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Alright, back with Irezumi and Manako*_* I’m pulling out all the stops with Irezumi this go around, so hopefully, I made his match with Manako as interesting as I possibly can. Really hope you enjoy it
Here’s my previous chapters, for those who missed any:
Chapter 067: Irezumi’s Collection
The announcement of the next match was hardly enough to erase the uncomfortable atmosphere left by Taigen’s outing, but with the names of the next two combatants in mind, most of the crowd’s murmurs fell silent. Nakama’s earth walkway reemerged from the ground soon after Baiko called for them, and the two wasted no time making use of it.
Airon: (Give ‘em a good show, won’tcha? …At least take their minds off this whole thing for the time being.)
Manako: (He smirked as he continued down towards the arena.) (When have you or I ever not put on a good show, Airon?)
Airon smiled in amusement at his retort as he and Irezumi stepped off the final pillar and walked towards the center of the stadium as the audience looked on. While many of them were excited to see these two face each other at long last, the thoughts of last match’s stressful conclusion were still fresh on their minds, the same going for the Kage overhead.
Konohamaru: I wonder if it’s fair to call this match the second round’s main spectacle now.
Kurotsuchi: I think that once it begins, most people will take their minds off the entire ordeal…forget it altogether, hopefully.
Darui: I can agree with that…these are definitely two of the most interesting genin still in this tournament.
Sabure: (She nodded in agreement, the whole time staring down at her preferred victor in admiration.) I think so, too…but I think the winner’s gonna be pretty obvious.
Gaara: (He glanced at her briefly before looking back down at the arena.) I wouldn’t be so quick to say that, Sabure. …Irezumi has shown incredible prowess with his technique so far. I doubt even Sasuke and Naruto would deny his chances of victory are higher than they would like them.
Sasuke: Hmhm, you think too highly of us, Gaara…but yes, I will admit Irezumi may give Manako more trouble than even your granddaughter did.
While Gaara and both his grandchildren looked over at him with varying levels of frustration, Sasuke exchanged amused expressions with Naruto before looking back down at Manako.
Naruto: Well, Irezumi is pretty strong, Sasuke.
Sasuke: Hmph, but not strong enough. …You’re not suddenly losing faith in our grandson, are you?
Naruto: Of course not…wait, OUR grandson? What the hell are you implying?
Sasuke: Oh, shut up, idiot. You know what I mean.
Naruto: Hey, you’re the one who-
Their scuffle came to an abrupt halt, once again courtesy of two swift blows to the backs of their heads from Sakura’s fists, while down below, Sai expressed similar doubts to his family and students sitting near him.
Sai: The Kage are sure to recognize his prowess once this tournament is over.
Ino: (He looked up at him in minor confusion and annoyance.) You say that like he’s about to be eliminated.
Inojin: Well, more than likely he is, mother. It’s the unfortunate truth.
Ino: (She swiftly turned to face him, her irritation now more visible than before.) Really? Not an ounce of hope from either of you?
Kenji: (He lifted his head to get a better view of the match, but left his arms crossed on top of the seat in front of him.) Sorry, Miss Ino. That’s Manako down there with him, so not much he can do in the end.
Ide: Hmhmhm, sadly, yes. All we can do is hope he puts forth the best effort he possibly can.
Ino: (She leaned back and slammed her hand against her forehead, heaving a deep sigh before standing up out of her seat.) (Ridiculous. Faithless, all of them.) Come on, Irezumi! You can do it!!
Irezumi acknowledged his grandmother’s cheers with a small wave of his hand before turning back towards his opponent with a smirk, undoing the bandages around his forearms and legs as he spoke.
Irezumi: I’m gonna have to cancel your match-up this year, Manako. Sorry to say it, but I intend on fighting Airon in the semi-finals…and I’m not gonna let you get in my way.
Manako: (As Irezumi finished and let his bandages fall to reveal his tattoos, he smirked in amusement and rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.) …I don’t doubt that you’ll try.
Baiko: Alright…if both of you are ready…begin.
Still not finished presenting his arsenal, Irezumi slowly unzipped his overcoat and pulled back his hood, revealing his bald head as the coat fell to his feet. Nearly every inch of his body not concealed by his gray shorts was covered in tattoos of all sizes and shapes, from inanimate objects like weapons and flames to animals ranging from insects to large carnivores, arguably the most prominent of which was the large scaly creature that coiled around his legs, arms and back, its head resting on the back of his own. The audience could only stare in amazement as they either attempted to count them all or gave up any chance of doing so, and Sai looked around at them in amusement before smiling back down at his grandson.
Sai: (There it is…now show them the full range of your artistic talent, Irezumi.)
Airon: (Having been waiting some time for Irezumi to make this display, he grinned as he looked down at Manako.) (You ready to take on his entire collection, cuz?)
Manako: (He smirked up at him once again.) (Again doubting me, Airon? How many times do I have to reaffirm our rivalry?)
His seriousness taking over, Manako unsheathed his sword and held it out in front of him, choosing to wait for Irezumi to make the first move. He wasted little time doing so, forming his standard hand sign calling out the title of his first tattoo.
Irezumi: Ninja Art: Super Beasts Tattoo! Angel Wings!
Manako: ( Watching as he sprouted wings from his back and took off, he lowered his sword as another tactic entered his mind.) (Taking to the skies right away…smart, but hardly a foolproof tactic.)
He held up his hand and flexed his fingers inwards as he began focusing his chakra, which slowly became visible. Once he’d produced a Chidori, he compressed into a long beam that stretched a fair distance into the air before waving it around in order to hit Irezumi, who dodged it with ease as he drifted through the skies. The audience watched silently in awe as this played out, the balanced nature of the match prompting Boruto to turn to his rival with a smile.
Boruto: Seems pretty even right now.
Itachi: It would to most people, but the Chidori is second nature to Manako by this point, so Irezumi’s not that far ahead in chakra reserves…and what are his chances of landing a hit on Manako, anyways?
Boruto: (He chuckled softly under his breath, though his smile quickly vanished as another thought entered his mind.) True…you think he’ll use the Mangekyō Sharingan this time?
Itachi: (Having been thinking the same thing, he closed his eyes momentarily before reopening them and replying.) He’ll try his best to avoid it…but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t possible.
Down below, with his previous tactic wearing thin, Manako dispersed his Chidori, prompting Irezumi to stop several yards up in the air and call upon another tattoo to counterattack.
Irezumi: Super Beasts Tattoo! Kunai Discharge!
Manako: (Having been expecting this, he smiled up at his opponent as he held one hand up to his mouth in a partial seal.) Water Style: Raging Waves!
The makeshift kunai launched by Irezumi were quickly engulfed by a torrent of water, completely dissolving them as he flew out of the way to avoid his wings sharing the same fate, much to Airon’s amusement some distance away.
Airon: (Hmhm, not so permanent, are they?)
Irezumi: (He stared off in his direction in mild irritation.) (Don’t get too ahead of yourself, Airon…this isn’t over yet.)
He took off towards the other end of the stadium and flew back, slowly descending and picking up speed along the way as he formed another hand sign.
Irezumi: Super Beasts Tattoo! Roller Blades! Protruding Blades!
By the time, he touched down to the ground once again, the makeshift wheels had already emerged beneath his feet, prompting him to take off at high speed as his blades sprouting from his forearms. His sword already at the ready, Manako met his attack head-on, only for Irezumi to speed past him after their blades collided, circling and trying once again. Although his speed picked up every way he went by, Manako continued to fend off each slash of his swords with ease, something Airon picked up on and notified Irezumi of.
Airon: (Hmhmhmhm, you might wanna try something else, Irezumi. He gives ME a hard time with swords, remember?)
Choosing not to listen, Irezumi circled Manako a few times, piling on as much speed as possible before cutting across with his blades at the ready. As he lashed out at him, though, Manako quickly ducked at the last moment with his sword held out beside him surging with lightning-enhanced, cutting through his wheels and sending him rolling across the ground. He quickly returned to his feet as the remnants of his techniques dissolved and color returned to the tattoos they sprang from, finding Manako already standing there with his sword held out in his direction.
Irezumi: (Fine. Have it your way.) Super Beasts Tattoo!! Wolf Pack! Bear Sloth! Snake Pit!
After forming another hand sign, three tattoos across his body began to glow before springing to life and circling Manako, leaving him surrounded by wolves, bears and serpents of various lengths and sizes.
Manako: (He’s using three tattoos at once. …You insult me, Irezumi.)
His sword at the ready, he quickly dodged the first few swipes of claws or lashes of teeth that came his way as the horde closed in him, washing those that remained away with a powerful water technique once he had found his way out of the crowd. Amazed by his minimalistic approach to his counterattack, Irezumi gritted his teeth and formed another hand sign.
Irezumi: Hawk Kettle! Wasp Nest!
Two more tattoos on his back began glowing before sending swarms of birds and insects Manako’s way, the former circling through the air around him while the latter closed in first. Despite their small size and abundance, however, Manako managed to dispatch them all with several quick swipes of his sword before forming a hand sign.
Manako: Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!!
The flames quickly engulfed a handful of hawks before, like traveling across a wire, they carried over to those in close proximity and then to those closest to them, continuing this process until all the birds had been disintegrated while both Irezumi and the audience looked on in disbelief. When it was all said and done, Manako turned to his opponent with a confident smile, prompting the latter to grit his teeth once again.
Manako: You need something larger than that if you’re hoping to defeat me, Irezumi.
Irezumi: (Now infuriated, he formed a hand sign as a large tattoo at the center of his back began to glow blue.) Then here! Super Beasts Tattoo! Massive Stampede!!
Like those before it, the tattoo sprang to life, bringing with it a massive collection of giant animals, among them elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes and wildebeests. They consumed a large portion of the enormous arena, forcing Baiko to leap back and away as they circled Manako, who held his ground as they surround him on every side, seemingly awaiting their master’s call. Those in the stands stared down at the arena in silence, amazed by the scope of the tattoo, the Kage included.
Kurotsuchi: All that from one technique…this boy is simply amazing.
Gaara: (He nodded in agreement before looking over at the genin’s grandfathers.) This match-up seems more even than I first expected. …I’m worried your grandson may eventually become overwhelmed, Sasuke.
Sasuke and Naruto merely smirked at this as Manako formed another hand sign, its familiar shape prompting the latter to grin.
Manako: Shadow Clone Jutsu!!
He was instantly surrounded by a dozen clones, who pulled out their respective swords before rushing into the crowd of massive animals. By the time all of them were diminished, not a single one was lost in the midst of the battle, prompting Sasuke to look back at a stunned Gaara with a smirk while Naruto held his hand up to his mouth to call out to Manako.
Sasuke: Now, what did you say seemed more even than you first expected, Gaara?
Naruto: KEEP IT UP, MANAKO!!! YOU’RE REALLY GETTING TO HIM NOW!!!
Manako couldn’t help but smile up at him before turning back to his opponent, whose expression hinted at feelings of defeat after witnessing the complete devastation of his second-most powerful tattoo.
Manako: Why are you still beating around the bush, Irezumi? …You know what I’m waiting for.
Irezumi’s slightly gaping mouth closed after hearing this. Whatever Manako was referring to, he clearly wasn’t keen on using it, but after several seconds, he closed his eyes momentarily in frustration as he formed yet another hand sign.
Irezumi: I was hoping I wouldn’t have to use it so early on…but if you’re so keen on losing this match, Manako…
As he began focusing his chakra, the large tattoo that coiled around his limbs and torso began glowing blue, prompting Manako to smile and nearly every person in the stands to lean forward slightly in anticipation. The Kage overhead and his peers in the balcony were no different.
Inase: (Is he finally bringing it out?)
Airon: (He nodded as he stared down at Irezumi with a wicked grin.) (It’s show time…I hope he still has enough chakra to make it count.)
Irezumi: Ninja Art: Super Beasts Tattoo! …Great Lizard!!
The entire stadium fell uncomfortably silent upon hearing this rather nonthreatening title, but just moments later, their attention was captured once again as a ring of chakra exploded around Irezumi, and the tattoo finally came to life. It was by no means a lizard, though, but as it continued to grow larger and larger more than a minute after being summoned, one certainly couldn’t argue with its greatness. When it finally stopped, it had grown to be well over a hundred feet long and its body wider than Irezumi was tall, to the point that when he leapt on top of it, its head had completely dwarfed him. The audience could only stare at it in wonder at its size and beauty, even those familiar with Irezumi and this particular tattoo.
Kenji: Whooaaa…
Ino: I’ve never actually seen him use it in combat. …It’s incredible.
Inojin: (Being one of the few who had, he smiled as he leaned forward in his seat.) Hmhm, then just wait until you see what it can do, Mom.
Sai: (He smiled down at his grandson as he scanned his enormous creation, his eyes filled with genuine amazement.) (It awes me every time you use it, Irezumi. …You truly are an artistic genius.)
As he finished his thought, Irezumi clasped his hands together and pressed them against the creature’s scalp as it lifted its head and sent a sea of flames pouring out across the arena, narrowly missing their target as per Irezumi’s intentions. Baiko having already retreated to the stands to proctor the match from a safe distance, Manako continued to hold his position amongst the inferno. He bore no semblance of fear or distress on his face as he looked up at the enormous beast, but even he couldn’t hide the single drop of sweat running down the side of his face, nor could he trick his grinning opponent into thinking it was a product of the heat.
Irezumi: This is what you asked for, Manako!! …NOW REAP WHAT YOU SOW!!!
Manako continues to stand his ground, but will his luck hold out against Irezumi’s most powerful tattoo!!?
The End
Here’s my previous chapters, for those who missed any:
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Chapter 067: Irezumi’s Collection
The announcement of the next match was hardly enough to erase the uncomfortable atmosphere left by Taigen’s outing, but with the names of the next two combatants in mind, most of the crowd’s murmurs fell silent. Nakama’s earth walkway reemerged from the ground soon after Baiko called for them, and the two wasted no time making use of it.
Airon: (Give ‘em a good show, won’tcha? …At least take their minds off this whole thing for the time being.)
Manako: (He smirked as he continued down towards the arena.) (When have you or I ever not put on a good show, Airon?)
Airon smiled in amusement at his retort as he and Irezumi stepped off the final pillar and walked towards the center of the stadium as the audience looked on. While many of them were excited to see these two face each other at long last, the thoughts of last match’s stressful conclusion were still fresh on their minds, the same going for the Kage overhead.
Konohamaru: I wonder if it’s fair to call this match the second round’s main spectacle now.
Kurotsuchi: I think that once it begins, most people will take their minds off the entire ordeal…forget it altogether, hopefully.
Darui: I can agree with that…these are definitely two of the most interesting genin still in this tournament.
Sabure: (She nodded in agreement, the whole time staring down at her preferred victor in admiration.) I think so, too…but I think the winner’s gonna be pretty obvious.
Gaara: (He glanced at her briefly before looking back down at the arena.) I wouldn’t be so quick to say that, Sabure. …Irezumi has shown incredible prowess with his technique so far. I doubt even Sasuke and Naruto would deny his chances of victory are higher than they would like them.
Sasuke: Hmhm, you think too highly of us, Gaara…but yes, I will admit Irezumi may give Manako more trouble than even your granddaughter did.
While Gaara and both his grandchildren looked over at him with varying levels of frustration, Sasuke exchanged amused expressions with Naruto before looking back down at Manako.
Naruto: Well, Irezumi is pretty strong, Sasuke.
Sasuke: Hmph, but not strong enough. …You’re not suddenly losing faith in our grandson, are you?
Naruto: Of course not…wait, OUR grandson? What the hell are you implying?
Sasuke: Oh, shut up, idiot. You know what I mean.
Naruto: Hey, you’re the one who-
Their scuffle came to an abrupt halt, once again courtesy of two swift blows to the backs of their heads from Sakura’s fists, while down below, Sai expressed similar doubts to his family and students sitting near him.
Sai: The Kage are sure to recognize his prowess once this tournament is over.
Ino: (He looked up at him in minor confusion and annoyance.) You say that like he’s about to be eliminated.
Inojin: Well, more than likely he is, mother. It’s the unfortunate truth.
Ino: (She swiftly turned to face him, her irritation now more visible than before.) Really? Not an ounce of hope from either of you?
Kenji: (He lifted his head to get a better view of the match, but left his arms crossed on top of the seat in front of him.) Sorry, Miss Ino. That’s Manako down there with him, so not much he can do in the end.
Ide: Hmhmhm, sadly, yes. All we can do is hope he puts forth the best effort he possibly can.
Ino: (She leaned back and slammed her hand against her forehead, heaving a deep sigh before standing up out of her seat.) (Ridiculous. Faithless, all of them.) Come on, Irezumi! You can do it!!
Irezumi acknowledged his grandmother’s cheers with a small wave of his hand before turning back towards his opponent with a smirk, undoing the bandages around his forearms and legs as he spoke.
Irezumi: I’m gonna have to cancel your match-up this year, Manako. Sorry to say it, but I intend on fighting Airon in the semi-finals…and I’m not gonna let you get in my way.
Manako: (As Irezumi finished and let his bandages fall to reveal his tattoos, he smirked in amusement and rested his hand on the hilt of his sword.) …I don’t doubt that you’ll try.
Baiko: Alright…if both of you are ready…begin.
Still not finished presenting his arsenal, Irezumi slowly unzipped his overcoat and pulled back his hood, revealing his bald head as the coat fell to his feet. Nearly every inch of his body not concealed by his gray shorts was covered in tattoos of all sizes and shapes, from inanimate objects like weapons and flames to animals ranging from insects to large carnivores, arguably the most prominent of which was the large scaly creature that coiled around his legs, arms and back, its head resting on the back of his own. The audience could only stare in amazement as they either attempted to count them all or gave up any chance of doing so, and Sai looked around at them in amusement before smiling back down at his grandson.
Sai: (There it is…now show them the full range of your artistic talent, Irezumi.)
Airon: (Having been waiting some time for Irezumi to make this display, he grinned as he looked down at Manako.) (You ready to take on his entire collection, cuz?)
Manako: (He smirked up at him once again.) (Again doubting me, Airon? How many times do I have to reaffirm our rivalry?)
His seriousness taking over, Manako unsheathed his sword and held it out in front of him, choosing to wait for Irezumi to make the first move. He wasted little time doing so, forming his standard hand sign calling out the title of his first tattoo.
Irezumi: Ninja Art: Super Beasts Tattoo! Angel Wings!
Manako: ( Watching as he sprouted wings from his back and took off, he lowered his sword as another tactic entered his mind.) (Taking to the skies right away…smart, but hardly a foolproof tactic.)
He held up his hand and flexed his fingers inwards as he began focusing his chakra, which slowly became visible. Once he’d produced a Chidori, he compressed into a long beam that stretched a fair distance into the air before waving it around in order to hit Irezumi, who dodged it with ease as he drifted through the skies. The audience watched silently in awe as this played out, the balanced nature of the match prompting Boruto to turn to his rival with a smile.
Boruto: Seems pretty even right now.
Itachi: It would to most people, but the Chidori is second nature to Manako by this point, so Irezumi’s not that far ahead in chakra reserves…and what are his chances of landing a hit on Manako, anyways?
Boruto: (He chuckled softly under his breath, though his smile quickly vanished as another thought entered his mind.) True…you think he’ll use the Mangekyō Sharingan this time?
Itachi: (Having been thinking the same thing, he closed his eyes momentarily before reopening them and replying.) He’ll try his best to avoid it…but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t possible.
Down below, with his previous tactic wearing thin, Manako dispersed his Chidori, prompting Irezumi to stop several yards up in the air and call upon another tattoo to counterattack.
Irezumi: Super Beasts Tattoo! Kunai Discharge!
Manako: (Having been expecting this, he smiled up at his opponent as he held one hand up to his mouth in a partial seal.) Water Style: Raging Waves!
The makeshift kunai launched by Irezumi were quickly engulfed by a torrent of water, completely dissolving them as he flew out of the way to avoid his wings sharing the same fate, much to Airon’s amusement some distance away.
Airon: (Hmhm, not so permanent, are they?)
Irezumi: (He stared off in his direction in mild irritation.) (Don’t get too ahead of yourself, Airon…this isn’t over yet.)
He took off towards the other end of the stadium and flew back, slowly descending and picking up speed along the way as he formed another hand sign.
Irezumi: Super Beasts Tattoo! Roller Blades! Protruding Blades!
By the time, he touched down to the ground once again, the makeshift wheels had already emerged beneath his feet, prompting him to take off at high speed as his blades sprouting from his forearms. His sword already at the ready, Manako met his attack head-on, only for Irezumi to speed past him after their blades collided, circling and trying once again. Although his speed picked up every way he went by, Manako continued to fend off each slash of his swords with ease, something Airon picked up on and notified Irezumi of.
Airon: (Hmhmhmhm, you might wanna try something else, Irezumi. He gives ME a hard time with swords, remember?)
Choosing not to listen, Irezumi circled Manako a few times, piling on as much speed as possible before cutting across with his blades at the ready. As he lashed out at him, though, Manako quickly ducked at the last moment with his sword held out beside him surging with lightning-enhanced, cutting through his wheels and sending him rolling across the ground. He quickly returned to his feet as the remnants of his techniques dissolved and color returned to the tattoos they sprang from, finding Manako already standing there with his sword held out in his direction.
Irezumi: (Fine. Have it your way.) Super Beasts Tattoo!! Wolf Pack! Bear Sloth! Snake Pit!
After forming another hand sign, three tattoos across his body began to glow before springing to life and circling Manako, leaving him surrounded by wolves, bears and serpents of various lengths and sizes.
Manako: (He’s using three tattoos at once. …You insult me, Irezumi.)
His sword at the ready, he quickly dodged the first few swipes of claws or lashes of teeth that came his way as the horde closed in him, washing those that remained away with a powerful water technique once he had found his way out of the crowd. Amazed by his minimalistic approach to his counterattack, Irezumi gritted his teeth and formed another hand sign.
Irezumi: Hawk Kettle! Wasp Nest!
Two more tattoos on his back began glowing before sending swarms of birds and insects Manako’s way, the former circling through the air around him while the latter closed in first. Despite their small size and abundance, however, Manako managed to dispatch them all with several quick swipes of his sword before forming a hand sign.
Manako: Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!!
The flames quickly engulfed a handful of hawks before, like traveling across a wire, they carried over to those in close proximity and then to those closest to them, continuing this process until all the birds had been disintegrated while both Irezumi and the audience looked on in disbelief. When it was all said and done, Manako turned to his opponent with a confident smile, prompting the latter to grit his teeth once again.
Manako: You need something larger than that if you’re hoping to defeat me, Irezumi.
Irezumi: (Now infuriated, he formed a hand sign as a large tattoo at the center of his back began to glow blue.) Then here! Super Beasts Tattoo! Massive Stampede!!
Like those before it, the tattoo sprang to life, bringing with it a massive collection of giant animals, among them elephants, rhinoceroses, giraffes and wildebeests. They consumed a large portion of the enormous arena, forcing Baiko to leap back and away as they circled Manako, who held his ground as they surround him on every side, seemingly awaiting their master’s call. Those in the stands stared down at the arena in silence, amazed by the scope of the tattoo, the Kage included.
Kurotsuchi: All that from one technique…this boy is simply amazing.
Gaara: (He nodded in agreement before looking over at the genin’s grandfathers.) This match-up seems more even than I first expected. …I’m worried your grandson may eventually become overwhelmed, Sasuke.
Sasuke and Naruto merely smirked at this as Manako formed another hand sign, its familiar shape prompting the latter to grin.
Manako: Shadow Clone Jutsu!!
He was instantly surrounded by a dozen clones, who pulled out their respective swords before rushing into the crowd of massive animals. By the time all of them were diminished, not a single one was lost in the midst of the battle, prompting Sasuke to look back at a stunned Gaara with a smirk while Naruto held his hand up to his mouth to call out to Manako.
Sasuke: Now, what did you say seemed more even than you first expected, Gaara?
Naruto: KEEP IT UP, MANAKO!!! YOU’RE REALLY GETTING TO HIM NOW!!!
Manako couldn’t help but smile up at him before turning back to his opponent, whose expression hinted at feelings of defeat after witnessing the complete devastation of his second-most powerful tattoo.
Manako: Why are you still beating around the bush, Irezumi? …You know what I’m waiting for.
Irezumi’s slightly gaping mouth closed after hearing this. Whatever Manako was referring to, he clearly wasn’t keen on using it, but after several seconds, he closed his eyes momentarily in frustration as he formed yet another hand sign.
Irezumi: I was hoping I wouldn’t have to use it so early on…but if you’re so keen on losing this match, Manako…
As he began focusing his chakra, the large tattoo that coiled around his limbs and torso began glowing blue, prompting Manako to smile and nearly every person in the stands to lean forward slightly in anticipation. The Kage overhead and his peers in the balcony were no different.
Inase: (Is he finally bringing it out?)
Airon: (He nodded as he stared down at Irezumi with a wicked grin.) (It’s show time…I hope he still has enough chakra to make it count.)
Irezumi: Ninja Art: Super Beasts Tattoo! …Great Lizard!!
The entire stadium fell uncomfortably silent upon hearing this rather nonthreatening title, but just moments later, their attention was captured once again as a ring of chakra exploded around Irezumi, and the tattoo finally came to life. It was by no means a lizard, though, but as it continued to grow larger and larger more than a minute after being summoned, one certainly couldn’t argue with its greatness. When it finally stopped, it had grown to be well over a hundred feet long and its body wider than Irezumi was tall, to the point that when he leapt on top of it, its head had completely dwarfed him. The audience could only stare at it in wonder at its size and beauty, even those familiar with Irezumi and this particular tattoo.
Kenji: Whooaaa…
Ino: I’ve never actually seen him use it in combat. …It’s incredible.
Inojin: (Being one of the few who had, he smiled as he leaned forward in his seat.) Hmhm, then just wait until you see what it can do, Mom.
Sai: (He smiled down at his grandson as he scanned his enormous creation, his eyes filled with genuine amazement.) (It awes me every time you use it, Irezumi. …You truly are an artistic genius.)
As he finished his thought, Irezumi clasped his hands together and pressed them against the creature’s scalp as it lifted its head and sent a sea of flames pouring out across the arena, narrowly missing their target as per Irezumi’s intentions. Baiko having already retreated to the stands to proctor the match from a safe distance, Manako continued to hold his position amongst the inferno. He bore no semblance of fear or distress on his face as he looked up at the enormous beast, but even he couldn’t hide the single drop of sweat running down the side of his face, nor could he trick his grinning opponent into thinking it was a product of the heat.
Irezumi: This is what you asked for, Manako!! …NOW REAP WHAT YOU SOW!!!
Manako continues to stand his ground, but will his luck hold out against Irezumi’s most powerful tattoo!!?
The End
