uncertain.
Gekko Hayate immediately stepped forward to check his condition. After confirming that Rock Lee was still breathing, he declared, "The winner of this match is Uchiha Sasuke!"
Might Guy had spent a year training his three disciples. Except for Tenten, both Neji and Rock Lee were among the strongest contenders in this exam. Yet, both were unlucky enough to be eliminated before reaching the final stages of the Chunin Exam.
On the other hand, many genin who weren't as strong had successfully advanced to the finals. Maybe Neji was right—some words about fate sound true.
A person's destiny seems determined from birth. Some, powerful and talented, may not always achieve the best results.
And then there are those who lack strength or skills but somehow manage to succeed. It feels as if life is rarely fair.
With only five slots left to advance to the finals, many genin were no longer willing to sit back. Yet, knowing that the defender would be eliminated if they lost, no defender had advanced thus far. So, many were more inclined to challenge.
Who would be the next defender?
After some quiet deliberation, Gekko Kazuki chose to step forward.
But once Kazuki took the stage, there were no challengers. Everyone knew the strength of Gekko Kazuki, anyone who challenged him was asking for certain defeat.
Then something rather amusing happened.
Gekko Hayate repeatedly asked if anyone wanted to challenge Kazuki, but no one did. Eventually, Gekko Hayate announced that Kazuki would advance directly without needing to fight—a rare occurrence in Chunin Exam history!
The leading Jounin from other ninja villages exchanged uneasy glances, memorizing Kazuki's face and name, planning to gather more intelligence on him upon their return.
Even Sarutobi Hiruzen allowed himself a small smile of satisfaction. This was what he had hoped for—to see Kazuki crush the competition with his genius, demonstrating the strength of Konoha to the other villages. Konoha's kindness should never be mistaken for weakness.
After Kazuki was promoted, Haruno Sakura decided to defend the ring next.
There were only four spots left in the finals, and she didn't want to miss her chance.
Seeing this, Yamanaka Ino also decided to step forward.
Sakura was a little surprised. "Ino, are you sure you want to challenge me? I know your abilities, and frankly, I don't think you stand a chance."
Ino brushed her light yellow hair behind her head and tied it with her headband. "Don't act so confident, Sakura. Just because you've improved doesn't mean you'll win. Don't underestimate my abilities!"
The Yamanaka Clan Mind Transfer Jutsu allowed Ino to control an opponent's body. The downside was that if the controlled body was attacked, the damage would also transfer to Ino. It was a powerful but risky jutsu.
"Sakura Haruno is the defender, and Ino Yamanaka is the challenger! Let the match begin!"
Ino, knowing her disadvantage, started by using smoke bombs to obscure her presence, followed by a shuriken attack hidden within the fog.
But these tactics were standard for genin. Sakura, who had trained with Kazuki, easily evaded the attacks.
"Ino, it's been so long since we graduated from the Ninja Academy. Why are you still using the same old tricks? You'll never become a Chunin like this."
"Stop acting high and mighty, Sakura! Just because you've learned a few tricks from Kazuki, doesn't mean you're invincible!"
Ino continued to use basic tactics from their Academy days, but Sakura, though not taking the fight seriously, was patient, giving Ino time to show what she had learned.
The two didn't have the same level of rivalry as in the original timeline. Thanks to Kazuki, their friendship had remained strong since childhood, which was why Ino had chosen Sakura as her opponent—sometimes the best battles are with those we care about.
As the smoke cleared, Ino's form was revealed, while Sakura remained unscathed.
"Do you have any more tricks up your sleeve? If not, I'm going to start taking this seriously," Sakura teased, a playful smile tugging at her lips.
"Don't think you're the only one who's grown stronger! Watch this—Mind Transfer Jutsu!"
Ino formed the seals and launched her jutsu, aiming at Sakura. But Sakura, already familiar with Ino's ability, swiftly moved out of range.
The Mind Transfer Jutsu was powerful in one-on-one combat, but its limitations were well-known—especially to someone as fast as Sakura.
With her training under Kazuki, Sakura's speed had significantly improved, leaving Ino struggling to keep up.
"Are you looking for me?" Sakura's voice came from behind, startling Ino so much that she immediately canceled her jutsu and jumped back, wide-eyed.
The gap in their strength was clear.
Realizing she had no chance, Ino sighed, a little smile on her face, and raised her hand in surrender. "I give up."
Ino had known from the beginning that her chances of winning were slim. If Sakura had been less cautious, she might've had an opportunity to land a hit. But Sakura had left no openings.
Of course, Ino could've kept fighting, hoping for an opening, but there was no point. She had done well to make it this far, but even if she advanced to the finals, she knew her current strength wasn't enough to be recognized as a Chunin.
It was better to lose to someone she cared about than to face meaningless defeat.
Looking at Sakura, Ino couldn't help but feel a tinge of envy. If she had trained with Kazuki, would she have become just as strong?
But life didn't give second chances. Ino had focused on her clan's techniques, and while she exceeded her father's expectations, there was always the question—could she have been even stronger if she had taken a different path?
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