(A.N: 30 powerstones, fine this much is enough as well, but i hope the number will increase further ^~^)
***
On the other side, the energy in the stadium was electric, buzzing with excitement as thousands of spectators filled every corner, their voices melding together into an endless sea of sound. This wasn't just another event—it was the event.
The final stage of the Chunin Exams, where the best of the best would clash in front of cheering crowds, elite shinobi, and even the highest-ranking officials from the great nations. Each match carried the weight of years of training, sacrifice, and dreams.
Vendors shouted over the noise, selling food, drinks, and memorabilia to eager fans. High above the action, the three Daimyo sat in their exclusive booths, enjoying the spectacle with a casual air that only the wealthiest and most powerful could muster. Yet beneath the surface, there was a layer of intensity even here—100 million Ryo had been casually bet on the results of these matches.
At the center of it all was the massive stone stadium, carved into the natural cliffs of Kumogakure. The sheer size and grandeur of the place dwarfed that of the stadium in Konoha. Maybe Kumogakure spent more on military and fighting, or perhaps the mountain terrain was just optimal for it, but one thing was certain—it was grand.
This was where futures would be decided. Not of the ninjas, because every participant had the caliber to reach Chunin level easily. What the future here meant was the number of missions a village would get this year and their overall reputation.
A proctor stepped forward to the edge of the battle arena, raising his voice to cut through the crowd's noise. His sharp, no-nonsense expression signaled that it was time for the opening match to begin.
"Participants, please step forward when your name is called," he announced, his voice amplified by chakra for the entire stadium to hear.
"First match: Darui of Kumogakure versus Shima of Sunagakure!"
"Place your bets now! The champion of Kumogakure or the hope of Sunagakure—the odds are 1:1.25 for Darui and 1:2 for Shima," the stall owners started shouting. But since it was almost guaranteed that Darui would win, no major bets were placed by the big shots, who had access to basic information from the ninja world. Civilians, however, still placed bets, undeterred by the odds.
The crowd roared, eager to see the match. Darui, from Kumogakure, was well-known for his mastery of *Black Lightning* in the village—since the previous user of this technique was the Third Raikage himself, Darui's fame was not small at all.
He stepped into the arena with his usual calm and composed demeanor, his white hair framing his eyes as he surveyed his opponent.
Across from him, Shima, the Sunagakure kunoichi, walked in confidently. Unlike Darui, she was less known to the audience, but her quiet strength radiated from her every move. Being the captain of a team from a major village was proof enough that she wasn't weak. With her wind jutsu and special kenjutsu, Darui knew she wouldn't be an easy opponent—but nothing he couldn't defeat.
The proctor raised his hand. "Let the match begin!"
Darui wasted no time, quickly forming hand seals to summon his *Black Lightning*, a rare and deadly element that only he in Kumogakure had mastered. His fingers crackled with dark lightning as he fired off a bolt straight at Shima, who was already moving.
Seeing the famous dark lightning, she dodged, predicting the trajectory of the attack. With a swift sidestep, Shima avoided the bolt, her speed impressive even to Darui.
'She isn't just fast—she's calculative,' Darui thought.
Shima immediately retaliated, using her *Wind Style: Gale Cutter* to send sharp, slicing wind blades toward Darui. He dodged most of the attack, using a lightning movement jutsu to increase his speed rapidly. But even at that speed, dodging all the blades wasn't possible—he had to use his lightning-coated blade to deflect some as well.
The crowd erupted, watching the clash between two skilled warriors. Neither was willing to back down, each testing the other's limits. Shima's tactics were simple—she used her Wind Style attacks to create an opportunity for close combat, knowing her chances in a ninjutsu-based duel were low.
Lightning jutsu, especially Black Lightning, were perversely hard to defend against. Even though Darui understood her plan, he went along with it, calm and collected. He wanted to see what she was truly capable of.
The two exchanged a flurry of blows, neither gaining a clear advantage. Shima's sharp blade cut through the air, aiming for Darui's weak points, but Darui countered with his own kenjutsu. Lightning clashed against wind, creating sparks and gusts of air that rippled across the arena.
The tension mounted as both fighters grew more aggressive, appearing at one corner of the stadium one moment, then on the opposite side the next. The crowd went wild, cheering for the fighters they had bet on.
After fighting in close combat for so long, Shima understood that even in kenjutsu, she didn't have a clear chance of winning. She decided to use her final jutsu, but Darui wasn't going to give her any more chances. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, concentrating his chakra.
When he opened them again, forming a series of hand seals in an instant, a dark aura surrounded him as he summoned his *Black Panther*—an enormous, lightning-infused beast made entirely from his Black Lightning chakra. The panther roared as it shot forward, tearing through the gust of wind with ease and charging directly at Shima.
There was no time for Shima to react. The Black Panther slammed into her, its lightning-infused fangs paralyzing her movements. She hit the ground, defeated but still conscious. The crowd roared in awe of Darui's power.
The proctor stepped forward. "Winner: Darui!"
The stadium erupted with applause as Darui helped Shima to her feet, offering her a nod of respect before walking off the field.
---
The energy in the stadium only intensified as the next match was announced.
"Next match: Kaida of Konohagakure versus Shiro of Takigakure!"
"Place your bets, everyone! Kaida Uchiha from Konohagakure at 1:1.1, and Shiro from Takigakure at 1:4! That's right—quadruple your money if you bet on Shiro and he wins! Once-in-a-lifetime odds!" the stall owners shouted again. Normally, anyone sane would bet on Kaida, simply because he was from a major village, but the temptation of quadrupling their money was too much for many to resist. Plenty of people bet on Shiro, praying for a miracle.
Undeterred by the crowd's excitement, Kaida and Shiro entered the stadium.
Kaida stood at the edge of the arena, his expression calm and unreadable. His mind was focused, though he could still feel the lingering fatigue from his genjutsu training. It was manageable—nothing major.
Shiro, on the other hand, looked nervous but determined. He wasn't as strong as Kaida, but his resolve to fight for his village pushed him forward. He represented Takigakure, a smaller, lesser-known village. If it were just about himself, he might have given up, but now it was about his village's reputation. Running away wasn't an option.
As the two stepped into the arena, Kaida could sense the tension in Shiro. He admired the boy's determination—Shiro knew he was outmatched, but he was still willing to fight. It was a rare quality in a ninja, especially one from a minor village.
The proctor raised his hand once more. "Let the match begin!"
Shiro didn't waste a second, immediately forming hand seals for a *Water Style* jutsu. He knew his best chance was to take Kaida by surprise and use his water techniques to keep him at bay. But as soon as Shiro began his jutsu, Kaida was already moving.
Kaida's hand went up in front of his face, forming quick and fluid hand seals. Shiro, instinctively, glanced toward Kaida's hands to see if he could guess which jutsu he was preparing—an automatic reaction for any ninja in combat.
But that was Shiro's mistake.
The moment Shiro's eyes locked onto Kaida's, he was caught. Kaida's 3-tomoe Sharingan activated, and Shiro's body froze. He had fallen under Kaida's genjutsu.
The crowd watched in stunned silence as Shiro suddenly jumped back and fired water bullets—completely in the wrong direction—followed by another water release, then another.
Kaida placed his hand in his pocket and calmly approached his opponent, his steps casual. Shiro, fully trapped in the genjutsu, could only stand there helplessly as Kaida reached him.
"Hey, what are you doing? I placed money on you! At least give a proper fight!" some spectators shouted, unaware of what was really happening. Ninjas in the crowd explained the situation to them, and once they understood it was a genjutsu, the disgruntled gamblers could only curse their own greed.
As Kaida reached Shiro, without saying a word, he lifted his hand and lightly tapped Shiro on the neck. The genjutsu broke, and Shiro suddenly saw two red eyes before everything became clear.
The proctor raised his hand
"Winner: Kaida!"
The audience erupted into applause, though there were some murmurs of surprise. The match had been over before it even truly began, in previous match at least both sides performed their best to win, but here Kaida didn't even through a single punch and won a true testament of why genjutsu was so deadly and why Uchiha were feared, But what stood out to many was Kaida's mercy. He could have easily harmed Shiro, but he chose not to. Instead, he had ended the match with a simple tap on the neck.