The Chunin Exam elimination rounds commenced, with matches proceeding according to the numbers drawn in the preliminaries. Those who had advanced were no slouches, each possessing notable skill.
The battles were impressive, but to Tengen, they were merely adequate. These ninja, at best, exhibited Chunin-level strength, far below his own, which rivaled that of a Jonin, even without tapping into his Mangekyo Sharingan.
Among the earlier competitors were familiar faces, like Shizune. She and others Tengen knew defeated their opponents, though not without struggle. In Tengen's estimation, Shizune had the makings of a true Chunin and, barring any surprises, would likely earn the rank after this exam.
Beyond Konoha, Tengen spotted another acquaintance: Terumi from the Kirigakure. She dispatched her opponent with ease, then shot Tengen a provocative glance.
Tengen could guess her intent. Mei likely wanted a showdown with him in the finals. They were in separate brackets, her in the first half, him in the second, so their paths would only cross in the championship match.
"Next, numbers 11 and 12, please take the stage." Minato Namikaze, the referee, announced loudly.
"My turn." Tengen said with a faint smile, leaping from the stands to land gracefully in the arena.
His opponent, Yugito, stepped forward to face him.
"Are both competitors ready?" Minato asked, glancing at Tengen and Yugito.
"Ready." They both nodded.
"Begin!" Minato declared.
The moment the match started, Tengen vanished in a blur, reappearing before Yugito. His right leg whipped out like a gale.
Taijutsu: Leaf Whirlwind.
Bang. Yugito crossed her arms to block, but the sheer force sent her skidding backward. Still airborne, she had no chance to regroup.
As Tengen pressed his assault, Yugito reached for her pouch, hurling several shuriken that streaked toward him like beams of light.
Tengen drew a kunai, deftly knocking the shuriken aside without breaking stride, closing in on Yugito.
"So fast." Yugito muttered, gripping her own kunai.
Clang. Their kunai clashed, but Yugito felt an overwhelming strength that nearly wrenched her weapon from her grasp.
"Such power."
The two traded blows, but Tengen dominated, completely overpowering Yugito. In taijutsu, she was outmatched.
Jinchuriki typically excelled in physical combat, bolstered by their Tailed Beasts, but Yugito was clearly struggling.
In the stands, where the Kage of the five great villages sat, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen, spoke up as Tengen and Yugito's match unfolded. "Third Raikage, that's your village's Jinchuriki, isn't it? I didn't expect you to send someone like her to the Chunin Exams."
"She may be a Jinchuriki, but she's also a ninja of the Kumogakure, wouldn't you agree, Third Hokage?" The Third Raikage replied with a chuckle.
"I've heard this Tengen is quite the prodigy in Konoha." The Raikage added. He'd arrived in Konoha the previous day and learned from Killer Bee about Tengen's feats. The Chunin Exams alone wouldn't have piqued his interest, but Killer Bee's account of Tengen overpowering him as the Eight-Tails using the Eight Inner Gates was astonishing.
Could this Konoha-nin possess a kekkei genkai that enhanced his recovery, allowing him to survive the Eight Gates' deadly aftermath? The thought troubled the Raikage. Such power in Konoha was a concern, but attacking Tengen here would mean open conflict with the village, a risk even he couldn't take. Escaping Konoha afterward would be no guarantee.
"Tengen, you say?" Hiruzen smiled at the Raikage's words. "He's exceptional, but against your Jinchuriki, it's hard to say."
"Hah, Third Hokage, are you being modest?" The Third Tsuchikage, Onoki, laughed heartily. "It's rare for the rough-and-tumble Third Raikage to speak so highly of someone."
"Is it?" Hiruzen replied calmly.
The match below intensified.
Hiruzen nodded, observing Tengen's taijutsu utterly dominate Yugito. "Such strong taijutsu, on par with some Jonin." The Third Raikage remarked, impressed. "But a Jinchuriki's true strength lies beyond taijutsu."
In the arena, Yugito, repeatedly knocked back, formed hand seals. She abandoned taijutsu, realizing the toll it was taking. If she exhausted herself, she'd have no chance to use ninjutsu.
Mouse Hairball.
Several chakra orbs materialized before Yugito. With a flick of her hands, they shot toward Tengen.
Tengen countered with his own seals.
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.
A massive blaze erupted from his mouth, engulfing Yugito's chakra orbs and neutralizing her attack.
"Hah!" Yugito's body surged with blue chakra as she tapped into the Two-Tails' power.
"That was quick." Tengen said, caught off guard by her immediate use of Matatabi's strength.
Ghost Fire Pellets.
Blue flames flared around Yugito, fueled by the Two-Tails, Matatabi. These eerie, unextinguishable flames burned with an otherworldly intensity.
"Go!" The cold, silent flames streaked toward Tengen, swift and relentless.
***
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