The battle here was far fiercer than in the eastern canyon, all because of the presence of Itachi, Temari from Suna, young Deidara from Iwa, and Nii Yugito, the Two-Tails jinchūriki from Kumo.
Shigeo stood atop the withered mountain, frowning as he watched. At this moment, the golden treasure chest—though missing its lid—was in Itachi's hands. Should he snatch the prize from his own good friend?
While he hesitated, Deidara, riding on his clay bird in the sky, suddenly swooped down. Using his explosive clay, he blasted the battlefield into chaos, then darted forward to steal the chest from Itachi's arms.
Though Itachi was formidable within Konoha, he was only seven. He had yet to awaken his Sharingan, and the illusions of the Uchiha clan were still beyond him. Relying only on ninjutsu, facing an opponent who could fly truly was difficult.
Sure enough, after the chest was taken, he pursued with a Katon (Fire Release) and unleashed a storm of shuriken.
Deidara was skilled, yet he underestimated Itachi. Carelessly, his arm was struck by a shuriken. Even so, he didn't release the chest. Still astride his clay bird, he sped toward the mountain peak.
Shigeo knew: even if Deidara reached the summit, without the lid, he could not claim victory. Yet here was an opportunity—how could he let it go?
Several leaps carried him upward. He landed on the clay bird's back.
"You… who are you? Get off!" Deidara thrust his hand forward, fingers coated with clay—ready to blow Shigeo away.
But he never expected the boy's seals to be so fast. Before the clay touched him, lightning surged.
"Raiton: Raidenha (Lightning Release: Thunder Electric Wave)!"
Shigeo had held back; after all, Deidara was just a child. He couldn't kill him outright.
Even so, Deidara's body went numb, his clay lost all effect, and the great bird plummeted. In that moment, the "blind brat" snatched the golden chest!
"Damn it, useless brat—striking from the shadows—shameless!" Deidara cursed, but it meant nothing. He had lost.
Shigeo darted away, arriving at the mountain summit. Down in the canyon chaos raged on—though the golden chest was gone, others still fought bitterly over silver and bronze.
At the peak, judges stood waiting. Shigeo set the chest on the central dais.
"Our group wins!"
"No, you have not. The chest has no lid," said the eldest Iwa elder, his eyes glinting with hatred. It was this child who had nearly destroyed their village overnight. If they could, they would kill him here and now.
"How can it be missing the lid? Would I climb here for nothing?" Shigeo smirked, pulled off his pack, and revealed the golden cover. He fitted it perfectly onto the chest.
A great bell tolled. The winners of the gold chest had emerged.
In Martial City's stadium, the audience erupted. Many of Taki's citizens had bet on Group Three out of patriotism, for it included Fū of Takigakure. Their cheers were deafening. Others, who had wagered elsewhere, slumped in defeat, hoping at least their teams could seize silver or bronze.
With the bell's toll, all contestants in the canyon realized the gold chest was claimed. Fū, breaking away from combat, hurried to the summit. By the time she arrived, Nii Yugito was already there.
"We really won! Shigeo, your strength isn't weak at all! I thought…" Fū laughed joyfully, rushing to throw her arm around his shoulder.
Yugito also studied him seriously. He was far stronger than she had thought—not only able to fly but also wielding Raiton (Lightning Release).
She had witnessed it: amidst the melee, he had appeared behind Deidara, struck with lightning, and stolen the chest before soaring to the summit.
Glancing at the great clock by the dais, she marveled. Only half an hour had passed since the contest began, and already they had won first place.
"Do we need to keep competing? Fight for silver or bronze too?" Shigeo asked with a smirk.
The staff hurriedly waved their hands. "No, no. You may rest, or descend the mountain. The rest is for others to contest."
The three, delighted, descended by a side path.
On the way down, they passed many spectators who had climbed to vantage points to watch. From above, they could still see jutsu clashing—Doton (Earth Release), Katon (Fire Release), Suiton (Water Release), Raiton (Lightning Release), Fūton (Wind Release)—and even Kekkei Genkai techniques, dazzling in their variety.
"You're coming down? You must be the winners of the gold chest! We heard the bell toll three times. Was it Group Three?"
"Yes! We claimed the chest—in just half an hour!" Fū bounced proudly. Even calm Yugito smiled faintly.
Shigeo walked behind them, his mood just as light.
But as they passed a man in black, he suddenly opened his usually closed eyes. It was a subconscious reaction.
That man was Uchiha Obito.
He wore a swirling mask, draped in a black cloak, hood shadowing the mask.
Shigeo's unfocused eyes fixed on him. The girls too glanced at the stranger.
Three children facing one masked man. Though they did not halt, the moment felt frozen in time.
Shigeo gazed at Obito. His eyes had no focus.
But Obito wasn't looking at him. He was staring at the two girls. And though hidden by the mask, Shigeo felt—he was smiling.
(End of Chapter)
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