A/N: We reached out target for a Triple Release, therefore there will a Triple Release tomorrow on Monday. Our next target is to reach 500 powerstones by next Sunday for a Double Release. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! Goal: 500 Powerstones! Apologies Guys, I forgot to upload Chapter 33 and accidentally skipped it. Its there now. Go back to view it!!! Also the Danzo Mission Arc is coming to an end very soon.
Miki had been carried out of the arena, and Karui returned to the lounge with a smug expression. Walking past a seething Atsui, Karui took a seat next to Omoi, crossing her arms and legs with attitude.
Inside the room, two Cloud ninja stood guarding the door.
'It's probably best if they're here. Otherwise, I fear Atsui would've run out onto the battleground.'
"Good job out there. Now you just need to survive until the end," Omoi said, deep in thought.
Karui ignored Omoi and shifted her gaze to Goro. "You're next. Don't lose too early," Karui taunted.
'She's only won one round, and she's already boasting. Back in my amateur boxing days, we'd have tournaments for money. I've never heard of anyone celebrating before even reaching the quarterfinals. That's arrogance and naivety at its finest.'
Goro decided not to play Karui's immature game, choosing to ignore her. Atsui, however, felt disrespected by the perceived slight.
"She must think I'm easy. I'll show her! I hope I get to fight next so she can tremble in fear at my battle prowess. But before that, I'd better knock her down a few pegs."
Stomping over to where Karui sat, Atsui stood over her, his eyes filled with rage, and grabbed her by the collar. He went a step further, pulling her off the seat and holding her up.
"I don't know how you survived Miki's last attack, but I'm letting you know the same thing won't happen with me. You can tell, right? I'm much stronger than her and even you!" Atsui threatened, spit flying onto Karui's face.
Omoi stood up, drawing his sword and placing it against Atsui's neck. "Let go of her," Omoi demanded.
The two ninja guarding the door rushed over, instructing Omoi to drop his blade and Atsui to release Karui.
"Hey, didn't I tell you to move your sword away from his neck?" one of the guards reiterated, growing annoyed.
Omoi, who had already lowered his sword, raised his hands and replied, "I already did, what're you talking about?"
'They can probably sense my desire to keep my blade in place,' Omoi pondered, twiddling his fingers.
Having calmed down, Atsui looked at Goro and said, "Namaki, let it go."
"Namaki? Wasn't that guy sitting over there—where did he go?" Omoi thought. Turning in the direction Atsui was talking.
Goro stood behind Omoi, one hand in his pocket and the other holding his katana to Omoi's neck. Moving his katana away, Goro put it back on his back and took a seat once more.
'I didn't feel any emotion or need to help, but this will increase Atsui's trust in me. It's better for my disguise.'
Karui returned to her seat, unbothered by Atsui, though irritated that he could grab her by the collar without facing consequences.
Omoi also sat back down but couldn't stop staring at Goro. "This Namaki guy… He's fast."
The commotion settled, and everyone turned their attention to the electronic screen above the windows. The screen would announce the next fighters, causing nervous energy to fill the room.
The screen cycled through multiple matchups before finally landing on two names.
'Atsui… and someone called Yokubo…'
"It's my turn," said a boy with long, wavy hair, pale skin, bags under his eyes, and a smile that sent shudders down the spines of anyone who looked at him.
'He's very abnormal looking. Not only is he really skinny, but he's also got extremely long arms. What's up with this guy?'
Atsui was usually the confident type, but when he looked at Yokubo, he felt an ominous energy leaking from him that made him shiver.
Unlike everyone else, Yokubo sat cross-legged on the floor with his back against the wall, a large sword resting in his lap.
Standing up, Yokubo approached Atsui, patted him on the shoulder, and walked past. During that moment, Yokubo said something to Atsui, but no one else heard.
'System, I saw his lips move. What did he tell Atsui?'
[He informed Atsui that it was nice to see his next victim was so lively.]
"This guy gives me a bad feeling," Omoi said to Karui, pulling her close.
Pushing him off, Karui replied, "He almost killed his teammates for stopping him from killing an enemy ninja. His teammates wanted to interrogate the ninja, but Yokubo had no interest in that. After the incident, he was jailed for two years. Now, he's back to compete in the Chunin Exams."
The guards stepped aside, allowing both Atsui and Yokubo to make their way to the center of the arena. Once they arrived on the battleground, Dodai read the rules again, but this time he emphasized the part about no killing while looking directly at Yokubo.
Yokubo simply grinned at Dodai's stern gaze, staring greedily at Atsui.
'That's the brat who was locked up a few years back… I don't like him at all,' the Raikage thought.
Finished explaining the rules, Dodai stepped back and began his countdown. Both fighters eyed each other eagerly, ready to test their opponent's strength and win the battle.
"Go!" Dodai shouted, jumping back from the contestants.
Unsheathing his sword, Yokubo charged in, eager to spill blood. He was incredibly fast, covering a lot of ground in just a few seconds.
"Fast," Atsui thought, jumping back and weaving hand signs.
Though Atsui was forming hand signs, Yokubo didn't change his direction and continued toward Atsui at full speed.
"Fire Style: Flame Ring Jutsu!" Atsui shouted, blowing a ring of fire toward Yokubo.
Yokubo dodged the attack, but the flame ring dropped to the ground, forming a large circle of fire around him, trapping him inside.
Atsui smirked as he watched Yokubo look for ways to escape. Pulling out a gourd from his pouch, Atsui approached the ring of flames and said, "Who's the victim?"
Yokubo's tired eyes changed, revealing someone crazed. "You're not saying I'm the victim, are you?" Yokubo asked, his voice dripping with bloodlust.
Atsui cocked back his arm and threw the gourd at Yokubo, causing it to shatter and soak him in liquid.
Some of the liquid splashed onto the fire, intensifying the flames.
"Gasoline," Yokubo said, sniffing the fluid now covering him.
Atsui gave a thumbs up and pulled out another small gourd from his pouch. "I took you for an idiot who only cared about killing, but maybe you do have a bit of common sense," Atsui mocked.
Uncorking the small gourd, Atsui poured some gasoline on his sword and put it to the fire, igniting the blade in flames.
'With the amount of bloodlust he had, you'd think he was somewhat talented. So he was nothing much after all.'
Atsui raised his sword and pointed it at Yokubo. "You can't escape. If I throw my blade at you, you'll go up in flames. So, do you forfeit?" Atsui asked.
Yokubo laughed, facepalming as he shook his head. "Fine. I give up, you win."
Atsui looked at Dodai, who nodded. "Yokubo is disqualified. The winner is Atsui!" Dodai announced.
"He fought well. That's the strategic mind a Chunin needs," the Raikage mused.
Victorious, Atsui punched the air in triumph. Yokubo approached him and extended his hand. "You fought well. I didn't expect that," Yokubo admitted.
Atsui shook Yokubo's hand, but as he went to let go, Yokubo held on, pulling him in and stabbing him with a kunai. Yokubo then attempted to strike Atsui's neck, but Dodai had already noticed the attack and quickly restrained him.
Atsui clutched the wound, applying pressure to stop the blood loss. "That bastard…" Atsui muttered weakly, glaring at Yokubo.
While being restrained on the ground with his arms behind his back, Yokubo turned his head, grinning at the sight of his handiwork.
Losing strength, Atsui dropped to one knee, blood pooling beneath him.
"What're you waiting for?! Get the medics!" Dodai roared.
The Raikage was furious, gripping the arms of his chair so hard that he crushed them. "Humiliating! In front of the Daimyo?!" the Raikage thought, veins bulging on his forehead as if they were about to burst.
'He has some nerve to do such a thing in front of the Raikage and Daimyo. He didn't come here to be promoted—he just came to satiate his urge to kill… It's unfortunate. Atsui put up a good fight. Although, It wasn't smart of Atsui to shake that weirdo's hand.'
Medical ninja quickly appeared on the scene, tending to Atsui while Yokubo was taken away by Cloud Jonin. Needing to stop the bleeding quickly, the medics placed Atsui on a stretcher and carried him out of the arena to the hospital.
Reminder: Our target is to reach 500 powerstones by next Sunday for a Double Release. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! Goal: 500 Powerstones!