The preliminary venue assessments were completely over. The list of sixteen outstanding individuals, who had emerged victorious from the four preliminary venues, was prominently displayed on the notice board.
The names Sora, Genma Shiranui, Asuma, and Ibiki Morino were clearly listed, representing the strongest combatants from the third preliminary venue.
Sora looked at the list, his gaze sweeping over the other unfamiliar names.
Those who had made it this far were undoubtedly the elite among this year's students. The finals tomorrow were destined to not be easy.
"Sora." Kurenai Yuhi jogged over, a trace of worry on her face. Even though she hadn't advanced, she had been following the matches closely. "Have you seen the list?"
"Yeah, just finished looking." Sora nodded.
"You need to be careful of one person," Kurenai lowered her voice, pointing to the first name from the fourth preliminary venue on the list. "Hikaru Hyuga, first place from the fourth venue. He... he's very strong, and he fights particularly brutally."
"Oh, Kurenai, how do you know this?" Sora wasn't particularly concerned about the mentioned Hikaru Hyuga, but he was a bit surprised how Kurenai had gotten this information.
After all, for almost the entire day today, he had been with Kurenai at the first preliminary venue, the two of them inseparable. He hadn't seen her ask anyone for news.
Kurenai Yuhi's cheeks flushed slightly as she whispered, "Asuma told me."
'Asuma, huh? That explains it.'
Seeing that Sora wasn't taking it seriously, Kurenai continued.
"Hikaru Hyuga is from the Hyuga branch family. He looks gentle and refined, speaks softly, but he fights extremely brutally."
"I heard his opponents were all beaten very badly. One even seemed to have his chakra pathways injured. He was still spitting blood when the medical team carried him away."
"Hikaru Hyuga?" Sora searched his memory for this name. There didn't seem to be such a character in the original story.
But that wasn't strange. The Hyuga branch family had a large population. It was normal for there to be a few powerful individuals not mentioned in the original story. Moreover, in the cruel ninja world, countless talents met premature ends.
Furthermore, the Hyuga branch family, burdened by the "Caged Bird" seal, had tragic fates. This kind of repression and despair could easily give rise to extreme personalities.
They either became extremely weak and submissive, or they became extremely cruel and vicious in the areas they could control, venting their inner pain or proving their worth by tormenting others.
This Hikaru Hyuga was clearly the latter.
"Yes." Kurenai nodded vigorously. "His Gentle Fist is very powerful, and he's also very fast. Many people were struck on their pressure points before they could even react. And he seems to particularly like attacking his opponent's chakra points, causing a lot of pain."
"I understand. Thank you for the information, Kurenai." Sora thanked her sincerely. This was indeed important information.
The Hyuga clan's Gentle Fist could be considered the bane of taijutsu, specifically damaging internal organs and chakra pathways. Even with Sora's robust physique, having key pressure points sealed would be troublesome.
However, Sora wasn't overly worried in his heart. His strength had already created a chasmic gap compared to the vast majority of his peers. What truly concerned him was how to win against these elite students while still concealing his full strength.
After all, battles between ninjas were fought on intelligence. Sora did not want to expose his entire arsenal in such a public setting.
...
Walking back, Sora mentally reviewed the day's events.
Actually, he had carefully calculated the incident of beating Uchiha Ryota.
First, he hadn't gone for the kill. It looked terrible, but in reality, they were all superficial injuries. For someone in the ninja profession, it was nothing worth mentioning.
Second, Sora was, after all, a child not yet seven years old.
Even if Uchiha Ryota's elders wanted to seek retribution for him, they would feel it beneath them to make a fuss over a little kid. Moreover, the current Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was not just for show. If things really escalated, the Uchiha would have to weigh the consequences carefully.
At most, the fiercely protective brother, Uchiha Takumi, might come looking for him. But the current Sora was no longer afraid of a mere chunin-level Uchiha Takumi.
Unless... Uchiha Takumi, in an emotional outburst, directly activated the Mangekyo, but that was basically impossible.
Furthermore, after this assessment ended, Sora would most likely be directly declared a graduate by Sarutobi Hiruzen and enter the Anbu.
Once in the Anbu, it wouldn't be so easy for the Uchiha and people like Danzo to touch him.
Of course, there was still some risk when leaving the village on missions, but that risk could only come from Danzo. The Uchiha clan, for all their faults, still had their own pride. They wouldn't do something as lowly as a sneak attack from behind.
Just like when they later planned to rebel against the village, all they could think about was a direct, head-on confrontation.
...
The next day, the Ninja Academy's largest central training ground, the Fifth Combat Arena.
The atmosphere here was far more solemn than at yesterday's preliminary venues.
The spectator stands were packed. Not only were there students and teachers from other grades, but also many Konoha ninja who had come after hearing the news.
Konoha flags bearing flame patterns were planted all around the arena, fluttering in the gentle breeze.
On the highest main viewing platform, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, wearing his Hokage robe and hat, looked down with a smile at the assembled sixteen finalists.
To his sides and behind him sat several high-level Konoha advisors and the clan heads or representatives of various major families.
Remarkably, the legendary Sannin were all present.
Jiraiya sat not far from Sarutobi Hiruzen, acting very casually, his eyes wandering everywhere, obviously checking out women.
Standing next to Jiraiya, Tsunade wore an expression of utter disdain, a vein visibly throbbing on her temple, clearly suppressing the urge to punch him.
As for Orochimaru, he sat in a slightly more distant spot, his figure partially shrouded in shadow. His serpentine eyes held a chilling gleam as they continuously scanned the people below, including Sora.
Standing in the contestant preparation area, Sora could clearly feel the gazes from the important figures on the viewing platform. Especially the scrutiny from Sarutobi Hiruzen and Orochimaru made him feel as if he were being scanned by X-rays.
'The Sannin are all here. They should all be at elite jonin level now, right?' Sora thought to himself.
Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru made their names during the Second Shinobi World War. It was also the Second Shinobi World War that completely altered their paths.
On the battlefield, Orochimaru witnessed too much life and death, deeply feeling the fragility and brevity of life. From then on, he plunged headfirst into forbidden technique research, single-mindedly pursuing immortality.
Therefore, in Konoha, besides Danzo, Orochimaru posed the greatest threat to Sora.
Sora knew very well that once his Azure Dragon Fruit abilities were exposed, regardless of whether Orochimaru considered them a special Kekkei Genkai or an unknown ability, he would inevitably end up as a lab rat on the other's operating table.
So now, with such a vast disparity in strength between them, Sora's choice was clear: avoid meeting him at all costs, the farther away the better.
As for Tsunade, because her younger brother Nawaki and later her lover Dan both died tragically in the war, unable to bear the blow of losing loved ones one after another, she developed severe hemophobia. Even the sight of blood would cause her whole body to tremble.
...
On the highest viewing platform.
"That's Sora?" Tsunade glanced at Sora and said to Sarutobi Hiruzen. "I heard his taijutsu is good, and he knows Fire Release?"
"He's a promising seedling. His chakra reserves are just a bit low," Sarutobi Hiruzen said, taking a puff from his pipe.
Jiraiya stroked his chin, looking towards Orochimaru in the shadows with a laugh. "Anyone who can make an Uchiha suffer such a big loss must have something. I bet he can make the top three."
Hearing this from a distance, Orochimaru licked his lips but did not reply, which was quite fitting for his title of "Snake Sannin."
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