"Didn't expect we'd meet in the final round." Setsuna stepped forward, stopping two meters from Kazuku.
He was in high spirits.
Besides the First Hokage's Wood Release, no Senju inherited it.
Kazuku, seven or eight, couldn't match Setsuna's chakra.
Crucially, Setsuna had seen Kazuku's earlier fights.
"For a seven-year-old, that taijutsu's impressive."
"But sadly, he faces me."
Though a genin, Setsuna had awakened his Sharingan.
No matter how skilled Kazuku's taijutsu, Setsuna could predict moves and adapt.
Even if…
Kazuku's talent let him predict Setsuna's predictions…
Setsuna could predict Kazuku predicting his predictions!
Thus, Uchiha Setsuna brimmed with confidence!
"Me neither." Kazuku smiled.
The silent examiner barked, "Match begin!"
As the words fell…
Setsuna snapped into combat mode, hands diving into his ninja pouch.
For this exam, he spent all his mission savings!
And…
Kazuku was Senju.
This match held deep meaning!
A dozen shuriken flew at Kazuku from multiple angles.
The process took Setsuna two seconds.
Every watching examiner's eyes widened.
"As expected of an Uchiha genius…"
Sarutobi gasped.
After learning Shadow Clone from Tobirama-sama, Sarutobi innovated, applying it to shuriken attacks.
He developed Shuriken Shadow Clone.
Yet Uchiha Setsuna, with sheer speed, mimicked its effect!
Suddenly!
The shuriken collided midair, altering trajectories, forming a net over Kazuku.
It sealed his escape.
"As expected of the Uchiha," Kazuku praised.
He thought only Shisui, Itachi, or Sasuke could wield shuriken so flamboyantly.
Even Setsuna was this skilled.
Kazuku's eyes flashed with fervor.
Then!
Kazuku erupted chakra, forming an airflow, spreading outward.
Boom!
The floor beneath him cracked, spiderwebbing.
The shuriken, like hitting an air wall, flew back.
As they neared Arena 6's edge, they froze midair.
"What was that…?"
Setsuna swallowed, unable to fathom how Kazuku repelled his shuriken.
But…
He couldn't lose!
The repelled shuriken shifted trajectories, attacking Kazuku again!
"Magnet Release?" Sarutobi exclaimed, recalling Chikusho.
But Magnet Release was a bloodline limit.
Since when could the Uchiha's Sharingan copy bloodline limits?
"No, wait…"
Sarutobi shook his head, observing closely.
The shuriken moved via near-invisible steel wires Setsuna rigged!
"To refine ninja tools like this… is this the Uchiha's strength?"
"But Setsuna hasn't used his best ninjutsu."
Sarutobi worried for Kazuku.
Morning Peacock was banned by Tobirama-sama.
Setsuna's shuriken, like Magnet Release, countered Kazuku's taijutsu!
"Crucially, Setsuna's an Uchiha with Sharingan…"
The Sharingan, unique to the Uchiha, offered observation, copying, and genjutsu.
A taijutsu ninja's nemesis!
"Not done yet!"
But the shuriken were a feint.
Setsuna's true trump card was ninjutsu!
He activated his Sharingan, locking onto Kazuku, ensuring no genjutsu tricked him.
Simultaneously, Setsuna's hands flashed through seals.
"Fire Release!"
Then…
Setsuna inhaled deeply, as if sucking the arena's air dry.
The shuriken, rushing Kazuku again, formed a net, sealing all escapes!
"Even if this Senju brat repeats that move, he can't block my ninjutsu!"
Setsuna, brimming with confidence, channeled half his chakra to his throat, ready to end it.
"Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball, five or six meters wide, erupted from Setsuna's mouth!
"Great Fireball, huh." Kazuku's gaze sharpened, knowing this jutsu well.
An Uchiha original, renowned in the ninja world.
Perfect to test his Water Release!
"Let's see my Water Dragon Bullet's power!"
Kazuku formed three seals, using a fraction of his Hashirama chakra.
Water surged from his feet, rising fast, engulfing him.
The shuriken were blocked by the water's force.
More water sprayed, spiraling upward, shielding Kazuku while forming a lifelike dragon.
Setsuna stood dumbfounded. His fireball was pathetic next to Kazuku's Water Dragon Bullet.
The dragon's body was over ten meters!
Its gaping maw dove, swallowing the fireball!
Then, it surged toward Setsuna!
"Impossible! Kazuku's just a seven- or eight-year-old! He can't have that much chakra!"
"No, his chakra can't support such a terrifying Water Release!"
"It's genjutsu!"
Setsuna glared with his Sharingan, certain he was under genjutsu. "Break it, break it!"
But until the dragon engulfed him, he couldn't dispel Kazuku's "genjutsu!"
Like prior matches…
Kazuku struck, instantly defeating his opponent!
(End of Chapter)