The clash between Hyūga Akane and Katori Sumire had ended in a peculiar deadlock.
"Ah…" Akane's body collapsed to the ground with a thud. Her legs trembled; she could no longer stand. On the opposite side, Sumire gasped in pain, her lips darkening as blood spilled onto the floorboards. The backlash of the illusion technique had torn through her fragile chakra network, leaving her body weakened and trembling.
"I'm sorry… I've dragged everyone down again…" Akane thought miserably as her vision blurred.
Across from her, Sumire tried to smile though her face was pale. "Unlucky… this time, I really lost…" Those were her last words before she collapsed, unconscious.
The chief examiner hurried into the ring, waving for urgent assistance. "Medical team! Now!"
Medics rushed forward, carefully lifting both kunoichi onto stretchers. Their chakra diagnostics confirmed what the audience already guessed—both had succumbed to extreme exhaustion, neither fit to rise again.
The examiner sighed, turning toward the honorary seats where the Sandaime Hokage sat with his lifelong advisors. "Both competitors collapsed. This outcome… I will need to consult directly with Lord Hokage."
A hush settled over the stands. Eyes turned toward Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, who listened calmly as the referee recounted every detail. Mitokado Homura was the first to speak.
"Sumire has completely lost consciousness. By the usual standard, the victory goes to Hyūga Akane."
But Utatane Koharu shook her head grimly. "No. After taking a heavy blow, Sumire still managed to ensnare Akane in a genjutsu. That means Akane also fell prey to mental damage—the one truly unable to continue. By my judgment, Sumire should advance."
The two advisors exchanged sharp words as the audience whispered nervously. Finally, Hiruzen let out a long draught from his pipe, smoke curling upward.
"This is no simple matter. Neither kunoichi can continue… and truthfully, these are only the quarterfinals. Our objective here is to see the measure of their strength, not to destroy them in pointless battles." His voice rose with authority. "Therefore, let us declare the match a draw."
The advisors frowned, but after a pause, both nodded.
"Seconded," Koharu agreed, and Homura followed suit.
The examiner bowed. "Then… Hokage-sama, what of the next match? We are one competitor short in the semifinals."
The solution came quickly, whispered from examiner to Hokage. Hiruzen's lips curled in a sly smile, rare for his usually grave demeanor.
"Interesting… Yes. This shall leave the crowd excited for what's next."
A moment later, the examiner descended into the arena and raised his voice. "After discussion between Hokage-sama and the advisors, the match between Hyūga Akane and Katori Sumire is officially declared a draw! Since both shinobi are unable to continue, the Hokage will appoint a substitute ninja of Chūnin rank to take their place in the next round. Codename: Monkey Jump!"
Applause thundered through the hall. The verdict felt fair, a balance between rules and spectacle, and it left one burning question lingering in every heart:
How strong would this substitute ninja be? Could he even rival the favorite to win, Uchiha Shigure?
The crowd barely had time to settle before the examiner shouted again:
"Next up—Uchiha Shigure versus Might Guy!"
With a leap and a dazzling smile, Guy landed in the center of the arena. His flawless white teeth glittered as he gave a thumbs-up, black bowl-cut bobbing with the movement.
"I'm ready, Dad!" he roared proudly.
In the audience, a man with the same ridiculous haircut and even thicker eyebrows stood up, bursting into laughter. It was his father, Maito Dai, the Eternal Genin, beaming with pride at his son's youthful spirit.
But murmurs began swirling in the crowd.
"Wait, where's Uchiha Shigure?"
"Didn't he disappear after the preliminaries?"
"They said he was the favorite to win! Has he abandoned the tournament?"
The atmosphere soured quickly. The examiner shifted uncomfortably, trying to maintain composure. Guy's expression fell serious.
"Examiner… is Uchiha Shigure running away from this challenge? Or could it be that he fears facing me?"
"Be patient," the examiner urged, though unease colored his tone. He hurried to the Hokage's dais once more.
Homura leaned forward. "If Shigure doesn't appear within the allotted time, we must declare him the loser. Any longer would disrespect the waiting opponents."
Koharu nodded curtly. "Exactly. It is unfair to delay the matches on one boy's account."
Hiruzen inhaled deeply on his pipe, exhaling slowly. His eyes narrowed, not with anger, but with deliberation. "It cannot be he would withdraw so easily. But…"
"Announce it," he finally said.
The examiner's shoulders dropped in visible relief. He raised his voice to the waiting audience.
"Since Uchiha Shigure has failed to appear within the specified time, I—"
"Wait!"
A pale figure stumbled from the medical ward—it was Hyūga Akane, barely able to stand.
"Shigure?" someone cried hopefully. But disappointment swept through the crowd.
Akane's frame swayed as she clutched her chest. Despite the medics' protests, she bowed her head toward the officials. "Please… I beg you… wait just a little longer! Shigure is on his way. All of you want to see him fight, don't you?"
Gasps rippled through the spectators. The sincerity in her weakened voice pulled at their hearts.
The examiner turned to the Hokage. Hiruzen gave a small wave of assent.
"Five more minutes," the examiner announced. "By command of Hokage-sama, Uchiha Shigure has five minutes to arrive. If he fails, the match is forfeit."
The crowd erupted in cheers of approval. "As expected of the Hokage!" "Truly generous!"
Akane barely managed a faint smile before collapsing back onto the stretcher, unconscious once more.
The seconds ticked by.
"One minute… two… three…"
The tension in the chamber built to a peak. Guileless faces leaned forward, breaths held, while Guy folded his arms, determination still blazing.
"Four minutes…"
"Five minutes have passed," the examiner said gravely. "I regret to announce—"
A sudden burst of chakra pressure swept the hall.
"Wait! I'm here!"
The voice thundered across the arena as a crackle of speed and smoke heralded his arrival. A figure materialized in the center of the battleground, his presence commanding every eye.
Short gray hair framed his sharp profile. The Konoha protector gleamed across his brow. Cloaked in a black serpent-scale bodysuit, with layered white dragon-scale armor, six pale magatama glimmering across his collarbone, and the Dragonfang blade strapped to his back, he looked every inch the war god descended to earth.
The crowd erupted into a wave of astonished cheers. Tears sprang to some eyes—relief, admiration, awe. Even Orochimaru, stationed far on the Konoha border, would feel the tremors of this moment in whispered rumor.
Hiruzen finally smiled, nodding. "At last."
Shigure raised his hand, flashing an OK sign to his supporters.
"Shigure!"
"He really came!"
"He's here at last…"
From the waiting room, Uchiha Kaku tensed, eyes narrowing with a glimmer of rivalry. On a hospital bed nearby, Hatake Kusuo forced himself upright, gaze burning with expectation.
Might Guy clenched his fists, passion flaring. "Since you've come, get ready! I've been waiting for this fight for so long, Shigure!"
Shigure smirked, snapping his fingers with a sharp click that echoed through the hall. "Then today, Might Guy, we'll give it everything we've got."
The two prodigies—one from the Uchiha and one from the Maito family—stood poised to clash. The air between them burned with anticipation, the crowd holding its breath for the storm about to break.
--
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