Overdrafting the Future, Starting in Naruto

Chapter 43: Team Battle!

July 12th, 1:30 PM.

Genichi arrived outside Training Ground 29. Before long, Uchiha Namiichi and Yamanaka En also arrived. The three of them crossed the fence into the field and stood before the proctor. This training ground, unlike those in the core area of Konoha, was set up within a forest and was very large.

After waiting for a moment, the other team arrived.

Genichi's eyes lit up. "Kakashi, so we're facing you after all!"

Their opponent was none other than Team Kakashi. He had seen Kakashi's other two teammates yesterday; one was a chunin from the Sarutobi clan, and the other was a chunin from the Hyuga clan.

The two teams stood ten meters apart.

The proctor held a flag. After confirming both sides were ready, he immediately swung the flag down. "Begin!"

As his voice fell, the proctor leaped backward, landing on a tree branch. And the two teams moved at the same time.

Namiichi charged forward while Genichi formed the Tiger seal.

Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!

Opposite them, Kakashi's team did not immediately charge. The Sarutobi clan member formed hand seals, while the Hyuga's veins bulged as he activated his Byakugan.

The next moment, their vision was sealed, plunging them into absolute darkness.

However.

The Byakugan's sight pierced through the area of absolute darkness. While forming seals to break the genjutsu, the Hyuga simultaneously called out a warning to Kakashi. The person he focused on dispelling the illusion from first was also Kakashi, because Namiichi was targeting him.

Clang!

The ninja blades clashed. Namiichi used the force to leap backward, sheathing his sword as he did so. His hands formed seals while he was still in the air. He opened his mouth and spat out a giant fireball that rolled towards Kakashi.

And at that exact moment, Genichi and En both cast the Temporary Paralysis Technique. Kakashi, having just landed, was instantly frozen in place.

Rumble!

A wall of earth rose up, perfectly blocking Namiichi's Great Fireball Technique. The Hyuga ninja behind them quickly dispelled the genjutsu on Kakashi.

Just then, from the left and right sides of the wall, two figures flickered into view. It was Genichi and Namiichi.

Kakashi, who had just regained his freedom of movement, leaped up and once again engaged Namiichi. Genichi, meanwhile, went up against the Sarutobi ninja.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of intense clashes echoed through the forest. After a dozen exchanges, Genichi kicked the Sarutobi ninja, sending him flying. The man crashed into a tree trunk and then slumped to the ground. He endured the sharp pain in his chest and was about to form a seal to cast a ninjutsu, but his eyes suddenly went blank.

Mind Body Switch Technique!

The Sarutobi ninja leaped up and charged straight at Kakashi.

Genichi, meanwhile, had already charged towards the Hyuga ninja. If not for the Hyuga, although his Bringer-of-Darkness Technique might not have allowed for an instant victory, Team Kakashi would have lost the initiative and been quickly defeated. The Bringer-of-Darkness could counter the Sharingan, but it could not counter the Byakugan. The area of darkness had a limited range, and the Byakugan's sight could penetrate through it.

So, regardless of whether Kakashi could hold off the combined attack of Namiichi and En, Genichi had to first take care of the troublesome Hyuga ninja. Once the Hyuga was dealt with, he would only need a single Bringer-of-Darkness Technique to defeat Kakashi.

The Hyuga ninja also knew this. But he did not retreat; instead, he met the charge. He knew that if he retreated, Kakashi would have to face an attack from three people. Alternatively, he could have targeted En's real body and tried to trade one for one. But in the end, he would still have to face a two-on-one assault. Therefore, tying up Genichi was the optimal solution.

Their hope for victory lay with Kakashi.

Kakashi understood this very well. The moment he saw Genichi go after his Hyuga teammate, he knew the situation was extremely critical. If he couldn't break through the blockade of the two in front of him, or even take one of them out, they would surely be defeated. Because he was well aware of Genichi's strength; his teammate, Hyuga Haru, could not hold out for long.

The breakthrough point was on En, but Namiichi was too difficult to deal with. It was the first time Kakashi had experienced the power of the Sharingan up close. It saw through his movements and intentions with perfect clarity, precisely intercepting him every time.

On the other side, Genichi, holding his short sword, parried all the shuriken thrown by Hyuga Haru. Then, with a flick of his wrist, the short sword in his hand shot out.

Haru slapped the sword away with his palm, then gasped in surprise. "So fast!"

In the blink of an eye, Genichi was right in front of him. Haru had no time to think and immediately responded with the Gentle Fist, because at this moment, Genichi was empty-handed.

But the next moment, Genichi drew a sword with his right hand.

Zing!

A bright blade flashed like a bolt of white silk. Genichi swept past Haru.

Haru's body froze in place. He looked down. He saw that the clothes at his waist were torn, and there was a shallow, bloody line on his skin. He knew that this couldn't have been a mistake on Genichi's part; he had held back.

"What incredible swordsmanship!"

That last move was too fast. Haru had no time to react at all.

"Only by mastering the Rotation could I have blocked that strike," Haru thought to himself. He then leaped back and withdrew from the field.

Genichi looked over towards Kakashi's fight, just in time to see the mind-controlled Sarutobi ninja get kicked away by Kakashi. But this immediately created an opening, and Namiichi kicked Kakashi, sending him flying as well.

Swish!

Genichi vanished from his spot. Kakashi had just stabilized his body when Genichi's long sword was already at his neck.

The proctor leaped down from the tree and announced, "Team Sakumo wins!"

Kakashi couldn't help but say, "Your speed has gotten even faster."

Genichi chuckled. "You too."

The Sarutobi teammate, Fufū, complained, "You two can stop complimenting each other. I think Genichi's genjutsu is more terrifying."

"That was the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, right? That's a super high-level genjutsu, and you only needed one seal."

"It's a good thing we had Haru's Byakugan. Otherwise, we would have lost in under a minute."

Genichi looked puzzled. "Isn't the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique supposed to be one seal?"

At this, the proctor smiled. "Only a ninja who has mastered genjutsu can perform it with one seal. It's not something that can normally be done."

"As far as I know, the version recorded in the Scroll of Seals also has two variations."

"Genichi, your talent in genjutsu is truly strong. It's been a long time since I've seen someone your age master such a high-level genjutsu."

"Keep it up!"

With that, the proctor vanished.

Genichi helplessly spread his hands. The version he had received was the one-seal version.

After packing up their things, the two teams walked out together.

The next morning, at 8:30 AM, Genichi arrived at the venue for the third stage, the individual battles. It was a huge indoor arena with spectator stands and an electronic screen.

All those who had passed the first written test were gathered here for the individual battles, as there were no eliminations in the second stage.

As the time approached nine o'clock, the arena became more and more crowded.

At nine o'clock sharp, the proctor appeared and announced the rules. "The individual matches will be randomly drawn. The loser is eliminated, and the winner will continue to the next match."

"Let the matches begin!"

Swish!

On the spectator stands, Genichi and the others all couldn't help but look at the giant electronic screen. Two names appeared on it.

"Sarutobi Fufū, Noe Taisei!"

Kakashi's teammate, Sarutobi Fufū, immediately leaped into the arena.

Genichi and the others all called out words of encouragement.

The individual battles had officially begun!

(End of Chapter)