NOVEL ONLINE FREE Chapter 60: Matchups.
Izuna vs Ensui.
Both stepped onto the stage, nodding slightly at each other. That silent exchange was enough—the instructor immediately announced the start of the match.
Izuna didn't waste even a second. He pulled out shurikens and launched them straight at Ensui. I could tell from his posture—he was planning to finish this early. He knew if he let Ensui finish his jutsu, the tables might turn fast.
Ensui was calm under pressure. He dodged the barrage and quickly retreated, backing up toward the edge of the arena. I noticed it too—he was getting dangerously close to the tower wall. Any further and he'd be cornered.
Izuna saw it, too. He followed up with a massive *Fireball Jutsu*, hoping to push Ensui into a mistake. But Ensui was smart. He didn't panic. He canceled his chakra molding and jumped out of the way just in time.
Then, right when Izuna tried to rush him, Ensui summoned *Water Clones*—two of them. They charged in like distractions while he repositioned. Izuna handled them well, cutting through the clones easily with close-range taijutsu.
Just when Izuna moved in again, Ensui activated the *Shadow Restraint Jutsu*—a classic Nara move. But Izuna didn't fall for it. He jumped away the moment he noticed the shadow stretching under him. I could see his eyes sharpen. He was being pushed, but not outplayed.
Ensui wasn't giving up. He mixed in paper bombs with his kunai and shurikens, tossing them all toward Izuna. Izuna responded with an *Earth Wall Jutsu*, shielding himself from the mini explosions. Smoke filled the arena floor for a second, and I narrowed my eyes, waiting to see who'd move first.
When the smoke cleared, Izuna was already on the move again.
He'd had enough.
He darted forward, casting another *Great Fireball Jutsu*, this one bigger than before. Ensui tried to dodge again, still molding chakra—I could tell he was seconds away from finishing something big. But Izuna was too fast.
A clean punch landed on Ensui's chest, breaking his concentration.
Ensui gritted his teeth and reached for a kunai, going for a desperate counter, but Izuna didn't let up. Another hit—this time the kunai was slapped from his hand, and then… a final blow, the edge of Izuna's kunai stopping just an inch from Ensui's eye.
Everyone in the arena went quiet for a moment. Then the instructor raised his hand and declared it.
"Izuna Uchiha wins!"
The crowd burst into cheers and applause. I heard people whispering—saying that all the remaining genin were already at chunin level or higher. And they were right.
Meanwhile, from my seat, I could see the reactions from the other clan heads.
Inoichi turned to Shikaku, clearly frustrated. "What happened?"
Shikaku just smiled and replied, "Well, he was better than your clan member, that's for sure."
Choza laughed loudly beside them, enjoying the moment.
Fugaku, on the other hand, simply nodded with a faint smile as Izuna made his way back to the seating area. It was subtle, but I noticed it—he was proud.
Ensui walked back to the Nara section. He didn't say anything, just took the empty seat near Sanata. Both of them sat silently. There wasn't much to say after a loss like that.
The instructor stepped up again.
"Now that the quarterfinals have concluded, the final four have been selected. There will be two matches to decide who goes on to the final."
He paused for a moment.
"The matchups will be decided by the Hokage himself."
Everyone looked toward the top floor of the tower where Hiruzen stood.
The Third Hokage rose to his feet, and with a calm, authoritative voice, he announced:
"First match: Ren Senju vs Izuna Uchiha.
Second match: Might Guy vs Kakashi Hatake."
As soon as he finished, the entire place erupted. People were shouting with excitement. Some who hadn't yet seen my wood release assumed Izuna would win. Others were thrilled about Guy vs Kakashi—it was bound to be intense.
The instructor added, "There will be a half-hour rest break. Use this time to recover and prepare."
With that, we all began moving.
Kakashi went straight to Minato's side, where I noticed Kushina had joined him.
Guy walked over to Might Duy, his father, surrounded by a group of cheering chunin.
Izuna returned to the Uchiha section, where I spotted Fugaku giving him a subtle nod.
And me? I walked to the Senju section where Tsunade was waiting.
As soon as I got close, Tsunade smiled and pulled me closer. She placed her hand on my shoulder and used *Mystic Palm*. I wasn't really tired, but her medical chakra felt warm and soothing.
She didn't need to tell me to win—I already knew she believed in me.
As we talked, Kushina arrived.
Tsunade greeted her with a grin and said, "Ren, you know who she is, right?"
I nodded. "Minato's girlfriend."
Kushina blushed. "H-hey, don't say it like that."
She gave Tsunade a brief hug and then turned to me. "Wow, you've grown up, huh?"
Before I could respond, she hugged me. It was unexpected but… honestly, kind of nice. I honestly enjoyed it ,mmm well ofcourse the hug.
Then I felt it—*him*.
The Nine-Tails.
As soon as she touched me, I sensed that wild, chaotic chakra inside her. Massive and untamed. It felt ancient. And deep inside her, I knew he sensed me too. That wood chakra in me… it reminded him of Hashirama.
Kurama.
But Kushina? She didn't feel anything. Her seal kept everything locked up too tight. She had no idea about the tiny war that just happened in the spiritual realm.
Tsunade, though… she glanced at me. She didn't say anything, but I could tell. She felt something too. She's getting better at sensing nature energy—my effort is working.
Kushina kept talking, completely unaware. She told me about how the Uzumaki and Senju were once like siblings, and how she chose to live alone instead of in the Senju compound. She even joked about inviting us to her wedding when the time came.
I just smiled and nodded.
She wished me luck for the semifinals and gave me a wink before walking back to Minato's side.
I didn't say anything about what I sensed. Not now.
Tsunade didn't press me either.
But I could see it in her eyes.
She knew something important had just happened.