At this moment, Uchiha Hayashi wore an expression as if he were walking to his own execution, dragging his feet toward the number draw. To him, every second of delay was another second stolen, because what awaited him at the end was the shadow of death.
He glanced down. His number was one.
Turning, he asked, "Mikoto, what number did you get?"
"I'm number three," she replied.
"And Minato?"
"Number two."
Three people. Three consecutive numbers. The arrangement felt far too coincidental.
Hayashi adjusted his Uchiha-marked trench coat and walked slowly toward the stage, his figure gradually coming into full view.
A sharp, cute face.
A presence that demanded attention.
His movements were confident, almost flamboyant, as though the strength he carried was too heavy to be hidden. For those watching, the aura he displayed in combat could only bring despair.
"Beat Uchiha Hayashi, that trash! Long live the Himeji cult!" a male student shouted from below the stage.
"Give me back my handsome image!" Hayashi snapped back, furious as his eyes locked on the heckler.
The crowd grew restless. The reason was simple: his opponent was Hyuga Himeji.
Both of them sat at the very top of Konoha's popularity charts. Hayashi was often named the "Most Wanted Boyfriend," while Himeji dominated the "Most Wanted Girlfriend" ranking.
But truthfully, the Himeji faction had the advantage. Not only admired by boys, Himeji was also adored by many girls, with rumors circulating that she might even prefer them.
Tension boiled beneath the stage as fans of each side nearly clashed.
Hayashi studied Himeji carefully. She had mostly recovered from her earlier injuries. Her skin was pale, her long light-blue hair flowed gracefully down her back, and her white pupils gleamed with a frigid calm. Her whole being carried an air of winter's chill.
"Uchiha Hayashi, please give me your guidance." Himeji spoke first, her voice steady.
That alone surprised him, though what struck him most was the resolute look burning in her usually unreadable eyes.
Hayashi straightened his back. "Hyuga Himeji, I'll be counting on you as well."
This battle wasn't just between two prodigies. It was also a clash between the Uchiha and Hyuga clans.
Hayashi refrained from activating his Sharingan immediately. His genjutsu required absolute focus and precision, manipulating the opponent's five senses and disrupting the chakra signals within their nervous system.
But Himeji, with her Byakugan, was a different type of adversary. With nearly 360 degrees of vision and unparalleled chakra control, she could disrupt any illusion by forcefully adjusting her chakra flow. She was one of the few in their generation capable of using the Eight Trigrams Rotation, a skill that demanded near-perfect mastery of chakra manipulation.
The fight began suddenly. Several shuriken whistled toward Hayashi's chest, thrown with impeccable accuracy. But shuriken were rarely meant to finish a fight—they were the opening act.
As expected, Himeji charged forward, aiming to bring her clan's Gentle Fist into play.
Hayashi pulled kunai from his pouch, his right hand flicking them into the air while his left deflected the incoming shuriken with precise movements.
By then, Himeji had closed the distance. Hayashi could see the length of her eyelashes as her hand darted toward his chest. His kunai counterthrust was quick, but she narrowly slipped past.
The two engaged fiercely.
It was clear that the Hyuga clan's taijutsu heritage was formidable. Though Hayashi concealed his full capability, the strength and speed he displayed were enough to match the best of their generation.
And Himeji was one of those few.
Hayashi suddenly withdrew his kunai and delivered a sharp kick. Himeji managed to block but was forced backward. Seizing the opening, Hayashi disengaged.
The kunai he had thrown earlier collided in midair and arced back toward her with deadly precision.
The sight drew awe from the audience. "It's coming!" Nawaki shouted, his voice filled with admiration.
The kunai closed in, but Himeji remained calm. Her Byakugan had already revealed their trajectory.
"In front of my Byakugan, all movements are meaningless," she whispered.
Isn't that supposed to be my Sharingan line? Hayashi thought bitterly.
Her kunai intercepted his with a sharp clang, but then she froze—lightning crackled around her hand.
"What—?!"
At some point, Hayashi had infused lightning chakra into his weapon, and the current coursed through her arm. In the next instant, he released a jutsu.
"Fire Release, Great Fireball Technique!"
The massive fireball roared forward, chakra-fed flames burning bright.
Himeji felt the searing heat approach. With her body momentarily paralyzed, she couldn't weave hand signs fast enough. Desperation flashed in her eyes.
"Eight Trigrams Rotation!"
Her chakra exploded outward, spinning fiercely as a barrier. The Great Fireball smashed into the rotation, flames scattering against the defense.
Hayashi clicked his tongue. "Figures. That technique never lets my fire style land."
Still, the strain on Himeji was visible. Using the Rotation twice in one day had clearly drained her.
She steadied herself, breathing harder now, determination blazing in her usually cold eyes.
Hayashi regarded her seriously. She wasn't just fighting to win; she was fighting to prove herself. But the ninja world didn't bend to sheer effort. Growth required hardship, breaking limits, and transformation.
To truly acknowledge her, Hayashi decided to fight with everything he had.
"Hyuga Himeji, show me the reach of your Byakugan. I'll be waiting."
Dust swirled as multiple copies of Hayashi appeared on the stage.
Himeji scanned them, but even her Byakugan struggled to distinguish the real one.
A sudden movement. Hayashi vanished in a blur of speed.
Orochimaru, watching from the sidelines, narrowed his eyes. He had seen this technique once before—from Uchiha Kagami. Hayashi had inherited it from his father's scrolls.
Himeji struck at the figure that rushed her, only for her hand to pass through empty space.
"An afterimage?" she thought—just before that same figure slammed a fist into her stomach, sending her reeling.
Another Hayashi followed up instantly, this time striking her from behind. Her shuriken passed harmlessly through him as his kick landed solidly against her abdomen.
Himeji staggered, completely unable to keep up.
"I am both the real body and not the real body," Hayashi's voice echoed, calm and relentless.
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