Due to using such a powerful Ninjutsu, Feng Zheng was sent flying by the recoil, remaining airborne for some time.
From that vantage point, he clearly saw what was happening. He saw the strong Wind Blades easily cut Rintaro into pieces.
Feng Zheng's eyes widened, and he immediately noticed something was wrong.
“No blood! And the Wind Blades cut him too easily. It was as if there was no solid obstruction at all! Is this a Water Clone? But when did he make it?”
The judges and many Ninja were also shocked. For Feng Zheng to flicker so quickly and unleash such a powerful Ninjutsu was something no Genin could do.
In fact, even among Chunin, only a few could achieve this.
Just as everyone was thinking this, Rintaro’s body fragments dissolved into water.
Feng Zheng kept sensing Chakra while contemplating. He suddenly understood.
“Chakra is distributed within his body fragments. Now all the Chakra is in the water where he dissolved. What kind of Ninjutsu is this?”
Feng Zheng pulled away, lost in thought.
The audience only quieted down after seeing the body turn into water.
Suddenly, the water began to gather, and Rintaro’s body started to reassemble.
Feng Zheng narrowed his eyes and threw a kunai with an Exploding Tag attached right into the center.
He and many Ninja quickly realized this was the Hozuki Clan's Hydrification Jutsu!
Seeing Rintaro use this Ninjutsu at a crucial moment, the Kirigakure Genin all breathed a sigh of relief.
Feng Zheng asked, puzzled.
“Isn’t this a Bloodline Limit of the Hozuki Clan? How did he get it? Is someone in his family from the Hozuki Clan, or is he using a fake family name?”
Genma said.
“First, the Ice Release Bloodline Limit. Now, the Hydrification secret technique. The Kirigakure Genin are really strong.”
Raidō agreed and pointed out.
“Yes, but Feng Zheng is also very strong; he forced him to use this Ninjutsu.”
Ibiki observed Rintaro reassembling his body and said.
“He’s not yet skilled with this Ninjutsu; his body reassembly speed is too slow.”
Seeing Rintaro use this Ninjutsu, the Kirigakure Genin were all excited. Kuhaku Rou excitedly said.
“In this form, Rintaro is invincible! That Konoha Genin will lose terribly!”
Mieko and Hodaka also observed this carefully. Especially Mieko, if Feng Zheng lost, she might have to fight him.
Just as Rintaro’s body was reassembling, the Exploding Tag reached him and exploded, scattering the water again. However, it soon began to gather once more.
Feng Zheng grabbed another kunai with an Exploding Tag, thinking.
“Is his speed too slow? If I remember correctly, Suigetsu Hozuki can liquefy certain parts of his body, making him helpless unless Lightning Release Ninjutsu is used.”
He continued to throw kunai, and the body dispersed again. This process repeated three more times.
The Ninja who understood Hydrification Jutsu and expected to see its power were dumbfounded. Especially the Jonin and Genin of Hidden Mist.
They witnessed one of their most powerful secret techniques easily neutralized by cheap Exploding Tags!
Of course, if Rintaro were stronger or had better control over this secret technique, Hydrification Jutsu wouldn’t have been so easily countered. However, this fact did not lessen their sense of humiliation.
Mieko looked at Kuhaku Rou and asked.
“Is this what you call invincible in your Village?”
Kuhaku Rou blushed with shame. He wanted to refute but couldn’t utter a single word.
Just as Feng Zheng threw the seventh Exploding Tag, Rintaro’s Jonin Sensei jumped into the Arena.
Feng Zheng sensed his Chakra and immediately flickered into the forest.
The Hidden Mist Jonin Sensei appeared in front of Rintaro and deflected the kunai. He said.
“We forfeit this match.”
The Ninja looked at the Arena with disappointment.
Inoichi Yamanaka immediately announced the results of the match.
Ibiki sighed and said.
“First the Hidden Mist assassination technique, and now Hydrification Jutsu, both dismantled by Exploding Tags. It’s truly disappointing.”
Raidō nodded and said.
“Yes. We need to ban the use of Exploding Tags. Especially in the finals.”
Genma agreed.
“While Exploding Tags are indeed one of a Ninja’s important tools, this is truly too disappointing.”
Feng Zheng and Mieko would never have imagined that their battle would lead to Exploding Tags being banned in the finals!
Rintaro’s body finally reassembled without any further interference. As soon as he reassembled, he fainted!
Rintaro’s Sensei immediately supported him to prevent him from falling. Soon, his clothes were stained with blood. Medical Ninja quickly stepped forward to treat him.
Seeing this, Feng Zheng wondered.
“Can a person using Hydrification Jutsu still be injured by Exploding Tags? Or is it just because he’s a novice at this technique?”
The Hidden Mist Jonin sighed, looking at his student, and thought.
“Hydrification Jutsu consumes a lot of Chakra. Although his Chakra reserves are very large, he can only maintain it for a very short time. If this continues, he might die from Chakra exhaustion!”
Medical personnel treated Rintaro in the Arena and then carried him away.
His wounds were not an issue and healed easily. The main problem was Chakra exhaustion.
Feng Zheng left the Arena, thinking.
“Sigh, this was too anticlimactic. He trapped himself with a Ninjutsu he couldn’t master. I originally thought it would be an intense battle.”
Feng Zheng’s feelings were echoed by all the Jonin and most of the Chunin in the seating area. The ending of the battle was truly a letdown.
Genma looked at Feng Zheng and said.
“He is about to be promoted to Chunin.”
Ibiki and Raidō nodded in agreement.
Although his opponent gave him several opportunities, Feng Zheng seized every one and made full use of them. His performance was outstanding.
As Feng Zheng walked up the stairs, two men in black blocked his path. Feng Zheng looked at them.
One of them said in a deep voice.
“In the next match, you must lose to Uchiha Mieko.”
Feng Zheng’s eye twitched. He asked.
“I must? Why?”
At the same time, he thought.
“Do these clowns threaten Genin every match?”
The man replied.
“Our boss placed a huge bet on that Uchiha kid, and if you win, he’ll lose all his money, so you must lose the match, or we’ll make you regret it.”
Feng Zheng ignored the threat and asked.
“How much did your boss bet?”
The two men were shocked by the question. They had done this several times, but it was the first time they had been asked such a question.
The second man asked.
“Why do you want to know?”
Feng Zheng gave him an expressionless look and said.
“You two don’t even know how much your boss bet, and you come here to threaten me?”
Hearing Feng Zheng’s tone made them angry. But they controlled themselves because Feng Zheng seemed calm.
The first man replied.
“He bet twenty million ryo on the Uchiha girl.”
Feng Zheng thought for a moment and said.
“I see.”
He looked at them and said.
“Give me four million, and I’ll forfeit the match.”
This left both of them speechless. Both cursed him inwardly. The second man said.
“Bastard! Do you think a brat like you can get money from us?”
Feng Zheng said lightly.
“If I win, your boss will lose twenty million ryo. I’m not even asking for half. Do you think if I win, your boss will let you off?”
This made them completely lose control. Both immediately grabbed kunai and threatened Feng Zheng.
“If you don’t agree, we’ll make you unable to participate in the match!”
“We were once Ninja from the Land of Grass, and a kid like you is easy prey for us.”
Feng Zheng sighed and said.
“Alright, I’ll forfeit the battle.”
This made them relieved. They put away their kunai, showing triumphant smiles, and said.
“You finally realized your own…”
However, at this moment, a strong wind suddenly rose. Both men’s throats were cut. Many wounds appeared on their bodies.
They dropped their kunai and were about to scream when Feng Zheng grabbed their faces and slammed their heads against the stairs. They both lost consciousness.
Feng Zheng bent down and began to check their clothes, while muttering.
“How can there be such idiots? Didn’t they see my two matches?”
He took both their wallets. There were eighty thousand ryo inside. There were also a few scrolls. He collected them all and put them into his own scroll.
Feng Zheng went down the stairs and looked around. He noticed an Uchiha Police Force member and an Anbu member in the stands. He thought.
“Who should I report this to?”
After a few seconds, he decided to report to the Anbu, analyzing in his mind.
“Those two attacked me to make Mieko win. While I don’t think they’d go easy on them for that reason, it’s possible. If he has a Sharingan, he could make them reveal all their secrets, and if they say how much money they have, the Uchiha Clan might ask me about it.”
“As for the Anbu, I doubt they would be so focused on what they have, but more on their actions. Even if they did, it would take a long time. Those thugs would think the Anbu confiscated their belongings.”
After deciding, Feng Zheng flickered in front of him. The ANBU Ninja was surprised to see Feng Zheng.
Feng Zheng waved his hand and said.
“Hello, Mr. Anbu. A couple of former Ninja from the Land of Grass just attacked me on the stairs, and I’m injured. Could you go check on them and arrest them?”
The ANBU Ninja was startled. He asked.
“Why did they attack you?”
Feng Zheng said.
“Unclear, but they mentioned something about their boss placing bets.”
The ANBU Ninja understood and nodded. He said.
“Well done. I will arrest them.”
He flickered away. This ANBU Ninja would apprehend the two men and send them to the Torture and Interrogation Department to be tortured until they revealed who their boss was.
Once they confessed, they would be subjected to even harsher torture for their crimes. Their boss would also be arrested, and all his businesses would be confiscated by Konoha.
But Feng Zheng was unaware of the tragedy his self-defense would cause, and he returned to the waiting room.
There was a half-hour break before the semifinals began. Hodaka, Feng Zheng, and Mieko were deep in thought. Sakai Yumi was a bit nervous. She thought.
“Our Village initially had 6 Hidden Mist Ninja participating, while Konoha only had 3. Now, besides me, all 5 other people from our Village have lost!”