Chapter 2: The Tournament Begins
The city's main arena was packed to bursting with the diverse and bustling crowd that had gathered this year. This would be the first edition – well, honestly, nobody remembered which edition it was anymore. After all, with an annual tournament held for so long, people tended to lose count. Nevertheless, it was still destined to be the best edition of the tournament ever held in history, given the quality and variety of its participants; you could say there were contenders from every corner of the world... quite literally.
The fighters were already in two rooms previously prepared for them. One was located to the east – curiously, symbolizing the rising sun itself – and the one for the hidden nations was to the west, representing the setting sun. Koyuki was sure this was some kind of message for the hidden nations, but honestly, she wasn't sure what the message was. And Zeref, since Naruto had been missing since morning, had told her he "had no idea what she was talking about," with an enigmatic smile and a tone that revealed nothing.
Getting back to it, the fighters from the Empire and those from the hidden nations – whose leaders, by the way, were truly frustrated right now, (clenching their fists, faces etched with anger and helplessness,) since they had never been able to scout the other fighters. This meant the opponents were a complete enigma, and they couldn't devise a real strategy to win this tournament.
Each of the shinobi powers, with the exception of Konoha, had received an honor box for their entourages. This caused a great sense of indignation among a good portion of Konoha's civilian council. (Its members muttered amongst themselves, expressions full of envy and resentment.) Since, with the exception of Danzo, practically all of Konoha's top brass – along with the Hyuga council, the leaders of each clan, the Sannin, Minato, the Hokage's secretary, and his family – were relegated to a less privileged area.
Likewise, all the feudal lords and Kages, separately, had been led to VIP boxes for their enjoyment, being allowed a maximum of three guests per person.
Oh, and now that the Namikaze family was mentioned, Mito and her brother were quite far from the Konoha delegation. Because they hadn't managed to get seats near their mother, they ended up close to the local crowd, which was very hostile towards them. (Mito and Hashirama shrank in their seats, feeling the hateful and contemptuous glares thrown their way.) Something they would never get used to in the slightest.
Now, returning to the stadium, there were several lamps in a semicircular formation, as well as a platform waiting for the tournament to begin.
Fortunately for everyone, Koyuki arrived along with her retinue – that is, Tsunade, Shizune, and Zeref himself. Whom his younger brother had asked to act as Koyuki's personal bodyguard, given that he trusted absolutely no one else. (Zeref stood tall, serious and vigilant, scanning the surroundings with a penetrating gaze.)
Moments later, the two queens of the Empire, Arturia and Nealie, entered along with the young princess, Mordred, dressed in formal attire. (The queens walked with elegance and confidence, radiating an imposing, majestic presence. Mordred, meanwhile, skipped and ran around them, her face bright with excitement and joy.) However, there was no trace of the Emperor, which made them feel a little apprehensive. (The spectators glanced at each other, worried and uncertain, wondering where the Emperor could be.) After all, there was no telling what a man of his power might do if left to roam freely around the place.
As for the two queens, both had an imposing presence. Some even compared their presence to that of the dark mage himself. However, that mattered little to the two blondes, who sat down next to the Daimyo, calm and confident smiles on their faces.
"—This year, our stadium features special equipment, as our land will be represented by the best the Empire has to offer!" began the local Daimyo, Koyuki, smiling more brilliantly than she had in ten years. Her voice, full of pride and enthusiasm, echoed throughout the stadium. "With nothing more to say for the moment, it's time to kick off the main event!"
With Koyuki's announcement, a small group soon took the stage, and a kind of rock ballad began to play. The music, powerful and emotional, filled the air, creating an atmosphere of anticipation and solemnity.
The lights soon dimmed, and following that, fireworks – magically altered, it should be said – began to soar through the sky, forming what seemed to many like truly beautiful, though no less tragic, images. The spectators watched with awe and emotion the spectacle of light and color.
The first of these showed two men kneeling in the middle of a battlefield. The first was a man with a shattered look on his face, holding the other man. The image conveyed deep sadness and desperation.
A black-haired man, his hair just as unruly as the other young man holding him. He wore blue shorts, had the ASCE tattoo on his right arm, but what surprised everyone most was that, despite the man clearly having died, he did so with a smile on his face. The spectators observed the image with a mix of sadness, admiration, and respect. And beneath that image was a phrase, or rather, a quote.
"My only regret... is not seeing your dream fulfilled, but I leave happy because at least I know that if anyone can fulfill that dream, it's you, my friend."
— Portgas D. Ace.
As soon as that image faded, a new one appeared. This time of an equally black-haired man, with a goatee, wearing red and gold armor that was partially destroyed, along with half his face, which was partially burned. The image conveyed a mix of courage, determination, and sacrifice. Like its predecessor, it also had a final phrase.
"You can take away my house, all my tricks and suits, but there's one thing you can never take away from me: I am Iron Man."
— Tony Stark.
The singer continued with his song, his powerful and emotive voice moving the spectators. It was now clear to the spectators from the elemental continent that these men were each and every one heroes of the unification wars.
Soon another image appeared in the sky, this one being a rather short man, almost completely bald except for the crown of his head. He had a thick mustache and, due to age, several wrinkles. The image conveyed a sense of wisdom, experience, and determination.
"If with what's left of this old soldier's life I can create a bright future for these brats... fine... then I know what I must do... my job is very simple."
— Makarov Dreyar.
The next image showed a much larger man than the previous one, one who had a crescent moon mustache and wore only white pants and black boots. His body was almost completely devastated, except for... How had they managed to show both the front and back at the same time? The spectators wondered in amazement, tilting their heads and squinting, trying to figure out the visual trick.
"People's wills don't die! And in the future, one will rise up and challenge the world!"
— Edward Newgate.
A few more names and phrases were shown. The spectators watched in silence, moved by the images and words, eyes moist, faces showing respect and solemnity. Finally, the music ceased, and a small part of the audience – those who were part of the Empire of the Rising Sun – stood up and began to applaud, completely moved. Their applause, full of respect, gratitude, and deep emotion, echoed in the stadium, like a tribute to the fallen heroes.
Several names were missing; many more had fallen, but there was no way to name them all. The war claimed thousands of lives, and these were those whom the Emperor called not just friends, but mentors, brothers, and even some he had loved romantically. A shadow of sadness, pain, and melancholy crossed the faces of those who knew the history, remembering the losses and sacrifices. All of them gave their lives for the dream of peace. And with this presentation – which the Emperor had not witnessed, choosing to mourn his friends in silence and privacy, (Naruto retreated to a secluded place, face somber, gaze lost, body slumped, overwhelmed by the weight of his memories and the pain of his losses) – the man showed that his realm had been forged through the blood of hundreds, and that the world would never forget their names or their sacrifices. A shiver ran down the spectators' spines as they grasped the magnitude of the sacrifice, feeling a mix of respect, admiration, and sadness.
As soon as the presentation ended, the group left. The spotlights flared on, revealing a man now on the platform with dark blond hair slicked back, wearing a black suit and black glasses.
"—Ladies and gentlemen, I am the announcer, the referee for this tournament." His voice, amplified by microphones, resonated throughout the stadium, clear and authoritative. "As you know, this year the rules were slightly modified to conduct the tournament more equitably." He spoke with a professional tone, slightly amused, and with an enigmatic smile on his face*.
Many wondered why he said "the announcer" and "the referee" separately. The spectators glanced at each other, confused by the clarification, exchanging questioning looks and shrugging. However, they didn't have time to dwell on it. After all, the man immediately explained the rules of this tournament, revealing that in the Empire, one spot actually belonged to one of the Empire's high command, and that the last 15 spots were won in a tournament where over a thousand people participated. The spectators' eyes widened with surprise, awe, and disbelief, impressed by the scale of the Empire's tournament, feeling a mix of admiration and envy. This completely overshadowed the elimination of 300 that occurred in the elemental nations.
The largest elimination round in the tournament's history, explaining how each of the finalists from each block would face their counterpart from the Empire. Then, he wished each and every one of the contestants luck, (with a kind smile and an encouraging tone,) and proceeded as is always done in these events... that is, explaining each and every rule in the most meticulous way possible. (The announcer began reciting the rules in a monotone, professional, slightly tired voice, as if repeating a memorized script.)
—A Few Moments Earlier, VIP Box—
"—It's a pleasure to see you again, Kazekage-dono," greeted Mei Terumi, who was the second youngest Kage present, with a kind, sincere smile and a cordial, respectful tone. "It's good to see a friendly face in this place." Her warm, welcoming gaze swept the box, briefly pausing on the hostile, cold, and distant faces of the other Kages, reflecting her discomfort and her desire to find an ally amidst the tension*.
The young Mizukage, of course, was referring to Onoki and the Raikage, who, although they had no problem with her, certainly did with Minato. (A grimace of disgust, contempt, and deep aversion crossed Mei's face thinking about the tension between the Kages, the hostility and resentment hanging in the air.) Who [Minato] also looked none too pleased, having the worst possible seats for his family... (Minato clenched his fists tightly, feeling a surge of frustration, humiliation, and deep anger at the unfairness of the situation.) She [Mei] found it terribly amusing. She was sure Onoki did too, but his hatred for the man, Minato, was much greater, and he couldn't help but try to kill the younger man with his glare, (shooting daggers at him with eyes full of rancor and contempt.)
"—Likewise, Mizukage-dono." Gaara returned the greeting with a calm voice and a polite nod. He took his seat, posture relaxed but attentive, observing the atmosphere around him.
The young man had made one last attempt to get an audience with the Emperor, without much success. However, a... strange black-haired man, wearing clothes that were definitely feminine, a tattoo on his face, and a red and white blindfold over his eyes, had told him – after asking him "Where's the bathroom?" – that he could go to the Empire and request an audience there. It was a weird encounter, especially since the man went in the opposite direction Gaara had pointed him towards. (Gaara frowned slightly, recalling the peculiar encounter with a mix of confusion and curiosity.) But it was better than nothing.
"—Imperials are very strange," he muttered to himself, shaking his head with disbelief and a faint smile, wondering if the encounter had been a figment of his imagination. After all, the imperial wine was tremendously strong; it had even given him a bit of a hangover.
"—What's wrong, Minato? Is life without luxury no life at all?" the Raikage, ignoring the Kazekage's dilemma, couldn't resist poking at Minato's pride. His voice, full of sarcasm and mockery, echoed in the box. He shot Minato a contemptuous look, visibly enjoying his discomfort.
"—Funny as always, Raikage-dono." Minato had to bite his tongue to avoid slinging an insult back at his old rival. (He clenched his fists tightly, containing his anger and frustration, his face tightening into a mask of forced courtesy.)
"—I just hope they're recording this," commented Onoki, who seemed to be enjoying this far too much. His voice, full of malice and anticipation, resonated in the box. A cruel, satisfied smile touched his lips. "It'll give me something to laugh heartily about."
"—They are. There's an editing team that will work on a summary of the tournament for sale," replied a female voice, neutral and professional.
"—Can it be reserved?" Onoki asked, a gleam of interest in his eyes.
A nod was the only reply from the black-haired woman.
"—Put me down as first on the list," Onoki smiled with satisfaction, rubbing his hands in anticipation*.
Minato could only growl in frustration and helplessness. His face reflected a mix of contained anger and resignation. Yes, the people of Konoha were definitely not going to like this.
"—Think of the prize money, Minato, think of the prize money," he repeated to himself over and over, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, trying to calm himself and focus on his goal, like a mantra attempting to ward off negative thoughts*.
"—Now let's begin with the first match!" The announcer, his voice powerful and full of enthusiasm, decided it was time to officially start the tournament. He had waited for the Emperor to return to begin, but he'd been informed the man ended up leaving the stadium... That man definitely needed to work on his sense of direction. "Hailing from the hidden continent, beauty and power come together in our first participant, from Nadeshiko village... Shizuka!"
The black-haired kunoichi entered the platform amidst cheers from the general audience. She walked with a firm, confident stride, a radiant, assured smile on her face, enjoying the crowd's roar. The kunoichi had long, lustrous onyx-colored hair tied back in a ponytail. She had green eyes and a stunning figure: large breasts, a heart-shaped rear, and long, well-turned legs, all wrapped in a black outfit, with her village's headband worn as a hairband. The spectators watched her with admiration, drawn by her beauty and magnetic presence.
To the surprise of the two queens, Shizuka bore a facial resemblance to the pink-haired banshee. (Arturia and Nealie exchanged a quick glance, noticing the similarity.) Not that they would say it out loud. Well, Arturia wouldn't. Nealie possibly would if she got the chance to ask the woman. (Nealie mentally shrugged, considering the possibility. She was an incredibly curious person who didn't know the meaning of discretion... in fact, there were rumors she didn't know how to spell it.) (Arturia shook her head, amused by Nealie's personality.)
"—Now, hailing from the lands of Greece, from the island with no name, born of the earth itself, the youngest of the three Gorgons... Medusa!" As the introduction finished, many heard a shout: "Why did you bring her, you suicidal lolicon emo?!" The voice, full of exasperation and familiarity, echoed through the stadium, followed by thunderous laughter, (identifiable as Naruto's.)
Medusa appeared as a woman different from what many expected of a Gorgon. She didn't look bestial; she didn't have snakes for hair. In fact, she had beautiful purple hair. She wore a cover over her eyes, most likely to contain her petrifying gaze. Her sight should have been completely blocked. Although, given what was seen ten years ago with Naruto Uchiha, it was possible the woman had much more specialized senses to detect her surroundings. After all, she grew up in the Empire, a wild land before unification. The spectators observed Medusa with a mix of amazement, curiosity, and caution.
With the two competitors ready for the match, the war drums began to sound as the announcer withdrew from the stage. The drums increased their tempo until they stopped abruptly, before the sound of a gong signaled the start of the fight.
Medusa, ever silent, said nothing and simply launched herself forward at great speed. Her body moved with surprising quickness and agility. Causing Shizuka, before she knew it, to already be blocking a hook from her opponent. (Shizuka moved quickly, blocking the attack with difficulty.)
She tried to counterattack quickly, but it was revealed that the woman's senses were indeed heightened to detect her surroundings, as she took a graceful leap backward and, thanks to her natural flexibility, managed to connect with a kick to Shizuka's jaw. (Shizuka staggered back, surprised by Medusa's speed and flexibility.) At the same time, her opponent took a couple of steps back from the unexpected blow.
The Gorgon landed less than six meters from Shizuka and launched herself forward once more without giving her the slightest moment to recover. And because of that, she began to pepper her opponent with frankly terrifying speed. Her blows, fast and precise, rained down on Shizuka like a storm.
—With the General Audience—
"—Hit her harder!" Mito couldn't help but cheer for Medusa. She jumped in her seat, waving her arms and shouting enthusiastically, making gestures as if she were the Gorgon's coach, as if Medusa would pay attention, and as if this were a boxing match.
"—Troublesome. That woman is tremendously fast and flexible; I doubt anyone from our side could even graze her," mentioned the elder Nara, Shikaku, frowning, a worried expression on his face. He noted how his wife was doing the same thing as Mito. (Yoshino shouted and cheered for Medusa with the same intensity as Mito.) He wasn't sure why and it was too troublesome to ask, so he left things as they were. (He sighed resignedly.)
"—That viper... isn't she supposed to be the sensible one in her group?" mentioned someone from the East to her companion. Her voice, full of surprise and a hint of disappointment, rose above the crowd's murmur. The woman speaking was a rather pale girl with blue eyes, very light blonde hair that looked platinum, wearing a red and blue outfit. (She frowned, confused by Medusa's attitude.) Her companion was a young woman with black hair and hazel eyes dressed like... what they assumed was a magician's outfit. (The young magician shrugged, an uncertain expression on her face.)
"—Who knows?" A man, who had a marked Eastern European accent, commented. "Medusa has always been... strange... even for a Rider. But I don't think she'll drag this out much. After all, unlike her older sisters, she doesn't like to torture her opponents much. I mean, if it were Stheno or, worse yet, Euryale, that girl would already be crying for her mommy." (A grimace of disgust and worry crossed his face thinking about Medusa's older sisters.)
"—What kind of family is that?" thought the inhabitants of the hidden nations, faces showing amazement, disbelief, and slight fear. If the woman using her opponent as a punching bag was the least sadistic, how cruel could the older sisters be?
—Back in the Arena—
"—Nadeshiko Style: Thousand Blows!" And with that cry, the future leader of the village exclusively for women, Shizuka, began throwing increasingly faster punches, which the purple-haired woman, Medusa, continued to avoid without any problem, moving so fast that many of the blows almost seemed to pass through her. Her movements were fluid and elegant, like a hypnotic dance.
"—Nice trick." The purple-haired woman spoke for the first time, her voice soft and melodious, contrasting with the brutality of the fight. However, she said nothing more before moving at high speed, completely breaking through Shizuka's defense and beginning to apply a kind of full submission hold to her right leg, waist, and shoulders, reminding many of a snake by the way she was holding her. Her movements were fast and precise, like a predator trapping its prey.
Shizuka just gritted her teeth, (face contorted with effort and pain,) desperately trying to break free from the hold, trying to land a blow. However, although some of her hits managed to connect due to the position she was in, they didn't carry even a tenth of her strength. And even if they had her full strength, Medusa would simply tank her blows. After all, she was one of the few people who had endured one of the Emperor's supernovas in the brief time they were enemies.
"—A true warrior understands when fighting is not an option," the purple-haired woman said in her stoic voice, looking at Shizuka with a serious, penetrating expression. "So, please, stop moving."
And with that said, the Gorgon released her hold before delivering a powerful blow to the stomach that knocked the wind out of Shizuka's lungs. (Shizuka gasped for air, face pale, eyes wide.) She fell to her knees with a vacant look before finally falling forward, completely out of the fight, leaving the Gorgon wondering one thing.
"—'Can a person with collapsed lungs... inflate them if they're unconscious?'" Medusa wondered aloud, her expression thoughtful, head tilted slightly.
"—Shizuka cannot continue! The winner of the first fight of the tournament is Medusa!" the announcer declared, his voice neutral and professional, pointing towards Medusa.
Meanwhile, the Gorgon descended from the arena, her steps calm, her expression serene. She had to find the Emperor before his sense of direction made him end up, gods forbid, somewhere near Konoha. That was why she was acting so differently from her usual calm demeanor; she was the only one with the speed who would be free soon enough to find the man.
Finally, after Shizuka's body was removed from the arena (by medical staff attending to her quickly and professionally), the announcer began to introduce the next two contenders.
"—And now, we move on to the second fight! Hailing from a nest of treacherous vipers... no offense to the Empire's Snake Tribe," the man hurried to correct himself, (his voice nervous, glancing apologetically towards the Empire's box.) After all, that particular tribe was truly vengeful. "Here we have a mangy dog who's only come to infest our facilities... Kiba Inuzuka!" The man said with evident contempt in his voice, (a grimace of disgust and a disdainful look aimed at Kiba.)
A sentiment shared by most of the crowd, who began throwing bottles, food, and... was that a golden battle-axe? Directly at the Inuzuka's head. (The objects flew through the air, aimed at Kiba with fury and contempt.) These were accompanied by insults and curses, throwing Kiba off balance, especially because, who the hell brings a damn golden axe to a public tournament? More importantly, how the hell did they let him in with it?!
"—Why did you have to throw Rhitta?" Arturia complained, her voice full of reproach and frustration, as she looked at the Axe of the Sin of Pride, now embedded in the wall near the exit for the elemental continent fighters.
"—Would you have preferred I threw your sword?" The more developed blonde, Nealie, asked her with a raised eyebrow, a mischievous grin, and a defiant look.
"—..." Arturia didn't answer. Certainly, she preferred any weapon other than her precious Excalibur be used. Mordred would need it when she was older, after all, and she held a special affection for it. It was proof that Naruto loved her, after all. (Affection and nostalgia washed over her face thinking about Excalibur and its meaning.)
"—Thought so," the other blonde simply smirked smugly, ignoring Zeref and his comment of "I didn't sign up for this."
"—Now, from the Empire, hailing from the islands of the Land of the Rising Sun, comes a quiet and untamed beauty, who wishes to sweep through the tournament with her feline strength and speed, Shirone Toujo!" And with that, the white-haired girl entered, the one who had been arguing with her older sister during the elemental side's preliminaries. (Shirone walked with a firm, sure step, a serene expression and a faint smile on her lips.) Being much smaller than her older sister, with white hair and a much more athletic build. Oh, and has it been mentioned that unlike her sister, who had her tails fastened around her waist, she had hers swinging proudly behind her? (Her tails moved with grace and elegance, as if they had a life of their own.)
—VIP Box—
"—Shouldn't she be disqualified for appearing with that henge?" A asked Maria Hill, (frowning, a confused expression on his face,) who had been assigned to guard this box and was the one who had confirmed to Onoki that he could reserve the video of Konoha's humiliation.
"—What's a henge?" Maria asked, (her voice full of curiosity, one eyebrow arched as she tilted her head,) genuinely having no idea what a henge was. After all, neither Lord Shanks nor the Emperor himself had ever mentioned anything about ninja techniques. "She's like that naturally; she's a Nekoshou, an entirely female race that displays feline traits. She can hide them, of course, but Shirone is a girl who takes pride in her heritage. Besides, those tails serve as a second pair of arms... and for a couple of other things." She said this with a small blush, (looking away with an embarrassed expression.) She had once found the sisters in a rather compromising position and, since then, had chosen never again to ask what some people's extra appendages were for.
Shirone was already on the platform, her ever-stoic expression etched in stone on her face. Her cold, calculating gaze swept the area, showing no emotion. However, upon seeing Kiba, her expression shifted from stony to slightly annoyed. (A faint grimace of disgust touched her lips.) So much so that she almost couldn't wait for the drums to stop sounding to start the match. Now that she thought about it, why the hell did they do the drums for every match? That was a waste of time. (She shook her head, dismissing the question as irrelevant.)
"—I wonder if he'll pamper me if I cut you into pieces?" the girl murmured in her stoic voice. Her voice, soft and melodious, contrasted with the implied threat in her words. However, the way she said it, combined with her expressionless face, made Kiba have to step back slightly out of fear. (Kiba swallowed hard, a shiver running down his spine.) This was a rather curious skill Shirone learned from her master: intimidating without showing killing intent. She was very good at it. Although the question was completely serious, which is why it worked perfectly well.
"—It'll be fun watching you try... kitty," Kiba soon regained his composure, showing fangs with an arrogant grin and a defiant look.
And it was at that very instant that the fight began thanks to the gong. The metallic sound echoed throughout the arena, marking the start of the match.
Shirone, unlike Medusa, wasn't really in a hurry, so she didn't bother rushing Kiba, at least not initially. But soon she moved in a burst of speed, (her body becoming a white blur that lunged towards Kiba,) delivering a single precise slash aimed directly at the joints of his arms, his liver, and lung. Her claws, sharp as blades, sought vital points with deadly precision. Yes, she was that good, able to damage those three points with a single swipe.
As for why she chose those places precisely... Well, obviously, an opponent unable to use their arms was a useless opponent, an opponent with a damaged liver was unable to use their full strength, and the lung was simply in the way.
Regarding Kiba's reaction, there was little to nothing he could do against the feline woman and her explosive speed. (Kiba's eyes widened in surprise, unable to react in time to Shirone's attack.)
"—'This chick is gonna skin me alive,'" the Inuzuka thought, (face pale, eyes wide with fear, as cold sweat ran down his back.)
He leaped back just barely avoiding the woman's blow, though not in time, as his clothes were cut by the woman's claws, which managed to draw a bit of blood from his chest. (Kiba clutched his chest, feeling the sting of the wounds.)
"—That's the idea." And certainly, Shirone wasn't letting the dog boy escape her claws anytime soon, (a predatory grin on her face, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.)
Unfortunately for the woman, who wanted to gouge his eyes out with her second strike, the dog boy started covering his eyes. (Kiba shielded his eyes with his hands, protecting them from Shirone's attack.) Good side: that left many openings in Kiba's guard, openings that allowed her to do whatever she wanted to him. And as proof, she delivered an instep kick to his right knee that forced it to bend in the complete opposite direction it should have, eliciting a chilling scream from the Inuzuka upon receiving the blow which, honestly, hurt even more than his unnaturally bent knee. (Kiba howled in pain, clutching his knee with a grimace of agony.)
"—No, Kiba!" screamed Tsume and Hana in unison, their voices full of anguish and worry, as they shot up from their seats, eyes fixed on the scene, seeing how the girl had injured the loudmouthed Kiba.
"—Hahaha, oh yeah, that's it, kitty, now go for the other one!" The blonde girl from before, Harleen, couldn't help but cheer, (with a sadistic smile and a look full of excitement, as if enjoying the spectacle.) She liked seeing people suffer pain, especially if it was at the hands of a seemingly harmless cutie like the younger Toujo sister was.
"—Harleen, keep it down. You know she won't hit him twice in the same place; she's a damn cat, she likes to play with her food." The black-haired girl's comment, (her voice full of resignation and prior knowledge,) actually made the Konoha members shudder upon hearing that, to the cat girl, Kiba was some kind of snack. (A shiver ran down the Konoha members' spines, feeling a mix of fear and revulsion.)
—Back in the Arena—
Kiba had, miraculously, returned his leg to its natural position, even if that was more painful than its previous state. (Kiba gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, his face contorted in a grimace of agony.) Now he knew he shouldn't be overconfident, so he positioned himself to use his last ace up his sleeve once and for all. After all, it was preferable to lose the element of surprise for later rather than lose the match.
"—You'll pay dearly for hurting me," he said, (voice full of anger and determination,) as he got up with difficulty before getting on all fours, his right leg noticeably weakened. "—Inuzuka Style: Wild Wolf!" And with that, he let out a chilling howl before launching himself forward to attack head-on, (with renewed speed and ferocity.)
Shirone had to hand it to him; even with his injured leg, he became faster and more agile, no doubt. But it wasn't enough. She was her master's personal student, and say what you will about the Emperor's methods, but they were effective. Kiba was fast, but she was much faster, more agile, stronger. And thanks to that, she dodged his claws and all his kicks without overexerting herself, (with fluid, elegant movements, as if dancing around her opponent.) Something that completely infuriated Kiba, (who growled and bared his teeth in frustration,) who thought using the four-legged stance of the Taijutsu style would give him a slight advantage. Clearly, it didn't, so he began using the movements from his clan's fighting style.
"—Inuzuka Style: Great Night Wolf!" To Shirone, this attack actually seemed quite similar to the way Pickle used to attack his prey: head-on, in a single furious charge. (A faint smile, tinged with recognition and contempt, touched her lips comparing Kiba's attack to Pickle's.)
Unfortunately for the man, Kiba, she simply stopped the charge before sending him flying over her head. (Shirone blocked the attack with ease, with a quick, precise movement, and then counterattacked, launching Kiba through the air with surprising force.)
"—Stand still so I can hit you!" Kiba exclaimed, (voice full of frustration and anger,) as he got up from the ground with difficulty, getting tired of landing his killing blows on the Nekoshou, especially since they were completely useless. And the fact that she had landed a second blow on his other knee wasn't helping his predicament. (Kiba clutched his knee, a grimace of pain on his face.)
"—...That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard... and I've spent time with the Empress of Roses," the white-haired girl mentioned, (her voice monotone, an expression of disbelief on her face, tilting her head as if unable to comprehend Kiba's logic.) Honestly, she'd heard all sorts of stupid things from the woman who was a Roman clone of Arturia. "What kind of person with a minimum of common sense would stand still to get hit head-on? ...On the other hand, you're from Konoha, so I guess it makes sense you'd think like an idiot." (A mocking smile full of contempt touched her lips.)
She didn't dwell on it much longer. She simply chose to resume the battle and began delivering a swift combination of blows to the chest and face of the now completely defeated Kiba. (Her blows, fast and precise, impacted Kiba's body like a meteor shower.) Who was unable to do absolutely anything against the feline woman's full combo. She lifted the Inuzuka with a powerful uppercut that completely fractured his lower jaw and had almost entirely shattered his teeth. (Kiba went flying through the air with a scream of pain and agony, before falling to the ground, unconscious.)
All this was met with cheers from the local audience, who were asking her to dice him up, (shouting and applauding enthusiastically, enjoying the spectacle,) and causing several shudders in Konoha at a scene similar to one from a distant past. (The Konoha members shrank in their seats, recalling similar horrifying scenes from the past.)
"—Kiba Inuzuka can no longer continue," the announcer said, (his voice neutral and professional, as he approached Kiba's unconscious body and observed it with disdain.) While poking Kiba's unconscious body. He wasn't getting his new shoes dirty with his filth, thank you very much. However, he confirmed the dog boy was completely unconscious. "—Shirone wins the fight," he announced the result monotonously.
The girl simply began to leave the platform, (her steps calm, a satisfied expression on her face.) Although, of course, not without first turning towards Kushina, whom she had seen out of the corner of her eye, and giving her an obscene gesture. (Shirone gave Kushina a look of contempt and a mocking smile before raising her middle finger in a gesture of defiance.) Something that drew a small chuckle from the announcer. (The announcer let out a soft laugh, amused by Shirone's attitude.) Yes, that was definitely funny, which made him feel a little disappointed that the Emperor had missed it.
But oh well, he'd be here soon if Medusa did her job, which he was sure she would. After all, Riders were the best trackers... well, after the Hunters of Artemis, but they didn't count; they had an unfair advantage. (The announcer nodded, confident in Medusa's skill.)
"—Alright, now, from the west side, a member of the honorable Hyuga clan, the one called 'Hyuga Prodigy' by the nest of rats where he lives..." The announcer paused, (a grimace of disgust showing as he mentioned Neji's nickname.)
And much to Konoha's surprise, although there were no cheers from any member of the audience, nobody had insulted or thrown trash at Neji. (The spectators remained silent, observing Neji with a mix of respect and expectation.)
"—Now, from the Empire, hailing from the islands of the Land of the Rising Sun...— Now, from the Empire, the son of one of the great Sky Kings, son of the first to side with the Emperor after the Great War of Marineford, the son of the OGRE himself, BAKI HANMA!" The announcer's voice, full of enthusiasm and expectation, echoed throughout the arena as Baki Hanma entered the stage.
End of Chapter.