Haruna eyed the boy beside her curiously, still wearing a proud look.
"My sister's strong, of course. But you know her? Who are you?"
"My name's Ranmaru," he answered quietly, nervous.
It was the first time he had spoken to someone his own age. His frail body had kept him isolated, and later, taken away by Kurosuki Raiga, he'd never seen children at all.
Ranmaru?
Haruna blinked, then her eyes lit up. She clapped his shoulder—though he was half a head shorter.
"I remember now! Sister told me once she brought back a boy named Ranmaru from a mission. That's you, right?"
Her excitement blinded her to the fact that she, too, was still a child.
Ranmaru fiddled with his clothes and nodded stiffly.
Meanwhile, in the arena, Chojuro and Ringo Ameyuri faced one another.
"Ameyuri-san, you already deserve to wield Kiba. Defeating Kurosuki Raiga proves it," Chojuro said gently.
"I don't think so," she shot back. "He relied on a child's strength. A shinobi like that had long since lost the spirit of a warrior. One mistake and the fight was over—and I wasn't alone on that mission."
Her grip tightened on Kiba. Sparks danced across the blades.
"What I want is your recognition, Chojuro-senpai. I want everyone to know that I, Ringo Ameyuri, am the true wielder of Kiba!"
Chojuro sighed, realizing there was no avoiding it.
He unslung Hiramekarei, gripping it with both hands. His boyish shyness faded; his eyes were serious.
Ameyuri's gaze sharpened. Hiramekarei could absorb chakra, expand, and fire it at range. To win, she had to close the distance.
Crossing the blades before her chest, she ran through seals.
"Lightning Style: Fang!"
Bolts arced between the swords before lashing toward Chojuro.
He raised Hiramekarei, blocking calmly.
She moved at the same instant, lightning crackling through her legs, doubling her speed.
In a flash, she was at his back, blade thrusting—
But Chojuro's form burst into spray. A water clone.
The real one stood off to the side.
"Hiramekarei—Release!"
The weapon swelled to massive size as he swung. A beam of chakra shot forth.
Ameyuri crossed Kiba, snarling:
"Lightning Style: Sphere!"
The lightning gathered into a sphere at her blades' tips, crashing into the beam with a thunderous blast.
The crowd erupted, all eyes drawn to the clash. Even those waiting to test themselves stopped to watch.
"Interesting. They're going all out," a Hozuki jōnin muttered.
Ameyuri pressed forward, weaving more seals.
"Water Style: Great Waterfall Technique!"
A torrent surged from her mouth.
Chojuro frowned. Such a jutsu was chakra-intensive but hardly dangerous.
He cleaved with Hiramekarei, splitting the flood in two.
But Ameyuri was already there again, Kiba glowing.
"Hiramekarei—Split!"
Chojuro split the sword into its twin blades, charging in. Hiramekarei was famed for ranged power, but his close combat was no weakness.
She smiled.
Mid-stride, her body halted. She twisted her wrist and hurled one blade of Kiba like a spear.
Chojuro struck it aside with Hiramekarei, sending it clattering away.
"Got you," she whispered.
She stabbed the remaining sword into the ground.
"Lightning Fang Art—Gate!"
The ground sparked. Moist from her Waterfall Technique, it carried the current instantly.
Chojuro stiffened. Lightning surged from the discarded blade, locking him in place.
"This is… Lightning Fang Arts," he muttered, grimacing.
From the stands, the Hozuki jōnin's eyes lit. "Using the water to prime the field, then the dual blades to form a circuit… clever."
Ameyuri's smile turned dazzling. "Forgive me, Chojuro-senpai!"
"Lightning Fang Art—Falling Thunder!"
The current surged, converging on the sword in the ground.
An immense column of lightning roared down around Chojuro.
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