At this very moment, shock filled everyone's faces.
Two C-rank ninjutsu, by themselves, weren't that extraordinary.
What truly stunned even the jōnin was the clone capable of using ninjutsu!
Ordinary clones were nothing more than illusions—without physical form, without offensive power.
But the clone Namikaze Minato had used was clearly different.
It could release ninjutsu.
Which meant only one thing—
A higher-level, B-rank technique.
Shadow Clone Jutsu!
"Shadow Clone Jutsu?!"
"How did he learn that—self-study?!"
"When did he even cast it?! Why didn't anyone notice?!"
The chūnin instructors erupted in astonishment, disbelief written across their faces.
The Ninja Academy didn't teach techniques like Shadow Clone Jutsu at all!
Minato had actually self-learned it?!
What kind of monstrous talent was that?!
Faced with this sudden pincer attack from both front and back, Yuya seemed to be driven into a desperate corner, trapped with no way forward or back.
In the stands, Uzumaki Kushina clenched her small fists tightly.
So tightly that her nails dug into her palms—yet she felt nothing.
"Yuya…"
A trace of unwillingness appeared in her eyes.
Minato really was too strong.
Was Yuya… ultimately unable to win?
At this moment, even Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage himself, wore an expression of open admiration.
The other jōnin also praised Minato's combat awareness, believing the outcome was essentially decided.
On the battlefield.
Yuya stood quietly in place.
In front of him surged the C-rank Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique.
Behind him roared the C-rank Wind Release: Great Breakthrough.
The practical exam arena wasn't large. Trapped between two C-rank ninjutsu, there was practically no room to evade.
Even the chief proctor had already begun preparing to end the match.
And yet—
At that very moment.
Yuya, standing between the two converging ninjutsu, suddenly shifted his body half a step to the side.
That movement looked meaningless—almost like a panicked attempt to dodge without knowing how.
But what Yuya did next caused every face to freeze.
Slightly turning his body, facing the fire and wind on either side—
Yuya made an incredibly simple motion.
He lowered his stance.
At the same time, his arms crossed lightly in front of his torso.
Both fists clenched.
"Don't tell me—?!"
"Could it be—?!"
"No way!"
The instant that posture appeared, the same thought flashed through everyone's mind, and shocked cries rang out—
Only to cut off abruptly in the next instant.
Shock turned into pure awe.
BOOM—!!
Wind and fire roared forward, sandwiching Yuya's seemingly slender body between them.
Then—
Yuya's arms suddenly snapped outward.
Both fists slammed violently into the air on either side!
CRACK—!!!
Blinding white shockwaves exploded outward.
The space on both sides of Yuya fractured like a spiderweb, collapsing inch by inch.
Terrifying shock force surged out wildly, meeting the incoming Fire Release and Wind Release head-on.
The raging wind and blazing flames were right there—
Yet before that shattered-mirror-like barrier of shock force, they were separated by an insurmountable chasm!
No matter how fiercely the wind howled, no matter how violently the flames raged—
They could not advance even a single step under Yuya's twin fists!
Like rotten wood before a storm—
In the next instant—
Both ninjutsu were completely annihilated!
The entire arena fell silent.
But in everyone's mind, thunder roared endlessly.
Only after the fractured air smoothed out and everything returned to calm—
Did the arena erupt!
"You can do that too?!"
"He can use that power with both fists—attacking two directions at once?!"
"With a Kekkei Genkai like this… doesn't that mean there's practically no weakness at all?!"
At this moment, even the Third Hokage nearly crushed the teacup in his hand.
The power of Yuya's Shock Release Kekkei Genkai shook even him.
Almost perfect.
If this bloodline ability were to grow even further—
What would it become?
Even Hiruzen couldn't imagine it.
Beside him, even Danzō Shimura could no longer remain seated. His eyes gleamed as he spoke in a low voice,
"Sarutobi… give that child to me. He's from outside the village. I can mold him into someone absolutely loyal."
"Impossible."
Hiruzen rejected him instantly, without hesitation.
Danzō's voice caught. Anger flashed across his face—so intense that even he struggled to suppress it.
"You won't give me Namikaze Minato.
You won't give me Yuya either.
Sarutobi—what exactly do you want?!"
"Neither of these children will go to you."
Hiruzen's expression was cold, his tone final.
"You… very well. You're the Hokage. You decide."
Danzō stood up abruptly, shot Hiruzen a furious glance, then turned and left without even looking at the outcome of the match.
Hiruzen watched him go, his gaze icy.
He could see through Danzō's intentions perfectly.
Root, though nominally an ANBU training division, had long since become Danzō's private power—almost completely separate from the true ANBU.
Children like Minato and Yuya, once fully grown, would be unimaginable assets.
If they fell into Danzō's hands, it would be like giving wings to a tiger.
On matters like this, Hiruzen would never yield.
Because he was the Hokage.
Back on the field.
Minato stood there, momentarily stunned.
His Shadow Clone had already disappeared, its chakra completely exhausted.
Shadow Clones split chakra evenly—his main body was now at the end of its rope as well, nearly drained dry.
The moment Yuya shifted his stance and struck sideways with both fists, Minato's heart had skipped violently.
This is bad.
But by then, he had no options left.
He could only watch as Yuya's twin shockwaves shattered both of his carefully planned C-rank ninjutsu.
He had hoped—desperately—that splitting Yuya's power in two directions would weaken it enough.
But reality was merciless.
Even with dual punches, the power hadn't weakened at all.
Both C-rank techniques were obliterated with ease.
Too perfect.
That Kekkei Genkai was simply too perfect.
A bitter smile appeared on Minato's face.
Even against a true chūnin, he would never have been pushed to this extent.
It wasn't that Yuya was definitively stronger than a chūnin—
It was that Yuya's power, at this level, was fundamentally unsolvable.
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