Chakra Wizard
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A quick, fun little match-up before the other big spectacle to close out the first round*_* lol As always, hope you enjoy
Here’s my previous chapters, for those who missed any:
Chapter 059: Avoiding the Lash
With the announcement of the next match just moments away, Minto’s knees slowly began trembling, something his best friend picked up on almost instantly.
Airon: You gettin’ kinda nervous there, buddy?
Minto: (He looked up at him and smiled feebly.) A little bit, yeah.
Airon: (He placed his hand on his shoulder as he looked over at Minto’s future opponent, who was also glancing over at them.) Well, don’t be, alright? (It’s only Chan.)
Chan: (Noticing Airon’s grin, he quickly jumped up and began pointing incessantly.) HA!! I may not be able to read minds like you, Airon, but I can tell when you are talking about me behind my back! You just watch me defeat Minto and then fight you in the second round!
Z: (Having heard a claim like this one too many times, he quickly stood up and started flailing his arms about.) Whoa, hollup, time out here!! What’s wit all these damn assertions bout who fightin’ who in the next round when the next round ain’t here yet!? Y’all are expectin’ shit from each other way too early to call and it’s buggin’ the hell outta me here! Why don’tcha chill out and keep yo minds focused on the here and now, aight?
The balcony immediately fell silent, many of them thrown off by his sudden intrusion and placing Z in an uncomfortable position. Finding some humor in this – and the fact that some of them were evidently confused as to what he said – Airon finally answered his request.
Airon: I think we’re down with that.
Seemingly relieved, Z leaned back over the railing along with many of the other contestants, as Baiko stepped forward to announce the next match-up.
Inase: (What did he just say?)
Airon: (Read his mind. He speaks properly there.)
Baiko: Minto Sarutobi and Chan, make your way to the arena floor now!
With Nakama’s walkway already prepared for them, the two contestants silently made their way down to the arena below, though not before one of them was pulled aside by Airon.
Airon: Give me a mint before you go.
Minto: Uhhh...sorry, man. All out.
Airon: ...Give me one, Minto.
Minto: (His expression suddenly became filled with distress.) Airon, come on, will ya? I don't have a whole lot of these things.
Airon: (He smiled in amusement as he shook his head.) Minto, you're chewing on them constantly. Now just give me one and get down there, alright?
After some reluctance, he finally pulled a small tube of mints out of his pocket and dropped one into Airon's outstretched hand, popping two into his own mouth before putting it back in his pocket and taking off after Chan. Their descent to the arena floor went off without a hitch from that point on, at least until one of them was promptly called out to by his sensei – and grandfather.
Lee: GIVE IT TO HIM, CHAN!!! LET THE POWER OF YOUTH EXPLODE!!!
Chan: RIGHT, SENSEI!!!
The sudden outburst caused him to nearly lose his balance on the pillar he was currently stepping off of, much to the regret of Lee and the embarrassment of his other student sitting two seats away.
Miyuki: Really, sensei? He knows you’re cheering for him up here. Why make a spectacle out of it?
Tenten: (Sitting between the two, she smiled amusedly and rested her hand on her husband’s.) Just leave him be, Miyuki. …I learned to just accept it long ago.
Lee: (He smiled back at her before holding his fingers up to his chin in thought.) I hope that all his hard training is enough to get him to the second round. …Minto has a weapon that may very well give him the advantage in this match.
Tenten: Hmhmhm, so we’re getting pessimistic all of a sudden? Whatever ace he has up his sleeve, Lee, Chan’s speed should be enough to help him win. …Hmhm, from what I remember, he’s a lot faster than you were at that age.
This being one of the reasons he held such pride for his grandson, he smiled in response as towards the top of the stands two sections away, Chan received words of encouragement from one of his more unlikely peers.
Raiden: Rip him a new one, Chan!
His call was quickly met by a smack to the back of his head from Suzaku, while even his normally cheerful mother couldn’t help but frown at him for this.
Ayumi: Raiden, that’s your brother! Show some support for him.
Raiden: (He rested his head on top of his arms as he responded, which were rested on the back of the chair in front of him.) He’s the reason I’m not down there today, so why should I cheer him on? …He shouldn’t even be in this competition.
Suzaku: Raiden, I’m warning you right now. I’ve just about had enough of those remarks, so I suggest you stop them now. …Come on, Minto, show them what you’ve got!
Up above the stands, his father and the other Kage evaluated the two contestants, some giving their own thoughts on how the match would pan out.
Darui: This one’s lookin’ to be a match of speed, it looks like. …Hopefully, it’s not too dull cause of that.
Gaara: Knowing Rock Lee, his grandson will ensure that it’s anything but, Lord Raikage.
Kurotsuchi: Hmhm, I agree. …I’m actually eager to see more of your grandson’s special weapon, Lord Hokage. We barely caught a glimpse of it in his match with his brother.
Konohamaru smirked at this, but he was too much preoccupied otherwise to reply, leaning forward in his chair with his hands pressed against his lips. In the contestants’ balcony further away, two more of Minto’s supporters discussed the match-up in private, though once again, the more avid of the two seemed focused on watching the match rather than talking about it.
Inase: (How many Inner Gates can Chan open?)
Airon: (Read his mind, Inase. You have that access, too, y’know.)
Inase: (Slightly put off by his firmness, she complied with his demand and responded shortly after with the answer.) (I only see four.)
Airon: (In that case, don’t worry about it. Minto’s defense should be able to hold its own.)
Inase: (Wait, who said that’s what I was asking for?)
Airon: (He turned his head slightly so she could see his smile.) (You can’t hide things like that from me, little sister.)
She returned his smile as Minto and Chan took their spots at the center of the arena, prompting the entire stadium to fall silent as the latter shared some last-minute thoughts with his opponent.
Chan: I know how much both you and Airon are looking forward to fighting in the next round, Minto, believe me. But I will have to disappoint you both. …I have no intention of giving up my opportunity to fight him, either.
Minto: (He smirked and glanced off in Airon’s direction.) (Hmhm, well, he’s in for quite a shock then.)
Airon: (Ugh, Minto. Going for the puns, really? It didn’t even sound right.)
Minto: (Ah, bite me. So I’m not a natural comedian like you.)
This sharp retort enticed a few chuckles from Airon as the proctor raised his arm to begin the match, prompting Minto to reach into the pouch around his waist.
Baiko: Alright…if both of you are ready…begin!
Chan immediately took off towards Minto at breakneck speed, only to leap back moments later as the latter’s secret weapon came snaking out from behind his back.
Chan: Whoa!! (He pulled it out right away. He is not fooling around in this match.)
Hitomi: (He quickly used his Byakugan to inspect the weapon once it was in full view.) His chakra’s pulsating through the entire length of the whip, making it longer the more he puts into it. …The longer it is, though, the more difficult it is to control its movements. Chan has the advantage there.
Airon: (Being the Shock Lash’s co-creator, he couldn’t help but smirk at this remark.) I’d hate to correct you right off the bat, Hitomi, but…
Down below, Chan waited patiently for the weapon to go limp before charging him a second time, only to retreat back yet again as Minto swung it forward at lightning speed, inciting a loud cracking noise as it straightened out in midair. Before Chan could attack again, he quickly retracted it and began twirling it over his head, causing it to spin around his body like a corkscrew.
Airon: …that rule doesn’t apply to Minto. …He’s trained with them far too long to have a weakness like that.
Hitomi: …Them?
Airon: (He tried to be genuinely surprised by his choice of words, only to fail miserably as a grin illuminated his face.) …Oops. Did I say “them”?
Inase: (You did that on purpose, didn’t you?)
Airon: (Hmhmhm, of course.)
Chan bided his time below as he studied the weapon in Minto’s hand, impressed by how much control he had over its movements.
Chan: (He is more skilled with that whip than I would have thought…but his speed is still inferior to my own.)
He charged forward for a third attempt, leaping to the side as Minto swung at him with his weapon and then again when he tried a horizontal motion. The distance between them suddenly cut in half, Chan smiled in satisfaction as Minto reached into his pouch once again.
Chan: Gotcha!
He was immediately stopped in his tracks before he could launch a kick, however, as yet another weapon snaked out from behind Minto, identical to the one that came before it.
Chan: Huh!?
His enhanced speed saved him from being caught, and he took a moment to catch his breath as he watched Minto begin twirling both whips out in front of him, increasing his pace and narrowing the angle of their swings until finally, both were spinning around in a corkscrew-like fashion, each several feet above the ground. Some sounds of admiration could be heard from the audience, while both Chan and his teammate in the competitors’ balcony continued to watch in disbelief, the latter turning to Airon for answers.
Hitomi: Incredible…so he’s had two whips this entire time?
Airon: Shock Lashes, Hitomi, c’mon. He’s not an animal trainer.
His playful smile quickly vanished as he shifted his gaze back towards Minto.
Airon: (Now it’s time to show them what you can really do.)
Minto: (…Got it.)
He immediately allowed the Shock Lashes to fall flat, at which point he began moving his hands again rapidly, quickly lifting them up off the ground. Changing his hand motions slightly, they suddenly began spinning around him as a sort of makeshift barrier, which Chan quickly found out was moving too fast for him to penetrate.
Chan: (I cannot seem to slip between them…perhaps I should increase my speed even further.)
He retreated back several yards and looked up towards his grandfather, who smiled and nodded his head in approval, prompting him to do the same before plopping himself on the ground.
Lee: He has him now.
Tenten? Hm?
He reached down and removed his legwarmers, revealing a familiar piece of equipment that brought a smile to Lee’s face and an annoyed scowl to those of some who recalled his own match from decades prior.
Tenten: Huhhh… (Weights? Really, Lee?)
Kankurō: Ah jeez, not that old gag.
Naruto: Wow, talk about bringin’ back memories.
Gaara: (…And recalling my match with his grandfather, this will be a game-changing tactic.)
Once they had been removed, Chan stood back up and held out his arms, allowing the weights in each hand to fall to the ground, where they formed a small crater as testament to their heaviness.
Inase: (Those weights must be at least eighty pounds.)
Airon: (I checked. You’re about two hundred pounds off.)
Inase quickly turned to him with wide eyes, but he merely smirked and shook in head to dissuade her.
Airon: (It still doesn’t matter, though.)
Chan took off again, his speed having nearly doubled with the removal of the enormous leg weights, but however many times he circled Minto, he still found himself incapable of slipping through his defense.
Chan: (Still no openings!? …What is going on?)
Hitomi: (Having been watching Minto for most of the match, he took immediate notice of his actions right before Chan’s attack.) I saw it…he changed the pattern of his swings.
Airon: (He smiled and nodded his head.) That’s exactly right. And trust me, it’s no coincidence. …Both of those patterns are seared into his mind.
Z: (Also curious, he quickly jumped into the discussion.) How you mean?
Airon: The Shock Lashes are hardly just an offensive weapon. They also provide a defense that functions similarly to an electric fence, and to maximize its effectiveness, he created three distinct patterns correlating to the speed of his opponent. The one you saw first would normally work against any opponent he faces, while the second one is only used when he’s faced with a speed demon like Chan. It’s a far more complex pattern that requires faster hand motions that’re slightly harder to maintain, but it also closes up several gaps the first pattern leaves in the defense.
Shikaru: And what about the third pattern? You said he had three, no?
Airon: (His expression showed traces of admiration as he recalled the third pattern he spoke of.) …It’s an exceedingly complex pattern that requires nothing less than the fastest hand motions he can maintain, and it leaves virtually no openings in its wake. You wanna get to him then, it’ll have to be with a powerful long-range attack, cause there’s no way you’re laying a finger on him once he gets it going.
Irezumi: Why have it, though? You said he created the second pattern only for the fastest opponents…so why go beyond that?
Airon: (He found it difficult not to grin as he gave the answer.) That third pattern is specifically for those who can open the Eight Gates…though he originally designed it to be just for me.
As his peers looked on in astonishment, Chan continued his attempts to bypass the Shock Lashes until finally, exhaustion caught up with him at long last. Taking a knee several yards away, he continued to watch Minto as he took in heavy breaths, amazed by his ability to maintain his current hand motions.
Chan: Huhhh…huhhh…huhhh… (No good…I cannot seem to find a way through to him…but perhaps…)
An idea having sparked in his mind, he quickly stood back up and formed a hand sign.
Chan: Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!
He arched his back as his chest began swelling just slightly, lunging forward and releasing an enormous gust of air, which barely fazed Minto as it collided with his defense.
Chan: (It had no effect!?)
Hitomi: He wasn’t even fazed…how is-
Thinking he found the answer, he reactivated his Byakugan and gazed down at Minto’s weapons, examining their movements and the space around them until he found what he was looking for.
Hitomi: A secondary barrier.
Airon: Hmhm, good eye. It’s made by the swift motions of the Shock Lashes, forming a bit of a shield by pushing the air around him outward. A basic wind technique like that doesn’t stand a chance, and as it gets faster, even basic fire and water techniques find trouble getting through.
Hitomi: (Having never seen such speed in one’s hands before, he quickly acquired as to how Airon knew of this.) Have you seen it happen?
Airon: Hmhmhmhm, of course I have. I helped him create those weapons, after all…so naturally, I’d be the one who helped him learn how to use them.
Hitomi’s eyes widened again, though they quickly subsided as it began making sense to him. He looked down at his teammate in worry, who was still standing a short distance from Minto contemplating his remaining options. When he found only one, he looked up at Lee with regret in his eyes.
Chan: (I have no choice, grandfather. Nothing else is working. …I have to use the Lotus.)
Lee nodded as if he understood his request, prompting Chan to straighten his posture and hold his arms out slightly, breathing deeply before closing his eyes.
Chan: (First Gate, Gate of Opening…open!)
Swirls of blue energy gradually began pulsating around him, signifying the huge boost in power he just experienced.
Chan: (Second Gate, Gate of Healing…open!!)
The ground beneath his feet began quaking faintly as the energy around him expanded. Those unaware of what was happening looked on in awe, while those who did watched either in silent anticipation or worry, particularly his grandmother.
Tenten: He’s not gonna…
Lee: (He merely nodded as he watched Chan’s buildup of power continue.) He may not have any other choice now.
Chan: (Third Gate, Gate of Life…open!!)
The energy around him built up even further, his skin quickly taking on a red hue as he opened his eyes, which were now pure white. Chan was hardly the only one receiving attention, though, as some of Minto’s family and peers, particularly his teammates, started wondering how he would fare against Chan with his newfound speed.
Nakama: (Come on, Minto.)
Taigen: Don’t let him get to ya! You can still fend him off!
Minto made no response, merely standing there and keeping up his hand motions as he stared over at Chan – not in fear, but determination.
Minto: (…I know.)
Chan: (Fourth Gate, Gate of Pain…OPEN!!!)
He took off immediately after the final accessible Gate opened, circling Minto at such a high speed that even those with special or well-trained eyes had trouble keeping up with him. Manako and Airon were among the few who could, the latter heaving a sigh of disappointment as Chan began preparing to cut across.
Airon: (Dang…)
Chan suddenly turned and charged inward, but hardly a few seconds before, Minto had already changed his hand motions for a second time. Chan barely got his ankle past the Lashes’ fixed path of motion before they coiled around it.
Airon: (…he was so close, too.)
Sensing that he’d been caught right away, Minto clicked the buttons on the handles of each Lash and spun himself around, taking both them and Chan with him as he smashed them into the ground. Already having damaged his body beyond imagination with the Hidden Lotus, the forceful impact with the ground sent a small amount of blood splashing from his mouth as he screamed in agony.
Chan: AAAAARRGGHHH!!!
Tenten: Chan!!
Lee: (Struck with utter disbelief, he could barely bring himself to speak.) …Incredible.
Airon: (It’s over…there’s no way he can escape now.)
Surely enough, Minto needn’t even press the switches on the Lashes’ hilts a second time, as Chan fell unconscious before he even had the chance. Checking this for himself, Baiko lifted his arm immediately to confirm the winner.
Baiko: The winner is…Minto Sarutobi!
The audience responded with tremendous applause for the match’s victor, despite prior doubts of the excitement the match would bring with it. Feeling caught up in the moment, Suzaku began clapping along with them as he smiled down at his student.
Suzaku: That a boy.
Ayumi: (She joined him briefly as she turned to their younger son, who was still leant over the back of the chair in front of him.) Aren’t you going to cheer for him, sweetie?
Having already been forewarned by his father, Raiden reluctantly held up his arms and began lazily clapping his hands together, leaving Ayumi disappointed but otherwise satisfied with his compliance. Chan’s biggest supporters, on the other hand, persisted with their bewilderment at Minto’s amazing reflexes, particularly Hitomi.
Hitomi: (I’ve never seen anyone move that fast before…at least not since…)
Recalling his time in the Forest of Death, he turned ever so slightly towards Manako, while his other teammates in the stands continued staring down in pity at Chan, who was being carried away by two medical-nin as Minto returned to the balcony via Nakama’s earthy walkway.
Miyuki: So close…I can’t believe Minto stopped him like that.
Lee could only nod in agreement, his disappointment with the match’s outcome visible in his expression, prompting Tenten to grab his hand in reassurance.
Tenten: Well, he did put his all into this match. Maybe the Kage were impressed enough with what they saw.
He turned towards her as she spoke, smiling after a moment. Above the stands, the Kage were indeed discussing the match, though things were hardly looking bright for Chan.
Konohamaru: Hmhm, I guess our feelings on Minto are unanimous…now comes the question of Chan.
Gaara: (He nodded along with the other Kage before sharing his thoughts, fumbling to find a reason to support Chan’s likelihood of becoming a chūnin.) His speed is highly impressive for a shinobi his age…and on top of this, he’s shown prowess in opening the Eight Gates not seen since his grandfather.
Darui: Yeah, but I don’t see much else goin’ for him other than that. Sorry, he’s a tough kid, but as far as becoming a chūnin goes, I’d say he still needs work.
Chōjūrō: I have to agree. I don’t think he showcased nearly enough skill in that match other than where just pure strength is concerned, which isn’t what these exams are all about.
Kurotsuchi: Well jeez, I’d hate to see him have to go through this entire exam again. He did show a lot of potential towards getting the promotion, here and in the preliminaries.
Konohamaru: …Well, it’s not a decision that needs to be made now. …We can at least wait until the first recess before we decide if any of the losers this round earned the new rank.
The others nodded before looking down at the arena floor. The entire stadium fell silent soon after as all eyes fell on Baiko, who was standing in the center of the arena ready to announce the final match of the first round. The only exceptions to this were those still standing in the contestants’ balcony, who were staring either at one of the two combatants or at the entrance to the corridors, where the other had disappeared just moments before the previous match ended.
Baiko: I need Z and Airon Namikaze to approach the arena!
Before the entire announcement had even left his lips, Airon came dashing back out onto the balcony, stepping onto the railing and leaping off, allowing himself to free fall through the air as everyone looked on in either amazement or nostalgic amusement.
Sakura: Just like his grandfather. Always showing off.
Sasuke: (He smirked and turned to the seasoned shinobi in question as he replied.) Except he doesn’t slip up nearly as often.
Naruto merely smirked in response as his eyes followed Airon down to the arena floor, where he performed several elaborate somersaults before landing gracefully on his feet. Standing back up, he slowly pulled back the hood of his shirt and opened his eyes, grinning over at Baiko as fire burned within them.
Airon: I’m all ready to go.
Minto moves on to Round Two, but does Z have what it takes to best the Chakra Wizard!!?
The End
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Chapter 059: Avoiding the Lash
With the announcement of the next match just moments away, Minto’s knees slowly began trembling, something his best friend picked up on almost instantly.
Airon: You gettin’ kinda nervous there, buddy?
Minto: (He looked up at him and smiled feebly.) A little bit, yeah.
Airon: (He placed his hand on his shoulder as he looked over at Minto’s future opponent, who was also glancing over at them.) Well, don’t be, alright? (It’s only Chan.)
Chan: (Noticing Airon’s grin, he quickly jumped up and began pointing incessantly.) HA!! I may not be able to read minds like you, Airon, but I can tell when you are talking about me behind my back! You just watch me defeat Minto and then fight you in the second round!
Z: (Having heard a claim like this one too many times, he quickly stood up and started flailing his arms about.) Whoa, hollup, time out here!! What’s wit all these damn assertions bout who fightin’ who in the next round when the next round ain’t here yet!? Y’all are expectin’ shit from each other way too early to call and it’s buggin’ the hell outta me here! Why don’tcha chill out and keep yo minds focused on the here and now, aight?
The balcony immediately fell silent, many of them thrown off by his sudden intrusion and placing Z in an uncomfortable position. Finding some humor in this – and the fact that some of them were evidently confused as to what he said – Airon finally answered his request.
Airon: I think we’re down with that.
Seemingly relieved, Z leaned back over the railing along with many of the other contestants, as Baiko stepped forward to announce the next match-up.
Inase: (What did he just say?)
Airon: (Read his mind. He speaks properly there.)
Baiko: Minto Sarutobi and Chan, make your way to the arena floor now!
With Nakama’s walkway already prepared for them, the two contestants silently made their way down to the arena below, though not before one of them was pulled aside by Airon.
Airon: Give me a mint before you go.
Minto: Uhhh...sorry, man. All out.
Airon: ...Give me one, Minto.
Minto: (His expression suddenly became filled with distress.) Airon, come on, will ya? I don't have a whole lot of these things.
Airon: (He smiled in amusement as he shook his head.) Minto, you're chewing on them constantly. Now just give me one and get down there, alright?
After some reluctance, he finally pulled a small tube of mints out of his pocket and dropped one into Airon's outstretched hand, popping two into his own mouth before putting it back in his pocket and taking off after Chan. Their descent to the arena floor went off without a hitch from that point on, at least until one of them was promptly called out to by his sensei – and grandfather.
Lee: GIVE IT TO HIM, CHAN!!! LET THE POWER OF YOUTH EXPLODE!!!
Chan: RIGHT, SENSEI!!!
The sudden outburst caused him to nearly lose his balance on the pillar he was currently stepping off of, much to the regret of Lee and the embarrassment of his other student sitting two seats away.
Miyuki: Really, sensei? He knows you’re cheering for him up here. Why make a spectacle out of it?
Tenten: (Sitting between the two, she smiled amusedly and rested her hand on her husband’s.) Just leave him be, Miyuki. …I learned to just accept it long ago.
Lee: (He smiled back at her before holding his fingers up to his chin in thought.) I hope that all his hard training is enough to get him to the second round. …Minto has a weapon that may very well give him the advantage in this match.
Tenten: Hmhmhm, so we’re getting pessimistic all of a sudden? Whatever ace he has up his sleeve, Lee, Chan’s speed should be enough to help him win. …Hmhm, from what I remember, he’s a lot faster than you were at that age.
This being one of the reasons he held such pride for his grandson, he smiled in response as towards the top of the stands two sections away, Chan received words of encouragement from one of his more unlikely peers.
Raiden: Rip him a new one, Chan!
His call was quickly met by a smack to the back of his head from Suzaku, while even his normally cheerful mother couldn’t help but frown at him for this.
Ayumi: Raiden, that’s your brother! Show some support for him.
Raiden: (He rested his head on top of his arms as he responded, which were rested on the back of the chair in front of him.) He’s the reason I’m not down there today, so why should I cheer him on? …He shouldn’t even be in this competition.
Suzaku: Raiden, I’m warning you right now. I’ve just about had enough of those remarks, so I suggest you stop them now. …Come on, Minto, show them what you’ve got!
Up above the stands, his father and the other Kage evaluated the two contestants, some giving their own thoughts on how the match would pan out.
Darui: This one’s lookin’ to be a match of speed, it looks like. …Hopefully, it’s not too dull cause of that.
Gaara: Knowing Rock Lee, his grandson will ensure that it’s anything but, Lord Raikage.
Kurotsuchi: Hmhm, I agree. …I’m actually eager to see more of your grandson’s special weapon, Lord Hokage. We barely caught a glimpse of it in his match with his brother.
Konohamaru smirked at this, but he was too much preoccupied otherwise to reply, leaning forward in his chair with his hands pressed against his lips. In the contestants’ balcony further away, two more of Minto’s supporters discussed the match-up in private, though once again, the more avid of the two seemed focused on watching the match rather than talking about it.
Inase: (How many Inner Gates can Chan open?)
Airon: (Read his mind, Inase. You have that access, too, y’know.)
Inase: (Slightly put off by his firmness, she complied with his demand and responded shortly after with the answer.) (I only see four.)
Airon: (In that case, don’t worry about it. Minto’s defense should be able to hold its own.)
Inase: (Wait, who said that’s what I was asking for?)
Airon: (He turned his head slightly so she could see his smile.) (You can’t hide things like that from me, little sister.)
She returned his smile as Minto and Chan took their spots at the center of the arena, prompting the entire stadium to fall silent as the latter shared some last-minute thoughts with his opponent.
Chan: I know how much both you and Airon are looking forward to fighting in the next round, Minto, believe me. But I will have to disappoint you both. …I have no intention of giving up my opportunity to fight him, either.
Minto: (He smirked and glanced off in Airon’s direction.) (Hmhm, well, he’s in for quite a shock then.)
Airon: (Ugh, Minto. Going for the puns, really? It didn’t even sound right.)
Minto: (Ah, bite me. So I’m not a natural comedian like you.)
This sharp retort enticed a few chuckles from Airon as the proctor raised his arm to begin the match, prompting Minto to reach into the pouch around his waist.
Baiko: Alright…if both of you are ready…begin!
Chan immediately took off towards Minto at breakneck speed, only to leap back moments later as the latter’s secret weapon came snaking out from behind his back.
Chan: Whoa!! (He pulled it out right away. He is not fooling around in this match.)
Hitomi: (He quickly used his Byakugan to inspect the weapon once it was in full view.) His chakra’s pulsating through the entire length of the whip, making it longer the more he puts into it. …The longer it is, though, the more difficult it is to control its movements. Chan has the advantage there.
Airon: (Being the Shock Lash’s co-creator, he couldn’t help but smirk at this remark.) I’d hate to correct you right off the bat, Hitomi, but…
Down below, Chan waited patiently for the weapon to go limp before charging him a second time, only to retreat back yet again as Minto swung it forward at lightning speed, inciting a loud cracking noise as it straightened out in midair. Before Chan could attack again, he quickly retracted it and began twirling it over his head, causing it to spin around his body like a corkscrew.
Airon: …that rule doesn’t apply to Minto. …He’s trained with them far too long to have a weakness like that.
Hitomi: …Them?
Airon: (He tried to be genuinely surprised by his choice of words, only to fail miserably as a grin illuminated his face.) …Oops. Did I say “them”?
Inase: (You did that on purpose, didn’t you?)
Airon: (Hmhmhm, of course.)
Chan bided his time below as he studied the weapon in Minto’s hand, impressed by how much control he had over its movements.
Chan: (He is more skilled with that whip than I would have thought…but his speed is still inferior to my own.)
He charged forward for a third attempt, leaping to the side as Minto swung at him with his weapon and then again when he tried a horizontal motion. The distance between them suddenly cut in half, Chan smiled in satisfaction as Minto reached into his pouch once again.
Chan: Gotcha!
He was immediately stopped in his tracks before he could launch a kick, however, as yet another weapon snaked out from behind Minto, identical to the one that came before it.
Chan: Huh!?
His enhanced speed saved him from being caught, and he took a moment to catch his breath as he watched Minto begin twirling both whips out in front of him, increasing his pace and narrowing the angle of their swings until finally, both were spinning around in a corkscrew-like fashion, each several feet above the ground. Some sounds of admiration could be heard from the audience, while both Chan and his teammate in the competitors’ balcony continued to watch in disbelief, the latter turning to Airon for answers.
Hitomi: Incredible…so he’s had two whips this entire time?
Airon: Shock Lashes, Hitomi, c’mon. He’s not an animal trainer.
His playful smile quickly vanished as he shifted his gaze back towards Minto.
Airon: (Now it’s time to show them what you can really do.)
Minto: (…Got it.)
He immediately allowed the Shock Lashes to fall flat, at which point he began moving his hands again rapidly, quickly lifting them up off the ground. Changing his hand motions slightly, they suddenly began spinning around him as a sort of makeshift barrier, which Chan quickly found out was moving too fast for him to penetrate.
Chan: (I cannot seem to slip between them…perhaps I should increase my speed even further.)
He retreated back several yards and looked up towards his grandfather, who smiled and nodded his head in approval, prompting him to do the same before plopping himself on the ground.
Lee: He has him now.
Tenten? Hm?
He reached down and removed his legwarmers, revealing a familiar piece of equipment that brought a smile to Lee’s face and an annoyed scowl to those of some who recalled his own match from decades prior.
Tenten: Huhhh… (Weights? Really, Lee?)
Kankurō: Ah jeez, not that old gag.
Naruto: Wow, talk about bringin’ back memories.
Gaara: (…And recalling my match with his grandfather, this will be a game-changing tactic.)
Once they had been removed, Chan stood back up and held out his arms, allowing the weights in each hand to fall to the ground, where they formed a small crater as testament to their heaviness.
Inase: (Those weights must be at least eighty pounds.)
Airon: (I checked. You’re about two hundred pounds off.)
Inase quickly turned to him with wide eyes, but he merely smirked and shook in head to dissuade her.
Airon: (It still doesn’t matter, though.)
Chan took off again, his speed having nearly doubled with the removal of the enormous leg weights, but however many times he circled Minto, he still found himself incapable of slipping through his defense.
Chan: (Still no openings!? …What is going on?)
Hitomi: (Having been watching Minto for most of the match, he took immediate notice of his actions right before Chan’s attack.) I saw it…he changed the pattern of his swings.
Airon: (He smiled and nodded his head.) That’s exactly right. And trust me, it’s no coincidence. …Both of those patterns are seared into his mind.
Z: (Also curious, he quickly jumped into the discussion.) How you mean?
Airon: The Shock Lashes are hardly just an offensive weapon. They also provide a defense that functions similarly to an electric fence, and to maximize its effectiveness, he created three distinct patterns correlating to the speed of his opponent. The one you saw first would normally work against any opponent he faces, while the second one is only used when he’s faced with a speed demon like Chan. It’s a far more complex pattern that requires faster hand motions that’re slightly harder to maintain, but it also closes up several gaps the first pattern leaves in the defense.
Shikaru: And what about the third pattern? You said he had three, no?
Airon: (His expression showed traces of admiration as he recalled the third pattern he spoke of.) …It’s an exceedingly complex pattern that requires nothing less than the fastest hand motions he can maintain, and it leaves virtually no openings in its wake. You wanna get to him then, it’ll have to be with a powerful long-range attack, cause there’s no way you’re laying a finger on him once he gets it going.
Irezumi: Why have it, though? You said he created the second pattern only for the fastest opponents…so why go beyond that?
Airon: (He found it difficult not to grin as he gave the answer.) That third pattern is specifically for those who can open the Eight Gates…though he originally designed it to be just for me.
As his peers looked on in astonishment, Chan continued his attempts to bypass the Shock Lashes until finally, exhaustion caught up with him at long last. Taking a knee several yards away, he continued to watch Minto as he took in heavy breaths, amazed by his ability to maintain his current hand motions.
Chan: Huhhh…huhhh…huhhh… (No good…I cannot seem to find a way through to him…but perhaps…)
An idea having sparked in his mind, he quickly stood back up and formed a hand sign.
Chan: Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!
He arched his back as his chest began swelling just slightly, lunging forward and releasing an enormous gust of air, which barely fazed Minto as it collided with his defense.
Chan: (It had no effect!?)
Hitomi: He wasn’t even fazed…how is-
Thinking he found the answer, he reactivated his Byakugan and gazed down at Minto’s weapons, examining their movements and the space around them until he found what he was looking for.
Hitomi: A secondary barrier.
Airon: Hmhm, good eye. It’s made by the swift motions of the Shock Lashes, forming a bit of a shield by pushing the air around him outward. A basic wind technique like that doesn’t stand a chance, and as it gets faster, even basic fire and water techniques find trouble getting through.
Hitomi: (Having never seen such speed in one’s hands before, he quickly acquired as to how Airon knew of this.) Have you seen it happen?
Airon: Hmhmhmhm, of course I have. I helped him create those weapons, after all…so naturally, I’d be the one who helped him learn how to use them.
Hitomi’s eyes widened again, though they quickly subsided as it began making sense to him. He looked down at his teammate in worry, who was still standing a short distance from Minto contemplating his remaining options. When he found only one, he looked up at Lee with regret in his eyes.
Chan: (I have no choice, grandfather. Nothing else is working. …I have to use the Lotus.)
Lee nodded as if he understood his request, prompting Chan to straighten his posture and hold his arms out slightly, breathing deeply before closing his eyes.
Chan: (First Gate, Gate of Opening…open!)
Swirls of blue energy gradually began pulsating around him, signifying the huge boost in power he just experienced.
Chan: (Second Gate, Gate of Healing…open!!)
The ground beneath his feet began quaking faintly as the energy around him expanded. Those unaware of what was happening looked on in awe, while those who did watched either in silent anticipation or worry, particularly his grandmother.
Tenten: He’s not gonna…
Lee: (He merely nodded as he watched Chan’s buildup of power continue.) He may not have any other choice now.
Chan: (Third Gate, Gate of Life…open!!)
The energy around him built up even further, his skin quickly taking on a red hue as he opened his eyes, which were now pure white. Chan was hardly the only one receiving attention, though, as some of Minto’s family and peers, particularly his teammates, started wondering how he would fare against Chan with his newfound speed.
Nakama: (Come on, Minto.)
Taigen: Don’t let him get to ya! You can still fend him off!
Minto made no response, merely standing there and keeping up his hand motions as he stared over at Chan – not in fear, but determination.
Minto: (…I know.)
Chan: (Fourth Gate, Gate of Pain…OPEN!!!)
He took off immediately after the final accessible Gate opened, circling Minto at such a high speed that even those with special or well-trained eyes had trouble keeping up with him. Manako and Airon were among the few who could, the latter heaving a sigh of disappointment as Chan began preparing to cut across.
Airon: (Dang…)
Chan suddenly turned and charged inward, but hardly a few seconds before, Minto had already changed his hand motions for a second time. Chan barely got his ankle past the Lashes’ fixed path of motion before they coiled around it.
Airon: (…he was so close, too.)
Sensing that he’d been caught right away, Minto clicked the buttons on the handles of each Lash and spun himself around, taking both them and Chan with him as he smashed them into the ground. Already having damaged his body beyond imagination with the Hidden Lotus, the forceful impact with the ground sent a small amount of blood splashing from his mouth as he screamed in agony.
Chan: AAAAARRGGHHH!!!
Tenten: Chan!!
Lee: (Struck with utter disbelief, he could barely bring himself to speak.) …Incredible.
Airon: (It’s over…there’s no way he can escape now.)
Surely enough, Minto needn’t even press the switches on the Lashes’ hilts a second time, as Chan fell unconscious before he even had the chance. Checking this for himself, Baiko lifted his arm immediately to confirm the winner.
Baiko: The winner is…Minto Sarutobi!
The audience responded with tremendous applause for the match’s victor, despite prior doubts of the excitement the match would bring with it. Feeling caught up in the moment, Suzaku began clapping along with them as he smiled down at his student.
Suzaku: That a boy.
Ayumi: (She joined him briefly as she turned to their younger son, who was still leant over the back of the chair in front of him.) Aren’t you going to cheer for him, sweetie?
Having already been forewarned by his father, Raiden reluctantly held up his arms and began lazily clapping his hands together, leaving Ayumi disappointed but otherwise satisfied with his compliance. Chan’s biggest supporters, on the other hand, persisted with their bewilderment at Minto’s amazing reflexes, particularly Hitomi.
Hitomi: (I’ve never seen anyone move that fast before…at least not since…)
Recalling his time in the Forest of Death, he turned ever so slightly towards Manako, while his other teammates in the stands continued staring down in pity at Chan, who was being carried away by two medical-nin as Minto returned to the balcony via Nakama’s earthy walkway.
Miyuki: So close…I can’t believe Minto stopped him like that.
Lee could only nod in agreement, his disappointment with the match’s outcome visible in his expression, prompting Tenten to grab his hand in reassurance.
Tenten: Well, he did put his all into this match. Maybe the Kage were impressed enough with what they saw.
He turned towards her as she spoke, smiling after a moment. Above the stands, the Kage were indeed discussing the match, though things were hardly looking bright for Chan.
Konohamaru: Hmhm, I guess our feelings on Minto are unanimous…now comes the question of Chan.
Gaara: (He nodded along with the other Kage before sharing his thoughts, fumbling to find a reason to support Chan’s likelihood of becoming a chūnin.) His speed is highly impressive for a shinobi his age…and on top of this, he’s shown prowess in opening the Eight Gates not seen since his grandfather.
Darui: Yeah, but I don’t see much else goin’ for him other than that. Sorry, he’s a tough kid, but as far as becoming a chūnin goes, I’d say he still needs work.
Chōjūrō: I have to agree. I don’t think he showcased nearly enough skill in that match other than where just pure strength is concerned, which isn’t what these exams are all about.
Kurotsuchi: Well jeez, I’d hate to see him have to go through this entire exam again. He did show a lot of potential towards getting the promotion, here and in the preliminaries.
Konohamaru: …Well, it’s not a decision that needs to be made now. …We can at least wait until the first recess before we decide if any of the losers this round earned the new rank.
The others nodded before looking down at the arena floor. The entire stadium fell silent soon after as all eyes fell on Baiko, who was standing in the center of the arena ready to announce the final match of the first round. The only exceptions to this were those still standing in the contestants’ balcony, who were staring either at one of the two combatants or at the entrance to the corridors, where the other had disappeared just moments before the previous match ended.
Baiko: I need Z and Airon Namikaze to approach the arena!
Before the entire announcement had even left his lips, Airon came dashing back out onto the balcony, stepping onto the railing and leaping off, allowing himself to free fall through the air as everyone looked on in either amazement or nostalgic amusement.
Sakura: Just like his grandfather. Always showing off.
Sasuke: (He smirked and turned to the seasoned shinobi in question as he replied.) Except he doesn’t slip up nearly as often.
Naruto merely smirked in response as his eyes followed Airon down to the arena floor, where he performed several elaborate somersaults before landing gracefully on his feet. Standing back up, he slowly pulled back the hood of his shirt and opened his eyes, grinning over at Baiko as fire burned within them.
Airon: I’m all ready to go.
Minto moves on to Round Two, but does Z have what it takes to best the Chakra Wizard!!?
The End
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