Bang…
Kenta swiftly sidestepped, his movements fluid and precise, before delivering a powerful kick to Inuzuka Jin. The force of the blow sent Jin flying backward across the arena. The impact was so overwhelming that Jin was immediately knocked out of his Beast Mimicry state. The result of the match was decided in an instant.
Silence briefly fell over the arena before the realization spread—Kenta had won decisively.
At this moment, only one contestant remained who had yet to step onto the battlefield—Aoki Yoru.
"How lucky!" Aoki Yoru muttered, letting out a low whistle. He had not expected to receive a bye in the first round.
"Destiny is truly on my side," he thought smugly, unable to hide his narcissistic satisfaction.
Standing beside him, Yui nudged his arm with her elbow, her expression tinged with envy.
"Your luck is just too good," she said.
Unlike him, she had faced Hyuga Taiichi, the top student in their grade. Though she had ultimately emerged victorious, the battle had been long, exhausting, and bitterly fought.
Aoki Yoru shot her a disdainful glance. He knew better than to take her words at face value. This cunning girl had deliberately made the fight appear evenly matched, only revealing her true strength at the final moment to secure a narrow victory.
"I didn't expect Kakashi to be such a good teacher," Kurenai Yuhi remarked from the sidelines, her tone thoughtful.
She turned to Asuma, who stood beside her, casually smoking.
"From what I know, Kenta and Yui were only average students at the Ninja Academy. Yet in just two months, they've improved enough to defeat members of ninja clans—even someone like Hyuga Taiichi."
This was no small achievement. Students from established ninja clans received rigorous, specialized training after graduation to uphold their clan's honor. Even the branch families of prestigious clans like the Hyuga were no exception.
Asuma exhaled a slow stream of smoke, his expression contemplative.
"Yeah… I thought that guy would just let his students run wild, given his personality," he admitted. "But it seems I was wrong."
He paused briefly before adding, "He's really changed my impression of him."
Back on the field, Nara Shikaku stepped forward, his presence calm yet authoritative. His gaze swept over the contestants who had advanced.
"Next," he announced, "we will proceed to the second round."
There was no rest period. No time to recover. The competition pressed forward relentlessly.
The large screen above the arena began to scroll again. The movement slowed, and soon the names of the next competitors appeared clearly:
Nara Shikama vs. Sarutobi Wako
Aoki Yoru frowned slightly.
"Were these two given a free pass?" he wondered.
From his perspective, it was obvious. The three ninjas from Kumogakure were no match for Konoha's rookies. That left only one spot remaining in the final four—a position to be contested between the Nara and Sarutobi clans.
"As expected," Aoki Yoru thought bitterly, "the ninja world is all about connections and background."
At that moment, he truly understood something important—civilian ninjas were often nothing more than expendable cannon fodder in the grand scheme of things.
On the battlefield, Sarutobi Wako wasted no time. He immediately launched a barrage of hidden weapons—kunai and shuriken flew through the air as if they were limitless.
The relentless assault gave Nara Shikama no opportunity to focus or prepare his Shadow Possession Jutsu.
Watching from the sidelines, Aoki Yoru couldn't help but feel a surge of envy.
"So extravagant…" he muttered under his breath.
If he had access to such resources, countless strategies and ideas would become possible. Instead, he struggled even to afford a single explosive tag.
On the field, Sarutobi Wako continued his aggressive strategy. He moved swiftly, dodging the creeping shadows while maintaining constant pressure. From time to time, he unleashed Wind Release and Fire Release techniques, keeping Shikama on the defensive.
The battle dragged on for fifteen minutes.
Finally, Nara Shikama raised his hand.
"I forfeit," he said calmly.
"My chakra is nearly depleted. Continuing would only lead to defeat."
His tone was indifferent, his expression as lazy and unbothered as ever.
Aoki Yoru blinked.
Why did this scene feel so familiar?
"The Nara clan truly lives up to its reputation as the Hokage's advisors," he thought. "They've mastered the art of human relations."
By engaging in a prolonged battle before surrendering, Shikama had achieved multiple goals. He demonstrated his own strength while also subtly showing loyalty to the Sarutobi clan—and by extension, to the Third Hokage.
"Our clan stands with the Hokage," the message seemed to say.
After the referee announced the result, the screen began to scroll once more. The crowd held its breath in anticipation.
Soon, the next matchup appeared:
Tanaka Kenta vs. Omoi
Aoki Yoru placed a hand on Kenta's shoulder.
"Be careful," he said quietly. "Your opponent isn't simple."
"Youth! Go forth!" Might Guy shouted enthusiastically, giving a dramatic thumbs-up. His teeth gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight as his entire body radiated passion and intensity.
"Show them the power of youth!"
Kenta nodded, his expression serious.
In an instant, he vanished from his spot and reappeared in the arena using the Body Flicker Technique.
Standing across from him, Omoi stared with cold intensity.
"So, you've finally come," Omoi said, his voice filled with killing intent. "Kakashi Hatake's disciple… I'll kill you first—to console my senior's spirit."
Kenta's expression hardened.
This was no ordinary opponent. This was someone driven by revenge.
"So that's it…" Aoki Yoru murmured from the sidelines. "He came here specifically for this."
The atmosphere in the arena grew heavy, suffocating under the weight of Omoi's killing intent.
Suddenly—
Omoi disappeared.
His speed surpassed anything he had shown in previous matches. In the blink of an eye, he appeared beside Kenta, his blade descending in a deadly arc.
Clang!
The strike was blocked.
Kenta had raised a kunai just in time.
"What?!" Omoi's eyes widened in shock.
He hadn't expected his seemingly unavoidable attack to be stopped.
Without hesitation, Omoi retreated, putting distance between them. His expression grew serious.
This opponent… was dangerous.
The two stood facing each other, their gazes locked.
The wind whispered softly through the arena.
Then, at the same moment—
They moved.
Omoi's swordsmanship was swift, unpredictable, and precise. Having inherited techniques from a powerful mentor, his attacks came from impossible angles.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Each strike was met with equal precision.
Kenta blocked every single one.
To the spectators, the battlefield transformed into a blur of motion. The two fighters moved so fast that their figures became indistinct—mere shadows flashing across the arena.
The sound of metal clashing rang continuously, sharp and intense.
The rookies in the stands watched in stunned silence.
They could barely keep up.
Hyuga Taiichi activated his Byakugan, veins bulging around his eyes as he strained to follow the fight.
Even then—
He struggled.
"I can't… see clearly…" he thought, disbelief filling his mind.
He was the top student.
Yet now, he couldn't even track Kenta's movements.
"Kenta has gotten even faster," Aoki Yoru observed, visibly impressed.
Considering his recent training under Kakashi and Might Guy, it made sense. His chakra control, physical conditioning, and mastery of the Body Flicker Technique had all improved drastically.
On the battlefield, Kenta suddenly accelerated.
The burst of speed caught Omoi off guard.
Forced onto the defensive, Omoi struggled to keep up.
After deflecting a particularly aggressive strike, he quickly created distance, breathing heavily.
Kenta smiled slightly.
"Is that all you've got?"
"Hmph," Omoi snarled. "Don't get cocky, Konoha brat!"
His chakra surged violently.
"Cloud Style: Crescent Moon Slash!"
With a powerful swing of his blade, Omoi unleashed multiple crescent-shaped energy slashes. They cut through the air at incredible speed, attacking Kenta from multiple directions.
"Earth Release: Earth Wall!"
Boom!
Four massive walls of earth rose from the ground, forming a protective barrier around Kenta.
The slashes collided with the walls.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The impact shook the arena. The walls cracked, crumbled, and eventually shattered, sending dust and debris into the air.
A confident smile spread across Omoi's face.
"Die!" he shouted. "Did you really think a pile of dirt could stop my ultimate technique?"
"Is that so?"
The voice came from right beside him.
Omoi's smile froze.
Before he could react—
Bang!
A powerful punch slammed into his face.
The force sent him flying across the arena, crashing heavily into the wall.
Silence fell.
The examiner approached, checking Omoi's condition.
After confirming that he had lost consciousness, he raised his hand.
"Winner: Tanaka Kenta!"
The crowd erupted into cheers.
"Kenta is really something," Aoki Yoru said with a grin.
In the main seating area, even the Third Hokage showed visible surprise.
A civilian-born ninja… rising so suddenly?
It was an unexpected but welcome development.
He smiled, adjusting his hat slightly.
"Letting Kakashi lead a team was indeed a wise decision," he said. "He's done well."
His eyes turned back to the arena, anticipation growing.
The competition was far from over.
On the screen above, the next matchup began to appear…