Konoha's Hextech Ninja

When Hinata Hyuga was taught Lightning Release Chakra Mode, it was only because the Hidden Cloud Village had always coveted the Byakugan bloodline that the Lightning Release Chakra Mode was well-suited to be paired with the Byakugan.

However, Hinata Hyuga's ability to combine Lightning Release Chakra Mode and Gentle Fist was something Yoruichi Yagami hadn't anticipated.

Of course, this method, though ingenious, is nothing more than that.

From Yagami Yoruichi's perspective, it was just a "decently interesting" application method.

At most, this one move is enough to cross the threshold of becoming a movie star.

If Hinata Hyuga wants to go further, she will have to develop this tactic further.

"Among Kage-level ninjas, it is considered a very strong close-combat attack method, especially destructive to the human body, and can effectively counter some powerful defensive ninjutsu."

"With further development, it might reach the level of a super shadow, but it would be very difficult to go higher."

"Developing bloodlines is still more valuable..."

Yoruichi Yagami pondered this in his mind.

Given Yagami Yoruichi's strength and insight, Hinata Hyuga's performance was just so-so.

However, considering her age, her performance is truly remarkable.

With just this combination of Lightning Release chakra and Gentle Fist, Hinata Hyuga has definitely reached Kage-level strength, at least in close combat.

As for remote...

Yagami Yoru glanced at the longbow that Hinata Hyuga had been carrying on her back and hadn't taken off, and a strange smile appeared on his face.

Her ranged attacks are even stronger than her melee attacks!

However, this longbow, forged from chakra metal, doesn't possess any extraordinary abilities; it merely has good chakra conductivity.

It's alright now, but as Hinata Hyuga's strength increases in the future, she will gradually fall behind and will inevitably be eliminated.

"I need to find a way to get her a better bow, and matching arrows," Yagami Yoruichi thought to herself. Where in the ninja world could one find a powerful bow and arrows?

Or, by some method, can one forge a set of bows and arrows sufficient for use at the 'Six Paths Level'?

While Yagami Yoruichi was distracted, in the final round of the quarterfinals, Uzumaki Karin and Kaguya Kimimaro stepped onto the stage.

“I am different from them.”

Kaguya Kimimaro looked at Uzumaki Karin and said, "I bear the will of Lord Orochimaru, and I have an absolute reason not to lose."

"I also have reasons why I can't lose!" Karin Uzumaki snorted coldly, finding the guy in front of her really annoying.

“You are very strong. Lord Orochimaru warned me about your strength, so to show respect, I will use my full strength from the start.”

As Kaguya Kimimaro spoke, the Earth Curse Seal was activated, and dense black lines covered her entire body, entering 'State One'.

But this is just the beginning.

Soon, Kaguya Kimimaro's skin turned completely black, horns grew on her head, and a long tail grew behind her.

Bones of various shapes sprouted from all over its body, making it look like an alien.

Before the battle even began, Kaguya Kimimaro had already entered her second state!

Karin Uzumaki had fought Orochimaru's subordinates before and knew that their 'transformation' would greatly enhance their strength.

Sensing the increasingly intense and malevolent chakra emanating from Kaguya Kimimaro, Karin Uzumaki became wary, quickly refining her chakra while simultaneously activating Kagura's Mind's Eye, focusing intently on the situation.

Kakashi Hatake glanced at Kimimaro Kaguya, who had transformed into a form that was no longer human, and while inwardly complaining, announced the start of the match and immediately left the arena.

"The Corpse Bone Vein..."

Kaguya Kimimaro raised one hand to block in front of her, and said in a deep voice, "The Dance of the Iron Clematis!"

He pulled out his spine and lashed it at Karin Uzumaki like a soft whip.

"What the hell?!"

"Using your own spine as a weapon? Won't you die?!"

Karin Uzumaki had never seen Kimimaro Kaguya use such methods before, and she was taken aback.

But her strength was undeniable, and she quickly reacted, retreating without hesitation while simultaneously launching a counterattack.

"Orochimaru's monster subordinates are most afraid of sealing techniques! As long as the power of the cursed seal is sealed, your strength will be negligible! Adamantine Sealing Technique!"

Golden chains shot out from Karin Uzumaki's body, heading towards Kimimaro Kaguya from different directions.

The chains were made entirely of a special chakra unique to the Uzumaki clan, and their flight speed was astonishing. Kaguya Kimimaro reacted in time, but his speed was far too slow to keep up, and he was unable to dodge the chains' attack.

Pa~!

A chain wrapped around Kaguya Kimimaro's body, and the immense pulling force caused him to pause.

During that brief pause, more chains wrapped around him, binding Kaguya Kimimaro tightly, while the ends of the chains plunged into the ground, locking him in place.

Kaguya Kimimaro struggled desperately, but she couldn't break free at all; instead, the chains tightened around her.

Karin Uzumaki unleashed a series of spells, pressing them towards Kimimaro Kaguya from afar: "Seal!"

Kaguya Kimimaro desperately activated her bloodline limit, attempting to counterattack.

But the power of the seal caused his chakra to solidify rapidly.

The power of the cursed seal was stripped from his body and shrank back into the Earth Curse Seal.

Having lost the power of the cursed seal, Kaguya Kimimaro's strength plummeted, and a sense of weakness washed over him, as his chakra had been completely drained by the sealing technique.

"Referee, does this count as a win?" Karin Uzumaki turned to look at Kakashi Hatake outside the court.

Kakashi Hatake was stunned for a moment before he reacted. He quickly stepped forward to check on Kimimaro Kaguya's condition and announced, "The winner is Karin Uzumaki!"

In the stands.

Orochimaru licked his lips, revealing an expression of great interest.

"The Vajra Lock is very effective against my curse seal."

"Is its weakness a vulnerability to sealing techniques? It seems there's still room for improvement in the curse seal."

"Kimimaro's body..."

"Well, the leader promised I would save him, so I don't need to worry."

"I didn't expect Kimimaro to lose too. As expected of the leader's student, he's even stronger than I anticipated."

"At my age, I'm far behind them."

"If it weren't for the flaws of the Reincarnation technique, I would really like to take over their bodies. Such top-tier geniuses..."

Orochimaru licked his lips, a greedy look on his face.

But suddenly, he felt a gaze fall upon him, and when he turned his head, he met Yagami Yoruichi's gaze.

Instantly, Orochimaru felt a chill run down his spine, and all his greed vanished in an instant. He dared not think about it any further.

Chapter 273 The Importance of Fault Tolerance

Intermission time between matches.

Kurenai Yuhi asked Yoruichi Yagami, "Yoruichi, all four finalists are your students. Who do you think is the strongest?"

Before Yagami Yoruichi could speak, Hyuga Hanabi waved her little arms and shouted, "It's definitely my sister! The championship belongs to my sister!"

In Hanabi's heart, Yagami Yoruichi is the most powerful person, and the second is her older sister Hyuga Hinata.

"No!" Yagami Yoruichi patted Hyuga Hanabi's arm and said with a smile, "Hinata is very strong, but her current strength is still not as good as Shion's."

"Moreover, the arena is too small, which prevents her from taking advantage of ranged attacks. If she only engages in close combat, her Lightning Release Chakra Mode is countered by Karin's Adamantine Sealing Barrier. That's a bloodline limit that can even suppress tailed beasts. Although Hinata has a lot of chakra, it's still not as much as a tailed beast. If she gets caught by Adamantine Sealing Barrier, she'll lose."

"If nothing unexpected happens, Shion will be first, Karin second, and Hinata and Yakumo will probably be eliminated in the semifinals."

Yagami Yoruichi stated her judgment.

Hiashi Hyuga, who was standing to the side, looked disappointed when he heard Yoruichi Yagami's words, but he quickly regained his composure.

Hinata Hyuga's current performance has far exceeded his expectations.

It's not unacceptable to be temporarily outmatched by other more outstanding geniuses.

Little Fireworks seemed a bit unhappy, her little face falling as she said, "Eh? Sister can't make it to the finals?"

Yagami Yoruichi chuckled and said, "It's a matter of the venue. If it were in the wild, Hinata could attack from a distance, and Karin wouldn't be able to handle it. Although she still can't defeat Shion, she can at least rank second among all the geniuses of this generation."

Hinata Hyuga's Byakugan purity is almost identical to that of a pure Otsutsuki clan member, and her field of vision is extremely far, reaching a distance of over ten kilometers.

With the added benefit of her "White Eye" ability, her effective range for archery can reach over ten kilometers.

In the ninja world, this level of long-range attack capability is very rare; even many people with Kage-level strength cannot achieve it.

With her superior range alone, Hinata Hyuga can wear down even stronger enemies by using a "kiting" tactic.

Moreover, her strength is not weak.

Yagami Yoruichi changed the subject, saying, "Moreover, Hinata's bloodline development has only just begun, and she has the opportunity to surpass Shion in the future."

After all, they are of the bloodline of the Otsutsuki clan.

Even if they are not pure-blooded descendants, as long as they can continuously revert to their ancestral ways and get closer to the true Otsutsuki clan, they still have a chance to enter the Six Paths level.

Of course, Karin Uzumaki also has this potential.

It all comes down to who has developed their bloodline to a higher degree.

Hinata Hyuga's advantage lies in the fact that Yoruichi Yagami knows where the opportunity for her bloodline to undergo further transformation lies.

If we reach the moon and obtain the Great Tenseigan composed of numerous Byakugan, and have Hinata Hyuga find a way to absorb its power, along with Yoruichi Yagami's help, there might be a chance to awaken the Tenseigan.

Once the Tenseigan is activated, it's equivalent to possessing the key to entering the Six Paths realm.

As for Karin Uzumaki, Yoruichi Yagami didn't know any way to accelerate her bloodline transformation and could only wait for Orochimaru, Amado Sanzu, and others to conduct genetic research on the Otsutsuki clan.

"Bloodline transformation?" Hanabi tilted her head, somewhat not understanding what Yagami Yoruichi was talking about.

"You'll understand when you grow up," Yagami Yoruichi said with a smile, without further explanation.

Hiashi Hyuga listened to Yoruichi Yagami and Hanabi Hyuga's conversation, his curiosity almost bursting, but he dared not ask any more questions and could only forcibly suppress his curiosity.

In the end, all the benefits go to her daughter.

Hiashi Hyuga could only console himself with this thought.