"Ice Release, Yuki Onna."
As Erza unleashed her technique, the platform quickly became enveloped in a thick layer of ice, causing the temperature in the arena to plummet. Spectators in lighter clothing shivered, their breaths visible in the chilly air.
"Ice Release, Igloo."
With a swift motion, walls of ice erupted from the ground, encasing Erza and Kankuro in a glacial fortress, effectively blocking the view of the audience. Inside the igloo, the atmosphere was tense. Erza held her blade poised, ready to strike against the puppets Kankuro controlled. However, Kankuro appeared hesitant, spending more time on defense than offense.
Erza hurled her blade toward Kankuro, disregarding the puppet lunging at her from the left. Kankuro was forced to divert his attention to her attack, stretching the strings of his puppet to block the incoming weapon.
CRACK
The blade pierced through the puppet's eye, crippling its function and reducing Kankuro's ability to counterattack. As Kankuro shifted his focus to assess the damage, Erza seized the opportunity to create a shadow clone, sending it charging toward him.
Recovering quickly, Kankuro tightened his grip on the strings, preparing to counter.
"I've got you now!" he exclaimed, his confidence resurfacing as the arms of his puppet reached out to ensnare Erza.
With a triumphant smirk, Kankuro declared, "It'll end here."
The puppet's arms wrapped around Erza, squeezing tightly. For a moment, it seemed as though the battle was over, as Erza's form went limp, leaving Kankuro grinning in victory.
POOF
In an instant, the figure before him dissipated, revealing it to be a clone. Kankuro's eyes widened in horror as the real Erza sprang into action. An icicle shot up from the ground, piercing him directly in the stomach and sending him soaring through the air, breaking through the roof of the igloo.
Erza was already prepared for his ascent, mirroring the technique Sasuke had executed earlier. She leaped upward, her heel landing forcefully on Kankuro's stomach, slamming him back down to the ground.
The impact shattered the ice beneath them, causing debris to scatter across the arena, revealing the scene to the spectators. The outcome was undeniable; it was clear who had emerged victorious.
Kankuro struggled to rise, pain coursing through his body as he fought against the urge to succumb. He managed to lift his head slightly, only to see his half-destroyed puppet lying broken beside him.
"And the winner of this match is Erza!" the announcer proclaimed.
Kankuro gritted his teeth, frustration boiling inside him as he replayed the match in his mind while lying on a hospital bed later. Gaara and Temari were by his side, their expressions neutral, though Temari seemed slightly concerned for him.
"Sorry… Gaara," Kankuro muttered, regret seeping into his voice.
"It was expected," Gaara replied coolly. "The next matchup will begin soon. We should get going."
—
The next match unfolded between Sakura and Ino, ending in an anticlimactic draw. Erza nearly dozed off during their battle, finding it painfully dull. As she had remarked earlier, if they dedicated more time to training rather than romantic distractions, they could become much stronger. Their skills were far behind what one would expect for their age.
Before she knew it, the next match had already begun.
"Temari and Tenten, match begins!"
This contest proved to be one-sided, as Temari's fan effortlessly swatted aside every attack Tenten launched. It was evident that Temari's abilities far surpassed those of her opponent.
Erza watched closely, a thought forming in her mind: the sand village ninjas were indeed formidable.
As the match neared its conclusion, Temari expertly knocked Tenten out with a powerful sweep of her fan. But instead of simply celebrating her victory, Temari locked eyes with Erza and grinned mischievously.
Erza held her gaze, intrigued but unperturbed.
In an unexpected move, Temari swung her fan again, sending Tenten hurtling toward the wall. Just before she crashed, Lee sprang onto the platform, catching her with perfect timing.
"Is she trying to provoke me?" Erza muttered to herself, a slight frown forming on her lips.
Temari's expression shifted to annoyance when Erza didn't respond to her provocation. Rather than saving Tenten herself, she had relied on someone else to do so, which seemed to irritate her.
"Tsk," Temari scoffed.
"The match is already over, and she's knocked out!" Lee exclaimed, confusion evident in his voice. "What the hell are you trying to do? Kill her?!"
"Haha, nice catch," Temari replied with a laugh, the tension lingering in the air.
Just as Lee prepared to retaliate, Guy appeared on the platform, stepping in to prevent any escalation.
"Temari, come back here. Don't keep company with that awful-looking guy and his chaperone," Gaara ordered, his tone serious.
"Haha," Guy chuckled, waving a hand dismissively. "Let me give you a warning; this boy is strong."
The scene sparked whispers among the audience, everyone aware of the sand village ninjas' strength. The last thing they wanted was to engage with them, yet Guy's comments hinted at an impending clash.
"Damn it, I'd rather not deal with them at all," Kiba muttered, his expression serious.
"T-true, they're amazing," Hinata added softly, her eyes wide as she took in the strength of the sand ninja.
The next match began with Kiba facing off against Naruto. Initially, Kiba overwhelmed Naruto with his speed and power, displaying complete dominance. However, his overconfidence proved to be his downfall; he was caught off guard when Naruto transformed into his likeness.
Gasps erupted from the crowd as Naruto skillfully outplayed Kiba, employing his famous Shadow Clone Jutsu to overwhelm him.
Erza's attention shifted to her right, where she noticed a familiar girl cheering for Naruto with flushed cheeks. Unlike Sakura, who fawned over her crush, this girl was strong and capable. Her determination shone through during her fight against Neji Hyuga, her sibling.
Both Hinata and Neji demonstrated similar taijutsu styles, each aiming strikes at the other's chakra points. Despite being at a disadvantage, Hinata held her ground until Neji landed a decisive hit, securing his victory.
As the match concluded, Erza watched as Hinata spoke a few words, seemingly provoking Neji. His veins darkened, brimming with intensity.
Suddenly, Neji charged at the weakened Hinata with a lethal intent. Without hesitation, Erza dropped onto the platform, her blade drawn and poised against Neji's neck.
"Let your emotions take over you, Neji. Take one more step, and I dare you. I'll slit your throat instantly, and even the Jonin won't be able to save you," Erza warned, her voice low and fierce.
"Who are you to step into this? Our family matters don't involve you, an outsider!" Neji retorted, fury evident in his eyes.
"Even so, I am a citizen of the Leaf Village. Allowing you to kill her would be akin to betraying the village," Erza replied firmly.
Neji clicked his tongue, visibly irritated.
Just then, the teachers arrived, quickly intervening to prevent any further violence.
Erza turned her attention to Hinata, who lay on the ground, her condition worsening as blood trickled from her mouth. Concern gripped her heart as she rushed to her side, using her eyes to assess Hinata's internal injuries.
"Chakra disruption, internal damage, struggling to breathe," Erza muttered, anxiety tightening in her chest.
"Is that what's wrong with her?" an unfamiliar voice asked from beside her.
Erza turned to see Kurenai standing there, concern etched on her face.
"Kurenai-sensei," Erza said, offering a slight bow. "Yes, she needs to get to the hospital immediately."
"We're already on it," Kurenai assured her, urgency in her tone.
True to her word, medics rushed to Hinata's side, carefully placing her on a stretcher before whisking her away to the emergency room.
With the tension still palpable in the air, it was clear the exam was about to escalate even further.
The next match was on the horizon, and everyone could feel the anticipation crackling around them.