The first fight is Hoshi vs. Kukolnik.
The second fight is Suna's fanfight against Jiraiya's absolutely no genin, who passed only thanks to a strong partner.
Third fight - Uchiha vs. Namikaze.
Fourth fight - genin Takigakure vs. Asani.
Fifth fight - swordsman Kumo vs. taijutsu user Suna.
Sixth fight - Kushina versus ninjutsu user Kumo.
Seventh fight - Kumo, a melee swordsman who escaped from my team, versus another Suna user.
Minato and Kushina can only meet in the finals, but it would have been a good way to get rid of a serious opponent! Kushina takes out the blond and then fights one of my students in the finals of the tournament! Unfortunately, luck has changed and it's my students who will have to fight Namikaze to reach the quarterfinals or semifinals. I doubt the Uchiha can win, even looking at having a sharingan with two tomoi in each eye and decent physical fitness to use it to its full potential.
Knowing Jiraiya, he probably let the blond sign his summoning scroll and that trump card can't be beaten so easily even with dojutsu. Of course, even with his best efforts, Minato wouldn't be able to summon anything bigger than himself by now - just look at my summoning - but even an ineffective partner could affect the outcome of the fight.
While I was thinking, the clansmen reached me and took their seats according to the tickets, and I raised an eyebrow in surprise as I assessed my positioning. The heir sat on the right hand of the clan head, then Setsura and a few elders behind her, and on my left hand was me, followed by Saya and Linley and her daughter, clearly showing my uncle's attitude towards my importance to the clan. And judging by the appraising looks from the other clansmen around me, the hint was taken correctly.
- I hope your girls will do well today," Shenesu said quietly, leaning toward me, "I've spoken to most of the jonin council committee, and they didn't like Sarutobi's behavior, so if the genin demonstrate the necessary skills, the jonin's vest is in their pocket.
I didn't check with him to see if there was anything more to it than just a simple conversation and if the resentment at Sarutobi had so influenced their opinion, versus the opportunity to do a small favor for the new first-degree iryonin.
- You can rest assured - they'll win their first fights with no problem," I nodded confidently in response, "and for the next one at Hoshi-chan's, I have no doubts about winning.
I cast a quick glance at the council jonin box, which was located just below the village leaders and was glad that in this case, the Hokage's vote was only one of many, and if three of the six shinobi gave their vote to the genin, Hiruzen would have to wipe himself and give out his vest, despite his reluctance to do so. Of course, after the tournament and Namikaze becoming a chunin is practically guaranteed, but as if one could expect otherwise.
- Great, so my bets won't go to waste," Uncle grinned suddenly, winking slyly.
I mirrored his smirk - I was betting not only my own money, but that of my students as well. The odds were one in nine for Hoshi to reach the semifinals, and one in twelve for Asani, given that either the Uchiha or Namikaze would be fighting against her, so the ten million ryo invested on the former, not counting the little things about the apprentices, should bring a handsome profit.
And the head of Nara had to bet an even larger sum on Hoshi. Naturally, he had asked me about the odds a few days ago and had almost certainly made the same bet. On the first fights the odds were much more modest - one to one and one to one and a half.
Bookmakers, oddly enough, accountable to the Sarutobi clan, gave much less good ratios, clearly not singling out the girls as favorites, but acknowledging their ability to win. It seemed that the counselors were not impressed with the skills they had shown in the qualifying battle, which was what I wanted, having ordered Hoshi-chan to stay on Surizawa's level.
A horn sounded over the stadium, blocking out the noise of the crowd for a moment and signaling the start of the event, and the Hokage rose from his seat, waiting for the stands to quiet down and pay attention to him.
- Dear guests, it is a pleasure to welcome you...
Habitually letting the village head's speech pass my ears - heard a few, heard them all - I shifted my gaze to the field, where the jonin had lined up the genin in a sparse chain. Oh well, we'll see if all my efforts were enough.
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