Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 132: The Hōzuki Clan

Under these circumstances, close combat was no longer an option.

Tonari decisively created distance, sheathing his blade and quickly forming seals.

"Water Style: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"

In the Land of Rain, the abundant rainfall saturated the environment, greatly amplifying the power of water-style ninjutsu.

A massive wave of water surged forward, roaring like an unstoppable tide.

Such a large-scale water-style jutsu was a rare sight, especially in the arid Land of Wind.

Pakura's expression turned serious as she flicked her fingers.

"Scorch Style: Twin Explosive Evaporation!"

Two fiery orange orbs of scorching energy shot forth, exploding with a burst of intense heat and light.

Hissssss—!

Thick steam erupted as the water collided with the scorching orbs, enveloping the entire battlefield in a dense mist. Despite the sheer volume of water, it was no match for the Scorch Style's destructive heat.

Pakura emerged unscathed, and Tonari wasn't surprised. His narrowed eyes flashed with calculation.

Three seconds!

It took Pakura precisely three seconds to create another Scorch Style orb after using one.

This was critical information.

The dense mist spreading across the battlefield felt reminiscent of the Hiding in Mist Technique. For Pakura, whose strength lay in mid-range combat, this was a disadvantageous situation.

However, Pakura wasn't limited to just her Scorch Style techniques.

"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"

A powerful gust erupted from Pakura, sweeping away the lingering mist and revealing the battlefield once more.

But Tonari had been waiting for her to do just that.

His prepared ninjutsu was unleashed in an instant.

"Water Style: Severing Wave!"

This technique, learned from Tobirama Senju's scroll, involved spewing a high-pressure stream of water with razor-sharp precision.

The water jet cut through the air with deadly force, capable of slicing through the roots of the God Tree in the hands of Tobirama. While Tonari's version wasn't nearly as powerful, it was still a fearsome attack.

Pakura's eyes widened as the high-pressure jet approached. She performed a roll to narrowly avoid the initial strike. As the water jet veered toward her again, she hastily summoned a Scorch orb to intercept it.

Now's the chance!

Tonari activated the Body Flicker Technique, his short sword already in hand as he closed the gap.

One second!

He closed in, his sword slashing toward Pakura.

Pakura's expression hardened as she raised her kunai to block, aiming to buy time.

But Tonari anticipated this. His free hand gripped her wrist, increasing the speed of his blade's descent.

Two seconds!

Just as his blade was about to strike, a chilling sense of foreboding filled Tonari's heart.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the faintest smirk on Pakura's lips.

Realizing the trap, Tonari instinctively attempted to retreat, but it was too late.

Pakura discarded her kunai, grabbing onto him instead.

A hidden Scorch orb appeared and shot directly toward Tonari's face.

So she was holding back all along!

With no time to escape, Tonari chose to continue his attack.

Boom!

The ensuing explosion rocked the battlefield, sending both combatants flying back.

Pakura's shoulder was slashed deeply, her flesh torn and bleeding.

Meanwhile, Tonari's body appeared desiccated, his skin cracked and dry as moisture evaporated from his body. His arms, in particular, had shriveled alarmingly.

Pakura smirked through her pain, her confidence shining through.

"You deliberately lured me in?" Tonari asked, his tone low.

Pakura's smile grew. "You said it yourself—this is what it means to be a ninja."

Pakura had indeed revealed a weakness in her Scorch Style, but it had been a calculated deception.

Click.

A strange metallic sound emanated from Tonari's body.

"Huh?" Pakura frowned as she noticed his skin peeling away, revealing a metallic structure underneath. The organic tissue within the frame had been utterly destroyed, no longer capable of transmitting chakra.

"A puppet?"

The spectators were equally stunned.

Was the one we've been watching this entire time just a puppet?

But how can a puppet use ninjutsu and chakra as fluidly as a human?

With a poof, Tonari and his summoned companion reverted to their original forms. The damaged puppet crumbled into pieces, and a snake slithered out of its mouth.

The snake opened its maw wide, revealing the real Tonari hidden within.

He stepped out, stretching lazily as if he had just woken up from a nap.

"Whew, staying in one spot for so long really stiffens the joints," he remarked casually.

As if nothing had happened, Tonari retrieved his short sword and sheath from the destroyed puppet, securing them at his waist.

Pakura stared at him, incredulous. "So… you've been using a puppet to fight me this entire time? How is that even possible?"

"Is this… a human puppet? No, wait—it's metal. But how does it transmit chakra?"

Pakura's confusion was echoed by the audience.

Tonari's battle with Pakura wasn't over, but the advantage had shifted decisively in his favor.

Electricity crackled audibly as Tonari activated his Lightning Chakra Mode, the lightning enveloping him in an armor-like glow.

Dikayi, watching from the sidelines, clenched his fists.

"Impossible! He's achieved mastery over the Lightning Armor?"

The electric aura surged as Tonari disappeared with another Body Flicker Technique, moving even faster than before.

Clang!

Pakura barely managed to parry his attack, the speed difference making her defense precarious.

Tonari's puppet had been a poor match for her, but now that he was fighting personally, her Scorch orbs couldn't keep up.

Even when her orbs managed to graze him, Tonari's water-infused short sword neutralized their effects.

Within moments, Pakura was pushed to her limit, her body covered in wounds.

Tonari's relentless assault culminated in a decisive strike.

"Blade Technique: Water Ring Slash!"

Compressed rings of spinning water chakra wrapped around his blade, each rotating in opposite directions. The enhanced blade sliced cleanly through Pakura's final defenses.

By the time the attack ended, Pakura had collapsed, unconscious but alive.

A withered Pakura was carried off by Elder Ebizō, who had intervened at the last moment to save her life.

The battle had taken a toll on Tonari, but he stood victorious.

---

The final four competitors were:

Tonari (Konoha)

Minato Namikaze (Konoha)

Dikayi (Kumo)

Kaden Hōzuki (Kiri)

The matchups were determined by lot:

Tonari vs. Kaden Hōzuki

Minato vs. Dikayi

Tonari's next opponent, Kaden, hailed from the illustrious Hōzuki Clan. Known for their mastery of the Hydrification Technique, the clan's techniques were both unique and deadly.

"Honestly, we wouldn't have participated in this exam if not for Iwagakure hosting it," Kaden remarked, his jagged teeth gleaming.

"And we wouldn't be here if not for Suna," Tonari replied with a smirk.

Despite their banter, the tension between the two was palpable.

Their battle began with both ninja vanishing in a blur of movement.

Clang!

Sparks flew as their blades clashed. The rain-slicked battlefield amplified Kaden's water-based techniques, which included absorbing water into his body to enhance his strength.

"Water Style: Water Arm Cannon!"

Kaden's right arm expanded grotesquely, tripling in size as he swung at Tonari with earth-shaking force.

Tonari narrowly dodged, his eyes gleaming with interest.

"What a fascinating technique," he murmured, his blade sparking with lightning chakra.

Kaden grinned. "Let's see how long you can keep up!"

The battle continued, each move more intense than the last.

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