In one of the many training fields, two Chunin stood on either side of the field, both wearing standard-issue army-green vests. One had a diagonal scar on his face and was called Matsuma, while the other, with thick eyebrows, was named Taro.
Matsuma called out, "Hiroshi!"
Hearing the name, Taro shook his head regretfully, as if pitying the student, before calling out, "Uchiha Hui!"
Uchiha Hui stepped in calmly. His opponent, Tai Iwashi, entered with an air of determination. "Even if I'm not your equal, I will still..."
Before Tai could finish, Hui turned his head away from him, facing Matsuma. "Can we start?"
Matsuma and Taro exchanged glances, giving each other a slight nod before Matsuma raised his hand. "Start!"
The moment the command rang out, Tai's fingers darted into his ninja pouch, pulling out two shuriken and launching them at Hui.
"Whoosh!"
Hui's eyes narrowed with mild disdain. With a swift twist of his ankle, he pushed off the ground, moving like a bullet between the spinning shuriken. In a flash, he was already closing in on Tai.
Tai's eyes widened in disbelief. He staggered back, his hand diving back into his pouch for a kunai. But before his fingers could grasp it, Hui was already upon him.
Pivoting sharply on his left foot, Hui's right leg snapped up like a whip. With startling speed, his foot became a blur—a powerful spinning kick aimed directly at Tai's torso.
"Konoha Strong Whirlwind!"
The force of the kick created a gust of wind that nearly knocked over the watching students. Tai had no time to react. Hui's heel struck him cleanly, sending him tumbling like a ragdoll across the field.
"Boom!"
Tai crashed to the ground, skidding to a stop at the edge of the training ground.
Hui calmly lowered his leg, hands sliding back into his pockets. Without sparing a glance at Tai, he turned to Matsuma. "Can I leave now?"
Still stunned by Hui's swift victory, Matsuma quickly nodded. "Yes... Just be back before the finals."
Hui was already walking away before Matsuma had even finished speaking. His question had been a formality; he didn't care about the answer.
Approaching a tree near the edge of the training ground, Hui noticed a familiar figure perched on a branch. The figure, clad in dark attire with a sheathed ninja sword resting on his shoulder, was Hayate.
Hayate dropped from the branch, landing lightly in front of Hui.
"This time, I won't lose to you," Hayate declared with a serious expression. "I've mastered part of the Dance of the Crescent Moon. Next time, I'll win."
"Good luck with that," Hui muttered indifferently, stepping past him.
As Hui walked away, Hayate called out, "We'll meet in the finals. I promise."
Hui said nothing but let out a soft sigh. Behind his dark sunglasses, his Sharingan had briefly activated when he passed Taro earlier. The roster he'd glimpsed showed that as long as Hayate kept winning, they would indeed face off in the final four.
"You won't get the chance," Hui said to himself.
If he hadn't mastered his new fire jutsu and illusion technique, Hayate might have posed a problem. The Crescent Moon Dance was dangerous in close combat, especially with Hayate's speed and sword skills. But with his current abilities, Hui knew he wouldn't need to struggle.
The finals would be his victory—there was no doubt in his mind.