Daimaru knew Tokiri's strength all too well. The fact that he was able to defeat Tokiri so decisively highlighted the challenger's extraordinary abilities. "Just win!" Daimaru encouraged, patting his former teammate on the shoulder. Despite the growing rivalry in their ranks, the gap between seniors and newcomers remained significant. This disparity wasn't merely about experience; during the transition from boyhood to youth, ninjas' bodies developed rapidly. Each year brought an all-around enhancement of physical fitness and an increase in chakra volume. As a result, the strength of ninjas in this age group improved at an astonishing rate.
This was already the fourth year of being a genin. While a few talented younger shinobi showed promise, many would find themselves overwhelmed when faced with seasoned fighters. The rich experience of their predecessors was not to be underestimated. Just as Zhili was about to say something more, Ma Ji, positioned nearby, called out, "Team Sand Iron, go to the fifth training ground to accept the challenge!"
"What?" Li's expression froze in disbelief. "Again?" Theoretically, teams that qualified for the main selection could indeed face challenges repeatedly, but this felt incredibly unfortunate. "Damn it! It must be Guozi's team that was defeated by others. We just had a fierce battle and are in no condition to take on another challenge. They must have picked us because we're vulnerable…"
"Take care of yourself!" Daimaru sighed, watching Tokiri walk away, his shoulders slightly slumped under the weight of impending competition. Moments later, the third winning team came into view. "Huh?" It turned out they were old acquaintances. The leader, named Koji, had fought with Daimaru in their childhood. Being more than a year younger and no stronger than Daimaru at that time, Koji had faced severe consequences for losing to him. As they grew up, their encounters became sparse, and their relationship remained strained.
The second member of Koji's team was Zhi Zhixiong. His name was strong, but unfortunately, he was a bit gloomy. Dressed in a long burqa that obscured his hands, he appeared somewhat rickety and thin. Zhi was a rare barrier master who wielded the power of formations for detection, disguise, and small-scale illusions, making him a versatile auxiliary ninja. The last member of the team was a tall female ninja with an attractive figure named Yuno. Skilled in water escape and medical ninjutsu, she excelled in first aid and detoxification but had average combat abilities.
Daimaru found Yuno challenging to deal with. She had a big sister-like demeanor that appeared somewhat naive but was, in reality, charming and capable of leadership. Yuno was the actual spokesperson of their team, effortlessly managing even the arrogant Koji. The Sand Iron team had previously collaborated with Yuno's team on joint missions, an experience that had left Daimaru feeling quite uncomfortable. Yuno had a knack for subtly persuading others to align with her views, and what irked Daimaru most was his awareness of her influence, coupled with his inability to confront her directly.
"Isn't this senior 'Red Sand Dust'? He's indeed a famous ninja," Yuno greeted Daimaru with a cheerful smile, seemingly ignoring their past grudges. "Can you also win? The opponents you encountered were too weak!"
Daimaru forced a smile, the corners of his mouth twitching. "Hey, do you think I don't exist?" he retorted, his frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
"Koji? It's been a long time since I last saw him. His strength hasn't changed much, but his temper has certainly grown."
"Do you want to fight?" Koji rolled up his sleeves, eager to compete with Daimaru, but Yuno quickly intervened. "Look, your female captain is sensible. She knows you're no match for him!"
Despite their hard-fought victories, none of Koji's team appeared in good shape, while Daimaru looked unscathed, clearly having won his match with ease. He patted the puppet resting on his shoulder, squinting at Koji, contemplating whether to teach the arrogant fighter another lesson.
"Hiss…" A wind blade sliced through the ground between them, halting their confrontation, and Ma Ji's booming voice followed: "Private fights will disqualify you from the Chunin Exam. Think carefully and don't make me repeat myself!"
"Hey, you're lucky!" Daimaru muttered, turning away. Chiwa Yome glanced apologetically at Yuno before following Daimaru's lead.
Yuno smiled and waved, then turned to Koji. "What kind of grudge do you have against him? There will be plenty of opportunities to compete in the Chunin Exams. Let's not get into trouble now."
Despite Yuno, Koji, and Shishio not being the strongest candidates in Sunagakure Village, they had relied heavily on Yuno's nearly cheat-like medical ninjutsu to exhaust the chakra of stronger opponents and emerge victorious. In a three-person outdoor team battle, they might have found it easier to showcase their skills. However, as typical sand ninjas, they needed cooperation and geographical advantages to maximize their strengths. One-on-one battles in the arena weren't where they excelled.
On the other side, Qian inquired with some confusion, "Daimaru, do you have a bad relationship with that Koji?"
"No!" Daimaru shook his head firmly. "Honestly, I don't like Yuno even more…"
"Why? I think she's a good person!" Nighteye replied innocently, tilting her head as if trying to understand Daimaru's reasoning.
"Hmm…how should I put it?" Daimaru looked up at the blazing afternoon sun in the Land of Wind, shielding his eyes with his palm. "I believe there's no such thing as a perfect person in this world, and all good intentions usually come with ulterior motives! I just didn't find any dirty intentions behind Yuno's seemingly good-hearted nature…"
"Isn't that unfair? Maybe she's just kind-hearted. There are always people like that…" Nighteye pressed, genuinely puzzled by Daimaru's perspective.
"Maybe!" Daimaru nodded. "Perhaps there are many things in the ninja world that lack purpose, but doesn't that just make it more embarrassing for someone like me?"
Daimaru considered himself far from a good person. He had a bad temper, numerous vices, and some less-than-pure thoughts. If there were crass individuals around him, he wouldn't mind, but if there was a contrasting character, he would feel completely inferior. He sensed that Yuno was a bit naive, and he suspected she didn't like him either.
"Stay away from that naive female ninja in the future. Don't let her stupidity infect you. She's been misled by the so-called qualities of a medical ninja! But she forgets that medical ninjas are still ninjas, not just doctors…" Daimaru cautioned.
Being a ninja was a profession forged in conflict. All techniques were geared toward more effective killing, a stark contrast to the role of doctors who healed and saved lives.
"I know!" Yemu and Qian nodded in agreement, though they disagreed in their hearts.
"Alright, let's not dwell on these unhappy topics," Daimaru waved his hand dismissively. "Yeye, please treat Qian first. I have something else to take care of…" He couldn't shake the feeling that he had squandered too much time chatting with others. He was eager for the next opportunity to approach Temari more directly.
As he walked away, the bustling atmosphere of the training grounds enveloped him. The sound of clashing weapons and the shouts of determination echoed in the air, serving as a constant reminder of the challenges that lay ahead. Daimaru's mind raced with thoughts of the upcoming Chunin Exams. Would he be able to prove his worth? Would he find a way to confront his feelings for Temari amidst the chaos of competition?
His determination sharpened as he moved through the crowd. He could sense the energy around him—a mix of anxiety and excitement that was palpable. The other teams were gearing up for their own battles, each shinobi focused on their path to glory. This was the time to stand out, to showcase their skills and growth. Daimaru reminded himself that he had come a long way since his early days as a genin, and he needed to capitalize on that progress.
As he pondered his next steps, he spotted Temari on the training grounds. She was engaged in a heated spar with a fellow sand ninja, her movements fluid and precise. The way she commanded the space around her drew Daimaru in, igniting a spark of admiration that he could not suppress. He felt a surge of motivation; if he was to stand beside her, he had to elevate his own skills.
Yet, he knew he couldn't simply focus on strength. Strategy, teamwork, and mental fortitude would be just as crucial in the upcoming exams. Every encounter was a lesson; every opponent, a teacher. Daimaru vowed to learn from each challenge, to adapt and grow stronger.
"Stay sharp, Daimaru," he whispered to himself, stepping back into the fray, ready to embrace whatever lay ahead. The sun shone down on the training grounds, illuminating the path of the ninja who dared to chase their dreams amid the tumult of a ninja world rife with conflict.