The proctor's voice echoed through the hall once the match ended.
Even though everyone realized how fucked up the matchup was against Lee, most knew the outcome. However, still many hoped for a turnaround, a twist. The underdog winning.
It didn't happen.
Plainly stating, Lee didn't lose, he just ran himself dry. Opening gates in hope of damaging Suigetsu didn't work.
Perhaps it might have if he could have opened up to the Sixth Gate like his sensei, using a technique like Morning Peacock and making fire out of air friction, evaporating Suigetsu alive.
Unfortunately, even after starting training much earlier and training with Sukuna and others from the beginning, Lee still couldn't reach up to the Sixth Gate.
He had mastered the Fifth Gate completely though, to the point that he didn't break his bones just by opening it.
Ultimately, Lee lost by running out of stamina.
"OH LEE…" Guy came dashing after his handsome disciple.
"Poor Lee." Even Sakura couldn't help but think that Lee got the short end of the stick this time.
Sigh…
'Pure might too is not enough in this world. My point which I once made to Tenten stands here as well. One trick pony, no matter how strong, will be countered in this kind of high-hax world, sooner or later.'
Sukuna could only shake his head and let it go. At least the boy didn't have his bones shattered like in the canon.
Once that match's shock was over, the next match started. One which Sukuna personally was very invested in.
"Karin Uzumaki vs Haku."
Sukuna's eyes sharpened immediately. This was the one that mattered.
"Eh… why her, I wanna fight." Naruto whined. Mostly everyone ignored him.
Kiyomi just grunted at the situation, seeming like she wished to fight as well, and if the similar grunt from her brother was any indication, then he too wished to fight.
Sakura just gave the redhead a thumbs up while the girl herself glanced over at Sukuna, who also gave her a positive smile.
"Okay… let's do this!" Karin clapped her cheeks and got ready.
Haku stepped forward lightly, hands already forming seals. Her presence was calm, composed—nothing like their first encounter long ago.
Once both were ready, the proctor shouted, "Begin!"
Karin didn't hesitate.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Three clones burst into existence beside her.
"Don't underestimate me this time!" Karin snapped, red hair whipping behind her.
As the record goes, while both Team 7 and 11 did win against Team Mist in the Waves mission in the end, that only happened when their side switched enemies according to their advantage.
As far as standalone fights went, Karin still had one loss against Haku. Both she and Sakura. Karin planned to change that today.
Haku gave a soft nod. "I would not dream of it."
Ice formed instantly.
Crystal-clear senbon shot forward like a storm.
Karin's clones moved first, leaping in different directions. One was pierced and burst into smoke immediately.
"Fast—!" Karin hissed. That was the biggest problem when someone fought Haku.
He was fast. Not even his Ice was that big of an issue compared to his speed. Even when Karin could track him with her senses, she just couldn't keep up with him.
Her eyes sharpened. Mind's Eye of Kagura activated.
The battlefield lit up in her perception—chakra signatures glowing vividly. Haku's movements became trails of light slicing across her awareness.
"There you are!"
Chains erupted from Karin's back—chakra chains snapping outward like living whips.
Haku vanished the next second. Nothing but a blur left.
Karin twisted midair as senbon grazed her shoulder. Blood dotted the floor.
"He's faster than before," Sakura whispered from the stands.
Haku reappeared above, hands weaving again.
"Ice Release: Thousand Flying Water Needles!"
A massive dome of needles began forming—
But Karin was ready.
She threw explosive tags into the forming ice.
Boom!
The structure cracked before it could fully stabilize.
Steam and frost filled the arena.
Karin charged through it, chains lashing wildly. A clone came from the left, kunai coated in explosive seals.
Haku ducked under the chain, spun, and struck with pinpoint senbon into the clone's neck—dispersing it instantly.
The real Karin came from behind.
A chain wrapped around Haku's arm—
For a second, contact.
Karin pulled hard.
"Got you!"
Haku's body flashed white.
Ice replaced her form.
Karin's eyes widened. "An Ice Clone."
'No… a substitution. An extremely fast substitution.' Karin grimaced.
The real Haku appeared behind Karin, palm striking her back and sending her skidding forward.
Karin coughed—but she didn't stop.
Her chakra surged violently.
Unlike before, she didn't slow down.
Another set of clones.
More tags thrown into the air.
Explosions rang out in overlapping bursts, forcing Haku to dodge continuously.
Haku's breathing grew slightly heavier. Unlike Karin, her chakra reserves were limited.
"She's relentless," Shino observed quietly.
Karin's chakra reserves were monstrous. Even after constant jutsu, her output hadn't dipped much.
Chains lashed again.
This time two connected.
Haku twisted midair, ice forming around her body like armor. The chains cracked it, but didn't fully shatter it.
Haku landed lightly and vanished again.
A sharp pain struck Karin's thigh.
Another in her arm.
Precise senbon, aimed to disable.
Karin gritted her teeth, tearing one out.
"You think that's enough?!"
Her chakra flared again, healing accelerating through her Uzumaki vitality.
Haku's eyes narrowed slightly. The chakra reserves she sensed were immense. No wonder the Uzumaki clan were so famous.
"She's enduring everything…"
Karin smirked despite blood on her lips. "I can do this all day!"
Haku, for once, didn't doubt her. With that much chakra, it was completely possible.
Karin slammed her hands together.
Wind chakra infused into her chains this time, increasing their cutting force. They tore through the arena floor as she swung them in wide arcs, forcing Haku into constant motion.
For a moment—
Haku slipped.
One chain grazed her shoulder, drawing blood.
The hall gasped.
Sukuna's Mangekyo were always tracking them. His face had no emotion. He just watched. Since this was no battle to the death, he didn't care who won. If Karin won then good, if she lost then even better. At least then she would work harder to get stronger.
Getting stronger was what mattered to him the most.
Haku's calm expression sharpened. Unlike Karin, the tiredness was clear on Haku.
"Guess I have to end this fast or I'll lose."
The temperature in the arena dropped rapidly. Literally.
Ice spread outward in intricate patterns.
This time, the Demonic Ice Mirrors formed completely—faster than before.
Dozens of Haku reflections surrounded Karin.
"Tch… this technique again." Karin was instantly on her highest alert.
Karin's eyes tracked every chakra signature.
"They're all real—no, moving too fast—!"
Senbon fired from every angle.
Karin's clones shielded her, bursting into smoke one by one.
Chains spun defensively, deflecting dozens.
Explosive tags detonated inside the mirror dome, cracking several panels.
But Haku moved impossibly fast between them—her speed amplified within the ice.
A senbon struck Karin's shoulder joint.
Another pinned her sleeve.
Another grazed her cheek.
Her movements slowed.
Still, she roared and sent her chains in a final desperate surge, shattering two mirrors entirely.
One chain nearly caught Haku's leg.
Nearly.
Haku appeared directly behind her in a final blur.
A precise strike to a nerve cluster in Karin's neck.
Karin's body froze.
Her chains faltered midair.
The mirrors shattered around them as Haku landed lightly behind her.
Karin swayed—
—and collapsed to one knee.
She tried to stand.
Tried to force more chakra.
But her limbs wouldn't respond properly.
The proctor stepped forward after a tense pause.
"…Winner. Haku Yuki."
The arena exhaled collectively.
Haku stood breathing heavier than usual, a thin line of blood running down her arm.
It had been close.
Very close.
Ultimately it came down to speed. Haku went for the same approach, but was better this time around. Faster and stronger. No game-changing moveset or technique, same old trick, just better.
Karin had improved too, but she still didn't have anything to counter Haku's technique even after seeing it previously.
'Heh… this ought to teach her to think of counters to things she has faced once and was lucky enough to survive. Because luck won't necessarily strike twice.' Sukuna snorted.
And with that, the match came to an end.
xXx
A/N : Ah, the main cast also lost. It is possible yes. Things like this is important for their growth after all.
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