- Ranshiro of Konohagakure no Sato versus Iishu of Kumogakure no Sato," the white-eyed man announced in a bored voice.
And I grimaced - Sakumo's second student simply couldn't do anything against Kumogakure's melee fighter.
- And the second pair," the names came up again, "Surizawa of Konohagakure no Sato against Hoshi of Konohagakure no Sato.
What the fuck!? What the fuck!? And with a coincidence like that, you're trying to convince me that random selection is fair?!!!
The railing of the stone balcony began to crumble in my hands, and by some miracle, I held myself together and didn't snap in front of everyone, declaring that the choice wasn't random. And I wasn't the only one who thought so, judging by Hatake's slightly furrowed brow and the stare he cast at the main face of the village.
A baboon, he couldn't resist screwing up so easily, and at the same time, so deeply, just a few steps away from reaping the dividends of teaching the academy's underperforming graduates!
I immediately calculated all the consequences and calculations - the only team with a full squad that made it to the finals was my team, and the guaranteed departure of one student almost ruined all my efforts over the past two years!!!!!
Now another Sakumo guy is going to get knocked out and Jiraiya will be on equal footing with me, and then Minato and Kushina will come in as favorites, judging the girls' chances of knocking them off, and I'll find myself not a great teacher who has pulled mediocrities to a very high level of quality, but just one of several good team mentors, only some of whose students made it to the third round.
That's a different reputation not only in the village, but also among the high guests of the tournament, and there's always someone to whisper to Daimyo. The old bastard must have calculated everything when the team arrived at the tower and prepared accordingly! It's a damn shame!
- Please leave the arena, except for the first announced pair," the clan jonin waved to the youth.
Genin, minus two, quickly ran up the walls and dispersed on the mentors, and my girls, expressing frank confusion, even despite the disguise, hurried to me.
- Ryo-sensei, what should I do? - Hoshi literally hissed in a whisper. - It couldn't be a coincidence that the three genin chosen were from Konoha, and two of them were from our team!
Her friends nodded vigorously, and I was glad that I had managed to crush a piece of paper with hieroglyphics in my pouch so that we couldn't be overheard even if we wanted to, unless we were within a meter of each other, let alone read lips.
- Calm down, girls," I hastened to reassure my charges, though I was not feeling calm myself, "don't use any fuin, no ninjutsu, only weapons and taijutsu.
- But...," the leader of the trio decided to object, but I shook my head, interrupting her.
- You're limiting yourself to Surizawa's physical level and no more," the kunoichi literally ordered, "she's a support fighter and still weaker, even with those limitations.
- And getting to the finals isn't that important," the one under discussion suddenly added, not the least bit upset at the prospect of a guaranteed loss.
- Your task is to show a good training fight in the given conditions, especially since no one expects more from the members of the same team," I explained to a couple of kunoichi, "and to save Hoshi-chan's trump cards until those fights where they can ensure victory, sorry, Surizawa-chan.
- I understand, sensei," she sighed.
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