Year 6 of Konoha's Founding
Kenichi Sato's Age: 10
Afternoon – Third Day of Final Eliminations
The tension in the academy's arena slowly faded after the last round. The applause quieted, not because the matches were dull, but because everyone now saw each opponent not just as a rival—but as a potential shinobi.
Tobirama raised the scroll once more and announced:
> "Next match: Kenichi Sato vs. Kira Akimichi of the Butterfly Clan."
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Match 4: Kenichi Sato vs. Kira Akimichi (Butterfly Clan)
Kira stepped into the arena with heavy steps, a slight smile on his round face. His right arm was wrapped in cloth, and his dark eyes carried a surprising sharpness despite his heavy build.
> "Sorry if I break the ground a little!" he joked, slamming his right fist into his left palm.
One of the instructors whispered:
> "The Akimichi clan… their technique can shatter stone. Never underestimate them."
Kenichi didn't reply, but raised his guard. Heavy body or not, an Akimichi was still dangerous.
> "Begin!"
Despite his size, Kira dashed forward with deceptive speed.
> "Expansion Jutsu – Right Arm!"
His arm swelled instantly, becoming massive—nearly the width of his body. It crashed down toward Kenichi like a sledgehammer. The ground behind him shattered as Kenichi leapt backward.
> "Incredible power… but predictable."
Kira followed up with his clan's signature move—his whole body began to spin, transforming into a massive rolling ball of flesh and chakra, crushing everything in its path.
Kenichi dodged lightly, waiting for his moment.
Then he whispered:
> "First Pulse – Sensory Wave."
From the soles of his feet, a subtle burst of water chakra spread through the earth. For a single moment, Kenichi felt a slight void in Kira's spinning energy—the moment before inertia shifted.
> "Now."
Kenichi dashed behind him, using Kira's own arm as a stepping point. He jumped upward and landed behind his opponent, placing one knee down and shifting his center of balance.
> "Central Displacement Technique."
With a powerful push, Kira lost his balance and slammed into the ground face-first, raising a cloud of dust.
Silence.
The referee raised his hand:
> "Winner: Kenichi Sato!"
Kenichi didn't smile, but his heart beat calmly. A tactical victory, though he couldn't forget what he had witnessed earlier in Dai's fight.
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Match 5: Homura Mitokado vs. Iso of the Yamanaka Clan
Homura stood still, calm but focused, his eyes tracking every step Iso took.
Iso, a boy from the Yamanaka clan, quickly formed a hand seal and whispered:
> "Mind Transfer Technique!"
Homura avoided the first attack with a subtle dodge, then muttered:
> "The real attack… is the second."
A strange shiver ran through Homura's body, as if his concentration had been rattled by a sudden pulse.
> "He's using it to break his opponent's focus…"
Homura quickly threw three shuriken toward Iso's shadow, forcing him to release the jutsu. Then he charged forward directly, disrupting Iso's stance.
It was precise. Controlled.
> "Winner: Homura Mitokado."
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Match 6: Koharu Utatane vs. Hanai of the Aburame Clan
Hanai stood silently, her face partially covered. Only one eye visible. Koharu watched carefully.
Hanai released a cloud of poisonous mist—one of her clan's specialized techniques designed to confuse and obscure.
She then tossed a scroll onto the ground, waiting for her opponent to act.
Koharu didn't move… not yet.
> "Air Release Seal!"
With a small explosion, the toxic gases were expelled from the arena.
Koharu dashed forward before Hanai could summon her insect wave, striking preemptively.
> "Winner: Koharu Utatane."
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Match 7: Kagami Uchiha – Automatic Qualification
Kagami stepped into the arena, only to find no opponent waiting for him.
He turned to Tobirama.
> "No match?"
One instructor replied:
> "There were only nine participants. Kagami qualifies automatically."
Kagami didn't look pleased. He muttered:
> "I wanted to fight."
Something in him still sought release… a fire that hadn't gone out.
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To be continued in Chapter 50…