Boom!
Another massive crater was smashed into the ground.
Facing the enormous "Sakura Susanoo", Satsuki continuously dodged back and forth.
Although the phantom possessed tremendous power, it was Sakura's first time using it. Its speed was somewhat sluggish, and the chakra consumption was enormous. Sakura was already panting heavily.
This won't work… I can't keep dragging this out.
One attack will decide the match.
Sakura controlled the giant phantom and gathered power. Then it leapt into the air and slammed a punch toward the ground.
"Cherry Blossom Shatter!"
The massive phantom unleashed a huge blue shockwave that spread across the battlefield.
Seeing that she couldn't evade it, Satsuki chose to confront it head-on.
Her hands began glowing with a watery blue light. She brought her palms together, then clenched her right hand and suddenly pulled it apart.
A dazzling blue blade of light instantly formed in her grasp.
"Storm Release: Sword of Ama-no-Murakumo!"
Looking at the massive shockwave rushing toward her from the sky, Satsuki gripped the light sword with both hands and swung.
The enormous shockwave was split cleanly in half.
But it didn't end there.
Satsuki's body suddenly dissolved into blue particles of light and vanished.
At the same moment—
Sakura, still in midair, suddenly heard a voice behind her.
"Have you ever been kicked at the speed of light?"
"?!"
Before Sakura could react, Satsuki delivered a kick that sent her crashing toward the ground.
Sakura slammed into the earth at incredible speed. The tremendous impact instantly knocked her unconscious.
Fortunately, Satsuki had deliberately controlled her strength. Otherwise, that "Lightspeed Kick" would have done far more than simply knock Sakura out.
Shisui immediately rushed forward to check Sakura's condition.
After confirming she was safe, he raised the flag.
"The winner—Satsuki Uchiha."
The ordinary spectators erupted in cheers.
They had no idea what those techniques actually were.
But the ninja present reacted very differently—many were shocked, while others frowned deeply.
On one hand, Sakura's giant spiritual avatar had astonished them.
On the other, Satsuki's Storm Release was equally shocking.
Kage Viewing Platform
Everyone's gaze turned toward Fugaku Uchiha.
Their expressions were… complicated.
Fugaku coughed lightly.
"Ahem. It's not strange that Satsuki possesses Storm Release. The Uchiha Clan originally migrated to the Land of Fire from the Land of Lightning. Perhaps Satsuki accidentally awakened that bloodline."
After hearing this explanation, everyone nodded.
It seemed reasonable enough.
Then everyone turned their attention to Kizashi Haruno.
Although Kizashi looked worried about Sakura, he still burst into loud laughter.
"Well done, Sakura! That's my daughter!"
…Right.
Expecting an explanation from someone even more hot-blooded than the Raikage was clearly unrealistic.
Discussion
Fugaku Uchiha: Satsuki has Storm Release…?
Kakashi Hatake: That doesn't seem right. Satsuki and Sasuke share the same bloodline, so her main chakra affinities should be Fire and Lightning.
Dodai: Nagi previously said Storm Release is created by combining Water Release and Lightning Release. But Satsuki's version seems different from Kumogakure's.
Nagi : That… is probably the result of Satsuki and I training together.
Orochimaru: Hehehe. I see. While cultivating Yin Release Chakra together, Nagi's Water Release Chakra may have influenced Satsuki. With Yin and Water combined with her Lightning affinity, Storm Release would naturally form.
Tobirama Senju: In that case, Satsuki's Storm Release may be Lightning and Water catalyzed by Yin Release's nature transformation.
Mei Terumi: Are you saying dual cultivation with that handsome boy can create a kekkei genkai?
Orochimaru: Hehehe. In theory, yes. Once Nagi reaches Six Paths-level power or beyond, he might even allow cultivation partners to obtain all seven chakra natures. At that point, even Kekkei Tōta or Kekkei Mōra could become possible.
However, with Nagi's current strength, only those cultivating Yin–Yang Chakra alongside him might awaken a kekkei genkai.
Tsunade: Damn! That powerful?!
Kabuto Yakushi: Whether it's truly possible will ultimately depend on Lord Nagi. Our calculations are only theoretical. Without actual testing, we cannot draw firm conclusions.
Nagi: Uh… ahem… what Kabuto and Orochimaru said is mostly correct. There's no need to actually test it.
The Screen Continues…
Satsuki carried Sakura back to the contestants' area.
Ameno used Medical Ninjutsu to treat Sakura briefly, and she soon regained consciousness.
After selecting the Top Four, it was already noon.
Minato allowed everyone to go eat lunch before returning for the afternoon matches.
While ninja didn't really need midday breaks, ordinary spectators certainly did.
Nagi and the others headed to the contestants' cafeteria for lunch.
Afternoon — Semifinals
The first match:
Hinata vs. Naruko
The match began.
The two faced each other across the arena.
After a moment, Naruko launched the first attack.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
She created several clones.
Then they formed hand seals simultaneously.
"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"
"Wind Release: Breakthrough!"
The wind instantly amplified the flames, forming a combined ninjutsu attack.
Sensing the power of the technique, Hinata didn't dare underestimate it.
She gathered chakra in her palm and struck forward.
"Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!"
The invisible blast instantly dispersed the combined technique.
Two more shadow clones attacked at the same time.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
"Lightning Release: Chidori Current!"
The techniques fused into another combined attack.
"Combined Ninjutsu: Lightning Water Dragon Bullet!"
The lightning-infused water dragon opened its jaws and lunged at Hinata.
Hinata clicked her tongue.
As the dragon approached, she coated both hands in chakra and grabbed its upper and lower jaws.
With a powerful pull—
She tore the lightning water dragon in half.
However, during that moment—
Naruko created twenty-four additional clones.
The clones quickly surrounded Hinata, forming a circle.
But none of them attacked.
Naruko knew a simple numbers advantage wouldn't work against Hinata.
Hinata immediately sensed something was wrong.
"Byakugan!"
Activating her dōjutsu, she saw that all twenty-five Narukos were simultaneously gathering chakra.
"Not good!"
Realizing what was coming, Hinata immediately mobilized her chakra.
All twenty-five Narukos formed hand seals at the same time.
"Five Release: Twenty-Five Consecutive Barrage!"
Each Naruko unleashed one of the five basic chakra nature techniques—Wind, Lightning, Fire, Earth, and Water.
"Eight Trigrams Palm: Super Rotation!"
Hinata released enormous amounts of chakra from her tenketsu, spinning rapidly to form a gigantic rotating blue dome.
All twenty-five elemental attacks slammed into the barrier at once.
A massive explosion erupted.
The dazzling display of multicolored elemental blasts created an incredible spectacle.
The audience screamed, cheered, and applauded wildly.
But experienced shinobi like Ōnoki couldn't help breaking into a cold sweat.
"I didn't expect the Fourth Hokage's girl to learn Hiruzen's ultimate technique… and she even has more clones than he did."
Nearby, the Third Hokage grinned broadly.
"That Naruko kid did pretty well."
"Your mouth is practically reaching your ears," Danzō muttered.
Then he looked back toward the battlefield.
"Still… that girl's chakra reserves are truly enviable."
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