The Boundless Journey, Starting From Bofuri

Although the commotion caused by Takeru and Gaara was quite significant, the Third Hokage, on the suggestion of the Kazekage, did not halt the tournament.

Orochimaru’s plans weren’t yet complete, and naturally, he wouldn’t give up midway.

Thus, the matches continued. The third match was supposed to be Sasuke vs Shino. However, since Sasuke hadn’t arrived, Orochimaru proposed postponing Sasuke’s match and proceeding with the fourth match’s contestants first.

This decision was also accepted by the remaining spectators, and the fourth match commenced immediately.

This match was Temari vs Ui. Although shaken by the previous battle, Temari considered forfeiting.

After all, Ui was Takeru’s comrade. She feared Takeru’s retaliation, was grateful that Takeru seemed to have guided Gaara, and worried Ui’s strength might be similar to Takeru’s.

However, she ultimately chose to compete. She realized this wasn’t just about winning, and she needed to display sufficient ability. Forfeiting would be the worst option.

"The third match, begin!" Seeing both appeared ready, Genma announced the start.

"I’ll attack with my full power. Be careful!" Before starting, Temari warned Ui.

"Bring it on!" Hearing her, Ui calmly nodded.

’She has invisibility ability, and her speed and strength seem considerable.’ Looking at Ui, Temari raised her guard to the max.

"Strike first! Ninja Art: Kamaitachi!" With that thought, she opened her giant fan behind her and unleashed her technique.

Seeing this, Ui understood the Kamaitachi’s wide range. Instead of dodging, she burst forth with her aura, quickly using ’Ken.’

With Ken active, Temari’s Wind Release couldn’t even approach Ui’s body, being blocked by an invisible Aura Barrier.

Due to the Kamaitachi, strong winds swept the arena, forcing spectators above to endure the whirlwind’s effects.

"Why is it ineffective? What ability is that?" Noticing her Kamaitachi attacks were blocked by an invisible shield around Ui, Temari was stunned.

Ui, seeing the Kamaitachi couldn’t pierce her Ken defense, remained calm, unsurprised.

Since Kamaitachi couldn’t hurt Ui, Temari didn’t hesitate. Gripping her giant fan, she charged at Ui’s position, swinging the fan directly at her.

Seeing Temari engage in close combat, Ui didn’t mind. With a swift movement, she left her spot at even greater speed, quickly ran, and then entered an invisible state.

"Not good!" Seeing Ui vanish, Temari became alert. Without further thought, she opened her giant fan again, unleashing a wide-range Kamaitachi on both sides.

Instantly, violent winds completely enveloped the arena.

Ui, seeing this, temporarily abandoned her attack opportunity, using Ken for defense.

When she recaptured Ui’s figure, Temari sighed in relief. Seizing the moment while Ui was suppressed by the strong wind, she threw several kunai at Ui’s location.

Ui saw the kunai. Though knowing they couldn’t break her defense, she wasn’t one to stand and get hit. She burst forth with extreme speed, dodging them.

Temari, seeing Ui move so fast despite the wind suppression, grew serious.

Also, unleashing Kamaitachi three times without holding back left Temari panting. Ui’s strength was more terrifying than she imagined.

Ui roughly estimated Temari’s strength and then moved. Sensing Ui’s action, Temari’s heart tightened.

Bam!

Soon, Ui’s fist turned pitch-black, covered in Armament Haki, and struck directly at Temari. Temari reacted quickly, using her sturdy fan to block.

But the moment Ui’s fist touched the iron fan, Temari’s expression changed. She was sent flying uncontrollably.

If she hadn’t quickly fanned behind her to use the wind to halt her momentum, she would have crashed directly into the wall.

Although she neutralized this attack, Temari’s arms were now somewhat numb from the shock.

"What a terrifying strength!" Feeling her condition, Temari gulped.

"Hmm, used too little force?" Seeing Temari seemingly unharmed, Ui was slightly surprised, then spoke softly.

Then, looking at Temari’s position, Ui burst forth with extreme speed again, vanishing from sight.

"So fast!" Seeing Ui’s action, Lee couldn’t help but stand up again. Ui’s speed approached his own after removing his weights.

What Lee didn’t know was that Ui was still wearing her weights.

Sakura on the viewing platform stared dumbfounded at Ui. She never imagined a girl could be so strong. Ino looked at Ui, then at Ritsu beside her, ’Was I going to fight a monster like this soon?’

Noticing Ino’s gaze, Ritsu was puzzled but gave her a smile. Though they’d soon be opponents, Ritsu didn’t hold any grudge toward Ino.

Seeing Ritsu’s smile, Ino quickly returned one, thinking to herself, ’I should probably just give up!’

After watching Naruto vs Neji and Takeru vs Gaara, Ino had completely lost her desire to fight. The gap was too vast. She wondered if this was really a Chunin Exams match.

Thinking of Takeru’s terrifying power, Gaara’s monstrous form, Takeru casually summoning a sky full of ice shards, and that towering ice wall, Ino couldn’t imagine how she could survive if she had to fight Takeru.

"What’s wrong?" Seeing Ino staring intently, Takeru asked curiously.

"Ah, n-nothing!" Seeing Takeru look over, Ino flusteredly waved her hands.

"Is that so?" Seeing Ino’s flustered gaze, Takeru didn’t press, simply giving her a smile before turning back to watch Ui’s match below.

When Ino saw Takeru’s smile, her heart raced. This feeling was much stronger than when she saw Sasuke...

Back on the battlefield, after vanishing from Temari’s sight with extreme speed, Ui charged straight at her. Then, with a powerful punch, she aimed directly at Temari.

"Not good!" Seeing Ui suddenly appear and the fast-approaching small fist, Temari couldn’t think. Though knowing she couldn’t block it, her speed was much slower than Ui’s, making evasion impossible. She could only use her giant fan to block in front of her.

Boom!!

"Argh!" The powerful force exploded. Temari could no longer hold her fan, which flew away. Temari herself was also sent flying by the immense force, crashing into the wall and leaving a dent.

She spat blood, having sustained serious injuries.

"Temari!" Kankuro in the audience worriedly looked at Temari, his gaze toward Ui filled with fear, ’Konoha was truly terrifying. Geniuses seemed as common as cabbages, encountered everywhere...’

"Temari..." Gaara above also looked at Temari, feeling a thread of worry... a sensation he’d never experienced before. But it didn’t seem bad...

"It’s over." Ui said, drawing a knife and pointing it at Temari.

"I... I surrender!" Seeing the knife tip close at hand, Temari said with difficulty.

Honestly, she didn’t want to be so severely injured now. She should have given up earlier. This was too dangerous.

Kankuro also noticed Temari’s injuries, his brow furrowed, worried they’d be directly captured if war broke out...

"I declare the winner of this match: Hirasawa Ui!" With Temari’s surrender, Genma quickly announced.

"Yeah!" Hearing this, the audience above applauded enthusiastically.

"Truly amazing. These Genin are really strong!" Izumo and Kotetsu said with emotion.

’Temari... even you lost.’ Watching the battlefield below, Baki felt quite helpless. He silently looked toward his Kazekage, hoping he’d abandon the unwise Konoha Crush Plan. After all, Konoha was simply too terrifying.

However, Baki’s hopes were in vain. The one above was Orochimaru, not the real Kazekage. So, Sunagakure’s Ninja’s deaths meant nothing to him.