Glancing to the side, the Third Hokage took a puff of his pipe and withdrew his gaze from the Fourth Kazekage.
"Hahaha, is that so?"
With a smile on his face, the Third Hokage said,
"I see limitless potential in Sōsuke, or rather, I see Minato's shadow in him, he is not the same as Orochimaru, Sōsuke possesses a firm Will of Fire."
As an old fox, how could the Third Hokage not understand the hidden provocation in Orochimaru's words.
If he truly doubted Yagyu, he would never have taught him everything he had.
So facing the Kazekage's words, the Third Hokage simply smiled and did not take it to heart.
Of course, that was only when facing outsiders.
If someone within Konoha, aside from Danzo, said such a thing, the Third Hokage would definitely remember it.
"Is that so? Then I hope Konoha does not produce another genius like Orochimaru."
Orochimaru smiled and said no more.
They were both old foxes, he knew his attempt had failed, but it was still enough to make the Third Hokage uncomfortable.
As for Yagyu, gaining him would be fortunate, losing him would be fate.
After all, Orochimaru had already obtained the vessel he truly wanted.
To be honest, as a civilian genius himself, Orochimaru initially viewed Yagyu the same way Danzo once did.
Without a bloodline limit, his growth had a ceiling.
But now, Danzo had begun to regret, while Orochimaru had only just started to truly notice Yagyu.
Back to the main point.
Whether it was the discussions in the audience or the subtle verbal clash between the Hokage and Orochimaru, Yagyu knew nothing about it.
Right now, he was thinking about how to defeat Temari.
Or rather, whether he should just kill her outright.
As his thoughts shifted, the killing intent around Yagyu fluctuated, sometimes heavy, sometimes calm.
Standing opposite him, Temari, who had the task of gauging his strength, felt her mood rise and fall along with his aura.
After being toyed with like this for a while, she could not take it anymore.
Her expression turned serious.
"Yagyu Sōsuke!"
Boom.
The giant iron fan slammed into the ground, creating a small crater.
Temari's tone carried anger.
"If you want to fight, then fight, why are you humiliating me like this?"
Hearing her words, Yagyu was stunned and looked at her in confusion.
"When did I humiliate you? My fiancée is watching from the audience, do not slander me."
Crack.
Temari clenched her teeth, her face darkened.
Was that even what she meant?
This Yagyu Sōsuke was not only terrifyingly strong, his mouth was just as sharp.
"Fine!"
Her eyes turned serious as chakra surged from her body.
"If you will not make a move, then I will!"
Whoosh.
She opened her fan and swung it violently toward Yagyu.
"Wind Style, Sickle Weasel Jutsu!"
With her shout, a violent gale rose, carrying sand and stones, forming an attack that combined offense and defense as it surged toward Yagyu.
Looking at the incoming attack, Yagyu remained calm.
"Alright, I will end this with ninjutsu."
He had no intention of drawing his blade.
Raising his hands, he completed the hand seals instantly.
"Wind Style, Great Breakthrough!"
Boom.
Just as Temari's attack reached him, Yagyu's jutsu erupted with even greater force.
With no resistance at all, her gale was completely pushed back.
Boom.
A three meter wide trench was carved into the ground.
At the end of it, Temari, completely unprepared, crashed into the arena wall, leaving a crater.
Pfft.
Spitting out blood, her vision blurred as dizziness overwhelmed her.
In her mind, only one thought remained.
"So strong, this Wind Style alone has this level of power, Yagyu Sōsuke..."
Before she could think further,
Buzz.
A scorching heat and a sense of death snapped her back to awareness.
When she looked up, Yagyu's second attack had already arrived.
"Fire Style, Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Boom.
A massive fireball, nearly eight meters in diameter, surged forward to engulf her.
"So fast!"
Temari could only cry out in shock.
Whoosh.
She used Body Flicker to barely dodge the attack.
But before she could even breathe,
Crackle.
The sound of lightning rang out.
Like a bolt of thunder, Yagyu appeared right in front of her.
Without giving her time to react, he delivered a powerful kick straight to her chest.
Boom.
The ground shook.
Temari was sent flying like a cannonball, smashing into the ground and forming a human shaped crater.
"Cough!"
She spat out another mouthful of blood, her face pale.
Only one thought remained in her mind.
"He is too strong, far too strong."
Crackle.
Again the same sound.
Again the same flash of lightning.
Again the same figure.
Watching Yagyu appear before her like teleportation, Temari's expression dimmed.
She thought,
"I am going to die."
"Rasengan!"
At the moment that thought appeared, Yagyu's voice followed.
As if confirming her fear, he raised his hand and formed a spinning sphere of chakra.
Boom.
With a loud explosion, both Yagyu and Temari were swallowed by dust.
No one could see what happened inside.
But that did not stop the crowd from erupting.
"So strong, she cannot even fight back!"
"That last move, was that the Rasengan, the Fourth Hokage's technique?"
"Wait, did he just kill her?"
"This is an exam, deaths are normal."
"Still, she was pretty, what a waste."
"Shut up, you pervert."
Compared to the spectators, the ninja watching were far more serious.
Every time they saw Yagyu fight, they realized one thing.
He was overwhelmingly strong.
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