Chapter 40: Chapter 40
Sasuke's voice was quite loud.
Raised by his elder brother since he was a child and guided in his training, even after witnessing the terrifying power of Wood Release, young Sasuke did not want to believe that his brother could lose.
The crowd in the stands were all looking at the noisy kid. Fugaku Uchiha glared at his younger son, which quickly settled Sasuke down.
Before the third round officially started.
Akihara Kagura stood on the stage, glanced at the somewhat lively crowd in the stands, and then looked at Itachi Uchiha standing across from him: "Your younger brother seems to have a lot of faith in you."
"That's why I can't lose."
Itachi Uchiha looked at Akihara Kagura, his eyes showing utmost seriousness.
If there was one person in this world for whom Itachi Uchiha would give up everything, it would undoubtedly be his younger brother, Sasuke Uchiha. He didn't want to disappoint his brother.
Although he knew little about Wood Release, especially after witnessing Akihara Kagura's Wood Dragon technique wreaking havoc in the Forest of Death, Itachi Uchiha knew that this battle would undoubtedly be difficult, but he still had to give it his all in this fight!
Because...
His younger brother was watching everything from the stands!
"Really?"
"What a coincidence."
"I also have reasons why I can't lose."
Akihara Kagura looked at Itachi Uchiha, the smile on his face growing deeper: "If I lose to you, Lord Danzou will definitely abandon me completely."
"What do you mean?"
Itachi Uchiha frowned.
"You won't understand."
"You are revered under the sunlight."
"While I've always been abandoned in the darkness..."
"Once, I was adopted by an orphanage, thinking I had found a home, but then I was dragged into a dark laboratory, and the director of the orphanage completely forgot about me;"
"Later, Lord Danzou adopted me. In order to stay by his side, I must do everything he entrusts to me well, yet he chose to abandon me..."
The smile on Akihara Kagura's face gradually became bleak, making it hard for anyone to bear listening: "Even though I've been excellent enough, even though I haven't done anything wrong..."
"This..."
Itachi Uchiha was somewhat at a loss.
"Because of you..."
Akihara Kagura spread his hands, a hint of ruthlessness gradually appearing in his eyes: "I only understood it now, Lord Danzou has always wanted me to defeat you..."
"Because in the Forest of Death, I defeated everyone, only you escaped my hunt, and so he sent me to the Anbu..."
"...I'm sorry."
Itachi Uchiha couldn't help but frown, still saying, "I didn't know, even if I knew about it, I had to do my best to pass that test."
"It doesn't matter..."
Akihara Kagura slowly shook his head, seemingly indifferent to the past, but his smile became increasingly ugly: "Anyway...now I can correct past mistakes."
"As long as I can correct my mistakes, as long as I can shatter everything about you in this test, I can definitely make Lord Danzou take me back!"
"..."
Itachi Uchiha was silent, not knowing how to respond.
Should he tell the truth that Danzou Shimura isn't worth following? That would probably make his opponent even angrier!
"Hey!"
Genma Shiranui looked a bit grim, biting his Senbon, continuing: "You two, remember the rules of the match, if you kill your opponent, you won't pass this test..."
"I don't care."
Akihara Kagura shook his head, nonchalantly continuing: "This Chunin Exam means nothing to me now, if Itachi Uchiha dies here, it would only prove that his life was too short, perhaps his death would take others further in life?"
"..."
Genma Shiranui felt a bit of a headache.
This brat had been fine in the previous two rounds, but now he suddenly wanted to stir up trouble, even showing a murderous attitude?
In the stands.
Many of the ninjas could read lips.
Many people present knew clearly that the final match could be a matter of life or death, causing some to inevitably feel a touch of worry.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was undoubtedly one of them.
Reading Akihara Kagura's lip movements, Hiruzen Sarutobi was a bit angry at Danzou Shimura's underhandedness, even using this child and causing trouble within the Anbu...
Akihara Kagura, a child already extreme at heart, had grown even darker because of this abandonment, making it even harder for people to correct his mindset.
"Danzo..."
The ten-year-old girl, Uchiha Izumi, sat next to Uchiha Shisui, looking worried as she spoke: "Itachi can definitely win, right?"
"Itachi is the best."
Uchiha Shisui slowly nodded.
This was just Uchiha Shisui's comforting words for Uchiha Izumi.
As an excellent ninja, Uchiha Shisui could see the gap between Akihara Kagura and Itachi Uchiha. It would be difficult for Itachi Uchiha to defeat him now...
Uchiha Shisui understood more than Uchiha Izumi. He clearly knew from Itachi Uchiha's words that the latter had a more terrifying Wood Dragon technique...
If Akihara Kagura really intended to kill Itachi Uchiha, Itachi could be in mortal danger.
"The match begins!"
Genma Shiranui's voice echoed in the arena.
As the announcement of the match's commencement sounded, the two youngsters in the arena moved almost simultaneously. Itachi Uchiha threw four shurikens with a flick of his hand, instantly disappearing from his original spot!
"Wood Release: Advent of a World of Flowering Trees!"
Akihara Kagura immediately raised his finger!
A tree root quickly drilled out, blocking Akihara Kagura's front and Itachi Uchiha's shurikens!
One after another, tree roots drilled out from the ground!
Large trees grew in the arena along with the spread of the tree roots, instantly covering the entire field, turning the exam stage into an ancient forest!
Itachi Uchiha had once seen Akihara Kagura control large trees to attack enemies. He knew very well that these trees were all under Akihara Kagura's chakra control. He dared not stay at any point, only avoiding the root vines' sudden attacks in the forest!
"There's no geographical advantage..."
Itachi Uchiha's figure leapt in the forest. His pupils instantly turned scarlet. Using his Sharingan, he observed the attack trajectory of all the tree roots and vines in his field of vision, seeking a point where he could momentarily land!
The next moment...
Itachi Uchiha's face changed abruptly.
Because all the branches and vines in the forest were converging upwards.
The immense chakra reaction almost left people breathless. Everyone in the examination field knew that a dangerous technique was about to emerge!
"Although one 'Advent of a World of Flowering Trees' could defeat you, it might be a little troublesome..."
Akihara Kagura's voice seemed somewhat leisurely, slowly continuing: "If it's a match between Wood Release and Sharingan, there should be a more shocking way..."
"Wood Release: Wood Dragon Jutsu!"
The trunks of the large trees grew continuously towards the sky, turning into huge vines twining together to form an upwardly towering giant wood dragon!
This wood dragon was hundreds of meters long. Its colossal size alone seemed capable of destroying the entire field at any moment, which was somewhat heart-throbbing to watch!
A huge vine extended towards the wood dragon.
Akihara Kagura stepped on the vine, gazed forward, and slowly but firmly walked onto the top of the wood dragon's head.
--x--
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