It's then that tension struck when the next set of names were displayed on the monitor: C vs. Hoshikaze.
Most of the audience were asking themselves, "Who was this Hoshikaze?"
The Raikage leaned forward in his seat, furrowing his brow as the name registered. The fighter was shrouded in mystery and had an unsettling aura surrounding him. And he wasn't the only one who could feel it.
Arthur, disguised as Hoshikaze, had chosen this name carefully, weighing both its meaning and the persona it would portray. He appeared brutish and strong, with a robust build that drew attention. The blindfold he wore was just the tip of the iceberg.
Was he truly blind, or was this a strategy? Whispers among the crowds intensified because of it.
As he made his way to the stage, each step was light yet powerful. And just as he passed the other fighters, Jada noticed something others hadn't: Lars slowly opened his eyes to focus on Arthur's figure!
Arthur knew that Lars was staring at him. To be frank, he could feel the weight of gazes across the arena; he was drawing attention from all corners, whether they recognized him or not. Nonetheless, he ignored them, stepping into the center of the stage, just as C made his entrance.
C, often referred to as Shī or Cee in various adaptations, is a Jōnin hailing from the Cloud Village. He's mainly known for his serious demeanour and serves as one of the bodyguards for the Raikage. Alongside his laid-back partner Darui, he plays a vital role not only in the realm of defense but in strategizing and executing complex missions that benefit their village.
Physically, he is characterized by dark eyes and short, neatly styled blond hair, which he wears parted down the middle. His attire reflects the standard uniform of a Cloud shinobi, including a sleeveless black shirt complemented by a one-shoulder white flak jacket.
He accessorizes with black elbow-length arm guards, shin guards featuring a red-and-white design, a black forehead protector, and sandals, all of which symbolize his allegiance to his village.
C's skill set is exceptional, making him an accomplished shinobi. His prowess in ninjutsu is exemplified by his ability to utilize advanced techniques like those that combine light style with lightning style, allowing him to both deceive opponents and create openings during combat.
His skill doesn't end here; he also has an aptitude for sensing chakra, enabling him to track targets even from significant distances. Perhaps it was not as strong as Alice, but it was still noteworthy. He also knows how to perform medical ninjutsus for high-stakes missions and battles.
While those things wouldn't serve him here in the tournament, C is versatile in the art of combat. He possesses some solid analytical abilities, allowing him to comprehend foreign techniques effectively.
This was showcased when Sasuke Uchiha and him fought at the Kage Summit three years from now. His knowledge of the Mangekyō Sharingan and Amaterasu was nothing short of impressive; he can evaluate and understand dangerous abilities like those quickly, often mentioning particulars about their usage, such as Sasuke's proficiency with the black flames compared to that of Itachi Uchiha's.
There's no question that this is a tenacious and capable shinobi whose serious commitment to his duties.
He stood confidently in the arena, demonstrating readiness. The crowd quieted, hoping for a promised action.
C grinned and asked, "Can you see me?"
Arthur merely nodded with an expression that was calm and collected, an unshakeable facade. Curious yet skeptical, C attempted to wave his hand in front of Arthur's face. Yet Arthur hadn't flinched.
The crowd reacted with giggles and confusion, unsure if it was all part of the pre-fight antics or something more serious.
The announcer then shouted, "Begin!" prompting C to adopt a combat stance. Assessing his opponent, he commented, "You don't seem like a bad guy. Let's take a moment to warm up."
With a steady composure, Arthur replied, "No need…"
C was in disbelief. By refusing to warm up, Arthur was inadvertently suggesting he would not try or take the fight seriously. This unwarranted confidence irritated C. "Oh, we'll see about that," he said, lunging forward with a quick punch.
The impact was immediate yet unexpected. Arthur raised his forearm to block C's strike, yet the force of the blow vibrated through C's arm, causing him to recoil a few paces back. He then shook his hand. When he looked at it, blood trickled from his knuckles, which left him wide-eyed.
"Did we feel the same thing?" Arthur asked. "Because your attempt was very soft…"
C's eyes darted from his now-injured hand and Arthur's figure with disbelief. It was clear that he had never experienced that before. Arthur's arm remained unscathed; the truth of what had just transpired hit hard.
If there was anything C was thinking, it was, 'How tough is this guy?!'
"Try again," Arthur calmly said.
C evaluated his opponent, choosing to shift tactics. He was a skilled shinobi; he knew to flank, to find a weakness in Arthur's defenses. With a quick movement, he darted to the side and maneuvered behind his opponent.
Arthur, however, had not moved a single muscle. So C lunged for another jab, believing he could catch him off guard. But as he thrust his fist forward, it felt as though he'd passed through a mirage.
Arthur hadn't even flinched!
The crowd gasped collectively. "What? His punch just phased right through him!" someone shouted, bewildered by the impossibility unfolding before their eyes.
"Is he using chakra?" someone else ventured. "That's against the rules; he's cheating!"
The announcer glanced at the sensors monitoring chakra levels, only to confirm, "Ladies and gentlemen, I can attest that no chakra is being used!"
The murmurs of disbelief continued in the audience. Other spectators shared their astonished reactions, exchanging glances. To the untrained eye, it had appeared as if C had simply missed his target. Yet, for those with a keen understanding of combat, the truth was bewilderingly different.
The Kages sat stoically, arms crossed, as they took in the sight with rapt attention. The Raikage frowned at the spectacle, equally impressed and wary of Arthur's capabilities. He had thought that this match was going to redeem his village, but he couldn't have been more wrong.
C tried again, launching a series of jabs and hooks, yet Arthur skillfully avoided each one without making a move, seemingly phasing through the attacks.
"He has to be cheating, no?!" someone in the stands questioned, the confusion escalating into commotion.
"Absolutely not," the announcer affirmed sternly, raising his voice above the chatter, "Believe it when I say that there is no chakra fluctuation present!"
The crowd whispered one to another in an attempt to process the extraordinary display. The Kages themselves shifted, intrigued as they observed Arthur's genius. Even Naruto leaned in closer, unable to tell what was happening.
"What's going on here?" the boy wondered, scratching his head. He scanned the arena, looking for answers, but the deeper layers of combat seemed beyond his comprehension.
Upon glancing at his group to quell his interest, he noticed Jada with her Sharingan active. She was so engaged in the match that she was scrutinizing the fighters.
"He's not using chakra at all," she revealed, "he's dodging every attack at the last second, making it look like C is phasing through him."
Those who understood, like the Kage, were observant of this fact as well. They were just as stunned as the ones who didn't understand. A mere unknown shinobi dodging attacks from an elite guard wasn't what impressed them; it was the fact he was doing it blindfolded!
"But how can he do that without seeing?" Naruto gasped.
"The reactions he must possess!" Jada continued, admiring whatever might have pushed a shinobi this hard to achieve such a feat.
"This is an advanced level of reflex," Margaret added, wondering who this person was. "Only someone incredibly fast could do something like this, and what's more crazy is the fact that he's doing so without any visible cues!"
As the two females explained, everyone understood—the skill Arthur was displaying went beyond exceptional; it was almost otherworldly. So much so that it was drawing the captivated attention of every elite ninja in the building.
"You feel that?" the Mizukage asked. "It's like he exists outside the pace of time, slipping past the moment just before impact. This skill… It could redefine taijutsu, if something like that is even possible."
"Don't be silly," the Raikage argued. "He hasn't attacked yet. Until I see his strength, I won't count my shinobi out…"
"I get it," she smiled his way, "you don't want to place another wager."
He narrowed his eyes at her, unwilling to get angry again. Because even the Raikage, the strongest ninja after their Jinchūriki, Killer Bee, understood that the person fighting his shinobi was nowhere close to average.
With every new jab and strike from C, Arthur remained untouched and eerily calm. The crowd was beginning to purchase the idea that Hoshikaze wasn't just another competitor; he was an enigma wrapped in mystery.
With his jaw set in determination, C unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks. "Here!" he called out, throwing a sharp right hook, aimed straight for Arthur's jaw. But just as his fist was about to make contact, it transitioned seamlessly to the left as if it were a mere sound in the wind.
He felt the air where his punch should have landed, and he quickly regained his posture, determined not to let this setback break his focus. "Try this!" he shouted, pivoting on his heel and delivering a swift front kick towards Arthur. The same thing happened.
With every attempt he made, Arthur continued to dodge each strike with a fluid grace that was infuriating. It was as if he could sense his movements, slipping through the air like a phase shifting between solid matter.
But Arthur wasn't sensing; he was listening.
Grinding his teeth together, C stepped back, trying to maintain his composure. He could feel his breathing growing heavier as he processed what was happening. "Not this time," he murmured to himself, planting his feet once more.
"This one!" he focused, swinging a powerful uppercut—only for Arthur to evade yet again. The agility displayed was simply too frustrating, and each miss felt like a blow to his pride as a shinobi.
"Once more!" he barked. But again, it was as if his kick was vanishing before it could find its mark, leaving him kicking nothing but air while Arthur remained seemingly still! C's brow furrowed as sweat began to form on his forehead.
Backpedaling to create a bit of distance, he took a moment to collect his thoughts. Perhaps he could change his pacing and imagine some new strategies to calculate the timing of his strikes. Expelling a slow breath, he cleared his mind, readying himself for another attempt.
"You're thinking too hard," Arthur said as if knowing what C was contemplating.
This caused the Cloud shinobi to pause. Did Arthur actually know who C was to be advising things like that? Or was he simply trying to get into C's head—a tactic Arthur is well-known for.
"Hey, pal," C finally said, "by any chance, you and I haven't fought before, have we?"
"It's our first time," Arthur calmly answered.
"I sure did get the short end of the stick then," C tried joking to ease the tension weighing him down.
There were only a select few things he could do in a situation where his opponent was faster. But most of those attempts required chakra, which was against the rules.
Suddenly, he heard from the sidelines, "The key is to stay relaxed!" When he looked, he saw Darui.
"Or maybe you should try imagining him naked," Atsui relayed.
C let out a small chuckle, shaking his head in acknowledgment. While he respected his group's laid-back approach, he couldn't help but feel the weight of the challenge before him.
"I appreciate your advices, but it's not so simple," he replied, trying to inject some levity into his situation.
With a hint of a smile, his teammates words finally absorbed into his head. He had indeed been overthinking this fight.
From the moment he stepped foot on the arena with Arthur, he had already fallen into the trap, a trap in which he wasn't aware. So he took a deep breath and finally calmed himself.
"Oh," Arthur mused. "It seems you're done warming up."
C scoffed, aware that Arthur was trying to psych him out again. This time it wouldn't work. C had finally adapted to Arthur's mind game of using simple moves to trick his head.
"This time I'll take you on seriously," C said.
But deep down inside, Arthur could feel C's doubts. Did C truly believe that this was a mind trick, a simple ploy to make people think he could phase through objects? Surely, his opponent was daydreaming about whether he could win this fight.