The entire monitoring room fell silent.
Everyone stared at the screen.
Perhaps...
The age of ninja really was nearing its end.
Kaito landed steadily on the ground while carrying Ebisu.
He glanced at the deep hole the laser had carved straight through the tree trunk and couldn't help clicking his tongue.
"Looks like they've improved Dragon Vein technology again."
"The old version was basically just a small fireball..."
"Now it's practically a laser weapon."
Meanwhile...
Sara was still looking at the pistol in confusion.
"...I missed again?"
She frowned.
"Impossible."
"My accuracy during training is almost perfect."
Guren covered her face with one hand.
"That's because you're practicing against stationary targets..."
"Master is another story entirely..."
Kaito gently set Ebisu down behind a large tree.
"Stay here."
"Leave the rest to me."
"B-But..."
Ebisu clenched his fists.
"...I don't want to drag everyone down."
Kaito smiled.
"Then become stronger."
"There's no shortcut."
Those simple words left Ebisu stunned.
He silently nodded.
"...Understood."
At the same time...
Natsu had already escaped from Kushina's pursuit thanks to Kaito's Shadow Clone.
However...
She was breathing heavily.
The sealing chains had consumed a great deal of her chakra.
"Kaito..."
"I'm sorry..."
"I couldn't do anything."
The clone merely smiled.
"You've already done enough."
"What matters now..."
"...is surviving."
As soon as he finished speaking—
Poof!
The Shadow Clone disappeared into smoke.
Natsu blinked.
"...A clone?"
Only then did she realize...
The one who had rescued her wasn't even Kaito's real body.
Back on the battlefield...
Kushina finally arrived.
She frowned after seeing only Kaito standing there.
"You let them escape."
Kaito shrugged.
"I don't like picking on children."
Kushina snorted.
"And yet..."
"You're still participating in the Chunin Exams."
"Aren't you doing exactly that?"
"...Fair point."
Kaito admitted it without any embarrassment.
Sara and Guren caught up as well.
The three girls surrounded him from different directions.
One Genin.
Against three elite opponents.
Inside the monitoring room...
Many Jonin couldn't help shaking their heads.
"No matter how strong Kaito is..."
"Three against one is still too much."
"I agree."
"Especially Kushina."
"Those sealing chains are troublesome."
Only Karura remained completely relaxed.
She quietly crossed her arms.
"Lord Kaito..."
"Let's see how much you've improved."
Kaito slowly rolled his shoulders.
"...Well."
"Looks like I can't keep pretending anymore."
The moment those words left his mouth—
A terrifying amount of chakra erupted from his body.
BOOM!!
Leaves exploded into the air.
The surrounding trees shook violently.
Everyone present widened their eyes.
"...What?!"
"That's..."
"...Genin chakra?"
Even Kushina's expression changed.
The pressure...
Was no weaker than a Jonin's.
Kaito sighed.
"I was planning to lose on purpose..."
"But if I keep acting..."
"...my teammates are going to cry."
He raised one finger.
"So..."
"Let's end this quickly."
Sara immediately aimed her pistol.
"Fire!"
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Several laser rounds shot toward him.
Kaito didn't dodge.
Instead—
He casually caught a fallen branch.
Swish!
The branch moved like a sword.
Every laser shot was deflected into the sky.
"...Huh?"
Sara froze.
"...You can block lasers?"
Kaito looked equally confused.
"...Why not?"
Sara:
"..."
Guren immediately formed hand seals.
"Crystal Release!"
"Crystal Needles!"
Dozens of crimson crystal spikes flew through the forest.
Kaito vanished.
Whoosh!
The next instant...
He appeared directly behind Guren.
"Too slow."
He lightly tapped her forehead.
"...You're out."
"...Eh?"
Before Guren could even react...
A kunai had already reached her neck.
She smiled helplessly.
"Master is still cheating..."
Seeing Guren eliminated so effortlessly...
Sara panicked.
She quickly switched weapons again.
This time...
She pulled out an enormous cannon almost as tall as herself.
Kaito's eyelid twitched.
"...Where are you even storing these things?"
Sara proudly puffed out her chest.
"Storage Scroll."
"...Fair enough."
The cannon began charging.
An enormous Dragon Vein energy sphere rapidly condensed.
Inside the monitoring room...
Several Jonin stood up in shock.
"...Wait."
"Is that thing allowed in the Chunin Exams?!"
Karura calmly answered,
"It passed inspection."
"..."
Nobody knew what to say anymore.
Sara finally finished charging.
"Dragon Vein Cannon!"
BOOM!!
A massive beam erupted from the muzzle.
The entire forest lit up.
Kaito sighed.
"...Honestly..."
"...you're making this difficult."
He formed a single hand seal.
"Earth Release."
"Earth Wall."
A gigantic stone wall rose from the ground.
The laser smashed into it—
BOOOOM!!
The explosion echoed throughout the Forest of Death.
Dust filled the battlefield.
When the smoke finally cleared...
Everyone looked toward Kaito.
He was still standing there.
Completely unharmed.
Only the stone wall had disappeared.
Sara stared blankly.
"My strongest weapon..."
"...didn't work?"
She looked like she was about to cry.
Kaito scratched his head awkwardly.
"...Don't look at me like that."
"I'll feel guilty."
Only one person remained calm.
Kushina.
She slowly walked forward.
The silver chains behind her floated once again.
"I knew..."
"Those two couldn't defeat you."
"So..."
"I'll do it myself."
Her crimson hair danced in the wind.
The four sealing chains gradually multiplied...
Eight...
Twelve...
Sixteen...
The pressure instantly became several times heavier.
Kaito looked at the countless chains surrounding him and let out a long sigh.
"...Now this..."
"...is finally starting to look interesting."
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