Chapter 44: The Fully Orchestrated Military Arts Tournament
The Military Arts Tournament was divided into two categories: the Swordsmanship Division and the Martial Arts Division. The two categories were held concurrently and independently of each other, with some particularly skilled participants eligible to compete in both.
The rules were simple: no ninjutsu allowed. The Swordsmanship Division permitted the use of chakra, while the Martial Arts Division relied solely on physical strength.
When the group read the straightforward rules, their reactions varied.
Guy and Raido's eyes lit up with stars. They rolled up their sleeves, their breathing quickening in excitement. On the other hand, Ebisu and Washi, indifferent to the competition, showed little interest. Ebisu even yawned, looking utterly bored.
Genma and Kurenai exchanged a glance after staring at the competition notice. In that fleeting moment of eye contact, they understood each other perfectly: both were determined to compete in the Swordsmanship Division.
Yuji, their instructor, observed their varied reactions with a knowing smile, as though he had anticipated it all. Noma, on the other hand, looked irritated, his mood darkening as he glared at his team.
"Why is it that my team is full of slackers, while his team gets a motivated girl?" Noma fumed internally. His frustration mounted as he compared his rowdy boys to Yuji's group.
Feeling indignant, Noma's face turned stormy. "I'm telling you now: all six of you will participate. No arguments. Guy, Washi, Ebisu—you're all entering the Martial Arts Division. Got it?"
"Sensei, isn't that a bit too strict?" Yuji said with a light chuckle, his relaxed tone only serving to aggravate Noma further.
"Shut it! Do you want to ruin the mission with your nonsense about joining both divisions?"
Noma's anger was palpable, but Yuji raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. We'll do it your way. Genma, Raido, Kurenai—you're all in the Swordsmanship Division. Understood?"
"Yes, Sensei!" the trio replied in unison.
"Good. The tournament is about to start. Let's head to the venue," Yuji said, his smile widening as he basked in the cooperative energy of his team.
Meanwhile, Noma simmered in silent frustration, stewing over perceived inequities. "Why does his team have a cute girl, while I'm stuck with three boys? That must be it—having a girl makes all the difference."
His internal monologue was abruptly interrupted when they entered the spectator stands. The sight of a vibrant, predominantly female audience lifted his spirits. The winter chill seemed to melt away under the warmth of their cheers and excitement.
The female spectators were yelling and swooning, though it wasn't clear who their attention was directed at. Noma's sour mood evaporated as he focused entirely on the "scenery."
Having agreed beforehand to let Yuji lead the teams, Noma felt no guilt indulging in the moment.
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Meanwhile, the six participants followed Yuji to the registration area. After submitting their forms and receiving their numbers, they joined the growing crowd of competitors.
The venue buzzed with activity. Participants from the Land of This Country were predominantly tall, muscular men with intimidating presences. The sheer number of competitors made the stands roar with anticipation.
Adding to the excitement, a group of armored, strikingly elegant individuals entered. Their refined androgyny caused a stir, and the crowd erupted in even louder cheers.
Genma, however, noticed that these "men" were clearly women in disguise—their exaggerated "pecs" were unmistakably feminine. The audience's reactions grew more fervent, as though the tournament had suddenly become a contest of romantic suitors rather than combatants.
Kurenai, perhaps sensing the atmosphere, reached out and turned Genma's head to face forward, forbidding him from looking at the audience.
The spectacle in the stands was lost on Genma, but he could hear Ebisu scuffling with Raido over a pair of binoculars. Somewhere in the cacophony, the audience's cries of "Have my babies!" and "Ahhh!" rang out.
Fortunately, the chaos settled when a man in a purple robe stepped onto the stage. With a single gesture for silence, the crowd quieted, and the opening ceremony began. After a rousing speech, the tournament officially commenced.
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The Martial Arts Division began first. Due to the large number of participants, the initial rounds were chaotic six-man brawls, with only one victor advancing from each match.
The rules encouraged brutal, relentless fighting. Victory often went to the competitor who could endure the most punishment while delivering decisive blows.
After several rounds of grueling combat, it was finally Guy's turn to compete. His confidence radiated as he stood under the sunlight, his glossy bowl cut practically gleaming. Compared to his opponents—hulking men several weight classes above him—Guy seemed at a disadvantage.
But his teammates knew better. Guy's mastery of taijutsu made him a formidable force, even against physically larger opponents.
As the match began, the team erupted in cheers. "Go, Guy! You've got this!"
"Don't worry! I'll crush them!" Guy replied, flashing his signature thumbs-up and gleaming smile.
The crowd roared in anticipation, but Genma's heart skipped a beat. A nagging memory surfaced: something about Guy's signature fighting style that could backfire.
On the field, Guy prepared to unleash a Leaf Whirlwind kick.
"Don't call out your moves!" Genma yelled suddenly, his voice cutting through the din.
"Don't shout it, Guy!" Kurenai and the others joined in, their voices overlapping.
Guy froze mid-move, his hesitation causing him to trip and fall flat on the ground. His opponents paused, too stunned to capitalize on his mistake.
"Guy, quick—use your Invincible Whirlwind! Call it that instead!" Genma suggested, improvising.
The team caught on immediately, shouting their support:
"Yeah, use the Invincible Rock Ascension!"
"Or the Invincible Strong Wind Whirl!"
Energized by their creativity, Guy found his rhythm again. With renewed vigor, he performed a dazzling array of "invincible" techniques, earning victory and the nickname "Invincible Whirlwind Kid."
Ebisu and Washi followed in later rounds, securing their wins with less flair but equal efficiency. All three advanced to the next stage.
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When the Swordsmanship Division began, it featured four-man free-for-alls. To ensure safety, participants used specially crafted wooden swords.
The competition was fierce, with several standout participants quickly emerging as favorites. Among them were the female swordsmen, whose numbers surprisingly made up nearly half of the top contenders.
When Genma's name was called, he took the stage alongside three opponents. Two of them carried themselves with a relaxed confidence, their eyes closed in apparent focus.
The match began, and Genma immediately lunged at one opponent. His wooden blade clashed against the other's, the sound of the impact reverberating through the air.
But before Genma could follow up, the other two opponents flanked him, their blades swinging toward his exposed back.
Realizing too late that he had fallen into a trap, Genma cursed himself for underestimating their coordination. His three opponents, clearly acquainted with each other, had targeted him as the perceived weakest link.
But if they thought Genma was an easy target, they were sorely mistaken.
End of chapter 44