The arena fell silent as the giant screen flickered to life. Hundreds of young ninja hopefuls held their breath, waiting to see who would face off in the first match of the Chunin exams' second round. When Chiba's name appeared, a collective murmur rippled through the crowd.
"Come on, Chiba," Yukina shouted, her voice cutting through the tension.
"You've got this," Hirohiko added, giving Chiba a firm pat on the shoulder.
Chiba nodded, his eyes scanning the room until they locked onto Kayami Hyuga. The Hyuga clan prodigy was staring intently at the screen, no doubt hoping to see his own name appear next.
Hirohiko followed Chiba's gaze and frowned. "Watch out for that one," he whispered. "He's looking at you like he wants to tear you apart."
"What do you mean?" Chiba asked, startled by the intensity in his friend's voice.
Before Hirohiko could respond, the screen flashed again, revealing Chiba's opponent: Mizutani.
The reaction was immediate. Whispers erupted throughout the arena as the other candidates began to speculate on the outcome.
"Chiba's Taijutsu against Mizutani's ninjutsu? This'll be interesting."
"Interesting? More like a massacre. Mizutani's water techniques are top-notch."
"Don't count Chiba out yet. Remember what he did in the first trial?"
As the other ninja retreated to the viewing area, Chiba and Mizutani took their positions on the field. Chiba studied his opponent carefully. He'd never seen Mizutani before, but rumors of the boy's mastery over water-based jutsu had spread quickly during the exams.
Mizutani, for his part, couldn't take his eyes off Chiba. He'd witnessed the devastation Chiba's Taijutsu had wrought in earlier matches. The memory of the ground shattering beneath Chiba's fists sent a shiver down Mizutani's spine.
"The second round of the Chunin exam, first match, begin!" The proctor's voice boomed across the arena.
In a flash, Mizutani leaped backward, his hands scattering a fan of caltrops across the ground. As he landed, his fingers were already weaving complex patterns for a jutsu.
Chiba's eyes narrowed. 'Create distance, then attack with ninjutsu. Classic.'
He sprinted forward, his incredible speed catching even Mizutani off guard. The caltrops, meant to slow Chiba down, became a threat to his momentum. With split-second decision-making, Chiba launched himself into the air.
"Now!" Mizutani shouted, completing his hand seals. "*Water Release: Water Bomb Technique!*"
Five fist-sized orbs of water shot from Mizutani's mouth, hurtling toward the airborne Chiba. The crowd gasped, certain that Chiba had fallen into Mizutani's trap.
But Chiba was far from finished. With a twist of his body, he pulled two kunai from his pouch, each trailing an explosive tag. He hurled them at the oncoming water bombs.
"Boom!"
The explosion rocked the arena, sending water droplets spraying in all directions. Through the smoke and mist, three water bombs continued their trajectory toward Chiba.
Mizutani allowed himself a small smile. 'There's no way he can dodge in mid-air. It's over.'
Suddenly, a shadow burst from the smoke. Chiba, his clothes dripping wet but otherwise unharmed, rocketed toward Mizutani. In one hand, he clutched a fist primed to strike. From the other, two shurikens whistled through the air.
Mizutani's eyes widened in disbelief. 'Impossible! How did he—'
His thoughts were cut short as he was forced to dodge the incoming shurikens, breaking his concentration and halting his next jutsu mid-seal.
In that moment of hesitation, Chiba closed the distance. His fist connected with Mizutani's jaw, the impact reverberating through the arena. Mizutani's body flew backward, crashing into the arena wall with a sickening thud before sliding to the ground, unconscious.
A stunned silence fell over the crowd.
"This..."
"Impressive..."
"Mizutani... was defeated just like that?"
As the reality of what they'd witnessed sank in, the proctor approached Mizutani's prone form. After a quick check, he straightened up and announced, "The first match goes to Chiba! He accumulates one point."
In the viewing area, Yukina and Hirohiko exchanged knowing glances. "That's our Chiba," Yukina said with a proud smile.
Nearby, Might Guy's eyes burned with a mixture of respect and determination. 'So, this is the level I need to surpass,' he thought, clenching his fists.
As Chiba made his way back to his teammates, the proctor's voice echoed through his mind. One point. It was a good start, but the Chunin exams were far from over. With each victory, the challenges would only grow more difficult. But for now, Chiba allowed himself a small smile.