Matsuake’s silver short hair was gently stirred by the breeze as his right hand reached from his shoulder to his back, gripping the hilt of his short sword.
His crimson eyes now held no other emotions or distractions, focused intently on Hiruzen ahead.
Just as Yoriichi Tsugikuni had taught, he swung his blade with unwavering concentration.
“Already in the zone this quickly…” Seeing the opponent’s previously gentle expression turn stern, Hiruzen couldn’t help but murmur inwardly.
The next moment, the battle began as both left their positions and charged toward each other.
The instant the fight started, Matsuake drew the short sword from his back, poised and ready.
With his Breathing Technique operating at full speed, he inhaled a massive amount of oxygen into his abdomen.
His heart, blood, and muscles seemed to boil, brimming with immense power.
As they closed in, Matsuake swung his short sword, slashing toward Hiruzen.
Hiruzen’s expression remained unchanged as he blocked the short sword with his kunai.
Hiss!
Feeling the numbness from the impact in the web of his right hand, Sarutobi Hiruzen was inwardly startled.
Only now, in this clash, did he realize just how formidable Matsuake’s strength was.
At the same time, Matsuake’s expression grew solemn, a thought crossing his mind.
Truly a ninja who would later wield a massive staff and clash head-on with the Nine-Tails—even now, his strength is nothing to scoff at.
However, with the Senju Clan’s physique combined with Total Concentration Breathing, Matsuake’s strength still far surpassed his opponent’s.
Perhaps Hiruzen had realized this as well, choosing not to engage in a direct contest of strength.
Using the recoil from the collision between the short sword and kunai, he deftly created distance, forming hand seals with both hands.
“Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!” After completing the seals, Hiruzen spewed blazing flames from his mouth, coalescing into a massive fireball that surged forward.
As a C-rank Ninjutsu, the Great Fireball Technique, though basic, was highly practical.
While difficult for some Genin to master, for the current Hiruzen, it was effortless.
He didn’t unleash his full power immediately, instead using the Great Fireball Technique to test the waters.
For a Genin with limited proficiency in Ninjutsu, the only option against the Great Fireball would be evasion.
However, Matsuake had no intention of doing so.
Dragon—Ox—Hare!
“Water Release: Wild Water Wave!” After forming the seals, Matsuake raised his right hand, placing his middle and index fingers about a fist’s distance in front of his cheek.
Chakra flowed rapidly within his body as a stream of water gushed from his mouth, forming a small pond that surged forward.
Wild Water Wave was also a basic Water Release Ninjutsu, its power varying based on the user’s Chakra reserves.
Thus, the Wild Water Wave Matsuake unleashed now was even larger than Hiruzen’s Great Fireball.
“What a little monster.” Seeing his Ninjutsu easily neutralized, Hiruzen remarked with a sweatdrop.
The collision of the Great Fireball and Wild Water Wave produced steam, shrouding the battlefield in mist.
Using this cover, Matsuake charged toward Hiruzen once more, short sword in hand.
This was precisely why he hadn’t evaded earlier but instead countered the Great Fireball with Wild Water Wave.
With the mist created by the clashing Ninjutsu, his movements wouldn’t be immediately clear to Hiruzen.
This way, if his opponent wanted to reposition and unleash another Ninjutsu, he’d have to face a few slashes first!
Clang!
Clang!
From within the mist came the sharp sounds of metal clashing, grating on the ears.
“Wind Release: Gale Palm!” Seizing a gap in their clash, Hiruzen swiftly formed hand seals, gathering a gust of wind pressure in the palm of his left hand.
As he thrust his left hand toward Matsuake’s chest, a fierce gale erupted between them, surging directly at Matsuake.
Under the force of the gale, Matsuake’s body was uncontrollably flung backward.
He could only rely on the chakra concentrated beneath his feet to desperately maintain his balance.
During this time, Hiruzen did not remain idle.
“Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!” After forming hand seals once more, he opened his mouth and exhaled a whirlwind, dispersing the mist before charging straight toward Matsuake.
Outside the arena, the remaining examinees who had not yet left watched the battle unfold, their eyes unwilling to look away.
Blades flashed, and ninjutsu clashed!
Compared to the earlier, more immature bouts, the fight now taking place truly matched their image of what a ninja should be.
“Matsuake’s swordsmanship and taijutsu have improved greatly, but his repertoire of ninjutsu still falls far short of the Monkey’s,” commented Tobirama as he observed the match.
“The Monkey does indeed have a natural talent for ninjutsu, but I think Matsuake is no simple opponent either,” Sasuke said with a smile, though whether he truly believed this or was merely being polite remained unclear.
As the mist cleared, the two once again distanced themselves from each other.
Both Matsuake and Hiruzen wore serious expressions.
They could both sense that the other had yet to go all out.
From the start of the battle until now, neither had sustained even a minor injury.
The only change was that, due to the earlier ninjutsu, both their hair and clothes were now damp with moisture—nothing more.
“Matsuake, I’m going to get serious now.
Otherwise, Teacher Tobirama will probably scold me later,” Hiruzen said, his expression relaxing slightly as he joked.
Then, his demeanor turned serious.
He formed hand seals and pressed his hands against the ground.
“Summoning Technique!” Poof!
A cloud of smoke rose, and as it cleared, a white-haired ape, roughly the same height as Hiruzen, appeared beside him.
The ape was dressed like a ninja, wearing a form-fitting combat suit and a Konohagakure forehead protector.
“Hiruzen,” the ape spoke in human language.
Noticing that this did not seem to be a life-or-death struggle, it greeted Hiruzen.
“Hey, Enma,” Hiruzen replied with a smile, patting Enma’s arm in greeting before turning his gaze back to Matsuake.
“Enma, the Monkey King, is my summoned beast.
We’ve grown up together, and from now on, we’ll fight side by side.” “Come on, Hiruzen.
I’ll also give it my all from here on out,” Matsuake replied, taking a deep breath and focusing even more intently, seeing nothing improper about the situation.
The strength of a summoned beast was inherently part of a ninja’s power.
Even in the Chūnin Exams, using a summoned beast was not against the rules.
However, finding or training a powerful summoned beast was no easy task, and the Sarutobi clan happened to excel in this regard.
For generations, they had maintained good relations with the ape clan.
Sarutobi ninjas, upon gaining the ape clan’s recognition, could form summoning contracts with them.
“Enma!
Adamantine Staff!” At Hiruzen’s low command, Enma nodded in understanding and transformed into a staff, appearing in Hiruzen’s hand.
The Adamantine Staff twirled elegantly in his grasp, its aura distinctly different from before.
“Be careful!” After giving a reminder, Hiruzen swung his Adamantine Staff forward.
In the process, the Adamantine Staff, originally the size of a normal rod, suddenly elongated and enlarged, resembling a wooden stake!