My next fight couldn't have come sooner if you ask me.
After I'd returned to the waiting room Minato was immediately talking excitedly at me about how cool I was and how he wants to spar again because he felt like I was holding back, it took me a while to explain to him that I am much better at fighting a group that is individually only a little stronger than me as opposed to a more powerful opponent alone.
Jiraiya is now looking suspiciously at me, having finally noticed the looks Akira has been sending me every now and then, but I don't really care about that, he's not going to say anything so it doesn't matter.
My next fight promises to be more difficult, even if it might not be more interesting since it took even less time to come up with a plan this time. And my side wound is a known factor now so not only do I not have to henge it away, but I also don't have to worry about opening it again, it doesn't matter if I bleed so long as I can end the fight fast enough, and it's hardly like pain has ever been something that bothers me, it's temporary after all, just forget about it.
Anyway, my next fight was called and now I'm standing in an arena and against me are three more Kiri-nin, not surprising since at least half of the participants that survived to the tournament were from Kiri, home field advantage and all that.
My opponents this round are clearly one whole team and look to be around thirteen, what makes them interesting is that one of them is a Hozuki, meaning he can turn his body into water, he's basically a water-type logia from one piece, the only question is, can my fire Jutsu just evaporate him? Probably not, but that isn't my main plan anyway.
Other than the Hozuki there is a guy with pale pink hair that I feel like I should kill just on principle alone, pink hair is 𝘮𝘺 thing and 𝘯𝘰 I am 𝘯𝘰𝘵 pouting. Anyway, Pinky hasn't got any weapons, like the Hozuki, so they will probably keep their distance, which sucks if true.
The last one has brown hair and wields a fucking whip sword of all things, but thankfully he is young, so it shouldn't be too difficult to use him against his team, his weapon does have a lot of area of effect after all.
The Hozuki steps forward, clearly the leader of this squad, to trash talk I assume.
"Just because you killed some weaklings, doesn't mean you have a chance against us, tree hugger, ya got any last words?"
Despite the sneer on his face, Hozuki-san is surprisingly polite with his death threat, this brings a genuine smile to my face. I love it when people are polite, now I suppose I can kill him with some respect.
"Thank you for your concern but I don't really want to die again, so I will have to refuse, though, if you would be willing to offer your necks, I could make this painless for us both?"
Before you freak out, mystical voices in my head, no one is going to jump to the conclusion that I'm reincarnated just from that, the rational conclusion is that I feel that I've narrowly escaped death, or died on the inside at some point, basically people will just think I'm being depressive or edgy.
Hozuki-san seems taken aback by my cordial response, probably having expected me to insult his mother or something, not that I'd ever do something like that.
What? I already did something like that? I think I would recall something like that, maybe you should see a doctor.
"Huh, I expected you to say something meaner."
I like this guy, if we didn't have to kill each other, I bet we'd get along.
"Nah, the other guys started it, I don't instigate if I can help it, but I also don't take it, you were at least cordial with your threat, so there's no reason for me to be a dick."
Hozuki-san seems to regard me differently, maybe because he's in a clan he was taught proper manners? Not that it matters, because the announcer is winding down his hyping.
"AND LET THE FIGHT... BEGIN!!!"
None of us break into movement at the start, still just staring at each other.
I decide to break the stalemate by quoting one of my favourite movies as I walk towards them with a casual pace.
"Do you fear, death?
Another step closer.
"Do you fear, that dark abyss?
Another step, and they seem a little unsettled as they get into a formation, Whippy at the front with the other two behind in a triangle.
"All your deeds, laid bear
I'm only a few strides away now, and they are too hooked on my little speech to attack. Seriously inexperienced. As I get a few steps away, I look each of them in the eye, doing a little henge trick so that it seems to each of them that I'm staring right at them.
"All your sins, Punished!
They flinch, drawn into my words as I use a small Genjutsu to make them focus even more on my words, the Genjutsu small enough that hopefully no one notices it. Now, it's time to go off script.
"I can spare you that judgement, all you need do, is kneel."
Pinky drops to his knees, the sound snapping the other two out of their daze but not fast enough as I use all of the speed available to my persona to flow around Whippy and jump over Pinky, driving a kunai into his head as I land in a roll.
Well, that went well, and they say min-maxing charisma is a bad idea.
Hozuki-san and Whippy both look between Pinky and me in shock, before that shock turns to anger.
"You will pay for that."
Words, words, what do they really mean? Actions are so much louder. Show me your anger Hozuki-san. Show me that emotion. That raw feeling, so intense I could never experience it on my own.
"Pay what? 50 Ryo?"
That was all I needed to say for Whippy to start his assault, making me jump, dodge and roll around to avoid being hit, occasionally having to block with a kunai, until he lets up for a moment to allow a lakes worth of water to crash into me but using the principles of the Hiding in the Surface technique, I slip right through the wave, like a blade I cut through the water until I am standing atop a new lake, facing my two opponents who are also, predictably, standing on the water just fine.
Hozuki-san falls into the water and becomes one with the lake while Wippy reengages me.
My plan seems more difficult now that I'm actually here, whoops.
After another narrow dodge, I stomp on the lake, hitting it as if it was solid ground and causing large ripples to spread, that disrupt Whippy's footing as I had hoped but as I charge towards him, the water around me comes alive and wraps around my legs.
Crap.
I need to get rid of whippy to fight Hozuki-san, he is better than I'd thought he'd be and I can't focus on Hozuki-san with the constant pressure.
Getting another stupid idea, I make a seal and shoot fire straight down, freeing me, then I start strafing towards Whippy, who predictably resumes his assault.
Now, the stupid part, his whip sword is double edged unfortunately, so I move some kunai around on my body, and when the whip makes to strike at me again, instead of dodging, I leap with the hit, to match its momentum somewhat, and let it strike me, quickly wrapping around my body painfully, once again opening my side wound.
I fall onto the lake, being unable to move my body, but still being able to keep water walking, and I just lie there for a moment, catching my breath and riding the pain out.
Check.
Whippy stays put, to keep the whip taught, while Hozuki-san materialised in front of me with a scowl on his face, not matching my sunny smile.
"You're insane, aren't you?"
Hah, what gave it away?
"Aren't we all?"
"I'm going to kill you now."
"'Kay."
Now he's looking at me with a mix of hatred and pity, guess he just thinks I'm too broken to care about death, well, his loss, my win.
Hozuki-san points his hand to my face and it starts extending, to engulf my face and travel down my throat. drowning me, a common way for Hozuki clan members to execute people, according to the info guys back home, I'm glad they were right.
As I start to feel water in my lungs and the world dimming slightly I can only smile brighter.
And that's checkmate.
All of the chakra Katsuki has left is turned into lightning chakra almost immediately, causing all three of us to convulse painfully, as I am not exactly immune to this kind of self harming technique.
It takes a moment for my chakra to run dry, but when it does, Hozuki-san and Whippy, join me as we descend into the lake.
Thankfully this lets the whip binding me loosen and I can, with incredible difficulty swim up enough to show my face, but I don't have enough chakra to keep above the water. I dip below and above the surface for a moment before the announcer finally calls it.
"IN YET ANOTHER SHOCKING DISPLAY OF GRIT, THE WINNER IS KATSUKI OF KONOHA!!!!!!"
Even as I fall unconscious, drifting under the water, I cant help but smile in my mind as I distantly see someone reaching for my sinking form.
And the crowd goes wild.
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A/N: He~llo! Dear readers!
This chapter is slightly shorter than average at around 1.7k but a couple of my others recently have been around 2.6k so id say it evens out. also I think imma take break, not a long one, I'm just gonna finish reading a fic, i might even finish it today and still manage to get two chaps out, idk.
Thank you for the amazing support during these trying times.
I feel so pathetic, being so lost without wifi. ah well.
https://ko-fi.com/bored_works