After the torrents of water that had flooded the first floor were finally drained from the Central Tower, the hall that had been turned into a battlefield revealed a single drenched figure lying unconscious.
That figure was none other than Neji Hyuga, completely fainted and unable to fight. Fire Release burns, Water Release crushes with weight and impact.
Against Haruma's overwhelming dual Water Collision Waves, Neji's Rotation was like an egg smashed against a rock, shattered instantly.
It wasn't just drowning. Submerged in that torrent, Neji's body was pummelled again and again by waves like a raging sea. His unconsciousness was not due to suffocation but from the sheer concussive force of the strikes.
"Neji Hyuga has lost consciousness. The winner is Haruma."
Gekko, who had wisely Body flickered to Neji's side quickly checked his state and ultimately announced the result.
Thus, the battle everyone had anticipated, the clash of last year's top student versus this year's top student, ended with last year's champion being instantly defeated.
Haruma, without question, was clearly no ordinary prodigy.
"Haruma, when did your Water Release become that strong?" When Haruma returned, Kurenai, inwardly overjoyed, couldn't help but ask.
Scratching his head, Haruma explained, "I only discovered recently that I can spew water from my mouth while also pulling moisture from the air into streams. This was actually the first time I went all out with Water Release. I didn't expect it to be so powerful."
"It seems you've already mastered nature transformation. I didn't expect you to be this talented in Water Style already!"
Recalling having already witnessed Haruma's Water Collision Wave during survival training, Kurenai didn't doubt him in the slightest. Instead, she marvelled aloud, then promised, "In a while, I'll find some Water Release techniques for you. From now on, aside from genjutsu, you can specialised in Water Style too."
"Thank you, Sensei." Haruma replied with a look of 'delighted surprise.'
"Haruma, you're amazing!"
Ino, unable to contain her excitement, broke from her team and leapt onto Haruma's back, cheering, "That move was seriously the coolest ever! You just one-shot last year's top student!"
Hinata too, her eyes shining, kept sneaking glances at Haruma, that technique had been unbelievably handsome.
Her cousin Neji, whom she could never defeat, hadn't even been able to resist and was instantly crushed by Haruma.
If not for her personality, and the fact the opponent was her own cousin, Hinata herself might have shouted for joy.
If Hinata had a second personality like Sakura, her heart right now would be in total uproar.
At that moment, Neji, still unconscious, was being carried off by the medical team on a stretcher.
The matchup for the fourth fight was displayed,
Shino Aburame vs Zaku Abumi.
"Didn't expect that in the first four matches, three would already be from our Team 8."
Seeing the names, Kurenai was surprised. Then she turned to Shino and said, "Shino, Hinata and Haruma have already advanced. Now it's your turn."
"Do your best, Shino."
Haruma said as Shino, with hands tucked in his pockets, walked down to the arena.
Zaku was one of the Sound Trio responsible for why Team 10 had arrived so late to the Tower, dirty and disheveled.
Since Haruma himself hadn't drawn the Sound Trio, he asked Shino to avenge Ino in his stead.
Quietly of course and Shino did not disappoint.
Once the battle began, just like in the original events, Shino's bugs clogged the devices on Zaku's arms, cutting off his Decapitating Airwaves. Then he knocked him unconscious to the ground.
But without anyone noticing, Shino also implanted his Parasitic Destruction Insects.
Unlike the flesh-eating kikaichu, these bugs entered the body to consume chakra and physical energy, growing inside while endlessly tormenting their host, gradually reducing them to a frail husk with no stamina or chakra.
In other words, Shino hadn't just defeated Zaku, he had crippled him, dooming him to prolonged agony.
This very technique was why Shino would later be considered one of the most underrated among the Konoha 12.
"Well done, Shino."
Few had noticed his subtle move but Haruma, who was accustomed to him, had. When Shino returned, Haruma smiled and patted his shoulder.
Shino nodded silently, leaving Ino and Hinata puzzled.
What had Shino just done?
Before Ino could ask, the fifth match appeared:
Kankuro vs Misumi Tsurugi.
Misumi Tsurugi was Kabuto and Yoroi's teammate, another of Orochimaru's planted spies. Unsurprisingly, Kankuro won with ease.
The sixth match:
Tenten vs Temari.
A battle of natural counters. No matter how many weapons Tenten hurled, or how flashy her throws, none could withstand the sweep of Temari's fan. Temari won without effort.
If Gaara won his next fight, then Sunagakure's Sand Siblings would, like Team 8, become the second full squad to advance.
The seventh match:
Shikamaru Nara vs Kin Tsuchi.
Kin, the member of the Sound Trio, who had once forced Sakura into her first real growth, cutting her long hair.
Since Shikamaru disliked hitting women, he didn't cripple her. He simply used Shadow Imitation to force her to slam her own head into the wall until she knocked herself out, winning the match.
The eighth match:
Naruto Uzumaki vs Kiba Inazuka.
If Sasuke was currently at his weakest due to the Curse Mark, Naruto was simply… weak.
Worse still, after Orochimaru's Five Elements Seal, he couldn't even go "berserk."
Without his Shadow Clones, Naruto would be nothing but a genin with massive chakra reserves.
Even against Kiba, he was being pushed back. In the end, he only won thanks to a fart and a massive beat down with his limited shadow clones.
As the Child of Prophecy, seeing Naruto win this way, with so little strength, was honestly painful.
And yet, no one could have guessed that this same weakling would, in just one month, outshine even Sasuke, defeating the One-Tail Jinchuriki of Sunagakure.
Had Haruma not stirred the butterfly storm, Naruto would have made his name by stepping over last year's top student.
Finally, with Naruto and Kiba's fight concluded, the matchup Haruma had been waiting for arrived:
The tenth match:
Gaara vs. Rock Lee!