"Tsunade!"
"Kuro!"
"Kohinata Mukai!"
"Gin!"
"Uchiha Setsuna!"
"Senki Ryuji!"
Ryuji and Hiruzen each wrote names on their cards, then drew from the other's set one by one, finally determining the duel participants and their order.
However, when they saw each other's selections, both were slightly surprised.
In Ryuji's expectation, Konoha's participants should have been Tsunade, Minato, and Setsuna.
But instead of Minato, they had chosen someone he'd never heard of: Kohinata Mukai.
Hiruzen was surprised that Sunagakure hadn't selected Karura, but instead chosen this 'Kuro' about whom there was no data.
During last night's strategy meeting, they had considered Kuro a potential wild card, but they had thought he might replace Gin.
They hadn't expected him to replace Karura.
'Could this Kuro be stronger than Karura?'
Ryuji was pondering a similar question.
'Konoha preferred to field this unknown 'Kohinata Mukai' over Minato. Was this Kohinata Mukai stronger than Minato?'
But recalling Minato's legendary feats and reputation from the Third Shinobi World War in the anime, he dismissed that idea.
If a Minato with that level of performance wasn't Konoha's strongest, the Shinobi World War wouldn't have been so difficult.
Perhaps this guy possessed some special ability, a secret weapon the Third Hokage had prepared specifically to counter Armor.
'Good thing I didn't let you rig the draw, old man. Could have really backfired.'
Ryuji felt a twinge of relief.
As the two were lost in thought, Minato, serving as the duel's referee and coordinator, entered the center of the arena.
"First match! Participants, enter the arena!"
"Finally, we can begin." Tsunade cracked her knuckles, then turned to look with interest at the black-clad youth opposite her. "Don't let it end too quickly, okay? It's rare to get a chance to stretch my legs. Ending it too fast would be boring."
Kuro remained silent, head slightly bowed.
Tsunade wasn't offended. She vaulted over the railing and landed in the arena below.
"Go on!"
Karura encouraged Kuro from beside him.
Kuro glanced back at her, then turned away. He placed a hand on the railing and leaped down.
The two approached each other from opposite sides, stopping about three or four meters apart in the arena's center.
Minato looked at each of them, then announced, "While the rules permit lethal force, I still hope both sides can exercise restraint and end the match decisively without unnecessary harm."
"Enough chatter!"
Tsunade shot Minato an annoyed glare. "When have I ever lacked control?"
Hearing this, the spectators from Konoha's side collectively twitched.
'Do you even have any self-awareness?'
However, from Konoha's perspective, this exuded confidence. To the Sunagakure's delegation, it was sheer arrogance.
Especially since Kuro remained utterly silent, not even a grunt in response to such provocation, which irritated the watching Sunagakure's Shinobi.
Some of the more hot-tempered individuals were already shouting from the sidelines, things like "Show her what you've got!"
However,
While those below were anxious and irritated, Ryuji appeared completely calm.
He smiled lightly and said, "It seems the Princess of Konoha is quite confident in herself."
Hearing this, Hiruzen allowed himself a hint of pride.
"Tsunade is, after all, the granddaughter of the First Hokage, and has been taught by me since childhood. It's only natural she possesses some confidence."
In truth, Hiruzen had some dissatisfaction with his three disciples.
He believed their talent was limited and that they hadn't fully inherited his teachings, failing to reach a level that truly satisfied him. (A/N: as per official materials)
But in front of outsiders, he naturally couldn't demean his own students.
Ryuji wasn't aware of this, but he offered no comment.
"Is that so? Then let's watch and see."
Hearing Ryuji's calm response, Hiruzen paused slightly, then his brow furrowed slightly.
'Even after hearing his own modest praise for Tsunade, he could remain this confident. Was this Kuro truly that strong?'
For some reason, a premonition arose in Hiruzen's mind.
'It seems today's duel would not proceed as he had planned.'
...
"Both participants are ready! The duel... begins!"
The moment Minato's voice fell, thunder roared within the colosseum.
Kuro's body became wreathed in crackling lightning as he shot toward Tsunade like a bolt.
Tsunade, as if expecting this, raised one powerful, shapely leg high and brought it down with tremendous force.
Boom!
With a deafening crash, the earth shattered and heaved violently.
Centered on Tsunade, the ground within a thirty-meter diameter ruptured. The shockwave, carrying shattered rock, blasted outward in all directions, hurling Kuro away like a leaf.
A few seconds later, the dust settled. The spectators could clearly see the arena's condition.
Two-thirds of the arena floor was destroyed.
Tsunade stood unscathed at the epicenter of the devastation. Kuro was embedded in the arena wall like a piece of decorative art.
Witnessing this, the Konoha's side wore knowing smiles.
The Sunagakure's delegation looked crestfallen.
Hiruzen let out a deep sigh of relief. Ryuji's earlier tone and demeanor had made him uneasy, thinking the other party was supremely confident. It turned out to be mere bluster.
He took a couple of satisfying puffs from his pipe and offered a consoling smile. "Your Suna's Kuro is certainly not weak. He simply encountered an opponent of overwhelming power. Tsunade was born with monstrous strength. Even I, the Hokage, couldn't withstand a single punch from her."
'With your physique, one punch would probably send you straight to the Pure Land, wouldn't it?'
Ryuji thought mischievously to himself, but his expression remained calm as he feigned confusion. "Hokage-dono, what do you mean by that?"
Hearing this, Hiruzen was momentarily baffled.
'What do I mean?'
'Is there some way to turn this around?'
"Hokage-dono, just keep watching. You'll see."
Ryuji offered a mysterious smile, making Hiruzen's recently settled heart begin to churn with anxiety again.
...
In the arena, looking at her opponent embedded in the wall, eyes vacant as he stared at the passing clouds, Tsunade felt disappointment.
She shook her head. "Men who finish too quickly are quite annoying. What a letdown."
Tsunade was not a battle-hungry person.
But ever since the war with Amegakure ended a few years ago, she had been confined to hospital work.
Long hours treating the wounded and sick, the constant sound of patients' groans in her ears, watching countless people die… the stifling pressure had built up inside her.
With another war looming, the immense pressure had piled on, making her exceptionally irritable.
She had thought today might offer a decent fight, a chance to vent the pent-up frustration through physical exertion. She hadn't expected it to end in a single move.
Kuro did not respond.
He continued to stare blankly at the white clouds drifting across the sky, murmuring something under his breath. "I truly am no match. I've shamed my master. It's your turn... Aka."
The words traveled through the spiritual network.
Passing along the relay of Scarab puppets stationed along the route, the message traveled all the way back to a certain earthen house in Sunagakure.
The red-haired maid-servant looked up, a smile of anticipation gracing her features. "This will be my first time fighting for Master while he is away. Thank you for the opportunity, Kuro."