Jogendra's POV:
Twilight draped the arena in deep purple and gray, the sun a memory below the horizon as the Fire Country Annual Youth Ninja Competition burned on. My victory over Ryu Sarutobi still echoed through the stands, the crowd's cheers a fading rumble like a storm rolling out to sea. I stood among the Uchiha contingent, arms crossed, my mind buzzing like a Hyderabad office on audit day—analyzing, strategizing, anticipating. My Father Madara flanked me, his stoic presence a pillar of steel, his earlier nod a quiet stamp of approval. My Uncle Izuna lounged nearby, tossing a kunai between his hands, grinning like he'd just won a bet. "You and that elephant—gave the Senju a heart attack," he quipped. I smirked. "Good. Keeps them on their toes."
My Grandfather Tajima had slipped back to the inn to confer with the elders, leaving us to hold the line. Zōnotatakai's bombshell about Zoshima rejecting the Senju and Uzumaki founders hung heavy—the Senju sat stiff, Hashirama's fists clenched, Tobirama's glare sharp, Butsuma's scowl dark as coal. The Uzumaki muttered among themselves, their usual fire dimmed by the sting of history. My eyes flicked to the Daimyō's overhang—Black Zetsu lurked there, a shadow among shadows, his late arrival and trembling reaction to Zoshima's tale gnawing at me. What was he after? My gut—honed by years of bureaucratic instincts—whispered trouble.
The host's voice boomed, snapping me back. "Ladies and gentlemen, the ninth match is here!" The crowd hushed, tension coiling tight. "On the green side, from the enigmatic Hyūga clan—Nejiko Hyūga!"
Nejiko stepped forward, her braid swaying, lavender Byakugan eyes glowing faintly. Her calm was a mask for the Gentle Fist's lethal precision—I'd seen Kai wield it in Chapter 10, and she promised more. "And on the red side, from the fierce Inuzuka clan—Kiba Inuzuka!"
Kiba bounded in, feral grin wide, brown hair spiking wild, red fang tattoos glinting. Akamaru, his massive white wolf, growled beside him—a primal duo like Sanji from Chapter 11. The host's hand fell. "Begin!"
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#### The Ninth Match: Nejiko Hyūga vs. Kiba Inuzuka
The fight exploded into motion. Kiba and Akamaru charged, synced like a single beast. "Fang Over Fang!" Kiba roared, spinning into a chakra-wreathed drill. Nejiko's Byakugan flared, veins bulging, and she sidestepped with eerie grace. "Gentle Fist: Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!" Her hands blurred, striking chakra points—Kiba grunted, momentum faltering, Akamaru yelping as he tumbled.
Kiba skidded back, shaking off the numbness. "Not bad, princess! Let's crank it up!" Seals flashed. "Beast Human Clone!" Akamaru morphed into Kiba's double, and they lunged with "Fang Wolf Fang!"—a tornado of claws and teeth tearing up the floor. Nejiko spun, voice steady. "Eight Trigrams Palms Revolving Heaven!" A chakra dome erupted, deflecting the assault, sending them crashing into the walls. Dust clouded the air, and I smirked—Hyūga defense was a fortress.
Kiba rose, wiping blood from his lip, grin intact. "Akamaru, full throttle!" He tossed a food pill—Akamaru swelled, fur bristling with chakra. "Man Beast Ultimate Taijutsu: Three-Headed Wolf!" They merged, a monstrous three-headed beast snapping forward. Nejiko shifted, hands glowing. "Gentle Fist Art: One Blow Body!" A shockwave blasted out, hitting the beast mid-charge. It howled, splitting apart—Kiba and Akamaru sprawled, dazed.
Kiba staggered up, panting. "Damn… tough cookie." Nejiko advanced, palm hovering over his chest. He chuckled, raising a hand. "I'm out."
The host raised an arm. "Winner: Nejiko Hyūga!"
Cheers erupted, though the Inuzuka howled protests. Kiba and Akamaru limped off, trading nods with Nejiko. I filed it away—her taijutsu could challenge my Rokushiki. A worthy foe.
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#### The Tenth Match Announcement
The host's voice rang again. "Now, the tenth match!" My pulse ticked up—each fight narrowed the field, bringing me closer to the endgame.
"On the green side, from the noble Aburame clan—Shino Aburame!"
Shino stepped up, coat high, sunglasses dark, an unsettling calm radiating from him. His kikaichū had nearly beaten Ryu in Chapter 11—a silent swarm I'd need to counter. "And on the red side, from the cunning Kurama clan—Kobby Kurama!"
Kobby sauntered in, sly grin sharp, dark hair messy. His genjutsu had crushed Sanji in Chapter 11—mind games I could break with Haki. "Begin!"
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#### The Tenth Match: Shino Aburame vs. Kobby Kurama
Silence reigned at first. Shino extended his arms, a hum rising as kikaichū poured forth, a black tide rushing Kobby. The Kurama smirked, seals flashing. "Genjutsu: Nightmare Veil!" The arena shimmered—shadows swallowed the bugs, a trick to the eye. Shino tilted his head. "Illusions don't faze them." His bugs pressed on, homing in on Kobby's chakra, grazing his arm.
Kobby hissed, leaping back. "Tch." Shino raised a hand. "Insect Jamming Technique!" The bugs scattered, flooding the air with false signals—Kobby's genjutsu flickered. He scowled, seals snapping. "Genjutsu: Phantom Blades!" Spectral kunai slashed toward Shino, who stood still—his bugs formed a "Parasitic Insect Wall," eating the illusion.
Kobby darted aside, hands blurring. "Kurama Secret Technique: Reality Collapse!" The ground split, illusory spikes erupting. Shino's voice cut through. "Insect Sphere." His kikaichū ballooned outward, enveloping Kobby in a buzzing dome. The genjutsu shattered, chakra draining—Kobby dropped, waving a hand. "I'm done."
The host declared, "Winner: Shino Aburame!"
Cheers rose, tinged with unease—Shino's quiet dominance chilled the air. I nodded—his bugs could counter illusions, but my Haki would see through them.
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#### Intermission and Reflections
The host called an intermission before the quarter-finals, the crowd scattering to speculate. I slipped to a quiet corner near the Uchiha section, breathing deep. The matches so far—Soifon's Wood Style fusion (Chapter 13), Nejiko's precision, Shino's swarm, my win over Ryu with Zōnotatakai (Chapter 13)—painted a battlefield of bloodlines and brilliance. The finals loomed, a forge for legends.
Black Zetsu nagged at me. His late arrival, his shock at Soifon and Zoshima's history—he was tracking something. Me? The Uchiha's rise? My old bureaucratic mind kicked in—gather intel, assess risks, plan ahead. He was a shadow I'd need to light up.
My Father Madara approached, voice low. "You've done well, Jogendra. The finals will demand more—your will, not just your strength."
I met his gaze, Sharingan flaring. "I'm ready."
My Uncle Izuna joined, tossing his kunai. "Hope the next guy's got more than monkey tricks. You made Ryu look like a warm-up."
I smirked. "Efficiency's my game."
My Father Madara's lips twitched—rare humor. "Indeed."
The intermission ended, the host returning. "We now enter the quarter-finals! Eight remain—first match, set!"
The crowd roared. I stepped forward, blood thrumming.
"On the green side, from the legendary Uchiha clan—Jogendra Uchiha!"
Cheers surged as I entered, crimson eyes blazing, tunic rippling. "And on the red side, from the esteemed Senju clan—Soifon Senju!"
Soifon emerged, serene yet fierce, emerald eyes locking onto mine, red-streaked hair glinting. The crowd hushed—Uchiha vs. Senju, a clash reborn. "Begin!"
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#### Quarter-Finals: Jogendra Uchiha vs. Soifon Senju
Soifon struck, seals blazing. "Wood Style: Deep Forest Emergence!" Roots erupted, spiraling toward me. I vanished with *Soru*, reappearing mid-air via *Geppo*, Sharingan tracking her. "Flame Master: Neo Flames!" Neo-green flames poured forth, halting the roots—growth stilled by healing fire. The crowd gasped—a paradox in action.
Soifon's eyes narrowed, hands weaving. "Water Style: Raging Waves!" A torrent roared—I countered with "Frozen Flame of the Flame Master!" Icy-blue flames froze the water into shards, shattering on impact. "Fast," I muttered, landing. She clapped her hands. "Wood Style: Smothering Binding Technique!" Vines lashed out—I sliced through with *Rankyaku*, air blades raining fragments.
I charged, fist black with Armament Haki. "*Shigan*!" The strike pierced toward her shoulder—she summoned a wooden barrier, my fingers sinking in. "Uzumaki Sealing Technique: Chakra Suppression Barrier!" A dome flared, dampening my chakra. I smirked, unleashing Conqueror's Haki—the pressure shattered the barrier, staggering her.
Her eyes widened, but she pressed on. "Wood Style: Great Spear Tree!" A trunk pierced the earth—I summoned "Zōnotatakai!" The elephant burst forth, trunk smashing the tree. Soifon leapt back. "Wood Style: Nativity of a World of Trees!" A forest erupted—I countered with sky-blue flames, lifting me above the chaos, then mimicked Aaroniero's "Adamantine Barrage!"—fiery chains burned through the wood.
Soifon's stamina shone, clapping her hands. "Life Binding Seal!" A sigil glowed on my chest, draining me. Tony Stark's intellect (Chapter 7) kicked in—I traced the seal's pattern with Observation Haki, shattering it with Armament. "Not today," I said, landing hard.
She charged, vines wrapping her arms for taijutsu—I flowed around with *Kami-e*, blocked with *Tekkai*. Twenty minutes of relentless clashing—Uchiha vs. Senju, history reborn. Her vine strike overextended—I vanished with *Soru*, reappearing behind her. "Frozen Flame: Final Strike!" Icy flames enveloped her, freezing her solid. My kunai pressed to her throat. "Yield."
Soifon exhaled, mist curling. "I yield."
The host bellowed, "Winner: Jogendra Uchiha!"
Cheers shook the arena. Soifon nodded respect—I returned it. She'd pushed me to my limits. My Father Madara's "Impressive" greeted me, My Uncle Izuna's grin wide. "Made her sweat, kid!"
My eyes flicked to Black Zetsu—his tremble grew. Good.
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#### The Night's End
The quarter-finals rolled on, but my mind stretched beyond—Nejiko, Shino, five others remained. The finals loomed, a chance to etch the Uchiha into history. Black Zetsu's shadow hinted at a deeper game.
Under the stars, I stood alone, My Mother Retsu's pendant warm (Chapters 2, 4). *Ding!* The System chimed. *Host completed quarter-final. Rewards pending final win.*
I grinned. "One step closer." The crucible burned—I'd forge a legacy yet.
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