In the arena, the chunin's kunai rested against Mokawa's neck.
Cold sweat beaded on Mokawa's forehead. Against an enemy, he'd be dead.
Yet a faint smile curved his lips. "Sir, the time's long passed."
"Of course, I'm aware." The Konoha chunin said slowly. "You've got skill, kid. You pass."
"Thanks, sir." Mokawa bowed slightly and leapt off the arena.
His glance flicked toward Tengen, brimming with confidence and a hint of mockery.
"What's that look? Thinks he's hot stuff?" Anko scoffed.
"Anko, no need to get mad at a dog. His strength's nothing special." Tengen shook his head.
"Dog?" Anko snickered. "Tengen, that's harsh! If Mokawa heard you, he'd really become a mad dog."
"He'd probably want to kill me." Tengen added casually.
"You know it." Anko rolling her eyes.
"He won't feel that way for long." Tengen shrugged. When his turn came, he'd go all out, minus the Sharingan and Armament Haki. His other skills, honed to perfection, would suffice.
As the saying goes, these were mortal techniques pushed to their zenith.
"Next, Tengen, for assessment." The referee called. Another student had just failed.
"My turn. Here I go." Tengen vanishes from Anko's side and reappears in the arena.
"So fast!" Anko blinked, stunned by his sudden absence.
"Impressive." The Konoha chunin said, his pupils narrowing. "You're Tengen."
"That's me." Tengen replied, puzzled. Hadn't they just called his name?
"Good." The chunin said, his eyes glinting with excitement. "I hear you're a genius. Let's see what you've got."
"You'll find out." Tengen gripping his kunai.
"Match begin!" The referee declared.
To the crowd's surprise, Tengen didn't strike first. The chunin did, hurling shuriken that whistled through the air like beams of light.
Their speed was leagues beyond what other students had faced.
Even Mokawa would've struggled to counter such an assault.
Was this a chunin's true strength?
The students below were stunned.
Why was the chunin unleashing such power? Would Tengen be injured or killed?
But Tengen defied expectations.
His kunai met the shuriken with pinpoint precision, knocking them aside.
"Not bad." The chunin brandishing his kunai.
"You're not too shabby either." Tengen replied evenly.
"Let's do this." The chunin is charging.
Tengen didn't back down, rushing forward to meet him.
Bam!
Their hands, fueled by raw power, collided. The clash of kunai rang out, deafening.
Sparks flew, the screech of metal echoing with each strike.
Tengen and the chunin darted across the arena, neither gaining the upper hand.
The flurry of attacks and counters left the students trembling. Was this really a student's strength?
It looked like two chunin locked in a taijutsu duel.
A moment's lapse, and they'd lose track of the fighters. If they were up there, they'd be cut down in seconds.
"I knew Tengen was strong, but facing a chunin head-on? That's unreal." Anko said, dazed.
"Is this Tengen's true power?" Mokawa trembled, his face pale. The gap between them was vast.
He'd dared to challenge Tengen, but now he felt like a fool.
"No, I'll get stronger. I'm a Uchiha!" Mokawa vowed, but Tengen's terrifying prowess was seared into his mind.
"Impressive. Tengen's holding his own against a chunin." Tsunade said, her interest piqued.
"My lil bro's no pushover." Jiraiya chuckled. He'd sparred with Tengen recently.
"Their taijutsu's evenly matched, but Tengen's at a disadvantage." Orochimaru observed.
"Ninjas aren't just about taijutsu." Jiraiya countered. "And Tengen's no slouch there either."
Bam!
Tengen's kunai pushed the chunin back slightly. His right leg whipped out, transforming into a gale-force strike.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
His leg slammed into the chunin.
This was an enhanced version of the Leaf Whirlwind taijutsu, Leaf Great Whirlwind.
Thud!
The chunin crossed his arms, blocking the blow, but the force sent him skidding back.
As Tengen charged, the chunin formed hand signs and sank into the ground.
"Earth Release: Headhunter Jutsu!"
A pair of hands erupted from the earth, seizing Tengen's legs and yanking him underground, leaving only his head exposed.
"I wi-" The chunin appeared beside Tengen, but before he could finish, the buried Tengen dissolved into smoke.
"Clone Jutsu? When?" The chunin gasped.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
***
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