The Iron Sand Giant Hand and the Blazing Sun Bird collided in the air with a deafening roar.
Scorching flames and pitch-black Iron Sand intertwined, and the entire arena was instantly swallowed by a red and black energy storm.
Gasps erupted from the stands, and the scorching heatwave even forced the Ninja in the front row to form hand signs and cast defensive Ninjutsu.
The chief referee had already arrived at the edge of the barrier, a Kunai covered in Talismanic Incantation silently slipping into his fingers, ready to intervene in this unexpected duel at any moment.
"It's Iron Sand, yet it can directly suppress Scorch Release without melting..."
Pakura's breathing became ragged, and sweat trickled down her cheeks.
She clearly felt that the Blazing Sun Bird was being suppressed by those giant hands, bit by bit.
Even worse, some kind of Chakra seemed to be mixed into the Iron Sand, suppressing the high temperature of the Scorch Release.
Uchiha Yakoto's Double Tomoe Sharingan had long been activated, flickering with an eerie light amidst the smoke and dust.
One giant hand suddenly exploded, transforming into Iron Sand needles, heading towards the Blazing Sun Bird.
The Blazing Sun Bird immediately let out a piercing wail, its fiery body pierced by tens of thousands of fine needles.
Then, like a punctured balloon, it rapidly withered until it completely disappeared.
The other large hand, having absorbed the Iron Sand from the field again, rushed towards Pakura with unparalleled might.
"It's over."
Yakoto's calm voice cut through the heatwave and reached Pakura's ears.
Pakura bit her thumb, and blood traced a crimson path across her palm.
Just as the Iron Sand Giant Hand tore through the air, she slammed her hand onto the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu: Blazing Bird!"
With a thunderous boom, a Blazing Bird made of orange-red flames suddenly appeared.
It blocked Uchiha Yakoto's attack for Pakura.
With a roar, the small bird was slapped into the ground by the Iron Sand Giant Hand.
All its flames were extinguished directly.
It only managed a chirp before the Summoning Jutsu was dispelled.
"Surrender, your Chakra is almost depleted."
"You're the one who should surrender."
Upon hearing this, Pakura suddenly looked up, revealing a smile of successful scheming.
At this moment, Uchiha Yakoto was standing at the location where the Blazing Sun Bird had first exploded.
The ground was, at some unknown point, covered with an invisible fire net formed by Scorch Release Chakra.
"Scorch Release: Solar Flare Earth Bind!"
Golden pillars of fire shot into the sky, completely engulfing Yakoto.
It turned out that all the previous battles were meant to lure him into this trap.
The stands erupted in thunderous cheers, and even the Kazekage in the VIP box nodded slightly.
However, when the firelight dissipated, all that remained was a melting Iron Sand Clone.
The real Uchiha Yakoto appeared from the other side of the arena.
Pakura gave a bitter smile and knelt on one knee; this time, she was truly completely burnt out.
She only managed to utter, "A Clone Jutsu?" before she fainted.
After a moment of silence, even more enthusiastic applause erupted throughout the arena.
The chief referee loudly announced: "Winner, Uchiha Yakoto!"
..."That was amazing, Uchiha Yakoto!"
After today's battle, Tsunade excitedly picked up Uchiha Yakoto and spun him around twice.
"I really didn't misjudge you! Hahahahaha."
Uzumaki Kushina looked at the overjoyed Tsunade with a bewildered expression.
"What's wrong with her?"
At the mention of this, Shizune's face instantly darkened as if remembering something.
"Don't even mention it."
"For today's match, Lady Tsunade bet all her wealth on Uchiha Yakoto."
"This is the only gamble Lady Tsunade has won in the past few days."
Having successfully gone all-in, Tsunade waved her hand with exceptional magnanimity.
"Let's go! Lady Tsunade, who wins every gamble tonight, is treating!"
...Among the few young ones, Shizune was the first to be eliminated. Although she didn't make it into the top sixty-four, she successfully showcased her strength and was promoted to Chunin.
Uzumaki Kushina is now Konoha's internally designated next Nine-Tailed Jinchuriki. To protect the Jinchuriki's secret,
Uzumaki Kushina simply completed the Chunin Exams' objective and then withdrew from the competition.
This means that out of the five, only Minato Namikaze, Hyuga Kana, and Uchiha Yakoto made it into the top sixty-four.
In the upcoming top thirty-two, Hyuga Kana chose to surrender when facing Hyuga Hiashi.
Although Hyuga Kana is also a member of the Main Family, Hyuga Hiashi is, after all, of the Main Branch of the Main Family, among the highest-ranking in the Main Family.
Choosing to surrender was quite reasonable.
Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Yakoto, on the other hand, would face the future Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist members, Jinin Akebino and Biwa Jūzō.
That's right, it's the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist who were kicked into a mess by the Youth Dad.
At this time, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist had not yet been formed, and without the bonus of special Ninja Swords, their strength could only be considered mediocre.
Minato Namikaze, as a speed-type Ninja, defeated Jinin Akebino after several rounds of skirmishes.
Uchiha Yakoto, on the other hand, fully utilized the advantage of being a spellcaster, directly controlling the field firmly with Magnet Release, leaving Biwa Jūzō with no temper at all.
Throughout the entire battle, Biwa Jūzō was suffocated to death, unable to touch him, unable to outlast him, and after an all-out effort, he finally found peace.
Biwa Jūzō: "I apologize for not being able to fully entertain Lord Uchiha Yakoto."
Uchiha Yakoto's evaluation of this was, "Average, doesn't feel as good as Pakura."
The next highly anticipated match between seeded players was Minato Namikaze versus Kitsuchi.
The duel between Minato Namikaze, the Disciple of Jiraiya, one of the Konoha Sannin, who is the Disciple of Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Kitsuchi, the son of Third Tsuchikage Ōnoki.
The attention on this battle was equally high.
The odds for Minato Namikaze and Kitsuchi were extremely close, with the casino judging their strengths to be evenly matched.
Kitsuchi stood in the center of the arena, the ground beneath his feet seemingly merging with him.
He was burly, with a pair of steady eyes beneath his brown short hair, and he stood with his arms crossed, quietly awaiting his opponent's appearance.
Cheers erupted from the Iwagakure stands, interspersed with exclamations like "Pride of Iwagakure" and "Son of the Tsuchikage."
"I heard his Earth Release Ninjutsu is already close to Jonin level."
"Of course, he's Lord Ōnoki's son!"
Before the murmurs faded, a golden figure swept across the fence at the edge of the field like the wind, lightly landing twenty meters opposite Kitsuchi.
Minato Namikaze stood tall, sunlight dancing on his golden short hair, and a calm light flickering in his blue eyes.
He wore the standard Konoha Ninja uniform, and the short sword on his back reflected a cold light in the sun.
"Am I late?" Minato Namikaze, standing in the arena, showed his signature small sun smile.
This caused a wave of cheers from the Konoha female audience.
"So handsome!"
"Wow—!"
At this moment, Uzumaki Kushina was sitting next to Uchiha Yakoto, her expression slightly gloomy.
"Always showing off."
Minato Namikaze, may you be blessed.
Uchiha Yakoto silently mourned for Minato in the arena.
Above the highest stands, all four Kage except the Mizukage, as well as the Daimyo of the four countries, were watching this match.