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Tsunade lunged forward, aiming a sharp blow at her opponent's midsection, but the genin anticipated her move, swiftly sidestepping the attack.
Tsunade's eyes narrowed in determination as she shifted her footing and hurled herself at him again, fists flying.
This time, the genin responded with a countercharge, their movements fluid as they clashed in a series of rapid blows.
Punches and kicks were exchanged in a flurry, but it became quickly evident that Tsunade's raw power was overwhelming her opponent.
Each strike she landed forced the genin to step back, his arms shaking from the impact.
The watching crowd murmured among themselves, eyes wide with surprise. "Tsunade's really pushing him hard," someone whispered.
Tsunade's strength wasn't just raw; it was enhanced by the legendary Senju bloodline, the physical prowess passed down from generations of ninja.
Her body, though still young and relatively inexperienced in the art of combat, bore the resilience of her clan, her chakra reserves far surpassing that of her peers.
The genin, skilled though he was, began to falter, beads of sweat forming on his brow as Tsunade's relentless strikes pushed him closer to the edge.
At the two-minute mark, the pressure became unbearable. The genin's thoughts raced. *What a monster! I can't keep this up. Her strength is unreal.*
His arms felt heavy, trembling from the force they had to absorb. He had been a seasoned fighter among his peers, but Tsunade was unlike anyone he had faced before.
Tsunade, on the other hand, remained determined but not overly cocky. *He's skilled, no doubt. But if I had more experience, this match would've been over already,* she thought as she delivered another punch, which the genin barely deflected.
She could see the cracks in his defense—literally. Her last punch had caused a slight fracture in the genin's forearm, and he winced, letting out an involuntary gasp of pain.
Sensing an opportunity, Tsunade pressed forward. With a sudden burst of speed, she launched a powerful kick toward his abdomen, connecting with such force that the genin was thrown into the air, flipping backward and landing hard on the ground. The crowd gasped collectively at the impact.
The chunin referee quickly stepped forward, assessing the genin's condition.
The young ninja tried to push himself up, but his strength failed him, his limbs trembling from the exertion and the damage done.
With a nod, the chunin raised his arm toward Tsunade and declared, "Winner! Tsunade Senju!"
Tsunade straightened herself, exhaling deeply, her chest rising and falling with exertion, but there was a faint smile on her lips. She had passed, and with flying colors.
The crowd erupted into cheers and murmurs of admiration, though some still whispered among themselves about her intimidating strength.
At the same time, across the field, Hatake Sakumo stood opposite his own opponent. The genin facing him wore a smirk, his posture dripping with arrogance.
"So, you're the Hokage's new golden boy, huh?" the genin sneered, cracking his knuckles. "Let's see what all the fuss is about. Don't go crying when I show you how real genins fight."
Sakumo, calm and composed, took a deep breath, steadying his mind. On the outside, he appeared unflustered by the genin's taunts, but inside, he was well aware of the tension.
Ever since the Hokage had scouted him, he had become a target for jealousy and disdain among the other students. *It seems everyone is lining up to take a shot at me now,* he mused silently.
The chunin referee called out, "Begin!"
The genin wasted no time. He charged at Sakumo with blinding speed, throwing a flurry of punches and kicks aimed at every vulnerable point he could find.
Each strike was precise and ruthless, but Sakumo, staying calm, defended skillfully, parrying each blow with measured movements.
His opponent's speed was impressive, but Sakumo wasn't looking to win through brute force alone. He was waiting, biding his time, observing his opponent's patterns.
The genin, frustrated by Sakumo's defense, began to lash out even more aggressively.
His movements became less calculated, more frantic as his pride was hurt by Sakumo's calm demeanor.
"Fight me seriously!" the genin growled as he threw another punch, which Sakumo dodged with ease.
*It's time to teach him a lesson,* Sakumo thought as he suddenly shifted his stance. With a quick sidestep, he dodged the genin's attack entirely, creating an opening.
Without hesitation, Sakumo counterattacked, his fist connecting cleanly with the genin's jaw, sending him stumbling backward. But Sakumo wasn't done.
He moved in fluidly, launching a series of strikes that overwhelmed the now off-balance genin.
The crowd's attention turned to Sakumo's match, whispers spreading like wildfire. "Sakumo's just toying with him now," one observer remarked. "Looks like he's even stronger than we thought."
As the match entered its final minutes, the genin, now desperate, lunged with a powerful kick aimed at Sakumo's midsection. But Sakumo was ready.
He ducked low, sweeping the genin's legs out from under him, and with one last punch, sent his opponent crashing to the ground.
The referee stepped forward and announced, "Winner! Hatake Sakumo!"
On the other side of the field, Orochimaru's match unfolded differently. The young ninja had opted for a more strategic approach, using the environment to his advantage.
He dodged his opponent's strikes, forcing the genin to move constantly, tiring him out. Orochimaru's smirk never left his face, his calculating eyes taking in every movement.
He was biding his time, knowing full well that he only had to last five minutes to pass.
The genin, though seasoned, found himself getting frustrated as Orochimaru slipped away from every attack, always staying just out of reach.
*This one thinks he's clever,* the genin thought angrily, throwing a wild punch.
Orochimaru, always one step ahead, blocked the attack and delivered a swift counter, catching his opponent off guard. The genin staggered but quickly recovered.
*He won't be able to beat me in five minutes,* Orochimaru thought with a sly grin as the clock ticked down. True to his plan, the referee soon called out, "Time's up! Orochimaru passed!"
Meanwhile, Jiraiya's match had started in a less conventional manner. His opponent, a cheerful genin named Taka, had greeted him with a warm smile, saying, "Nice to meet you! I'm Taka."
Jiraiya, grinning widely, replied, "Nice to meet you too! I'm Jiraiya, and I'm gonna become the strongest man in Konoha—the guy every girl falls for!"
Taka blinked, clearly confused by Jiraiya's bold statement, but the referee called out, "Begin!"
Within seconds, Taka lunged at Jiraiya, delivering a punch straight to his gut. Jiraiya crumpled to the ground with a groan, much to the surprise of the crowd.
The referee began to move in to call the match, but Jiraiya raised his hand. "Wait! I can still fight!"
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