Hayate nodded. "Very well. The preliminaries will be one-on-one matches. You fight until surrender, knockout, or death. Killing is discouraged, but it is permitted if necessary."
A tense silence filled the air.
Naruto cracked his knuckles, suddenly grinning. "Heh. Bring it on."
Sakura looked serious but determined.
Sasuke simply tucked his hands into his pockets, watching carefully.
"The match-ups will be random. The first fight will be displayed now."Hayate gestured to a monitor.
Everyone turned as the screen flickered to life.
Names began flashing rapidly, blurring together
Then it stopped.
Yoroi Akado vs Sasuke Uchiha.
"GO GET HIM, SASUKE!" Naruto jumped.
Sasuke exhaled calmly and stepped forward into the center of the arena.
Above, Kakashi leaned casually against the wall but his eyes were scanning for Orochimaru. And he saw him disguised as a sound Ninja.
After one look Kakashi looked away. He didn't want to startle the snake.
The entire tower seemed to fall silent as Sasuke calmly walked to the center of the battle arena, his dark eyes locked on his opponent.
Across from him stood Yoroi a ninja clad in dull, tight clothing, his hands twitching slightly like he couldn't wait to strike.
Hayate stepped forward, his voice rough from coughing.
"This match… begins."
Sasuke didn't waste a second.
He dashed forward with a burst of speed, much faster than what most genin could manage.
Yoroi's eyes widened, barely able to raise his arms before Sasuke's fist slammed into his guard.
Crack!
The ground beneath Yoroi's feet fractured from the force of the impact.
"Whoa!" Naruto shouted from the balcony above. "Did you see that punch?! Stinky Sasuke's is awesome!"
Kakashi, standing casually with his arms crossed nearby, gave a faint smile under the breeze stirring his silver hair.
Good. He's holding back the Serpent Seal, but his taijutsu is much cleaner. He didn't want Sasuke to expose the seal at this time.
Down in the arena, Yoroi slid back a few feet, gritting his teeth.
"Fast… but predictable," he muttered darkly.
He charged at Sasuke, hands glowing faintly with chakra.
Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
'Sensei warned me about him. He specializes in stealing chakra through direct contact…'
Yoroi lunged and tried reaching for Sasuke's head.
Sasuke ducked and spun, kicking Yoroi across the side.
The man grunted but twisted his body, grabbing Sasuke's wrist mid-motion.
The instant contact was made, Sasuke felt a strange tug deep inside him, like his chakra was being yanked out.
"Got you," Yoroi smirked viciously.
But Sasuke was already moving.
Instead of panicking, he shifted his weight and yanked Yoroi toward him, pulling the man completely off balance.
In a single flowing move, Sasuke slammed his forehead into Yoroi's nose with a sickening crack. Blood splattered.
"Guh!!" Yoroi reeled back, clutching his face.
Sasuke backed off instantly, breathing controlled. He flexed his wrist.
'Some chakra loss… but it is nothing to me.'
Sakura cheered from the observation deck.
"YEAH! Hit him again, Sasuke!"
But as she looked at the people around her who were looking at her with strange looks she was embarrassed and shut up.
Yoroi wiped the blood from his face, fury flashing in his eyes.
"I'll take everything from you," he hissed.
Chakra surged around him. He charged recklessly, arms wide, aiming to grapple with Sasuke and drain him dry.
Sasuke's face stayed calm.
He shifted his stance to one, that Kakashi had taught him during late-night sessions.
At the last second, Sasuke ducked low and sidestepped, planting one palm against the ground.
"Body Flicker: Lighting Step!"
Lighting appeared on his feet, and Sasuke disappeared, reappearing behind Yoroi in an instant blur.
Before Yoroi could react, Sasuke jammed his knee into Yoroi's spine, sending the man flying forward with a howl of pain.
But Sasuke wasn't done.
He surged forward again, this time flipping overhead and kicking Yoroi into the ground with a brutal axe kick.
BOOM!
Dust exploded upward.
The entire room shook lightly from the impact.
Kakashi's eyes gleamed with amusement.
He's controlling his strength well. Even stronger than when I last tested him.
Yoroi staggered to his feet, shaking.
"You… brat…"
He charged again, chakra clawing at his hands.
Desperate.
Sasuke exhaled slowly. Enough.
In a flash, he formed a single one-handed seal Kakashi had personally taught him.
Wind Release: Gale Palm.
He thrust his palm forward and released a compressed burst of wind.
It hit Yoroi like a truck, sending him skidding violently across the stone floor.
The crowd gasped.
Wind jutsu… from Sasuke?
Naruto's jaw dropped. "WHOA! Since when does Sasuke know wind jutsu?!"
Sakura smirked. "He's been training secretly with Kakashi-sensei, remember?"
"Hmph." Naruto hmphed as he glanced at Kakashi.
"It's not my fault you are an idiot." Kakashi glanced at Naruto and said. He had tried to teach him many wind jutsu but Naruto was an idiot, who preferred to blast everything with Rasengan.
Sasuke calmly walked forward, the dust swirling around him like a dark prince. His chakra control was immaculate.
He stopped just a few feet away from Yoroi, who groaned on the ground.
"Give up," Sasuke said coldly.
Yoroi snarled, struggling to push himself up. His hands flickered with chakra again, but he was slower now, injuries stacking up.
Sasuke's hand moved slightly a pulse of killing intent rolled off him.
Yoroi froze.
Hayate, seeing the clear result, raised his hand.
"Winner: Sasuke Uchiha."
The room burst into murmurs and light applause.
Kakashi gave a small nod.
Sasuke didn't even celebrate. He turned calmly and made his way back toward the stands.
As he passed under the balcony, Naruto shouted, "As expected of my slightly weaker teammate,"
Sasuke looked up and just gave Naruto a blank look.