"That examiner reminds me of someone…" I muttered under my breath as I watched his stern posture and sharp gaze. His face seemed familiar, but I couldn't immediately recall where I had seen him before. Still, now wasn't the time to get lost in memories.
I needed to understand what to do next. I was surrounded by walking bombs — nearly all the participants were from clans, strong in their own specialties. There were almost no clanless fighters, and the few who were here could be counted on one hand. Not an easy situation. I quickly assessed the surroundings, running possible scenarios through my mind.
"Take your seats on the upper stands," the examiner's voice rang out.
He spoke dryly. "When your names appear on the board, step forward."
The screen in the corner lit up, and names spun like in a lottery. My heart sped up slightly — a moment of chance, a moment of opportunity.
The chance of being called first was only 2.5 percent, so there was no reason to stress too much, I thought, watching the board rotate until it finally stopped on:
Reiko Uchiha and Mire Yamanaka
"I don't know…" I murmured, "but Yamanaka doesn't have much of a chance."
I evaluated them visually. Reiko Uchiha looked focused, her eyes — like all of her clan — practically radiating chakra. Mire Yamanaka, on the other hand, was nervous; most likely a sensor type.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my thoughts.
As soon as they stepped to the center, the chunin gave the signal to start. The air seemed to tighten, tension settling over the arena.
At that moment, Reiko Uchiha lunged forward, sending a dozen clones in all directions.
Mire Yamanaka stood calmly. A sidestep, a roll, a dodge — and she returned to a steady stance. She didn't run, didn't attack first. She simply held her ground, dodged, and waited for her moment.
Reiko sped up, sending kunai in dense volleys. Yamanaka dodged skillfully, almost effortlessly. One kunai grazed the edge of her armor, but she didn't slow down.
Reiko stepped back, trying to adjust the distance. Clones poured in even faster. Yamanaka shifted sharply to the side, threw a kunai in response — a miss. Another leap — closer now, barely brushing Reiko's arm.
The rhythm didn't slow. Blades whistled, cloned shadows blending with the real one. The arena filled with the sound of motion, every strike a flash.
Reiko was clearly nervous, accelerating, trying to break the distance, while Yamanaka seemed to dissolve among the attacks, searching for the smallest opening for her short, precise strike.
I stood on the stands, watching the scene unfold. Every step they took, every kunai thrown, tightened the tension. A moment later, I noticed a pattern: Reiko was rushing too much, burning through chakra too quickly in an attempt to overwhelm Yamanaka.
"Interesting…" I murmured, crossing my arms. "She doesn't realize how exposed she's becoming."
Reiko pushed harder, desperately trying to apply pressure. Kunai flew faster, attack lines tightening. I saw how her strength was draining, her muscles straining, and how accuracy began to slip — her throws were just slightly off, slightly misplaced.
"Uchiha is clearly nervous," said Genma. "Every burst of speed takes a toll. Her attacks grow less precise. And Yamanaka is just waiting."
I watched as one kunai nearly struck Yamanaka, but she shifted lightly — and it passed by. Another kunai — another dodge. Even the smallest movements kept her out of danger.
"Excellent concentration," I whispered. "She doesn't waste a single motion… but how long can she keep that up without making a mistake?"
In the next instant, Reiko Uchiha suddenly leapt back and, midair, formed seals with impressive precision.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!" she shouted, and a massive sphere of flame burst from her hands, swirling like a vortex. It didn't just fly — it chased, seeking its target as it surged toward Yamanaka.
Mire reacted instantly. She slid aside, crouching slightly, and the kunai in her hand barely skimmed the fireball, preventing it from shifting its path.
When she dodged the first Fireball, her concentration wavered ever so slightly. A momentary lapse — and that was all it took.
Reiko noticed the tiny opening immediately: a shoulder turned the wrong way, a step just a hair too short. A series of kunai, previously scattered as a distraction, now flew with pinpoint accuracy. One kunai — light but fast — caught Yamanaka's sleeve, throwing off her balance.
"Perfect…" Uchiha growled through her teeth, seizing the moment. She formed several seals, and a second Fireball burst from her hands — smaller, but hotter.
Yamanaka tried to dodge sharply, but the kunai and the Fireball's trajectory restricted her movements. The flame brushed her side — not seriously, but enough to slow her for a split second.
"Now…" flashed through Reiko's mind. She lunged forward, preparing for the final kunai strike.
Panic flickered in Yamanaka's eyes — a moment of weakness that hadn't been there before. She still kept her distance, but her control over the fight was broken. The smallest mistake now could be decisive.
On the platform, I noticed the examiner tilt his head slightly as he assessed the situation. The fight had shifted in a matter of split seconds.
A couple of moments more — and it became obvious that the end was inevitable.
Mire Yamanaka tried to retreat, but the corner of the arena worked against her: a step to the right meant a wall, a step back meant an after-trail of fire still warm from the technique. Reiko closed the distance with predatory precision.
A kunai touched Yamanaka's neck perfectly…
"I surrender…" Mire exhaled barely audibly.
The chūnin raised his hand.
"Winner — Reiko Uchiha!"
The tower erupted in noise, but I only snorted.
She started well… but the Yamanakas' strategy always falters against highly mobile fighters. Sensors excel at support and reconnaissance… but not in direct duels.
A sad, yet predictable outcome.
The screen lit up again. The overhead lamps flickered, and the display beeped briefly as it reshuffled the matchups.
"Well then… let's see who's next," I muttered, lazily shifting my gaze to the glowing rectangle.
The symbols spun in a ring and finally stopped.
Name on the left: Genma Shiranui.
Name on the right: Raidō Namiashi.
Finally, something interesting…