CHAPTER 156: CHAPTER 156

The second round ended before anyone realized it.

Aside from Sasuke and Naruto, Kitazawa hadn’t interfered with the results—because there was no need.

Unlike the Chunin Exams, losing here didn’t mean elimination. Advancement depended on accumulated points, not a single victory. As long as your overall strength was solid, the third round was within reach.

And indeed, that’s exactly what happened.

The roster for the third round looked nearly identical to the last monthly exam:

Sasuke, Naruto, Shino, Yakumo, Hinata, Shikamaru, Ino, and Kiba.

The only new faces were Ino and Kiba. A month of Kitazawa’s special training hadn’t taught them new ninjutsu, but it had sharpened their basics enough to raise their scores.

The ones left behind this time were Sakura and Choji. Sakura, because combat wasn’t a medic’s forte. Choji, because he still hadn’t mastered the Akimichi clan’s secret techniques.

"Students who passed, step forward to draw lots." Kitazawa reappeared with the lottery box.

"This time, there’s no way I’m drawing Sasuke!" Kiba clenched his fists, determined. He refused to believe he could be unlucky twice in a row.

"Then who do you want to draw?" Shino asked, voice as calm as ever.

"I want to..." Kiba froze mid-sentence. Out of the eight, he was the weakest. His only realistic hopes were against Shikamaru or Ino.

He exhaled and forced a laugh. "Just making it to round three is a win. Doesn’t matter who I draw."

"Maybe you’ll get me," Shikamaru offered halfheartedly. Truthfully, he was hoping for Kiba too. Everyone else on the list was a nightmare matchup.

Sasuke ignored them all, stepping forward in silence. He wanted only one opponent—Naruto.

He still couldn’t accept his previous loss. If Naruto hadn’t somehow shattered his Genjutsu, Sasuke was convinced the outcome would’ve been different.

"Number one?" He glanced down at his slip of paper, heart flickering with anticipation. Naruto had drawn number one in the last two rounds. If fate repeated itself, they’d clash again.

"Sasuke, what number are you?" Naruto bounded over, already reaching into the box.

"One."

"Ah? I got number two." Naruto sighed, disappointed.

Sasuke’s excitement dulled instantly.

"I’m number one." Yakumo lifted her slip.

Sasuke’s eyes sharpened. Fighting Naruto had been his goal, but Yakumo... she was even more dangerous. Against her, Genjutsu offered no easy advantage.

His grip on the slip of paper tightened. Was he destined to lose again? No—if Naruto could beat Yakumo, so could he. He had more than just Genjutsu: his taijutsu and Fire Release gave him options.

"Haha! Number three!" Kiba whooped, practically dancing. He’d dodged Sasuke, Naruto, and Yakumo in one stroke—cause enough for celebration.

"Who’s my opponent?" he asked eagerly.

"...It’s me." Hinata’s soft voice answered.

Kiba’s grin collapsed. So much for good luck.

"I’m fighting Naruto? Seriously?" Shikamaru muttered, staring at his own slip marked with a two.

"Then mine’s Shino..." Ino sighed. "Forget it, I’ll just forfeit." Mind Body Switch against a bug user? Completely pointless.

"The drawing is complete," Kitazawa declared, sealing away the box. "Numbers ones, step into the arena."

Sasuke and Yakumo walked forward, tension palpable.

"A duel of Genjutsu users." Shino’s eyes glimmered with rare interest. "This should be fascinating."

"Fascinating, sure," Kiba muttered, "but not much fun to watch. Genjutsu fights are a pain for the audience."

"Agreed," Ino added. Most illusions targeted the opponent’s mind or sight; to spectators, it would look like nothing was happening at all.

"Sasuke-kun... can he win?" Sakura asked anxiously. She remembered Yakumo’s clash with Naruto all too well.

"There’s a chance," Shikamaru mused. "Only Sasuke has the tools to counter her illusions like Naruto did."

"Naruto, how did you even break her Genjutsu last time?" Kiba asked.

"I... don’t really know." Naruto scratched his head, sheepish. He remembered the tail that had struck him free, but not what it truly was. And the Hokage still hadn’t explained, even after a month.

"You’re ridiculously lucky," Kiba sighed.

"Battle, begin!" Kitazawa’s voice cut through the chatter.

The arena went silent, all eyes on Sasuke and Yakumo.

"You’re strong, Sasuke, so I won’t hold back," Yakumo said seriously. She knew exactly how dangerous he was: sharp Sharingan, strong fire jutsu, and solid taijutsu—far more versatile than Naruto or Hinata.

Her weakness was clear: her frail body. Genjutsu-creation took time, time Sasuke’s Sharingan would exploit. She had to strike first.

"As it should be." Sasuke’s voice was calm, but his hands were already moving.

Genjutsu: Bubble.

Sharingan spinning, he cast without hesitation. Unlike against Naruto or Hinata, there was no point in waiting—Yakumo wasn’t fast enough to dodge.

Her body froze. Eyes glazed.

Sasuke’s form scattered into a murder of crows, which morphed into a rain of shuriken. Yakumo stumbled, two blades grazing her legs before she fell.

"I win!" Sasuke advanced, grinning wildly, pointing a kunai at her as laughter burst out of him.

"...What’s he laughing about?" Sakura asked, baffled. From the sidelines, it looked like nothing had happened at all.

"Because he’s already trapped," Shikamaru sighed. "Yakumo’s illusions are terrifying."

"No way! When did it hit him? I didn’t even notice!" Sakura gasped.

"Probably the moment he opened his mouth," Shino replied evenly.

"Guess Naruto had the right idea," Kiba muttered. "Spamming Shadow Clones from the start." Then he frowned. "Not that any of us could pull that off."

"Honestly, if it’s Yakumo, just forfeit." Shikamaru shrugged. "Saves time and chakra."

Yakumo’s Genjutsu was a bloodline gift, seamless, needing no seals. Practically impossible to counter.

"Then what about Sasuke?" Sakura’s heart tightened.

"If he realizes it’s an illusion, he still has a shot." Shikamaru’s eyes narrowed.

Inside the Genjutsu world—

"You’ve won, Sasuke," Yakumo said, clutching her leg wound.

"Victor: Uchiha Sasuke." Kitazawa’s voice rang out across the field.

"Congratulations, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura and the others hurried over to him.

Sasuke’s lips curved slightly as he basked in the admiring gazes around him.

He had already laughed maniacally moments ago, so doing it again would be awkward. Besides, simply defeating Yakumo wasn’t enough. He wanted a greater victory—one that would silence all doubt.

"Kitazawa-sensei, I challenge Naruto!" Sasuke declared without hesitation.

Kitazawa’s eyes shifted. "Naruto, do you accept?"

"I accept!" Naruto shot forward eagerly, grin wide. "Come on, Sasuke!"

"Last time, I was careless," Sasuke said confidently. "This time, you won’t win."

"Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Naruto’s response came in an explosion of smoke—bang, bang, bang—as dozens of clones filled the field.

A chaotic melee erupted. Sasuke clashed against the army of Narutos, weaving through strikes and countering with kicks and kunai. Though overwhelmed, his smirk never faded.

It was the same as before. Naruto hadn’t changed at all—still a battle idiot relying on brute force and clones.

But then, Sasuke’s eyes narrowed. Something felt... off.

He slipped past Naruto’s Leaf Great Whirlwind, hands flashing through seals.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball!"

Flames roared, incinerating swaths of clones. Sasuke exhaled sharply—he had already fought two draining matches, and his chakra reserves were running dry.

"One last chance." His gaze locked onto Naruto. If he could find the original and trap him in Genjutsu, the fight would end.

Wait.

Realization struck. Naruto hadn’t shouted "Youth!" a single time. Not once.

Sasuke froze, his expression stiff. For Naruto not to yell that ridiculous word... meant he was fake.

Which meant Sasuke was still trapped in Genjutsu.

Shame burned his cheeks. An Uchiha—tricked for this long without noticing. If his father or brother knew, they would be furious.

Snapping out of the false battle, Sasuke turned on Yakumo.

"Did I show a weakness?" Yakumo asked curiously, rising to her feet. Her legs—supposedly injured—were perfectly fine now.

"..." Sasuke couldn’t answer.

"It’s fine if you don’t say," she smiled faintly. "But you should surrender, Sasuke-kun."

"Uchiha never surrender." His teeth clenched.

Yakumo raised her hand. Thunderclouds gathered above, crackling with imminent lightning. "Then tell me—how much chakra do you have left?"

Sasuke’s eyes widened. With a surge of desperation, he charged.

"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"

But from both sides, waves of Naruto clones swarmed him like a green tide.

"No!"

He was buried alive in the storm of illusions.

Yakumo ended the Genjutsu. The Narutos vanished, leaving Sasuke collapsed on the ground, drenched in sweat and gasping for air.

"Sasuke-kun, are you alright?" Sakura rushed to his side.

"You... are you real? Or fake?" he muttered hoarsely.

"Huh?" Sakura blinked in confusion.

"He’s back," Yakumo said gently. "The battle is over. She’s real."

Sasuke’s eyes widened, empty. In the illusion, he had been beaten senseless by Naruto’s clones. Yet here, his body bore no wounds.

Which meant... he had broken free.

But it was still defeat. Another defeat.

His chest tightened, a storm of humiliation and despair tearing through him. ’I don’t understand... I don’t get it...’

Clutching his forehead, he felt as if his eyes were splitting open.

"Sasuke-kun?" Sakura whispered, alarmed.

Yakumo’s expression shifted. She sensed it—a sudden surge of Yin Release boiling within Sasuke.

Kitazawa raised an eyebrow. ’So... is his Sharingan about to evolve? Truly worthy of being a protagonist of the original tale.’

But the power flared only briefly before fading away.

Sasuke stood, deactivated his single tomoe Sharingan, and walked off the field without a word.

Kitazawa’s gaze followed him thoughtfully. ’Still not enough. Either the emotions aren’t strong enough, or he’s simply too young. The foundation isn’t there yet.’

"Winner: Yakumo Kurama."

Kitazawa turned, voice steady. "Students with number two, prepare for your match."

"I forfeit," Shikamaru said immediately, raising his hand with his usual laziness. His goal had always been to reach the third round. Facing Naruto? A waste of energy.

Naruto looked crestfallen. "Aw, I wanted to fight Shikamaru!"

Shikamaru’s lips twitched. ’Fight? That’s not a fight—that’s a mob beating.’

"I forfeit too," Kiba said after a moment. He had drawn Hinata as his opponent, and everyone knew Gentle Fist was a nightmare for pure taijutsu users. Without Akamaru, it would be hopeless.

"Me too!" Ino chimed in quickly.

Kitazawa clapped his hands together. "Then today’s practical exam ends here. Take a short rest. Rankings will be announced soon."

Iruka frowned. "Kitazawa-sensei, isn’t it... inappropriate to let them forfeit so easily?"

"There’s nothing inappropriate about knowing one’s limits," Kitazawa replied smoothly.

"And their grades?" Iruka pressed.

"Base them on their first two rounds," Kitazawa said casually.

"...Understood." Iruka sighed, collecting the roster to finalize results.

"Sasuke." Kitazawa’s voice carried across the field.

The boy turned, dazed.

"Sasuke-kun, sensei is calling you," Sakura prompted softly. She had tried comforting him herself, to no avail. Maybe Kitazawa could reach him.

Sasuke trudged over.

"Congratulations," Kitazawa said, patting his shoulder.

"...Congratulations?" Sasuke stared, stunned. What was there to celebrate after losing twice?

"Didn’t you notice? You’ve grown stronger."

"Me?" Sasuke clenched his fists. Prompted by Kitazawa’s words, he realized it—his Sharingan felt sharper, his whole body more in control.

His eye had strengthened by at least a fifth.

"Fierce battles are the greatest forge," Kitazawa said with a smile. "You’re not far from awakening the two-tomoe Sharingan."

Sasuke’s eyes widened. The leap from one to two tomoe was monumental—Genin to Chunin in a single evolution.

If he couldn’t beat Naruto and Yakumo with one tomoe... then with two, he surely could.

"Kitazawa-sensei," Sasuke said firmly, "I want harsher training. Push me further."

His current Fire Release training felt far too slow.

[Mission triggered: Help Uchiha Sasuke awaken the Two-Tomoe Sharingan.]

[Reward: Two-Tomoe Sharingan.]

[Accept?]

Kitazawa’s eyebrow lifted. He had expected a mission to defeat Naruto or Yakumo, not this. But the reward was excellent.

Naturally—he accepted.

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