Yagura contemplated Kisame's reaction and gave a slight smile.
"Among all the Demon Swords of our village, I am sure this is the most suitable for you. Do not let its reputation decline," he said confidently.
The so-called Demon Swords were legendary blades forged in Kirigakure, wielded by the seven most skilled warriors of the village, known as the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
Although each one already had an official owner, that did not prevent them from being temporarily loaned in special cases.
And given the importance of this Chūnin Exam, it was no surprise that Kirigakure had decided to rely on one of these swords as its trump card.
"I promise, sir! I will not disappoint you or Samehada's fame," Kisame exclaimed, unable to hide the excitement in his voice.
After all, he was still young and could barely believe that he held in his hands a treasure he had always admired.
Yagura did not seem to mind the boy's overflowing enthusiasm; on the contrary, he devoted himself diligently to showing him the different techniques and possible uses of Samehada.
Thus, two days of intense training passed, and before he even realized it, the appointed date arrived: the final day of the Chūnin Exam.
Just as Konoha had its own arena for the final test of the Chūnin Exams, it was natural that Kumogakure, one of the Five Great Villages, also had a similar stage.
"It's about to begin. This time, the Five Great Villages are participating in the Chūnin Exam! It's going to be incredible."
"I heard that in the first fight, there will be an Uchiha, one of Konoha's most promising geniuses. They say he's a prodigy. As soon as I found out, I bet 100,000 ryō on his victory."
"I don't know who will win in the end, but this promises to be spectacular…."
The stadium, with its imposing design and tiered stands, resembled the grand Roman Colosseum. Every seat was occupied, and the crowd buzzed with excitement. Among the attendees were not only the inhabitants of Kumogakure but also wealthy merchants, dignitaries, and even daimyōs from various nations.
In the main tribune, observing the stage with his characteristic authority, sat the Third Raikage.
Seated in a grand stone chair, his figure radiated power and respect. His posture, firm and majestic, made it clear who was the supreme authority of the village. The bamboo hat he wore barely concealed his stern gaze, fixed on the arena where the ultimate test was about to take place.
In a reserved section of the front row was the waiting area for the participants. Gen and the other seven contenders remained in their respective places, awaiting the start of the battle.
Eight in total… because Killer B had not shown up.
The official reason was his physical condition.
For many, that excuse was enough, but Gen was not convinced. There was something more…
First, there was the matter of secrecy surrounding the Jinchūriki.
Although Killer B had participated in the previous exam, his true nature only became evident when he exposed it in combat, and Kumogakure would undoubtedly want to avoid publicly revealing one of its greatest strategic assets.
The second reason had to do with security.
The stadium was packed with influential people, nobles, and merchants. If something went wrong, the repercussions could affect not only the Village Hidden in the Clouds but the entire Land of Lightning. A Jinchūriki, by nature, represented a risk. No one could guarantee that the fight would proceed without incident.
So, although Killer B's absence had been a surprise to many, Gen did not let himself be swayed by the confusion.
Back to the exam.
When the time reached its limit, that was when a Kumogakure ninja entered the vast field in the center of the stadium.
"Hello, everyone! My name is Dodai. I am the examiner and referee on this occasion…"
The man wore a hat that cast a shadow over his face and a patch covering his left eye, giving him a hardened appearance. His gaze calmly scanned the stadium before raising his voice.
After an introduction, in the end, Dodai announced the start of the exam.
"Go, Gen!"
From the waiting area, Touwo, with a confident smile, waved his hand enthusiastically.
Gen, who had remained silent until that moment, stood up calmly. With a serene expression, he nodded slightly towards Touwo, but his attention quickly shifted to Kisame, his opponent.
Kisame also stood up.
Their gazes met for an instant.
"..."
Gen said nothing, only watched him coldly before turning and advancing toward the arena. Kisame, for his part, gave a tense smile and followed him. Both walked through the entrance corridor, listening as the crowd's roar grew increasingly deafening.
Upon reaching the center of the coliseum, the sight that unfolded before them was impressive.
Despite the differences, the battlefield's layout had a familiar structure to Konoha's Arena: a vast open expanse, designed to allow unrestricted combat.
However, what truly set it apart was its surroundings.
All around, nature was strategically integrated into the stage. Enormous rock formations. Trees with lush canopies cast scattered shadows. To one side, a small lake with crystal-clear waters.
It was the perfect terrain for any type of strategy.
Gen stopped several meters away from Kisame.
In complete silence, his gaze settled on something on Kisame's back: an object wrapped in strips of cloth. The shape was unmistakable. There was no doubt it was a weapon… but what truly caught his attention was the sensation emanating from it.
Kisame noticed his gaze, but instead of reacting, he maintained his composure. His focus was entirely on Gen.
There was not only caution in his eyes but also a hint of respect, knowing that this battle would be anything but easy.
With his chakra surging intensely, his body was ready to move at any moment.
Dodai, still at the center of the field, looked at both of them and raised his hand.
"Alright, both combatants have now entered the arena. The first match will be between Gen Uchiha of Konohagakure and Kisame Hoshigaki of Kirigakure."
He evaluated them one last time and, in a booming voice, proclaimed:
"As the examiner of this battle, I officially announce… the start right now!"
His final word was spoken with emphasis, and at that very instant, he vanished from the field in the blink of an eye, thanks to the Lightning Body Flicker Jutsu.
!
The starting signal had barely been given when Kisame, already prepared to attack, unleashed his offensive without the slightest hesitation.
His chakra surged violently as his gaze, intense and battle-hungry, locked onto Gen. Without wasting a second, he reached for his back and unsheathed his weapon.
Samehada.
Without stopping, Kisame hurled it forward with terrifying force.
But "hurled" wasn't the exact word to describe it.
Unlike a normal sword, Samehada's handle suddenly extended, revealing that it was connected to a hidden chain. In the blink of an eye, the blade was propelled like a projectile, traveling at extreme speed toward Gen.
The bandages covering the weapon's front tore apart in the process, and with a shredding sound, they revealed the true form of the dreaded sword.
Samehada was no ordinary weapon.
Its blade was neither smooth nor uniform. It was spines—living scales with a will of their own, ready to tear through flesh and absorb chakra. At that moment, the image it projected was that of a beast, ready to turn Gen into a human pincushion in the blink of an eye.
"That's the great sword Samehada!"
"One of the legendary Seven Demon Swords of Kirigakure… Have they really allowed a weapon of this level to be used in this exam?"
"That attack is insanely fast!"
"That Uchiha from Konoha could be in serious trouble… This guy from Kirigakure isn't here to play around."
"The fight has only just begun… Let's see if Gen Uchiha is really as incredible as the rumors say."
________
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