Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 133: Sage Art: Hard Whirlpool Water Blade!

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Hōzuki Kaden's massive arm augmentation greatly increased his raw strength, but it also slightly reduced his speed.

Clang!

Tonari barely deflected a heavy blow from Kaden's sword. Forced to retreat, he tried to create distance, but Kaden relentlessly pursued him.

At this stage of the Chūnin Exams, most participants' fighting styles and techniques had already been exposed.

Once a ninja's combat style was analyzed, counters could be devised.

Kaden's understanding of Tonari was simplistic at best, but he relied on his experience against agile opponents. As long as he closed the distance, separating from him would require his consent.

However, Kaden underestimated how many trump cards Tonari still held.

The moment Kaden lunged forward again, Tonari countered.

"Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!"

Thanks to prior preparation, this snake summoning technique didn't require seals.

Seals? Who needs them?

As a disciple of Orochimaru, Tonari had snakes hidden all over his body. It would be shameful if he didn't.

Kaden hesitated as the snakes slithered toward him. He reflexively used his Hydrification Technique to avoid being entangled.

The snakes passed harmlessly through his liquefied body.

But this was exactly what Tonari had been waiting for.

The thin electrical currents enveloping his short sword suddenly intensified.

Chirp!

The blade emitted sharp, bird-like cries as electricity coalesced into crackling arcs. The short sword transitioned from a cutting edge to a piercing one, resembling the Chidori Sharp Spear in form and function.

Kaden's liquefied body was immediately electrified, rendering him paralyzed. His sword arm froze mid-swing.

Taking advantage of the opening, Tonari formed seals.

"Shadow Clone Technique!"

A clone appeared, reinforcing the electrical restraint on Kaden. Meanwhile, Tonari's main body moved back to gain some breathing room, rapidly forming seals as he did.

"Summoning Technique!"

Poof!

A large cloud of smoke erupted, revealing… a small blue and white cat.

Meow!

The cute feline let out an intimidating roar, its tiny size and high-pitched cry making it more adorable than threatening.

The girls in the audience couldn't resist squealing in delight, their faces lighting up with adoration.

However, Tonari had no time for theatrics.

The cat—Little Blue—leapt into the air, merging seamlessly into Tonari's body.

The change was immediate and profound.

Tonari's chakra surged, transforming in both intensity and nature. His aura became one with the surrounding environment, his breathing syncing with the natural rhythms of the world.

Feline features appeared on him—cat-like ears atop his head, dark lines resembling makeup around his eyes, and vertical slit pupils.

This was Pseudo Sage Mode.

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Observers were stunned into silence.

Even Hanzō, who had been calm throughout the exams, stood up, his gaze locked onto Tonari.

"What is this?"

Orochimaru remained seated but licked his lips, clearly intrigued.

"Tonari-kun, you continue to surprise me."

Tonari's transformation didn't go unnoticed by the other participants either. Iwagakure's Roshi, a veteran jinchūriki, narrowed his eyes.

"This aura... it feels familiar…"

Meanwhile, Kaden was struck by a sense of overwhelming danger. Just moments ago, he had felt in control. Now, he wasn't so sure.

His instincts screamed at him to run.

"Since you like water so much," Tonari said, his voice calm but chilling, "let me show you the true power of water."

He held out his palm, where a sphere of rapidly rotating water began to form.

The onlookers were puzzled.

Using Water Style against a Hōzuki clan member?

The Hōzuki were known for their Hydrification Technique, which not only rendered them immune to physical attacks but also mitigated most Water Style techniques.

But Tonari knew exactly what he was doing.

"Condense," he whispered, channeling Sage Chakra into the sphere.

The swirling water compressed into a dense, high-speed whirlpool.

"Sage Art: Hard Whirlpool Water Blade!"

The intense spiraling water emitted a metallic sound as if blades of steel were spinning at high velocity.

Kaden barely regained control of his body when he saw the devastating technique coming for him.

"I surren—"

Before he could finish, Tonari disappeared in a flash, closing the gap with blinding speed.

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Orochimaru's eyes gleamed with anticipation, but he didn't move.

"Why aren't you stepping in?" Hatake Sakumo asked, surprised by Orochimaru's inaction.

The Snake Sannin smirked. "There's no need this time."

Boom!

Tonari's attack collided with an unexpected defense.

A compact, powerful figure appeared between him and Kaden, wielding a massive hammer and axe connected by a chain—the Blunt Sword: Kabutowari, one of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist.

The wielder was Jinin Akebino, a current member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist and the leader of Kirigakure's delegation.

Jinin swung the hammer with full force, striking the axe and attempting to deflect Tonari's Sage-enhanced attack.

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Crash!

The collision was deafening. Tonari's spiraling water drilled through the air, clashing against Jinin's weapon in a fierce struggle.

Water sprayed everywhere, slicing through the environment like a deadly cyclone. The ground beneath them cracked and splintered, as though a massive drill was boring into it.

Blood mixed with the torrent as Jinin struggled to withstand the attack. His clothes were shredded, and his body bore countless cuts, blood pouring from his wounds.

With one final strike, Jinin managed to dispel the water blade, but he was left battered and exhausted.

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The crowd fell silent as the aftermath became clear.

Jinin stood unsteadily, holding an unconscious Kaden in his arms. Both were covered in injuries, their bodies a testament to the destructive power of Tonari's attack.

If not for Jinin's intervention, Kaden would undoubtedly have died.

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Tonari withdrew his hand, his breathing labored. His right arm bore deep gashes, the backlash of his own technique evident in the torn flesh.

He winced but forced a smile, muttering, "Still a bit rough around the edges."

The Pseudo Sage Mode faded as Little Blue emerged from his body, gently licking his wounded hand.

"Good work," he said, stroking her head before sending her back with a summoning dismissal.

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Jinin shot Tonari a sharp look, then left the battlefield with Kaden, aware that any further escalation would only invite disaster.

Orochimaru and Sakumo, who had been silently observing, subtly relaxed. They had been ready to intervene if Jinin made another move.

As Tonari staggered off the field, his teammates rushed to his side.

"Your hand—are you okay?" Kushina asked, her worry evident.

"I'm fine," Tonari reassured her. "It'll heal quickly."

Minato, standing nearby, gave him a complicated look.

"Your match ended already?" Tonari asked, noticing Minato's presence.

Minato nodded, a wry smile on his face. "After seeing your fight, both Dikayi and I decided to call it a draw. There's no point in continuing after witnessing that."

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The Chūnin Exams concluded with Tonari's overwhelming display of power.

While the other villages left with mixed feelings, Konoha's reputation soared.

For Tonari, however, the conclusion marked the beginning of new challenges.

"Maybe I've been too high-profile," he mused. "It's time to lay low for a while."

He couldn't shake the feeling that he had attracted the attention of far too many powerful figures.

But for now, he allowed himself a small moment of satisfaction.

The mission was complete, and the future awaited.

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