Within the swirling Dust Cloud, Maki formed hand signs. Tiger, then Ram. She shouted the jutsu name,
"Wind Style: Gentle Breeze!"
A soft gust of wind emanated from her mouth. It was gentle yet strong enough.
The wind dissipated the Dust Cloud surrounding her, clearing the view.
Kaiji looked at her. He knew his jutsu hadn't been strong due to his low chakra reserves.
But Maki's ability to disperse it with such ease still surprised him a little.
Maki glared at him, "Be ready!" she shouted and lunged towards him.
Kaiji took out two Shuriken and threw them directly at her.
She easily dodged the projectiles.
But Kaiji also used the Clone Jutsu. He followed it with Body Flicker, attempting to get behind her.
Maki's eyes never left him. She instantly saw through his brief deception, recognizing the Clone and the attempted Body Flicker.
Kaiji's Body Flicker Jutsu was not perfect. Maki's, however, was. She also quickly used Body Flicker.
Her speed was superior, before Kaiji could appear behind her, she appeared behind him.
She punched him hard. She followed with continuous kicks, giving him no moment to breathe.
She beat him thoroughly. He fell unconscious. Maki stopped, looking at him she felt a little flicker of apology.
'Looks like I went all out,' she thought. 'But it's his mistake. How can he punch his classmate, especially a girl, on the face like that?'
Maki then took his empty scroll, she also took Sakura's scroll, which Kaiji had collected earlier. She left the area.
After some time passed, a figure arrived at the place where Kaiji lay unconscious.
Sakura was also unconscious nearby, a little distance away.
This figure was one of the Academy instructors. She sighed, looking down at them.
"They are not good in combat," she murmured. "Would it be right to make them Official Genin already?"
She gently picked up both Kaiji and Sakura. Carrying them, she left the desert training area.
After the competition concluded, all the students gathered in front of Takeshi Sensei.
Some were bruised, and a few had minor injuries.
The other instructors who had been supervising were no longer present with Takeshi.
Takeshi Sensei stood before the students, looking at them. "You all did well," he said.
"So don't be sad. After all, this spar could only have one winner."
Kaiji stood with Ren and Hiroshi.
Ren looked at Kaiji's bruised face, "You are quite beat up," he observed. "Who did you encounter?"
Kaiji sighed, "Maki-san."
"What a coincidence," Ren said. "I also encountered Maki-san and lost to her."
Hiroshi, overhearing their conversation, spoke up, "Look at me," he said, grinning. "I didn't lose, and I even got one more scroll."
Ren and Kaiji slightly glared at him. Hiroshi chuckled awkwardly.
"Maybe I was against weak opponents," he suggested.
"How is it that you didn't encounter any of the Top students?" Kaiji asked, surprised.
Hiroshi explained his encounter. "I did encounter Taichi," he said. "But before he could attack me, Renji-san came."
Hiroshi continued, "And Taichi completely ignored me and said to Renji, 'Today I will show you I am stronger than you!'"
He finished the story, "And while they fought, I silently moved away."
Ren and Kaiji looked at each other and they said in unison, "How lucky!"
Takeshi Sensei then announced the winner. "So," he stated, "today's competition is won by Maki, who has gained 23 scrolls."
There was some murmuring among the students. However, no one was particularly shocked.
Maki was known to be strong in the class, and importantly, many trainees had been beaten by her during this competition.
Ren also heard others discussing their matches. "Looks like many other trainees were up against Maki-san," he commented to Kaiji and Hiroshi.
Kaiji looked towards Taichi, "Hiroshi," he pointed out, "looks like Renji was the winner against Taichi."
"Look how he is injured and glaring at Renji, while Renji was pretty much okay."
Ren and Hiroshi also looked at Taichi and nodded in agreement.
Takeshi Sensei then gave instructions. "Alright everyone," he said, "those who are a little more injured should go directly to the Hospital, while others go to your own houses."
He then addressed Maki specifically, "But Maki," he instructed, "you come with me to the Library Archive. You can choose your prized C-rank Jutsu from there."
Everyone began to disperse and move towards their homes.
Kohaku approached Takeshi Sensei "Father," she said, "can I also come with you and Maki?"
Takeshi Sensei refused gently "No," he said. "You should go home and have something to eat from your mother."
Kohaku pouted, "Father" she stated, her voice expressing displeasure, "I'm not going to talk to you!"
Takeshi Sensei sighed. Maki slightly giggled at the father-daughter interaction.
Takeshi Sensei looked at Maki, "Alright" he said. "Stop giggling and come with me."
While Maki went with Takeshi Sensei to the Village's Ninja Library Archive, Kaiji went with Ren and Hiroshi to practice Shuriken throwing after getting something to eat.
Walking with his friends, Kaiji thought inwardly and sighed. 'I don't think,' he concluded, 'with this pace, I will get any team after graduation.'