Third-Person POV

--------------------------- Flashback ----------------------------------------------------------

No one liked me when I had first enrolled in the Academy.

"Class, this is Tensho," the teacher introduced her. "Starting from today she'll be joining you on your journey to entering the Ninja Course, so let's give her a warm welcome, shall we?"

"Hi, Tensho!" the class responded.

"Tensho, would you like to tell us something about yourself?" the teacher asked.

Tensho turned her head away, adding a Hmph to her hubris. The class crossed their eyebrows at this.

"I'm not just Tensho, I'm Tensho of the Hyuga clan," she spouted, "and I plan on being the next head of my clan one day so no one get in my way!"

Oh, so she's one of THOSE types of people, the class thought.

The teacher gave an uncomfortable laugh. "Um, okay, why don't you have a seat now, Tensho. Okay, class, today we'll be going deeper into the fundamentals of chakra."

Right off the bat, I could tell I had already earned the dislikes of several of my classmates but I was so full of myself at the time that I didn't care.

As Tensho took her seat close to the front of the class, the girl sitting next to her spoke up.

"I liked your speech," she whispered to her.

Tensho was caught off-guard by the hospitality but was just as quick to shrug it off. "Whatever."

It was a blonde-haired girl with eyes that matched the colour of a clear sky, rose-tinted blush marks and a smile that made half of the boys in their class swoon over her.

That was when I first met you.

After class was over, Tensho excused herself from the room and made her way to the cafeteria, but then the girl from earlier had come running up to her.

"Hey, wait up!" she called out.

Tensho furrowed her eyebrows in annoyance. "You again, what do you want?"

She held out her bento box to Tensho. "Do you want to eat lunch together?"

"Huh? Why me? Don't you already have a bunch of friends who'd wanna eat with you?" Tensho glanced behind the girl and could see the crowd of boys and girls hiding by the corner.

"Well," the girl darted her eyes about, blushing, "I just think you're cool and I'd like to get to know you."

"Well, I don't want to get to know you. Bye." Tensho turned on her heels and walked off.

At first glance, I had thought you were one of those girls that tried to make as many friends as possible all to boost your ego and give you more popularity. I had told myself to never get involved with egotistical people. Which is why I was pissed off by the very sight of HIM.

"Hey, you, Red!"

A 6-year old Kazue Katsumi had approached Tensho with Daito.

Tensho deadpanned at him. "You're a redhead, too, you know."

Daito chuckled, to which Kazue nearly snapped at him then he kept quiet.

"I heard you in class today," he went on. "With how arrogant you sounded you'd think the Hyuga clan was actually that special."

A vein mark appeared on her forehead. "What?"

"Hey, man, what are you doing? Knock it off," said Daito

"I mean come on, everyone can see it," Kazue went on. "No one cares about the Hyuga's anymore! Not to mention you've got no right to talk, what with you being from the lackey branch, that mark on your forehead makes it as clear as day! You're nothing but a slave!"

Tensho's eyes activated the Byakugan as she marched towards Kazue with her fists clenched. The orange-haired boy grinned and readied himself for the fight while Daito backed away.

But who knows what would have happened in that moment if you hadn't intervened.

The girl from earlier ran up to and planted her feet squarely between the two of them. She had her back turned to Tensho and was staring straight at Kazue.

"Oh, great. What do you want, Goldilocks?"

"The Hyuga clan isn't lame!!" she burst out. "They're strong, dependable and are one of the greatest clans in the Leaf! Even the branch house is amazing because they choose to protect what they love and hold dear!"

"Oh, yeah? What are you, their representative?"

"Yeah, I guess I am!"

Kazue was about to mouth her off until a teacher appeared, and broke off the conflict, leaving Kazue to go his own separate way with Daito and Tensho with the girl.

That was the start of my undying hatred for Kazue Katsumi.

But it was also the start of my friendship with you.

"Hey, why'd you go through all the trouble to say that?" I asked her. "I don't owe you anything."

"I meant what I said from earlier," she replied. "I really did like your speech from class. Because I want the same thing, too. I want to become the head of my clan someday so I can put a smile on everyone's face. You want to make a change, too, don't you?"

Tensho remained awestruck.

The first person to ever truly understand me.

The girl held out her hand to her and flashed a brilliant smile. She seemed to radiate like the sun itself while blooming like a cherry blossom.

"My name's Fumino. Fumino Warai!"

----------------------------------------- Flashback ends ------------------------------------------------------

"Blossom Style: Whirling Spring!!!"

"Eight Trigrams: Sixty-Four Palms!!!"

The two jutsu clashed as Tensho swung palm after palm at every petal that swarmed about her. Again and again, a deafening clap sound would follow her blows. Her Byakugan were operating at full resolution, allowing her to leave absolutely no openings in her wake.

She leapt about the arena in a flash of speed, reaching her thirty-second palm, and somersaulting in the air to dodge the petals her hands could not repel.

I can't afford to let this drag on, she thought to herself. She could feel the pores of her skin liquidate from her sweat. Soon, I'll run out of stamina and since there's no telling how much larger Fumichan's chakra reserves have gotten, I'll be the only one in trouble in a battle of attrition. It's time to create an opening for a large-scale attack!!

She clapped her hands together and then a light green aura emanated from them.

Fumino saw what she was doing. She's increasing her chakra output even more. But what for?

Upon landing, Tensho planted her feet firmly on the ground. Then she reared back her arms and swung her first palm at two swarms of petals completely obliterating them. There was a brief gust of wind that followed the attack deliverance.

The second charged palm attack she threw into the ground of the arena with enough force to kill a grown man. The arena shook violently as several cracks appeared in the ground. However, Tensho seemed exasperated.

Crap, the arena ground was built sturdier than I thought!!

Her Byakugan then alerted her to more swarms of petals approaching her, forcing Tensho to depart from her position.

"I'm not sure what that was," said Fumino, "but I've got a sneaking suspicion I shouldn't let you do it again."

Tensho smiled coyly. As she fended off even more of the Whirling Spring, she was surveying the arena all around her via her 360-degree vision.

Looks like the cracks had spread all around the arena enough. This means that if I can land another strike, things'll finally get into motion!!

However, it's gonna have to be in swift succession, not a second to lose!! Come on, and do it!!!

"Eight Trigrams: Palm Rotation!!" She spun wildly about, forcing the petals to revolve around her sphere and then at once she cancelled the jutsu and the petals were dispersed in every which direction -- but that next second they had already begun to reaccumulate.

"What is she doing?!" Fumino wondered with caution.

Tensho seemed to be gliding across the ground. Her arms had burst into a show of energy and in her left hand was equipped a kunai.

With added balance to her form, she let the kunai rip across the arena towards Fumino.

The Warai jerked her head to the side to dodge it, but let out a squeak as soon as she saw the explosive tag attached to it.

As the explosion went off, and Fumino's Whirling Spring was halted, Tensho threw the plan into motion.

I'll take up as much chakra as I can spare into my arm... "HAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!"

She smashed the ground once again and this time a massive boulder erupted from the ground. The spectators were in awe of Tensho's strength - it gave them a nostalgic callback to the Fifth Hokage. Even Tsunade herself was impressed with her chakra control.

Next, Tensho positioned herself squarely before the boulder. Fumino had just reemerged from the smoke and cinders, clutching a kunai between her teeth and had immediately made a beeline for Tensho.

She's trying to engage in close combat?!

Fumino began to form hand seals for a jutsu. Tensho had noticed this and, summoning chakra to her fists, began to punch a piece off of the boulder towards Fumino. The girl dodged the first one, but soon after followed a hail of them, forcing her to weave about her a veil of petals to block them. Tensho was willing to do everything in her power to stop her from using Garden of Bliss.

Fumino had now advanced far enough that Tensho's long-ranged attacks would no longer work.

This is it!! Tensho gleamed. "It's over now, Fumichan!!"

She thrust the rest of the boulder at Fumino with all the strength she could gather in her right arm. Fumino was almost flattened by its sheer speed alone. Her petals had come between her and the boulder but it was not enough to slow it down.

"Blossom Style: Rising Orchid!!"

At once, a massive orchid erupted from the ground of the arena and destroyed the boulder through its rampage, sending Fumino spinning through the air.

Ten seconds!!! Fumino cried in her mind.

And before Warai even had a chance to land, Tensho had appeared before her in midair.

Fumino reacted as fast as she could. "Blossom Style: Whirling Spring!!!" She hurled at the Hyuga a final storm of petals that was swiftly deflected by her. As soon as Tensho's feet touched the ground, Fumino became ensnared in another Bagua symbol.

"GOT YOU!!! EIGHT-TRIGRAMS: SIXTY-FOUR PALMS!!!"

Fumino equipped the kunai to block one palm and used her hand to parry the other, but there was little she could do against Tensho's sudden ruthlessness. The Hyuga girl had become blind with purpose.

What followed was a plethora of palms that came less than a second at a time. Fumino had been overwhelmed and so most of her tenketsu ended up getting blocked, resulting in her coughing up blood.

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Tensho looked on in remorse.

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"Ha, ha! I'm gonna get there first!" Sayo shouted back to Tensho and Fumino.

"No way, it's gonna be me!!" Tensho retorted as she picked up her pace.

The three girls were running as fast as they could to the ice cream vendor before it could close for the day. Sayo had challenged the girls to see which one of them would get their first, Tensho being equally as competitive had accepted the challenge and Fumino had gone along because she did not want to be left behind.

By the time they had arrived at the vendor they were exhausted and incredibly sweaty.

"Goodness me, look at you girls," he laughed. "There was really no need to run yourselves ragged, I wasn't closing for another 30 minutes."

Sayo wearily raised her arm and placed a bundle of coins in front of him. "I'll have... the triple chocolate fudge~"

Fumino licked her caramel special ice cream with every bit of enthusiasm as a child on Christmas. She closed her eyes and inwardly squealed with delight as her cheeks flushed. "So good!!"

"Is it really that good?" Tensho inquired. "I could never enjoy ice cream since I'm lactose intolerant." She bit into her taiyaki and relished the taste of the red beans mixed with anko.

"Really? Well, it's a good thing that kind man was selling stuff other than ice cream," said Fumino. "It sucks that Sayo had to leave so soon, I was hoping she could tell us more about her family's kenjutsu."

"Speaking of which, how's your training going?"

"Good, I guess. My dad's a really good teacher, even if my Kekkei Genkai is different from his and Kaen's."

Tensho was looking at her. "Hey, you still wanna be the head of your clan someday?"

"Yeah... but how come you're bringing that up now?"

"Sigh. Listen up. You're strong, Fumino, like really strong, and I know you're only gonna get stronger. So I can't help but compare myself to you, especially since we've got the same goal. Maybe you don't feel the same way but... I- I don't wanna lose to you!!"

Fumino was too startled to speak.

"I wanna be able to change the Hyuga clan, but I also wanna be standing beside you as an equal when you change yours as well!!"

At last, Fumino smiled. "Yeah, okay then! I feel the same way - I wanna be your equal, too!!"

Tensho's face became engulfed in warmth. Her turquoise eyes gleamed with delight.

Those very words had made me the happiest person in the world.

"Promise," she said. "Promise that if and when we fight each other you won't hold anything back!" She made the Seal of Confrontation. "We'll make the Seal of Reconciliation after our battle!"

Fumino made the Seal of Confrontation, too. "You got it!"

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You did it...

You kept your promise.

Fumino had fallen to her knees. The kunai she had dropped had been picked up by Tensho who held it over her head.

"Thank you, Fumichan."

"Now, release."

The giant orchid behind Tensho suddenly exploded, releasing a volley of cherry blossom petals.

"NO!!!" Tensho tried to retreat but the petals had swarmed her instantly, forming a tornado of cherry blossom petals around her, a magnificent view from the spectator's perspective. She activated her Byakugan but then was hit with a surprise.

What? I can't see Fumino!! Are these petals a manifestation of her chakra signature?!

She tried to strike at them but they had easily repelled her. No way, they feel like a physical object, though! What the hell is this?!

Then Tensho remembered, with a feeling of dread. Fumino's Blossom Style is made from Earth Style and Yin Release. The Yin Release combined with Shape Transformation is what allows her to change the form of the jutsu. Oh no... This is HENKAN!!!

Meanwhile, outside of the tornado of petals, Fumino was weaving the final hand seals while running about the spiral of petals so as to prevent Tensho from pinpointing her location via her voice.

"Seriously, you've no idea how happy, and yet sad, I am," she spoke. "That I finally got to face you but under circumstances like this really had me confused about a lot of things. But then, I remembered the promise we made to each other. And it made me realize: You wouldn't have wanted this any other way, would you?"

She clapped her hands together: "Blossom Style - Henkan Technique: Garden of Bliss!!!"

The tornado of petals was leveled and the ground of the arena had been covered by a bright pink meadow, with soft, iridescent spores floating in the air.

Fumino collapsed to the ground, exhaling sharply. That's it. That was the last jutsu I can perform -- !!!

The sound of footsteps still approaching her made Fumino genuinely shocked. Tensho was still standing, in fact, she was still walking towards her, albeit her movements were sluggish at best and stagnant at worst. Her eyes were dull and devoid of consciousness.

"Won't ... lose...," she muttered. "Not ... yet..."

Fumino backed away from her as she edged closer and closer.

Until, finally, before she could touch her, she fell on one knee, then the other, then she completely dropped to the ground.

Temari raised her flag as she yawned loudly.

"AND IT'S OVER, EVERYONE!!!! FUMINO WARAI IS THE WINNER!!!!"

The crowd that Fumino had completely forgotten existed halfway through the match had suddenly roared to life before her.

Fumino dispelled her jutsu and shakily got up from the ground. She looked towards the genin's seating rows and saw Daito screaming at the top of his lungs. She waved at him gleefully.

I've kept my promise, to you--

Looking at Tensho who was fast asleep, she knelt down beside her then took her hand into her own, and formed the Seal of Reconciliation with it.

--and to you.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸☯️☯️☯️☯️☯️☯️☯️☯️☯️☯️☯️

"I SAID I'M NOT DONE YET!!!" Tensho sprang to life with her hands poised to deliver a Vacuum Palm, but stopped when she realized she was no longer in the arena. "Eh?"

"Well, that's certainly one way to wake up," came Ino rather irritably.

"Ms. ... Ino?"

"Rise and shine, Tensho," said Ken.

"Ken, hey, is this the infirmary?"

"That's right," Ino answered. "You were brought here after your match."

"Oh, I see. So did I...?"

Ino gave an apologetic look. "Sorry, kiddo."

"Right... AWWWWW, MAN!!" She slumped back into bed and began pouting. But she did not cry or display any real negative attitude.

"Yet, you don't seem that upset about it," Yuura noted.

"Huh? Oh, no, believe me, I'm pissed off," she replied, "but - I won't deny it was fun."

The blond-haired boy raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"If anything, I'm glad she's the one I lost to. It's kinda hard to explain but I feel like it shows what I still have left to work on, plus I came super close so I know I'm getting there. Ah, I really did wanna win, though!"

Ino smiled thoughtfully. "I'm glad you're taking it so well. It's a sign of good sportsmanship and what every capable ninja should aspire to. Well, all three of you seem like you're in top shape again so you're free to go."

"Wait, me too?" asked Tensho. "I thought I only just got here?"

"You did, but both Fumino and Jin Mitarashi had taken the chance to patch you up before you were brought in. Those two are really good at Medical Ninjutsu, I was pleasantly surprised!"

You even healed me? Dammit, is there no end to your benevolence?

"Um, Miss? How long do you suppose until Yohei wakes up?" Yuura inquired.

"I can't say, but since his injury wasn't fatal and there was no brain damage it should be relatively soon."

"Okay Uh, th-thank you for all that you've done and sorry for the inconvenience," he bowed low.

"Oh, please, it was my pleasure! Getting to know you kids has made my work that much more enjoyable!"

On their way back to their seats, Ken spoke up. "Say, would you guys be willing to get together for a training session sometime?"

"Oh? What brought this on?" Tensho wondered.

"Well, it's like you said: Today just opened my eyes to the amount of work I have ahead of me and how much I have to improve in order to catch up with everyone. I'd like not to be left behind so would you be willing to train together?"

Surprisingly, this lead to Tensho blushing at the question.

Ken immediately retracted. "NO, NOT THAT I'M ASKING YOU OUT OR ANYTHING, I SWEAR!!! Y-YUURA, YOU'LL COME, TOO, RIGHT?!"

Yuura was taken aback. He hesitated but then nodded affirmatively. "Of course, I'd be happy to!"

"In that case, count me in," Tensho beamed, "but I ain't pulling any punches, okay?"

"Oh, I'm certain of that now," Yuura recalled, making Tensho and Ken laugh. The boy smiled to himself as he thought: Everyone has to start somewhere. If I want to be stronger than how I am now, I have to grasp every opportunity that comes my way. Just start somewhere!

The three of them were then warmly greeted by their teammates. Iroko slapped Yuura on the back with enthusiasm while Akira and Sayo had pounced on Ken. Fumino nervously looked at Tensho, waiting to see her response. The latter looked back at her, then grinned.

"Next time, I won't lose!"

Fumino masked a sigh of relief. "Yeah, me neither!"

"Ah, isn't friendship such a beautiful thing?" Daito asked Kazue.

"Tch. I could care less."

"Hey, you!!" Tensho suddenly pointed at Kazue. "I'm waiting, you know..."

"Go screw yourself," he retorted.

"HUH?!" Tensho lunged at him, leading to Fumino and Ken having to hold her back.

"AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE HAVE FINALLY COME TO THE LAST MATCH. CAN WE HAVE OUR FINAL PARTICIPANTS COME DOWN: KANBE ONO AND ENA KISHIDA!!!"

"Oh, that's one of Itsuki's teammates," said Iroko. "I can't wait to see how she fights!"

"But who's the other guy?" asked Yuura.

There was Kanbe again. He probably stood at about 165cm, meaning he was most likely older than the other rookies. The axes he carried behind him were still his most prominent feature.

Ena had stepped out after him. She was nervous, that was clear as day, but she walked on with courage.

"A Sand-nin vs a Cloud, huh? I wonder how this will turn out," said Daito.

"By the way, Iroko, sorry if this sounds presumptuous of me but you're from the Cloud Village, right?" Fumino asked.

"Yup, I was born there, but I don't have any solid memories of the place 'cos my parents had us move when I was only five."

"What was the reason, if you don't mind me asking?"

"Well, they said that they were looking for a better opportunity." But I don't think that was all there was to it...

Down in the arena, Temari came between the two competitors. "Listen, I'm tired and I'm sure you two already know how this goes so just get it over with. FIGHT!!"

I know next to nothing about this guy, Ena thought, but those axes behind his back seem like they might be trouble. I think I--

"Hey," Kanbe spoke all of a sudden, "do us both a favour and surrender right now, yeah?"

?!?! "What?"

Kanbe heaved a sigh as if he was exasperated. "Listen, I don't mean to come off as arrogant or whatever, but I think even you can tell that you can't beat me."

"I can't tell anything yet," she replied, "and you don't know if you can beat me ei--"

"See that's where you're wrong," he interrupted her, slowly drawing out his right ax. "I've taken the chance to study every single rookie here. From their chakra signature to the jutsu of those that fought to even their style of combat. And I had determined that the only ones that would stand a chance against me were Asami Senju, Baku Hatake, Kazue Katsumi, Fumino Warai, Sayo Atsuhiro, and your own teammate Itsuki Miura."

He fully drew out his ax and from it burst a thunderous red lightning streak. It cackled and sparked like lightning that had just struck the earth. It was enough to send danger signals all throughout Ena's brain.

"Just from your chakra signature alone, I can tell," he continued. "Trust me. This won't be a fair fight."

"Uh oh, he's using that intimidation tactic again!" stated Yui Takaya.

"This time, though, he's found himself a good target," said Rui.

Ena was shaking where she stood. She did not know how to reply, and she could hear the crowd's restless attitudes, urging for the fight to commence.

What do I do? What if he's right and I can't defeat him? Will I just be making a fool out of myself? But if I surrender, that'll be an even bigger embarrassment!! Think, Ena!! There must be some way to defend against that ax of his!! With my Enbogan I'll be able to scan every single detail of it, maybe there's a flaw in its design somewhere!!

She activated her Enbogan and began to scrutinize Kanbe's ax but at that moment he spoke again.

"You've got 10 seconds to decide. If you haven't made up your mind by 0, I'll attack anyway. 10, 9..."

"Wait, what? Hey, you can't do that!!"

"8, 7, 6..."

"Crap!" She pushed on further with her scrutinization, even analyzing all of Kanbe's body but it yielded no results.

"5, 4, 3..."

It's over, I give up.

"2, 1--"

"Okay, I give u--"

"ENA!!!" Genzo had suddenly shouted.

"Genzo?"

"What are you doing? Clobber that guy already!!"

Itsuki beside him smiled and nodded in agreement.

That's right. They're counting on me!!

Ena returned their smiles, clenched her fists then returned her gaze towards Kanbe. "Let me retract that statement. I'm not giving up."

Kanbe rubbed the back of his head wearily. "Your call..."

Ena immediately activated her Enbogan, and dodged a rushing elbow to her face. She made a motion to strike at his abdomen with a kunai when his ax suddenly released a bolt of red lightning right in front of her face.

"AGH!!!" She stumbled back and cradled her face. "My eyes!!!"

"Oh, crap, Ena!!" Genzo cried.

Then she heard Kanbe say: "Red Lightning Technique: Sprite."

There was no time to even think.

She then felt herself get swamped by a rush of electricity that shot every nerve all throughout her system causing her to drop to the ground like a fly.

Temari ran over to her side and checked to see if she was conscious. The crowd had gotten their answer when she raised her flag. "Poor thing."

The spectators were taken aback by how swiftly Kanbe had made short work of Ena but they applauded nonetheless.

"And there ya have it, folks. Kanbe Ono goes to the Finals!!" said Guy.

"No way. That can't be it," Iroko became saddened.

"Poor Ena," said Fumino.

"Ena, no... Dammitall!!"Genzo cursed. "And here we were cheering her on."

"So there was someone that strong amongst the Cloud," said Itsuki.

"HAHA, THAT'S IT!!!" A roared from the Kage's VIP room. "That's the might of the Cloud!! That boy is a very promising genin, he's one of the best we have to offer, according to Omoi. If anyone is going to win these Single-Elimination Rounds it's him"

Darui was subtly smiling

"Is that so?" Gaara humoured the thought.

A frowned. "Do you have something to say, Kazekage?"

"Calm down, A," Kakashi intervened. "Let's try not to ruin the mood."

"Tell that to the Kazekage!"

"And so with the conclusion of this match, so ends the Preliminary Rounds," said Guy. "Can we have our Sixth Hokage, Kaaakashi come down to the arena to announce what's next?"

Kakashi stood up from his chair then began making his way out of the VIP room with Tsunade in tow. "Here we go."

He stepped out into the arena, there a jonin had handed him a microphone and a piece of paper.

"Look, it's the Hokage," Daito pointed. "He's gonna say something!"

Kakashi began. "Can we have the following genin come down to the arena? Sayo Atsuhiro, Kazue Katsumi, Jin Mitarashi, Itsuki Miura, Iroko Nakata, Asami Senju, and Fumino Warai."

The following genin made their way down. At the same time, the medical team had arrived on the scene where they placed Ena in a hammock and carried her off to the medical room. Itsuki watched them as they disappeared into the tunnel. Making a glance at Kanbe, he saw that the Cloud-nin had been watching him this whole time as well, but Itsuki did not react in any fashion.

Next, Kanbe's eyes had drifted over to Iroko when the blue-streaked boy had entered the arena. At first, he had not noticed Kanbe staring at him but when he did, he was caught off-guard and so had averted his gaze from him.

"Why is he staring at me?" he asked Asami beside him, though in truth the question was rhetorical.

Surprisingly, Asami answered: "You're from the Cloud Village, too, aren't you? (That or he's identifying the weakest one out of all of us)."

"Oh, I get it, like a 'brother from another mother' kinda thing! Hey, wassup?" He addressed Kanbe.

"Psh," he replied, then walked off. Iroko felt deflated.

"Is all you do embarrass yourself?" Kazue commented.

"Hey, nobody asked you!!"

Once the genin had finished forming a line before the Hokage, he continued with his speech.

"Congratulations to the eight of you for having come this far. I'm sure your families and friends must be proud of you. There's only one more hurdle ahead of you and the Exams will then be over. Up on that screen will appear the first four matches of the Final Rounds - the Quarterfinals, if you will. Those that win Match 1 and 2 will go on to face each other in the Semifinals, same deal for the winners of Match 3 and 4, and the winners of those Semifinals will face each other in the Final Round. The one that wins is obviously the winner of the Single-Elimination Rounds."

Kazue grinned maniacally.

"Well, here are the matches," Kakashi directed their eyes to the giant screen that displayed the names of the participants along with an image of them and who they would be facing.

1.

勝見 一恵 VS. みたらし 仁

KAZUE KATSUMI VS. JIN MITARASHI

2.

三浦 樹 VS. 中田 色子

ITSUKI MIURA VS. IROKO NAKATA

3.

斧 神戸 VS. 笑い 郁野

KANBE ONO VS. FUMINO WARAI

4.

厚裕 小夜 VS. 千手 朝美

SAYO ATSUHIRO VS. ASAMI SENJU

"You have exactly one week from today to train and prepare yourself for the upcoming battle with your opponent. The matches will be held at a different location your sensei will direct you to when the time comes. Until then, good luck to all of you and remember to give it your all."