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Obito's face had gone pale.
"Shisui lost?" he muttered, staring at the scoreboard like it had personally betrayed him. "But he has two magatama... how did Hanekawa—"
He didn't finish. His hands clenched into fists, and the air around him seemed to darken. Rin was congratulating Hanekawa with that bright smile of hers, completely oblivious to the storm brewing behind Obito's eyes.
I'm going to be Hokage, he thought bitterly. I'm going to be stronger than all of them.
The jealousy was eating him alive.
"Great match!" Kurenai bounded over and grabbed Hanekawa's hand, beaming up at him. Behind her, Rin tactfully stepped back, giving them space.
"Lucky," Hanekawa said modestly.
Asuma's eye twitched. That's even worse than bragging, he thought darkly. How is false humility more infuriating than actual arrogance?
"You did well, Shisui," Shizune offered as a teammate should.
"Losing to Hanekawa-senpai was inevitable," Shisui replied with genuine ease. "Besides, I learned a lot from the match."
Shizune glanced at Obito's brooding figure nearby. The contrast was stark. "You're not like most Uchiha," she observed.
"Next match!" Guy's voice boomed across the arena, practically vibrating with enthusiasm. "It's my turn!"
Hanekawa raised an eyebrow. Interesting. So Hiruzen thinks Kurenai and Kakashi are the tougher matchups. Let's see if that's actually true.
Guy's opponent was Asuma.
"Asuma!" Guy practically glowed with fighting spirit. "Let's have a true youth showdown!"
"Your taijutsu is solid," Asuma countered, drawing his chakra blades, "but I've beaten you before. This time won't be different."
They'd sparred countless times at the Academy. Asuma usually won—ninjutsu had a natural advantage over pure taijutsu. Kiting was a legitimate strategy, and Guy hadn't been using the Eight Gates back then.
The two faced off in the arena's center.
"Guy! Show them the power of youth! Leave nothing on that field!" A voice cracked with emotion from the stands.
It was Might Duy, Guy's father, tears streaming down his face.
"Yes, Dad!" Guy's voice wavered with emotion. "I won't let you down!"
Asuma's mouth twitched. I feel for Kakashi. This must be torture.
"Guy! Take it off!" Duy shouted.
Asuma blinked. Take what off?
Two thunderous BANGS answered his question.
Weights the size of bricks crashed to the ground, kicking up clouds of dust. Asuma's eyes widened. How was he even moving with those things?
"Here I come, Asuma! Konoha Whirlwind!"
Guy became a green blur.
Asuma barely got his arms up before the kick connected. The impact sent him sliding backward two steps, the force stealing his breath.
"Konoha's Powerful Whirlwind!"
Guy pivoted and delivered a spinning kick that made the air itself scream.
Too fast to form seals. Asuma grabbed his chakra blades and punched upward, forcing Guy to abort the attack and accelerate past him instead. The kick that followed sent Asuma flying backward.
He crashed hard, dust exploding around him.
On the high platform, Hiruzen's expression froze. Is he going to lose?
Hanekawa watched with mild interest. Hiruzen really doesn't understand taijutsu specialists. That's going to be a problem for him eventually.
"Not that easy!" Asuma pushed himself up, his expression deadly serious.
Wind Style: Dust and Wind Technique!
A cloud of powder erupted from his mouth, swallowing Guy whole. Before Guy could react, heat rolled in.
Fire Style: Dragon Fire Technique!
A lance of flame shot through the dust.
"Konoha Vajra Power Cyclone!"
Guy's leg flashed, scattering the flames. But Asuma was already moving.
Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!
Compressed wind exploded outward like a fountain, catching Guy mid-recovery and hurling him backward.
"Very good!" Asuma breathed, steadying himself. The kiting strategy works. He can't close the distance fast enough.
They traded attacks. Guy pushed forward; Asuma kept him at bay with ninjutsu. The pattern was clear—Guy was losing ground.
"Guy!" Duy's voice suddenly boomed across the arena. "I approve!"
Asuma blinked. Approve of what?
"Eight Gate Dunjia!"
Green chakra erupted from Guy's body like a second skin. "Open the door! Open the rest gate! Open the life gate!"
What? Asuma's stomach dropped.
"Watch out, Asuma!" Duy was practically vibrating with pride. "Lotus Flower!"
Guy's speed became something else entirely—something wrong. Before Asuma could even process the movement, he was airborne, the world spinning.
A terrible sense of dread crashed over him.
Then strong arms caught him mid-fall.
Hiruzen set Asuma down gently, brushing dust from his robes. "You fought well," the Third Hokage said, his voice warm with approval. "The Eight Gates are a formidable technique."
"Lord Hokage?!" Guy stared, shocked.
"You have real talent," Hiruzen continued, a genuine smile on his weathered face. "Keep training."
Guy turned toward the stands, and his father appeared like he'd been waiting for permission. The two embraced, both crying openly.
"...I lost," Asuma said flatly, looking like he'd been hit by a meteor.
Hiruzen chuckled. "You lost to the Eight Gates. That's no shame. Try harder next time."
He returned to the platform, leaving Yamanaka Inoichi to announce the result and politely ask the emotional father-son duo to clear the arena.
"My turn," Kurenai said, taking a breath.
Only she and Kakashi remained. No need for a draw.
Hanekawa reached over and ruffled her hair. "Do your best."
She looked up at him and smiled—bright, genuine, unguarded. "I will."
"There's no need for them to say anything else," Shizune whispered to herself, watching the exchange.
Asuma looked away, depressed. First I lose to Guy. Now I'm watching them be all... that.
Rin pursed her lips, feeling something unfamiliar twist in her chest.
Kakashi walked to the center with his usual calm, drawing a short sword. He and Kurenai had fought dozens of times at the Academy. He knew her patterns. She knew his.
"Begin!" Inoichi called.
Water Style: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!
Kurenai spat out a water dragon without hesitation.
Kakashi stepped forward and vanished.
His blade came from the right, aimed at her throat.
Water Style: Heaven's Cry!
Kurenai opened her mouth, and thousands of water needles erupted outward. Kakashi was forced back, one needle grazing his left arm before he recovered.
He pressed forward again, his blade becoming a blur of strikes.
Water Style: Water Formation Wall!
A barrier of water rose between them. Kakashi didn't slow down—he jumped, coming down from above.
Water Style: Water Blade Slash!
Kurenai raised her kunai to meet him. The impact drove her backward.
Their eyes met for a fraction of a second.
That was all she needed.
The Genjutsu in the Fox's Mind!
Kakashi froze.
Kurenai felt footsteps behind her and spun. Another Kakashi stood there, sword raised.
She turned back to the first one.
Both were real. Both were illusions.
"I surrender," she said simply, lowering her kunai.
She'd lost to Kakashi enough times to know when she was beaten. Besides, she'd already made it to the third round. Chunin promotion was within reach.
That was enough.
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