"Everyone, get ready to warm up. Draw lots in order," Zixu said, rubbing his hands together as he pulled out a bundle of tightly wrapped wooden slips.
"Neji, using the Byakugan at this time is cheating. You pick last."
Caught red-handed, Neji sighed. He was exhausted and had planned to lose on purpose just to get some rest.
"Don't look so defeated. We're awarding prizes based on our rankings in this internal competition. Or if you have a request, I'll try my best to fulfill it. Maybe even a day off, who knows?"
Zixu's words struck a chord with Neji. His dark circles and sluggish demeanor quickly vanished as a fire ignited in his eyes.
"I can't lose now!"
Zixu nodded approvingly. "That's the spirit! Full of energy—just as young shinobi should be!"
Seeing this, Karin and the others felt motivated. This was a battle they had to win.
Haku, standing at the side, gripped the hilt of his Hyōzangetsu (Ice Moon Blade) tightly. These people were strong. Was he truly capable of keeping up with them?
Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro remained unfazed, as if used to these intense moments. However, Kankuro's mind was elsewhere.
"The weapon module on my puppet still lacks some powerful close-range firearms. It takes forever to save up enough money to upgrade it. If we win this competition..."
His subtle hint was enough. Gaara and Temari, who had initially been indifferent, were now fully invested in securing victory for their team.
One by one, everyone picked a lot from Zixu's hand. The matchups were set.
First Match: Karin vs. Temari.
Second Match: Aburame Hatsuizumi vs. Hyuga Chinano.
Third Match: Neji vs. Gaara.
Fourth Match: Haku vs. Kankuro.
"A medical-nin? Looks like I got lucky," Temari smirked.
"Tch, fighting Chinano again. Heh, I won't lose this time!" Hatsuizumi cracked her knuckles.
"Absolute defense... Can the Gentle Fist break through it?" Neji muttered, analyzing his match.
"A puppeteer? I wonder how different he is from the others..." Haku mused, watching Kankuro.
With various thoughts running through their minds, they stepped aside, leaving the battlefield to Karin and Temari.
Zixu gestured for them to prepare. He was curious about their strength. Karin had always specialized in medical ninjutsu, making her offensive capabilities limited. Temari, on the other hand, had spent years honing her Wind Release techniques and was undoubtedly a formidable opponent.
"A duel between spear and shield? Interesting. Begin!" Zixu declared with a smirk.
The moment the words left his mouth, the battle erupted.
Karin instinctively took a defensive stance, leaning back slightly as chakra flared between her fingers. She merged with the natural energy around her, clasping her hands together in a unique seal.
The air distorted as an invisible force solidified in front of her, forming a transparent barrier. Even dust particles hung motionless, suspended in midair like frozen crystal.
Temari's sharp eyes quickly assessed Karin's technique. She raised her hand, forming a claw-like shape before slashing downward. A barrage of tiny wind blades shot forth, spinning toward Karin's side.
Sensing the sudden shift in energy, Karin moved to block. However, her reflexes were slower than the near-invisible wind blades.
Clang!
Karin barely managed to withstand the attack using an Iron Block (Tekkai) technique. Her body trembled slightly from the impact, but she remained standing.
"Too slow."
Temari had already found Karin's weakness—her lack of agility. A strong defense meant nothing if she couldn't counterattack. The best defense was offense, and as long as she dictated the pace, victory was assured.
The wind blades came faster and faster, their frequency increasing. Karin's body accumulated shallow cuts and bruises.
Temari glanced at Zixu, expecting him to call the match, but he shook his head. Karin hadn't surrendered yet. The battle continued.
Realizing her strategy wasn't working, Karin abandoned defense altogether. She concentrated her chakra, and two golden chains emerged from her back—her Adamantine Sealing Chains (Kongō Fūsa).
Attaching her chakra to them, she attempted to ensnare Temari. But Temari had already controlled the airflow, making her movements swift and unpredictable, like a gust of wind.
Karin closed her eyes, activating Kagura Shingan (Mind's Eye of the Kagura) to track Temari's movements. With precise control, she launched her chains, blocking off escape routes and trapping Temari inside a barrier of compressed air.
Temari gritted her teeth. "Tch... When did she set this up?"
Her retreat routes were sealed.
By the time she realized, the golden chains had already wrapped around her.
"...So your clumsiness earlier was just an act?" Temari exhaled before nodding in acknowledgment. "I lost."
"In the first match, Karin wins!" Zixu announced.
"Thank you." Karin released Temari, and the two shook hands in a show of respect.
"The second match—Aburame Hatsuizumi vs. Hyuga Chinano! Prepare yourselves!"
Since Karin and Temari's battle hadn't caused much destruction, the next match could begin immediately.
"You almost had her, sis," Kankuro said as Temari left the field. "You did well."
Temari shrugged. "It's up to you now."
Hatsuizumi stretched, loosening her muscles, while Chinano cracked her knuckles, the sound echoing in the arena.
The two had been rivals since their days at the Academy. They had fought countless times, with Chinano winning the majority.
Hatsuizumi had trained relentlessly for this moment. Today, she would win.
"This time, I'll take you down," Hatsuizumi smirked, waving at Chinano.
Chinano returned the gesture, beckoning her forward. "Come at me."
"Alright then. Begin!"
The moment Zixu gave the signal, both of them shot forward simultaneously, moving in perfect sync. Their speed blurred their figures, creating the illusion of two identical shadows clashing at once.
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