Chapter 22: The Elite Eight
"Already… over?"
"The Aburame boy lost like that? He couldn't even stop one move?"
Murmurs of disbelief rippled through the section of the audience watching Shinra's match. The referee who had just announced the start was still in the process of stepping back when Aburame Shibi's voice, tight with resignation, cut through the air.
But for those who had been paying attention, the shock was even greater.
That speed… it had been inhuman. A blur, a flicker, and it was over.
That kid is a monster.
The whispers grew louder, looks of astonishment following Shinra as he left the ring.
"Match concluded! Winner—Shinra!"
At the referee's official call, Shinra lowered his hand. Aburame Shibi stood frozen for a moment, the impact of such a swift, decisive loss clearly written on his stiff posture. They performed the Seal of Reconciliation and turned away.
From start to finish, Shinra had been unruffled, his victory achieved with the casual ease of a stroll.
"Shinra-kun, so cool!"
"Amazing, Shinra-san!"
His newly-acquired fan club, comprised of those not fighting in the first round, erupted in cheers.
Kushina's eyes shone with a mixture of excitement and fierce pride. "Not bad, you idiot," she said, beaming as if she'd been the one to win.
A moment later, another referee's voice rang out with similar finality. "Winner! Namikaze Minato!"
No surprise there. Minato, too, was advancing with crushing dominance.
The matches flew by. By noon, Shinra had fought four times. Each victory was a clean, overwhelming sweep. His last opponent, a classmate from Class A, had taken one look at the bracket, offered a wry smile, and forfeited on the spot.
The same held true for Minato.
If you asked any student in the grade who they least wanted to face, the answers were unanimous: Namikaze Minato and Shinra. Minato's position as the acknowledged top was undisputed. Shinra, after his brutal dismantling of Masaki Uchiha, had cemented a reputation that inspired pure dread.
This dominance did not go unnoticed in the VIP seats. Even Danzo and the heads of the major clans had their eyes on the dark-haired boy from the outer village.
"So, that's the outsider brat who defeated Masaki?" a man with sharp eyes and the Uchiha fan emblem on his back remarked, his tone detached.
"Indeed," Hiruzen Sarutobi replied, a satisfied smile playing on his lips as he puffed his pipe. "A fine seedling. It seems he's awakened a new Kekkei Genkai…"
He watched Shinra with a warm, proprietary gaze. The boy's performance was impeccable—calm beyond his years, decisive in battle, his movements sharp and efficient. His combat instincts seemed more honed than some seasoned chunin. And that faint, shimmering white aura… its destructive potential was alarming. Not a single defense had yet withstood it.
The Uchiha Patriarch offered no argument, merely giving a noncommittal "Hmph," his Sharingan-less eyes cold as they tracked Shinra's movements.
"Uzumaki Kushina, winner of the fourth match!"
The examiner's announcement, filled with admiration, officially heralded the birth of the quarterfinalists.
"Yes! I made it to the quarterfinals!" Kushina, still very much a girl at heart, jumped for joy, her vibrant hair flying.
"Well done," Shinra said, not stinting on praise. He reached out and ruffled her hair affectionately. "Now for the championship. Go get it."
"H-hey! Stupid Shinra, there are so many people… stop it!" Flustered by the public display of affection in front of the entire arena, Kushina's mind went momentarily blank. A deep blush spread from her neck to the roots of her hair, making her look utterly adorable.
The Elite Eight were set.
As expected: Shinra, Namikaze Minato, Uzumaki Kushina, and Uchiha Mikoto.
The remaining four were:
Hyuga Tensho, son of the Head of the Hyuga Main Family.
Akimichi Gen'en of the Akimichi Clan.
Sarutobi Hyakuri of the Sarutobi Clan.
Uchiha Shota of the Uchiha Clan.
Looking at the eight young figures assembled in the central ring, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a deep swell of pride. These children, without a doubt, would become the pillars supporting Konoha's future.
The jounin chief referee glanced at the Hokage, received a subtle nod, and turned to address the arena, his voice amplified by chakra.
"The quarterfinals… begin now!"
"First match: Shinra versus Hyuga Tensho!"
The spotlight narrowed, focusing on the two boys stepping forward in the now-silent arena. The gentle prodigy of the revered Hyuga clan, master of the all-seeing Byakugan and the precision-strike Gentle Fist, against the dark horse of terrifying, unexplained power.
The real tournament had begun.
(End of Chapter)
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