KONOHA :THE RISE OF KAITON

"Both sides, please form the seal of confrontation."

As soon as the command came, the two opponents stepped into the arena.

On the sidelines, Kaiton observed closely, muttering under his breath, "Being part of the Nara clan, Luming is definitely a cut above the rest in strategy and technique. As for Ono Aoi... I doubt she can hold up for long."

He compared Luming's abilities to his own and sighed. "Yeah, there's no comparison. That guy's miles ahead."

Sure enough, Kaiton's prediction was correct. The match ended in under two minutes.

"Nara Luming wins! Please form the seal of reconciliation."

The fight concluded, and Luming lazily returned to the sidelines. "What a drag... Fighting is such a hassle," he muttered, sprawling on the ground.

Meanwhile, Kaiton, Akirai, Tsunade, and Orochimaru focused intently on the subsequent matches. Those from established clans, like Akamichi, Yamanaka, Hyuga, and Uchiha, displayed far superior physical skills, making Kaiton doubt his chances of winning against them.

Aside from these exceptional cases—and excluding Tsunade—Kaiton felt he was evenly matched with the rest. Like him, they were mostly civilians, without the advantage of family training.

The matches went on, leaving just two left for the day.

"Next group: Tsunade versus Orochimaru."

Hearing this, Akirai gaped in shock. "Wait, she's from the Senju clan? No wonder she's so strong! Kaiton, how could you not tell me this?"

Kaiton blinked in confusion. "Senju? Is that supposed to mean something?"

Akirai nearly exploded. "You don't know? The Senju clan founded Konoha! The First and Second Hokage were both Senju! Tsunade's clan is legendary!"

Hearing this, Kaiton finally understood Tsunade's extraordinary strength. "No wonder she's rich," he muttered.

On the battlefield, Orochimaru wore a rare serious expression, his sharp pupils fixed on Tsunade. Meanwhile, the crowd buzzed with curiosity and awe. The name "Senju" carried an undeniable weight.

"Start!"

The instructor, Tenzou, gave the signal. Orochimaru leapt back immediately, trying to keep his distance.

Boom!

Tsunade's fist smashed into the ground where Orochimaru had been standing, creating a network of cracks.

The spectators gasped.

"What insane power!" Kaiton whispered, recalling his own sparring matches with Tsunade. "She definitely held back when she fought me. Otherwise, I'd be in the hospital right now."

Akirai shuddered beside him. "This woman is terrifying. I'll stay far away from her!"

On the battlefield, Orochimaru's sharp instincts kicked in. Realizing the vast difference in their physical capabilities, he raised his hand calmly. "I concede."

The audience was stunned.

Tsunade stomped over, visibly annoyed. "What? You're giving up already? I haven't even warmed up!"

Orochimaru replied coolly, "There's no point in continuing. You're far stronger than me—for now."

Tsunade had no choice but to accept his surrender. She sulked off to the sidelines, where she promptly smacked Kaiton on the shoulder.

"This is all your fault! If I knew he'd give up so easily, I would've fought you instead!"

Kaiton grimaced, rubbing his arm. "You'd destroy me. I'd have surrendered before the match even started."

The final match of the day was announced.

"The last group: Kaiton versus Akirai."

Kaiton and Akirai stepped into the arena, both feeling the weight of the moment.

After forming the seal of confrontation, the two began their duel.

Their match was less about skill and more about raw determination. Kaiton led with a flying kick, but Akirai dodged nimbly, countering with a slow punch due to his earlier injuries. Kaiton barely evaded.

The two exchanged blows, neither landing a decisive hit. After several minutes, both were drenched in sweat and breathing heavily.

Kaiton eyed Akirai, impressed. "He's tougher than he looks. If he weren't injured, I'd have no chance."

Despite his fatigue, Kaiton charged at Akirai, tackling him to the ground. The two wrestled fiercely, each trying to gain the upper hand. Kaiton managed to wrap an arm around Akirai's neck, but Akirai retaliated by twisting Kaiton's leg, sending a sharp pain shooting through his body.

Finally, both shouted simultaneously:

"I surrender!"

The crowd erupted in laughter. Tenzou, after a moment of consideration, declared:

"Kaiton and Akirai, draw!"

---

Back in the classroom, Kaiton reflected on the day's events. Watching Tsunade, Orochimaru, and the others had opened his eyes to the vast gap in abilities. Still, the fire within him burned brighter than ever.

"I'll catch up," he vowed silently, clenching his fists.

The day's matches concluded, leaving everyone eager for the challenges to come.

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