Two figures stood poised in the center of the arena: a father and daughter, Kitsuchi and Kurotsuchi. Each eyed the other with confidence.
The announcer darted at them both, wondering if he had inadvertently stumbled into a silent standoff. Then he scrambled for the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen! If you don't know who these two are, let me introduce them. In this corner, we have the fierce and dedicated Kurotsuchi, fighting for honour and skill!"
The sudden introduction made her smile as the crowd erupted into applause for the resilient daughter.
"And in the opposite corner, the formidable Kitsuchi, a well-trained shinobi and, most importantly, the dad of Kurotsuchi!"
Kitsuchi also was not expecting this. The announcer was clearly hyping him up for what he believed to be no reason. But that wasn't enough to stop the cheers.
Both fighters stood stoically, each refusing to break the gaze locked between them.
"And… Begin!"
Kitsuchi subtly inclined his head, signaling to Kurotsuchi to make the first move.
"That's a mistake," she playfully sneered, assuming a combat stance.
With a sudden burst of adrenaline, she launched into the air with her fist aimed squarely at his face.
Bang!
Time slowed as the crowd sucked in a collective breath. "She actually hit her dad!"
The force of her attack had propelled him back a few paces, causing a trickle of blood to escape his lips.
"Good," he murmured, despite the sting of her blow. There was an unmistakable glimmer in his eyes, quickly eclipsed by the instincts of a shinobi. "Now let's see your defenses!"
With fervour, he closed the distance between them, and their bodies danced around each other.
Kurotsuchi's kicks and punches were thrown wildly. Yet, no matter how strong she was, Kitsuchi was more experienced.
"Gee, dad, you're like a wall!"
As Kitsuchi defended against the torrent, it dawned on him that he had underestimated the tenacity within his own daughter. She was relentless, and with each parried blow, he felt a sense of exhilaration.
But then Kurotsuchi found herself fighting to keep up as her body was pushed to stay in rhythm; the exhaustion was threatening to take its toll.
A moment arrived for her to draw back. She knew better than to pause, yet the doubt was starting to worm its way into her mind.
"Kurotsuchi!" her father's voice boomed with authority. "You won't have the time to think of a strategy in a real battle! So move!"
His words struck her with a sense of urgency that ignited her cheeks with embarrassment. "Okay! I'm sorry!"
The moment was fleeting, however. With such an immediate shift, he was already advancing.
The crowd marveled at the lesson he was giving her. As well as the depth of their family bond.
In every exchange, Kitsuchi was imparting invaluable sense upon her—something only a father who cared could convey.
Kurotsuchi struggled to keep pace as sweat trickled down her brow. But the heartbeat of competition pushed her blood to quicken; she refused to succumb to fatigue.
One block here, another job there. She endured them all.
Finally, as she felt her joints protesting, she paused with her hands on her knees and a heavy breath.
"I… I won't give up," she declared. "Come on, dad! Give me all ya got!"
'Interesting,' Arthur thought. 'That stubbornness… The Tsuchikage showed the same thing when he fought Madara.'
With one final surge, she pretended to attack, drawing back as if to strike at his midsection. Then, swish! She dove forward with a jab aimed at his arm. But Kitsuchi prepared to take her feint head-on.
Before she could make contact, her body betrayed her, and in that moment, she fainted.
Kitsuchi's instincts kicked in and lunged forward just in time to catch her.
As he lifted her, he felt a rush of emotions—concern, care, sympathy—she had given him everything she had by pushing herself to the limits he had instilled in her.
So he cradled her in his arms like an infant, drawing her close against his chest. Her head was resting against him as her chest rose and fell. The world around them faded into a soft blur as she struggled to open her eyes.
"Did… did I win, dad?"
"Yes… You did; you fought well, Kurotsuchi."
"Haha… I'm…. glad I came here then," she finally said before closing her eyes to rest.
The shouts of the spectators brought them back into existence, dimming the two with honour and affection.
The announcer, momentarily at a loss for words, paused in the midst of declaring the match.
Kitsuchi held his unconscious daughter, understanding that the expectations he wanted to see had been exceeded. It was an experience that even touched the crowd's hearts.
The announcer, regaining his composure, cleared his throat and said, "Due to Kurotsuchi's… unexpected fainting, it has been determined that Kitsuchi is the victor of this match!"
The cheers for victory melded with awe, reverberating throughout the arena and deepening the moment into a valued memory.
"Did you see that?" William pointed, looking at Margaret and Jada.
The two girls understood what he was getting at. Yes, it was a touching moment, but it was also a moment never truly witnessed by most fans of the series as a whole.
"See what?" Naruto asked.
Lee began to cry, aware of the scene. It made him think of his respect for Guy-sensei. "Guy-sensei! I love you!" he cried into the sky, hoping his words could be heard. When Neji saw this, he tried to assure him that he didn't need to get so emotional.
Amidst the revelry, Arthur, arms crossed, stood silently. He had witnessed the entire exchange between father and daughter with a sense of detachment, not at all moved.
How could he be?
The embrace shared between those two struck him as overly sentimental or just too dramatic for his tastes.
Not once has a single match piqued his interest yet. Perhaps he had become too accustomed to battles devoid of such emotional flourishes. Or maybe, he wondered, the bond they shared was simply a reminder of the familial ties he almost forgot about from having remained so long in this world.
Regardless of what it was, he brushed it aside, knowing that the remaining fights would soon be worth his attention.
As the crowd cheered Kurotsuchi's tenacity while simultaneously celebrating Kitsuchi's prowess, Kitsuchi looked down at Kurotsuchi again. She was strong but also very delicate.
"Rest now, my little girl. I can sense strong opponents here that you might have to face when I'm not around. So grow stronger before that time comes."
She nodded against his arms as if she had heard her father's advice.
When he finally rejoined the group, he said, "I'll be leaving early to ensure she gets some aid."
The team nodded in agreement.
"You're right to do so," Han said.
"We'll keep an eye on the tournament for you," Monga added.
"Absolutely," chimed in Atsuchi. "You just focus on her."
Feeling grateful, Kitsuchi offered a brief smile before turning his attention back to Kurotsuchi, still curled comfortably in his arms.
Excitement continued through the crowd once more as the announcer said, "Next up, we have Fū and Hana Inuzuka!"
Fū, caught off guard by the sudden announcement, blinked in surprise. "Is it my turn already?" asked, pointing at herself.
"You got this, girl!" Margaret cried out from her cell.
"Show her who's boss!" Jada squealed.
Iruka, Lee, and Neji were a tad amused to see those two cheering on someone from another village.
When Hana heard them, she scowled at their group. They were, after all, from her village, so it was a tad inappropriate—to the point of disrespect—to be cheering for someone else.
"Sorry, Hana!" Margaret apologized. "We just became friends, so you understand."
"Oh, I understand," she said, staring at Margaret as she walked up to the stage. "After I win this, you're next."
"But what about Jada?!"
Naruto and William couldn't help but giggle quietly at their exchange.
"It's okay, Marge," Jada exclaimed. "I'm sure she's joking."
Margaret simply rolled her eyes, believing Hana would be no match for Fū anyway.