Chapter 112: Chapter 112

“These six students,” Hiruzen said, a smile tugging at his weathered face as Iruka read the names, “will no doubt become the future pillars of Konoha.”

Satisfaction warmed his chest.

The sight of these young shinobi stirred old memories—memories of his generation under the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. Back then, the village had brimmed with promise too. There had been Danzo Shimura, Uchiha Kagami, Akimichi Torifu, Homura Mitokado, Utatane Koharu… and himself. All had risen to become the core of Konoha, the shoulders upon which the village rested.

’And now… Sasuke, Uzumaki Naruto, Hyuga Hinata…’

They carried that same spark.

As Hokage, Hiruzen could not help but reflect on his own path.

’Sensei… I have walked on thin ice my whole life. Will I ever truly reach your level?’

Danzo had always bristled at his appointment, convinced he’d only lost the title by a moment’s hesitation. Yet, as Hiruzen watched these children grow strong and united under his leadership, he felt Tobirama’s choice had not been in vain.

His gaze shifted to Kitazawa.

’This man is a rare find.’

Five of the six finalists—everyone but Shino—were Kitazawa’s students. Talent alone wasn’t enough to shape pillars of the village; it needed a teacher to draw out that potential. Hiruzen had met countless instructors over the years—academy sensei, jonin squad leaders, even ANBU captains. Many were stronger than Kitazawa, but few could teach like him.

It was fortunate Kitazawa was a humble special jonin and a loyal supporter of the Will of Fire. If he were ambitious—another Danzo—training the heirs of so many clans could have become a political powder keg.

Hiruzen’s eyes narrowed slightly. He would need to ensure Kitazawa received proper recognition—and that his energy was spent on his students, not on monitoring Root operatives like Terai. Allowing Danzo to plant Root in the Academy had been a concession he now regretted.

’I’ll remove that weed soon enough.’

“Will the six students advancing to the third round please step forward to draw lots!” Kitazawa’s voice rang out, pulling the focus back to the exam.

“I have to draw Sasuke!” Naruto clapped his hands together as if praying to the heavens.

Sasuke’s lip twitched. Of all his possible opponents, Naruto was the least convenient. Shadow Clones and relentless taijutsu were far more troublesome than Hinata’s precision or Shino’s bugs.

“I feel like it doesn’t matter who I draw…” Ino shrugged, her easy smile hiding the fact that she knew she couldn’t beat anyone left. Making top six was already a win.

Shikamaru, meanwhile, looked like a husky dropped into a wolf den.

“Troublesome… Other than Ino, all of them counter my Shadow Imitation. Hinata’s Byakugan, Shino’s Kikaichū, Naruto’s clones… And Sasuke? I’ve already suffered once. Ugh.”

Sasuke stepped up first, cool as ever, and plucked a slip from the box.

“Number Three,” it read.

“Aw, too bad I’m not Number One,” Naruto said as he unfolded his own paper. “I got… Number Three!”

Sasuke’s expression froze. ’What?’

Did Naruto actually just pray a rivalry into existence?

“Sasuke! We’re matched up! This is fate! A showdown of youth!” Naruto’s grin could have lit the arena.

Sasuke’s silence was the only reply.

“I am Number One,” Shino said calmly as he revealed his slip.

“I’m Number Two!” Shikamaru blinked in mild surprise. That meant his opponent would be either Hinata or Ino. If it was Hinata, he could lose with dignity. If it was Ino, he might actually win—but at the cost of endless teasing and ramen bills.

“H-Hinata… what number are you?” he asked cautiously.

“Number One,” she said, her soft voice firm with determination.

Shino’s eyebrow twitched. Hinata was going to be a hassle. His Kikaichū were deadly in two ways—biting flesh and draining chakra—but the Byakugan’s 360-degree vision would make both strategies much harder to pull off.

“That leaves me with Shikamaru,” Ino said, smirking.

“Troublesome,” Shikamaru muttered under his breath.

“Number One contestants, step into the arena,” Kitazawa called.

Shino and Hinata moved to the center, forming the seal of confrontation as the others filed back to watch.

“Byakugan—activate!”

Hinata’s vision shifted, the world sharpening into flowing chakra lines as the veins around her eyes bulged.

“Kikaichū—disperse.”

A black cloud of insects swarmed from Shino’s sleeves, breaking apart into tendrils of living smoke that twisted toward her from every angle.

Against any normal genin, panic would have set in.

But Hinata’s 360-degree vision caught every incoming insect.

She inhaled, chakra flowing to her palms. Gentle Fist—!

Her hands blurred, palms striking in precise arcs. With every hit, clusters of Kikaichū scattered, crushed, or sent flying.

“The Byakugan is terrifying…” Ino whispered, watching in awe as Hinata held her ground against the living storm.

Shino’s Kikaichū were a nightmare for most genin. In the early rounds of the exam, they were practically invincible.

But under the Byakugan’s gaze, Hinata stood calm and collected.

“I wonder which will give out first,” Shikamaru murmured, hands in his pockets, “Hinata’s chakra… or Shino’s bugs.”

The Kikaichū’s numbers were tied to Shino’s chakra reserves. At his age, they were limited—and so was Hinata’s chakra. Her Gentle Fist techniques might be precise, but they were chakra-intensive.

“Good thing I didn’t make it to the third round,” Kiba muttered, patting his chest. Just imagining himself surrounded by that living cloud gave him chills.

Sasuke’s eyes narrowed. Hinata was stronger than he had expected.

If he were in that situation, he could only rely on Fire Release to burn the swarm. But Kikaichū attacked from every direction. Even fire might not be enough.

And yet, the so-called “troublesome” Shino seemed almost helpless before the Byakugan.

’Byakugan, huh…’ Sasuke thought, envy prickling in his chest. ’When will I awaken my Sharingan?’

“Hinata’s mastery of Gentle Fist is impressive,” Hiruzen said with a nod. He could see the results of relentless, quiet training in every movement she made.

As the minutes passed, more and more Kikaichū fell, and Hinata only grew more comfortable. Shino’s expression darkened. Finally, he formed a quick string of hand seals.

“Secret Technique: Insect Clone!”

A swarm burst from his body, writhing and reshaping itself into a perfect copy of Shino that stood at his side. Unlike a shadow clone, this one was made of living insects—fragile but dangerous.

He didn’t attack immediately. Instead, his real body paused, allowing a writhing coat of Kikaichū to crawl over him, shielding his vitals. Her strikes would hit the bugs first, dulling their impact.

Then the two Shinos moved, rushing her from opposite flanks. The remaining Kikaichū swirled around like a living tide, isolating Hinata in a black storm.

Gasps rose from Class 1-A.

“Whoa… this is actually scary,” Ino whispered.

For once, the quiet Shino was the center of attention, his strength on full display.

Hinata’s Byakugan caught every movement. Her lips tightened, and instead of retreating, she darted forward—straight at the nearest clone.

Shino blinked in surprise at her decisiveness. Her palm flashed.

BANG!

The strike landed, and the Kikaichū coating softened the blow, dispersing some of the force. Shino staggered back a few steps.

But his insect clone was already behind Hinata, lunging like a human battering ram.

She pivoted instantly, her voice low but clear:

“Gentle Fist—Eight Trigrams, Sixty-Four Palms!”

The first palm struck the clone’s chest. The swarm quivered, rippling like disturbed water.

The second palm shattered the formation; Kikaichū spilled to the ground like black sand.

Her Byakugan tracked the core cluster—and the third palm pierced it.

Boom!

The clone disintegrated into a cascade of insects, scattering lifelessly across the arena floor.

Shino’s eyes widened. ’It couldn’t even last a second…’

He didn’t have time to process the shock—her fourth palm was already upon him.

He tried to raise a Kikaichū shield.

BAM!

Bugs died in droves. Worse, the chakra from Hinata’s strike passed through the swarm and hit his body directly, sending a tremor through his frame.

Her hands blurred. With two fingers joined, she struck three tenketsu in rapid succession.

Shino’s chakra flow stuttered to a halt. His body locked.

From the observation platform, Hiruzen’s eyes widened slightly.

“Four consecutive palms… from the Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms…”

A main family technique, and an A-rank taijutsu at that. To execute four consecutive palms at her age—astonishing. The shy, hesitant girl from a year ago had been replaced by a sharp, decisive kunoichi.

’Kitazawa… your guidance is remarkable,’ Hiruzen thought. ’If Asuma had met a teacher like you, perhaps he would have grown differently.’

“Winner, Hyuga Hinata!” Kitazawa announced.

The arena buzzed with whispers and awe. In one seamless motion, Hinata had destroyed the clone, suppressed the main body, and landed a decisive blow.

“Hinata’s so strong now!” Ino said, half in awe, half in envy. The Byakugan was talent—but those four palms were pure, grinding effort.

Shikamaru exhaled slowly, remembering how easily she had dispatched him earlier. ’Yeah… there was no way I was forcing that technique out of her.’

Sasuke said nothing, his jaw tight. He remembered vividly the pain of Hyuga Neji’s Four Palms—and now Hinata had shown a fiercer, cleaner execution.

’If she catches me in close combat… winning won’t be easy.’

He took a quiet breath and forced the thought down.

’I’m an Uchiha. I will win.’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep