I stare at Maki trying to think of a way to answer her question. I can't talk, but I also don't know sign language. And I really don't have a true name. I just stare at her as her face becomes more annoyed. She is about to talk again until in the corner of both of our eyes we see someone approaching us.
It's an elderly man holding a bottle of sake. I quickly recognized him as the head of the Zenin clan. He approaches me with a flushed face, he stares at me, and smirks. I stare at him walking towards me until I watch as his body flickers and reappears directly in front of me.
He looks down at me before glancing over at Maki and talking.
" Maki, the reason he isn't answering your question is because he can't talk. "
Maki's eyes widen until an embarrassed look covers her face. She rubs the back of her head before talking.
" I-I apologize "
I just nod my head at her as I start walking away until I feel a hand grab onto my shoulder. I glance up at Naobito holding my shoulder. He takes a swig of his sake before letting out a loud burp.
" I know you're going to be limited during the tournament, but please don't embarrass us. "
He says to me. He must know my true identity which isn't surprising. He is the head of the Zenin clan. I nod my head at him. A pleased look appears on his drunken face until his body vanishes from my vision.
My eyes can't track his movements at all. He's far faster than Mei Mei. I take a deep breath as I still feel Maki glaring at me. I glance at her one more time before walking away...
In a flash, a day passed. The Zenin clan is going to finally join the tournament. I'm standing near the stone stairs that lead up to the stage with my arms crossed. There are twenty contestants remaining in the tournament. Ten of them are from the Zenin clan.
I glance through the remaining contestants. I see Maki, Naoya, a kid with white hair that has circles tattooed next to his mouth. And a-a panda? I stare at the panda confused until he looks at me and grins. I scoff at him while shaking my head. I guess he's a cursed spirit.
The rest of the contestants I don't know and they all look pretty bland. I wait patiently staring at the empty stage until I watch as an announcer with short black hair, wearing a black suit, and holding a microphone walks onto the stage. He taps the microphone before coughing.
The loud crowd instantly goes silent as they wait for the announcer to talk. The announcer looks at the crowd with a pleased look until he starts yelling into the microphone.
" Attention audience! We have made it to the fourth bracket of this tournament! Twenty contestants are still in the running. The famous Zenin clan has finally joined the tournament with ten of their strongest youths. The tournament rules remain the same. You can't get knocked out of the ring nor can you kill the other opponent. "
Looks like you have forced your opponent to surrender or knock them out of the ring. That is the only way to move past the fourth bracket. I stare at the announcer as he wildly moves around the stage trying to get the crowd excited.
" Without further ado. Let's begin the first match of the fourth tournament. Will Zenin Maki and Toge Inumaki enter the stage! "
Yells out the announcer. I watch as Maki walks past me holding a spear far too big for her body. Her green hair blows in the wind as she walks up the stairs her footsteps echoing out. She steps onto the stage. As the kid with white hair and circles tattooed around his mouth walks onto the stage.
His name is Inumaki. I can't sense much cursed energy leaking off of his body but for some reason. My instincts tell me he is a threat. I watch as Inumaki quietly stares at Maki before the announcer walks between the two opponents with his hand high above his head.
" Good luck to both contestants. Let the first match of the fourth bracket commence! "
He says yanking his hand down to his waist signaling the start of the match. The crowd erupts into a deafening roar as Maki and Inumaki slowly approach each other...