ALL NOVEL Chapter 37: Chapter 37
Though they each have their flaws, in terms of sheer ninja talent, these are among the best of the best.
And the top contender among them? Orochimaru.
Calm, calculating, and undeniably powerful. If only he were a bit more... gentle, he might surpass even me one day.
"So, out of the remaining four, who do you think has the best shot?"
It's obvious that whoever wins will come from the top tier of geniuses. These are the kinds of kids who will eventually become the pillars of their villages, if they can make it that far.
"Teacher, these last four aren't pushovers. Whoever makes it to the end will depend on who has more up their sleeve... and who's got the stronger will."
Fujiwara Tetsuya. Uchiha Mikoto. Ay. Rasa.
They've all shown impressive abilities during the preliminaries and the official rounds, no doubt about that. But if I had to guess...
Orochimaru's eyes gleamed. He could see it clearly. These four hadn't even come close to revealing their full potential because their previous opponents simply weren't strong enough to push them.
"Lady Tsunade," Orochimaru's tone was unusually playful. "Let's shake things up with the draw tomorrow. I want to see these four face off."
Hiruzen Sarutobi, catching Orochimaru's rising excitement, couldn't help but share in it. He waved his hand dismissively as if the top four were already decided. After all, manipulating things behind the scenes? That was child's play for them.
---
The next day, as Fujiwara Tetsuya, Uchiha Mikoto, and the rest stood in the arena, the eight finalists were set.
Yet, the audience's eyes weren't on them. Instead, all the attention was on a single person standing at the edge of the arena.
"Look, today's proctor... it's Lady Tsunade!"
"Unbelievable! I can't believe we're seeing the legendary Tsunade in person! This trip was totally worth it!"
The princess of the Senju clan. Fair skin, stunning beauty, unmatched strength, and a flawless reputation. Not to mention, she'd been officially titled "Princess" by the Daimyo of the Land of Fire himself. Her aura commanded attention wherever she went.
"So that's Tsunade, huh?" Fujiwara Tetsuya muttered to himself.
This was the second time he'd seen her since arriving in the ninja world, and she was even more breathtaking up close. He swallowed nervously.
Compared to her... Uchiha Mikoto was, well, flat. Completely flat. It wasn't even a contest.
"Alright, kids!" Tsunade's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Today's matches will follow the same rules as yesterday. If there are no questions, let's get started."
Her commanding presence had Senju Hiroki standing straighter, his eyes glowing with admiration. The boy was practically vibrating with excitement. It was obvious the Senju elders had filled his head with grand ideas about the clan's glory, completely unaware of how little control they actually had over Tsunade... or the Chunin Exams, for that matter.
"First match: Minazuki Chione versus Uchiha Mikoto. Step forward!"
The moment the two girls stepped into the arena, the crowd roared with excitement. A clash between two beauties, and not just any beauties—one wielding ice, the other fire. A battle between bloodline limits. It was a perfect spectacle.
Shimmering shards of ice shot toward Uchiha Mikoto like a torrential storm. Clearly, Chione was more wary of the Sharingan than she was of Mikoto's Fire Release techniques. Smart move, considering.
But it wasn't enough.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!"
Mikoto's flames roared across the battlefield, a sea of fire swallowing Chione's ice projectiles, turning them to steam before they even hit their mark. The intense heat distorted the air, making the arena feel like a furnace.
Direct. Simple. Overwhelming force.
Chione was cornered almost immediately.
"Water Release: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
Desperate, Chione blanketed the field in a thick fog. But in the wide-open arena, that trick wasn't going to do her much good, especially not against the keen eyes of Mikoto's Sharingan.
"Got you."
With a flick of her wrist, Mikoto sent several fireballs into the mist, dispersing it instantly and leaving Chione's position wide open.
The moment Chione met Mikoto's gaze, it was over.
"You're finished."
Three rapid steps later, Mikoto closed the distance, and Chione was caught in the Uchiha's genjutsu before she could even blink.
From the stands, Fujiwara Tetsuya watched with a serious expression. This was the first time he'd seen Mikoto fight up close since their training with Yuhi Sensei. Both of them had grown. Tremendously. But what worried him most wasn't her fire techniques or her physical abilities. No, it was her genjutsu. If they met in the semifinals or, god forbid, the final match, that might be his downfall.
"Winner: Uchiha Mikoto!"
Tsunade's voice echoed across the stadium as the genjutsu faded. Chione dropped to the ground, exhausted and pale, freed from Mikoto's illusion. She didn't even look angry, just... afraid.
At some point during the fight, the ice-wielding prodigy had developed a new respect, or rather, fear, for her opponent.
---
"Congrats, Mikoto. You're in the top four," Fujiwara Tetsuya greeted her with a grin as she walked off the stage.
For some reason, since yesterday's incident, she seemed... softer toward him. He wasn't quite sure why, but it was definitely a change.
"Second match: Ay versus Uchiha Tono. Step forward!"
The massive Raikage-in-training, Ay, strode onto the battlefield, and Uchiha Tono's confidence visibly faltered. Even with his Sharingan, Tono wasn't ready to face the sheer physical might of this opponent. Not yet.
Though his eyes spun with a single tomoe, it wasn't enough to save him from what was about to happen.
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