Volume 9

By: Nerezza from leafninja.com

Chapter 73: "Announcement of Defeat...!?" – Ino is forced from Sakura’s body by her inner spirit. It comes down to one final blow, which results in a double KO as neither girl will let the other win. The two converse as Temari and Tenten line up for their next match. Temari defeats the mistress of weapons, Tenten, with ease. Hokage remarks on their abilities, reminded that all 3 passed in 97 minutes without any problems.

Chapter 74: "The Sixth Match and Them..." – The Sand team’s arrogance upsets Gai’s team and Lee, who takes Gaara’s interest. Next, Shikamaru and Kin face each other. Despite Kin’s sound-based disruption of his senses, Shikamaru demonstrates his amazing brain and outsmarts her completely with his Shadow Imitation. The participants eagerly await the next match, which turns out to be Naruto VS Kiba.

Chapter 75: "Naruto’s Growth" – Naruto feels uncomfortable fighting Kiba and Akamaru, especially with Kiba’s taunting. With confidence, Kiba makes the first move with his animalistic fighting style. Naruto takes his trash-talking personally and returns the words. Kiba’s smoke bomb combined with Akamaru’s quick attacks gain him the advantage until Naruto turns it around. While everyone sees Naruto’s improvement, he and Kiba decide to raise the bar.

Chapter 76: "Kiba’s Comeback!! Naruto’s Comeback!?" – Kiba and Akamaru boost their strength together, then amalgamate each other into feral humans. Naruto falls victim to their specialty, Gatsuuda (Dual Piercing Fang) as they spin and shred everything in their way. Naruto shows resiliency and even though he can’t stop the Dual Piercing Fang, a quick-thinking tactic grants him an opening.

Chapter 77: "Naruto’s Trick" – Naruto’s prankster mind takes Akamaru out of the fight. Put into a desperate situation as Kiba attempts payback, Naruto lets himself go literally and quickly dishes out an adaptation of Sasuke’s adaptation, the Uzumaki Naruto Combo. Hinata rejoices, to Neji’s chagrin.

Chapter 78: "Neji and Hinata" – The random decisions place the Hyuga family members against each other. The noble Hyuga family is split into two, with each one from a different side. Political separation makes the fight even more bitter as Neji discourages Hinata. Neji’s words also hit Naruto hard, making him scream encouragement to Hinata in rage.

Chapter 79: "The Hyuuga Clan" – Gai explains the elegant fighting style of the Hyuga, the Juuken (Gentle Fist), being based on palm strikes infused with Chakra doing damage to internal organs. The Hyuga’s Byakugan, or White Eye, makes X-Ray vision possible and the organs clear as day to them. Furthermore, it makes Chakra pressure points visible. Hinata is severely wounded by Neji, but she refuses to quit.

Chapter 80: "Surpass the Limit" – Naruto’s cheerleading gives Hinata strength. Even after another devastating assault on Hinata’s internal system, she still stands, coughing up blood. Neji’s rage causes him to throw a fatal blow, but before it makes contact, all three Leaf Jounin team leaders and Hayate stop him. This only fuels his hate for the main house even more as the no-killing rule is ignored. Naruto is disgusted at Neji.

Chapter 81: "Gaara VS..." – Naruto vows to take Neji down, more for his comments on “losers” than out of revenge for Hinata. With only two matches remaining and only four combatants; Lee, Dosu, Chouji and Gaara, tension grows. Gaara makes his way into the match early before it is even decided that Lee will be his opponent. Lee jumps in just as eager, ready to crush the Sand’s arrogance.