"It's Uchiha Hirohiko! Kiko's in trouble!"
"Yeah! He's a genius of the Uchiha Clan."
"Hey, look at Snow Eagle's expression. Is he worried about Kiko?"
At that moment, murmurs rose from the stands. People occasionally glanced toward Hyuga Yukyō, who was staring intently into the arena, his face utterly serious.
Nozawa Sota beside him wore an equally worried expression.
Hearing people say that Hyuga Yukyō was worried about her, Mito Kiko turned to glance at him, only to feel disappointed once more.
He isn't worried about me. He's observing Uchiha Hirohiko!
Kiko turned back, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.
Even Uchiha Hirohiko gets more of his attention than I do? Damn it!
The match had already begun. Hirohiko wore a poker face as his hand reached into his Ninja Tool Pouch and drew several shuriken, ready to attack.
Then he suddenly noticed Kiko's piercing gaze and was briefly taken aback.
Why... did her eyes suddenly become so frightening?
Though surprised, Hirohiko did not hesitate. The shuriken in his hand shot straight toward Kiko.
Kiko's gaze sharpened.
Shuriken?
She also reached into her Ninja Tool Pouch, pulled out several shuriken, and flung them out with a flick of her wrist.
"Clang, clang, clang, clang!"
Four crisp clashes rang out as the eight shuriken collided and flew apart, embedding themselves in the ground with four heavy thuds.
In Shurikenjutsu, I won't lose to you! Even if you're a genius of the Uchiha Clan!
Kiko reached both hands into the Ninja Tool Pouches at her left and right waist, seemingly preparing to draw more shuriken.
Hirohiko had already drawn a kunai and was about to close in for melee combat. Seeing Kiko's movement, however, he halted, holding the kunai across his chest as if preparing to defend against this barrage of