Chapter 97: The Final Match

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With such a trump card in hand, it was impossible for Senju Hikaru not to be in a good mood.

That said, he also knew he had to rein himself in. His current status and influence were nowhere near enough to convert that card into tangible benefits—worse, revealing it prematurely could very well get him killed.

More importantly, there was something far more immediate demanding his attention: the ANBU ANBU Division Commander selection was still proceeding as scheduled.

Over the course of a week, Senju Hikaru fought two more matches. Even though his heart was uneasy, he understood one thing very clearly—if he started acting abnormal now, that would truly spell disaster.

So in both matches, his performance could be summed up as steady and normal.

Unfortunately for everyone else, what he considered "steady and normal" still looked downright dazzling to the spectators.

Just as he had anticipated, his opponents gradually shifted. From Itsumo—an orphanage-born ANBU—to clan shinobi.

His second match was against a member of the Yamanaka clan.

Senju Hikaru didn't know the man's real name, but his strength was beyond question.

In most people's impressions, the Yamanaka clan was famous for its unique secret techniques and its cooperation with the Nara and Akimichi clans. In reality, that view was far too narrow.

The jōnin selection system was a comprehensive evaluation. If someone relied solely on secret techniques and teamwork, they were unlikely to earn battlefield promotions—even in wartime.

The Yamanaka shinobi Senju Hikaru faced was terrifying across the board: taijutsu, genjutsu, ninjutsu—everything was refined and deadly. His secret techniques were even more impossible to guard against.

Without entering Sage Mode, Senju Hikaru had nearly capsized in that fight.

In the end, it was his superior perception and reaction speed that saved him. By anticipating the Yamanaka's attack in advance, he managed to turn the tables and secure victory—earning his place in the final round.

That battle, however, made Senju Hikaru significantly more cautious.

He knew his own strengths better than anyone. Up until now, his victories largely relied on enemies lacking intelligence on him. He could exploit speed, repeatedly accelerating to disrupt their rhythm until they collapsed.

But now things were different.

Most ANBU members had a basic understanding of him—limited, yes, but more than enough to cause trouble. And after several matches, it was clear that without Sage Mode, his general capabilities had already been mostly figured out.

On top of that, everyone had realized one thing: Senju Hikaru would not use his giant summoned beast in combat.

That alone gave his opponents confidence.

"In that case… the final match will require something a bit more interesting."

Seated in a corner of the ANBU headquarters plaza, Senju Hikaru watched as Hiruzen Sarutobi announced the remaining arrangements from the stands. His mood was excellent.

After a nerve-wracking week, he had secured enormous gains. Anyone would feel refreshed. And now, he had reached the final match for the ANBU Division Commander position—by all accounts, a personal high point.

Beside him, Kakashi looked tense.

Not for himself—but for Senju Hikaru.

"Captain," Kakashi finally whispered, unable to hold it in any longer, "your final opponent… he won't be easy."

"He's from the Hyūga clan."

"I know," Senju Hikaru replied with a light smile, nodding gently. "Lone Wolf. He's anything but ordinary."

A place like ANBU was not something the Hyūga clan would ever ignore. They would certainly place their own people within it.

Their own people—which meant either members of the main house, or branch members completely under main-house control.

Senju Hikaru didn't know what kind of agreement the Hyūga had reached with the Third Hokage to allow a branch family member into ANBU—but thinking it through, it made sense.

Main house members lacked the Caged Bird Seal and would never be sent to die on the battlefield. Branch members, "protected" by the seal, could fight freely without fear of the Byakugan being stolen.

ANBU was an extremely dangerous place. Death was always a possibility.

And death was one thing—but capture was far worse.

For Konoha, letting main-house Hyūga enter ANBU was likely undesirable as well.

"The Caged Bird Seal…" Senju Hikaru sighed inwardly. "How enviable."

Once, that seal had been the guardian of the Hyūga, ensuring the Byakugan was never stolen. Now it had become a tool of control—used by the main house to enslave the branch family under the guise of 'protection.'

Hyūga Hizashi. Hyūga Neji. Their hatred for that seal said everything.

Human desire was the root of all things. Once desire overtook those in power, even the tools meant to protect could become instruments of domination and destruction.

And as far as Senju Hikaru knew, the Caged Bird Seal was essentially unbreakable.

Even when Hizashi was resurrected through Edo Tensei, the seal remained.

"Yeah… he's definitely dangerous," Kakashi said softly. "His taijutsu is terrifying. And he doesn't fear speed-types at all—his own speed is—"

"I've seen his fights. I've read his reports," Senju Hikaru interrupted gently, still smiling. "Don't worry. I'm prepared."

The Hyūga codenamed Lone Wolf was a nightmare opponent.

An elite taijutsu specialist with astonishing speed, years of battlefield experience even before joining ANBU, and combat instincts honed through endless bloodshed.

Combined with the Byakugan and Gentle Fist, he was a natural enemy of almost every conventional shinobi.

Gentle Fist nullified ninjutsu at close range. The Byakugan saw through substitutions, clones, and feints. Speed pressure meant nothing when your movements were fully visible—and Lone Wolf's speed might even rival Senju Hikaru's.

Even with Sage Mode, this fight would be troublesome.

And this time, Sage Mode wasn't an option.

"You're really confident?" Kakashi asked, then nodded firmly. "Understood. Good luck, Captain."

"Thanks," Senju Hikaru replied with a smile.

At that moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen stepped forward, scanning the crowd before announcing loudly:

"Then the final match—begins now!"

Across from him, the man in the wolf-shaped mask advanced.

Senju Hikaru's expression turned razor-sharp.

The pressure radiating from Lone Wolf made one thing abundantly clear—this was the most dangerous opponent he had faced so far, aside from Sasori and Kakuzu.

Lone Wolf was a legend even within ANBU.

A war veteran. A man who had risen to squad leader in just a few years. Someone who voluntarily accepted missions tied directly to warfare—missions that involved infiltrating enemy territory, even enemy villages.

Senju Hikaru had heard the stories.

Once, Lone Wolf infiltrated Sunagakure's ANBU to steal intelligence—only to run into the Kazekage, Rasa, during a patrol. Somehow, he fought his way out with his squad.

Only Lone Wolf survived.

That mission alone made his name infamous throughout the ANBU world.

Honestly, without Lizardmaru or Flying Thunder God, Senju Hikaru doubted he could have survived such a mission.

Of course, he would never volunteer for something that suicidal.

"Hello," Senju Hikaru said softly as they faced each other. "I've heard your legend. First time meeting—please advise."

"…."

Lone Wolf clearly hadn't expected that. Accustomed to silence, he paused briefly, then gave a slight nod.

Senju Hikaru's smile deepened.

Lone Wolf was powerful—but cold, distant, emotionally sealed. A classic branch-family Hyūga: resentment buried deep, silence as armor.

That alone disqualified him from being a ANBU Division Commander.

Whether Senju Hikaru won or lost, Lone Wolf would never hold that position.

But as a final opponent?

Perfect.

Hiruzen, unaware of Senju Hikaru's thoughts, surveyed the field and glanced at Minato. With no objections raised, he spoke flatly:

"Final round—begin!"

Lone Wolf vanished.

He reappeared in front of Senju Hikaru in an instant, palm already formed, striking toward Senju Hikaru's chest with blinding speed.

Senju Hikaru sidestepped smoothly, narrowly avoiding the blow.

Lone Wolf pressed on without hesitation, faster still. His left fist shot forward.

At the same time, brilliant blue chakra flared around his right hand.

The air seemed to come alive—currents forming, pressure twisting unnaturally.

Senju Hikaru twisted aside again—but immediately sensed something was wrong.

Without a Sharingan, he couldn't see everything.

Perception revealed danger, but not always its full shape.

Lone Wolf wasn't holding back. There was no probing, no testing—this was a true battle from the very first moment.

"Boom!"

Palm turned fist—chakra detonated as it struck.

A thunderous roar shook the plaza. Smoke and shockwaves engulfed the battlefield.

Yet the spectators weren't surprised.

This was Lone Wolf.

"Looks like Nightingale's in trouble."

"Yeah… Lone Wolf's strength is on another level. Nightingale's talented, but he's still too young."

Even on the main platform, faint smiles appeared.

Senju Hikaru had potential—no one denied that. But potential required time.

Especially when he refused to use summons.

"Looks like Nightingale won't last much longer," Hiruzen said mildly to Minato. "Still, impressive potential."

"Thank you, Third-sama," Minato replied calmly. "But the match isn't over yet."

"True. It isn't."

Hiruzen glanced at Minato, unimpressed.

The smoke was thinning. Two figures clashed within it—one clearly smaller, driven back step by step.

This would be decided soon.

There was no way Senju Hikaru had learned that technique in such a short time.

"…I refuse to believe you've mastered Flying Thunder God."

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