"A fight again?" Minato Namikaze looked at the scene on the monitor screen in surprise, setting down the ramen he had bought outside.
"Isn't this too much, Jiraiya-sensei? Should we intervene?" Minato Namikaze frowned.
Such large-scale alliances had not occurred in the past.
Was this because the ninja world was recently unstable?
"It looks like they've formed an alliance." Jiraiya said gravely.
To ordinary people who didn't understand the ninja world, the "Chunin Exams" appeared to be merely about "deepening mutual friendly relations" and "improving ninja capability."
Any ninja with a bit of experience knew that this was actually a microcosm of the war between nations.
If one looked at past history, one would find that today's allies were all formerly competing neighbors.
The Chunin Exams were created to avoid unnecessary loss of fighting strength and mutually destructive outcomes.
Therefore, participating in the Chunin Exams was not the only way to become a Chunin.
Or rather, the ninjas who participated in the Chunin Exams were either aiming to become a Chunin faster or to display their talents to gain the village's attention.
The other path was through daily observation and the number of missions executed.
These methods assessed a ninja's intelligence gathering, willpower, survival ability, and individual combat strength, among other factors.
It just took more time.
"The strength of a nation is the strength of its village; the strength of a village is the strength of its ninjas, and the strength of a ninja... can only be unleashed in combat." Jiraiya said.
These were words that Hiruzen had once told him.
Flowers grown inside a shelter cannot withstand the wind and rain.
"Is that so." Minato Namikaze nodded as if he understood something.
He turned back to watch everything unfolding on the screen.
Unfortunately, due to the great distance, the monitor was heavily zoomed in, making the image blurry and inaudible.
***
"Don't be afraid, I'm here." Kiyoshi comforted Kurenai.
He motioned for her to move behind him.
"Okay." Kurenai nodded, but still pulled a kunai from her ninja pouch, preparing herself for a fight.
This was only a minor situation.
The feedback from the Sharingan's Dōjutsu power was still continuously extending from his eyes into all his limbs and bones.
Kiyoshi's control over his chakra was increasing, quietly pushing the power of the Seal higher.
The resulting effect was Kiyoshi gaining a more effortless command over the newly learned Lightning Release: Flowing Flash.
Electrical currents diffused and spread around his internal organs.
The sound was like a roaring thunder!
"Give up the resistance." Shōshi Kaguya said confidently.
Kiyoshi glanced around; the sheer number of people had completely surrounded them.
"This is a good time to test the [Merciless Iron Hand] Trait." Kiyoshi thought to himself.
When he defeated Pakura, he had received the [Merciless Fire Extinguisher (White)] Trait.
It displayed Evolution Path One below it.
This likely meant that completing the Merciless Fire Extinguisher Trait accounted for most of the overall progress, and the remaining two conditions would be easy to achieve.
From the name, this Trait was related to hands.
Thinking this, Kiyoshi did not take the sealing scroll from his waist to summon his ninja sword.
Instead, he looked at the opposition, a look of eagerness appearing in his eyes.
"We... can give you the scrolls." A low voice sounded behind Kiyoshi.
Kiyoshi turned around. The speaker was Homura Hyūga.
His hands trembled slightly, his fingers gripping the kunai tightly, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
The aura of dozens of ninjas around them oppressed him, making him tense like a bowstring ready to snap at any moment.
"First, reveal your Hyūga clan's Caged Bird Seal." A ninja behind Shōshi Kaguya said coldly.
The Branch Family members of the Hyūga clan had a curse mark engraved on their foreheads. Once they died or their eyes were seized, the seal would instantly destroy their eyeballs and brain, making them completely useless to others.
This was the fundamental reason why the Hyūga clan's Byakugan had never been leaked.
Hearing this, Homura Hyūga's expression slightly eased. Since they were all Branch Family members, showing the seal to the other party wouldn't cause any major issues.
If he hesitated, he might be suspected of being a Main Family member, which would be a sure path to death.
Homura Hyūga quickly revealed his Caged Bird Seal, indicating he was from the Branch Family.
Tetsu Hyūga also began to undo his headscarf. Seeing Natsu Hyūga's continuous hesitation, he quickly urged:
"Natsu, we're from the Branch Family."
Compared to this slight shame, staying alive was better.
Natsu Hyūga remained silent.
The experience of the previous night still lingered in her mind. That sense of powerlessness from being toyed with by Kiyoshi made her instinctively resist.
"Hurry up." The ninja beside Shōshi Kaguya urged impatiently, his eyes filled with menace.
Natsu Hyūga's lips trembled slightly, but she was slow to act.
A ninja with sharp eyes spoke tentatively:
"What's wrong? Are you Main Family?"
The atmosphere instantly froze. The gaze of several ninjas focused on Natsu Hyūga, their eyes gleaming with danger.
Tetsu Hyūga's face drastically changed. He hurriedly stepped in front of Natsu Hyūga, saying anxiously:
"No! We are all from the Branch Family!"
He took a deep breath, quickly adopting an ingratiating smile, his gaze sweeping across the people opposite:
"Once you confirm we are Branch Family, you'll let us go, right?"
Mei Terumī nodded slightly, her red lips curling upwards, seductive in her demeanor:
"Of course, we won't waste time on insignificant Branch Family members."
Her gaze slowly fell upon Kiyoshi.
The Sharingan was also one of her targets.
The reason for organizing so many people was solely for the Bloodlines.
The goals of the others were similar: to get their hands on a Bloodline while mixing in, then compete with others for final ownership.
No one was confident of defeating the Uchiha clan, who were famous throughout the ninja world, so forming a temporary alliance was the best option.
Seeing this, Tetsu Hyūga persuaded without hesitation:
"Natsu, it's no big deal! As long as we endure the second stage, half of the Chunin Exams will be complete. This is for the Hyūga clan…"
But Natsu Hyūga's eyes remained lowered.
"This is too much." Kurenai frowned, speaking up.
This was clearly an attempt to target the Hyūga clan's Byakugan!
Before she could finish her sentence, Kiyoshi suddenly raised his hand and pressed it onto her shoulder.
"Don't rush." His voice was calm and steady.
Suddenly, several ninjas charged toward Natsu Hyūga.
Kiyoshi's index and middle fingers slightly drew together, and lightning flashed!
*Crack!*
Kiyoshi vanished from his spot.
His speed surged at that moment.
Lightning Release: Flowing Flash coiled around Kiyoshi's fingers.
He struck the charging ninja with his palm, instantly penetrating the opponent's body.
"You have obtained the Trait: [Merciless Iron Hand (White)]."
[Trait: Merciless Iron Hand (White).]
[Requirement Achieved: Defeat ten ninjas with your palm.]
[Progress: 10%.]
[Effect: The circulatory system in your palm will become more resilient, increasing its foundation by 5%.]
[Note: Can be further evolved later.]