The tension in the air was thick as Ryuga and Mitsuki stepped into the vast stadium, their names echoing through the crowd as Genma Shiranui announced the next match. The audience buzzed with excitement—this was one of the most anticipated battles of the finals.
Ryuga took a deep breath, his golden eyes locking onto Mitsuki's calm yet playful expression. The two stood in silence for a moment, sizing each other up.
Mitsuki smirked. "Fate sure has a sense of humor, doesn't it? It brought us together much sooner than expected."
Ryuga narrowed his eyes but remained silent.
Then, Mitsuki leaned slightly forward and whispered just loud enough for him to hear, "Even though I'd love for you to win, it would go against the very spirit of our battle."
Something about her words lit a fire inside Ryuga. He clenched his fists, feeling an unfamiliar surge of competitiveness. She was provoking him—challenging him to prove himself.
"Don't regret saying that," Ryuga said, his voice steady.
"Wouldn't dream of it," Mitsuki replied, raising a single hand in preparation.
"Begin!" Genma called, disappearing from between them.
Ryuga wasted no time, his hands forming a rapid series of hand seals.
"Water Release: Raging Torrent!"
A powerful surge of water erupted from his mouth, twisting and roaring like a wild serpent toward Mitsuki.
Mitsuki didn't flinch. Instead, she weaved through the incoming wave with smooth, precise movements, using the least amount of effort necessary to avoid getting hit.
"Tsk." Ryuga clicked his tongue and transitioned seamlessly into his next move.
"Wind Release: Gale Cutter!"
A sharp, slicing wind shot forward, forcing Mitsuki to stop dodging and counter. She raised her hands, channeling chakra.
"Hoshigakure Secret Technique: Star Shield."
A barrier of shimmering chakra formed in front of her, dispersing the wind blades as if they were nothing.
Ryuga's eyes widened. "So that's the Star Shield…"
"Perfected without any side effects," Mitsuki corrected him with a grin.
Ryuga frowned. He had heard that the original technique drained the user's stamina dangerously fast. But Mitsuki had spent years refining it until it became a seamless, nearly impenetrable defense.
She's forcing me to work harder. Good.
Mitsuki raised her hands again, this time channeling chakra into her legs.
"Hoshigakure Secret Technique: Star Phantom Step."
In a blink, she disappeared.
Ryuga barely had time to react as Mitsuki reappeared behind him, her fingers glowing with chakra.
"Star Lance Strike!"
A piercing jab aimed for his shoulder, but Ryuga twisted at the last second, avoiding a direct hit. He countered with a spinning kick, but Mitsuki ducked under it with fluid ease, retaliating with a palm strike to his ribs.
Ryuga skidded back, feeling the sting of her blow.
She's fast…
It wasn't just her speed—Mitsuki's movements were calculated, precise, and effortless. Every action felt planned, as if she could read his every move.
I can't beat her in pure taijutsu. I need to change the flow of battle.
Ryuga was starting to feel the pressure. Mitsuki's speed and technique mastery were forcing him back.
His eyes flickered toward the stands—toward his father.
Minato met his gaze. He gave the smallest of nods.
It was an unspoken message, one only father and son could understand.
Ryuga's heart steadied. He took a slow breath.
Then, the temperature around him dropped.
A shimmering layer of ice coated Ryuga's arms and legs. His speed sharpened, his reactions became smoother, and every movement carried a chilling aura.
The audience gasped again.
"Ryuga has an advanced kekkei genkai?"
"This kid is ridiculous…"
"Ice Release: Ice Dragon's Scales."
A shimmering layer of frost formed over Ryuga's arms and legs, enhancing his durability and speed. His movements became sharper, his reflexes keener.
Mitsuki lunged forward again, but this time, Ryuga was ready.
Their clash intensified. Every time Mitsuki struck, Ryuga countered, his ice-coated limbs absorbing the impact.
Then, Ryuga took the offensive.
"Ice Dragon's Claw!"
His palm struck forward, releasing a burst of freezing energy on contact. Mitsuki jumped back, but frost clung to her sleeve, ice spreading rapidly along the fabric before she shattered it with a precise chakra pulse.
Ryuga smirked. "You're not the only one with special techniques."
Mitsuki chuckled. "I'd be disappointed if you were."
But Ryuga could see it now—Mitsuki was on the defensive. Ice Release was turning the tide.
Or so he thought.
Mitsuki exhaled softly, her demeanor shifting. She closed her eyes for a moment, and when she opened them again, a silvery glow emanated from her body.
Ryuga's instincts screamed at him. Something was different.
Mitsuki raised her hand, her voice calm but firm.
"Ryuga… your power isn't fully matured yet. But let me show you what happens when someone has mastered theirs."
The temperature around them changed—not just cold, but something far stranger. The air shimmered, distorting slightly like moonlight reflecting off a lake.
"Moon Release: Lunar Eclipse."
A dome of silver light expanded outward, swallowing the battlefield whole.
Ryuga immediately felt something was wrong. His vision blurred for a split second, his balance wavered, and—most disturbingly—his chakra felt sluggish, like it was being weighed down.
He stepped forward but staggered slightly.
What… is this?
Mitsuki watched him carefully. "Moon Release isn't just about power—it's about controlling the battlefield."
Ryuga clenched his fists. He wouldn't back down now. Not yet.
His eyes locked onto Mitsuki, determination burning in them.
The real battle had just begun.