Ebisu's classmates were stunned, too.
"Ebisu blocked it?"
"Is he really that good?"
"Everyone before him went down in one move!"
"Ebisu can actually hold his own against that guy?"
"That's amazing, Ebisu!"
Hearing their voices, Ebisu felt a strange sensation well up inside him.
But before he could figure out what it was, Shin swung at him again.
Ebisu blocked it again.
Then came another swing.
And another.
None of the swings were very fast, and every one was just easy enough for Ebisu to block.
Gradually, Ebisu understood.
This guy... was playing with him?
At the edge of the field, Kakashi watched, the corner of his mouth twitching. Without thinking, he glanced toward the judges' stand.
Yūnagi Asagi was watching the match intently, a faint smile on her face.
Kakashi looked back at the Red Figure, who was putting up such a "good fight," then shook his head.
That guy was hopeless.
"Clang."
Their weapons collided again.
Ebisu panted, sweat already beading on his forehead. But when he looked at Shin, his opponent wasn't even breathing hard. He was even glancing over at the judges' stand now and then.
Ebisu followed his gaze.
On the judges' stand, the beautiful female teacher was watching them.
Ebisu suddenly felt he understood what was going on. He backed away two steps, raised his hand, and shouted, "I forfeit!"
The crowd erupted in surprise.
"Why did Ebisu forfeit?"
"Wasn't he doing pretty well?"
"Yeah, he kept up with that guy for so long. Why forfeit?"
Hearing them, Ebisu could only smile bitterly to himself.
Kept up with him for so long?
That's because he never intended to beat me.
Shin stood where he was, looking disappointed that it was over.
"Huh? You're forfeiting already?"
Ebisu ignored him and left the field.
Shin blinked, looking down at the Wooden Sword in his hands, then over at the judges' stand.
Asagi-sensei was writing something down. Then she looked up and smiled at him.
Shin's heart nearly leaped out of his chest.
"Shin Nohara wins," Teacher Ibuki announced. "You can leave the field."
Only then did Shin snap out of it. Hugging his Wooden Sword, he walked off, looking back every few steps.
At the edge of the field, he ran into Kakashi.
Kakashi looked at him, his expression complicated.
"You did that on purpose."
Shin blinked. "Did what on purpose?"
Kakashi didn't answer. He just glanced toward the judges' stand.
Shin followed his gaze, then chuckled.
"Kakashi, do you think Asagi-sensei saw that?"
Kakashi was silent for two seconds.
"She saw."
Shin's eyes curved into crescents.
"Good."
Kakashi stared at his satisfied expression, suddenly at a loss for words.
This guy...
He did all that just for this?
The four finalists were announced soon after.
Kakashi Hatake, Shin Nohara, Uchiha Toru, Mitaraishi Anko.
The atmosphere on the school field was much more charged than before. The eliminated children gathered around the edges, and even the teachers put down their record books to focus on the contestants.
The first semifinal was Mitaraishi Anko versus Kakashi Hatake.
Anko wielded a Kunai and attacked like a little beast, but Kakashi calmly blocked her strikes. At last, he caught an opening and struck her wrist with the back of his sword.
The Kunai flew from her hand.
"Winner: Kakashi Hatake."
Anko bit her lip, glared at Kakashi in frustration, and left the field.
Then came the second match.
"Shin Nohara versus Uchiha Toru."
The crowd fell silent, then began buzzing.
"Uchiha Toru? From the Uchiha Clan?"
"I heard his family trains him strictly. He's been practicing since he was little."
"Shin Nohara's no pushover, either. He took everyone out in one move."
"That's not the same thing! Can any of those guys compare to the Uchiha Clan?"
Holding his Wooden Sword, Shin ambled into the field.
Uchiha Toru walked up to meet him.
They took their positions.
Shin looked at Uchiha Toru and blinked.
"Xiao Che, I don't think we've ever fought before."
Uchiha Toru nodded, his expression serious. "No, this is our first time."
"Then you'd better be careful. I'm really strong."
Uchiha Toru paused, then smiled. "I know."
"Begin!"
As soon as Teacher Ibuki's voice fell, Shin moved.
The Red Figure flashed forward, his Wooden Sword already swinging down.
Uchiha Toru's pupils contracted. He dodged to the side, then thrust his Kunai toward Shin's ribs with a reverse grip.
Shin brought his sword around to block. Their weapons rang out with a clang, and they each retreated a step.
A wave of gasps swept through the crowd.
"He blocked it?"
"Uchiha Toru actually blocked that guy's first strike?"
"Everyone before him went down in one move!"
Uchiha Toru stared intently at Shin, inwardly astonished.
What incredible speed.
If he hadn't been prepared, he never would have dodged that strike.
Shin looked at him, his eyes brightening.
"Xiao Che, you're amazing."
Uchiha Toru said nothing. He tightened his grip on the Kunai and charged forward.
The Kunai stabbed toward Shin's shoulder. As Shin dodged to the side, he swept his Wooden Sword across, but Uchiha Toru couldn't get out of the way in time.
With a bang, white smoke burst into the air.
Shin blinked.
When the smoke cleared, only a Wooden Stake remained.
Gasps came from the sidelines.
"Substitution Technique? He can use the Substitution Technique in first grade?"
"That's only required for the Graduation Exam."
"The Uchiha Clan really is different!"
Shin paused. Then he felt a gust of wind behind him. Without even turning his head, he swept his Wooden Sword backward.
"Clang."
The Kunai was knocked aside. Uchiha Toru's strike had missed, but he didn't stop attacking as he leaped back. Instead, he formed Hand Seals.
Snake, Ram, Monkey...
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
Uchiha Toru took a deep breath, then spewed a burst of flames from his mouth. It quickly swelled into a fireball over a meter in diameter and roared toward Shin.
The students at the edge of the field stared wide-eyed.
"Fire Style!"
"Uchiha Toru knows Fire Style?"
"Seriously? He's so young!"
Teacher Ibuki stood at the edge of the field, leaning forward slightly and ready to step in at any moment.
As the fireball came at him, Shin darted to the side. It grazed his clothes and struck the ground two meters behind him, bursting into a spray of sparks.
"That was amazing," Shin said with genuine admiration. "Xiao Che, you can breathe fire!"
Uchiha Toru panted but didn't answer.
The Great Fireball Technique was still too much for him. That one attack had nearly drained more than half his Chakra.
But Uchiha Toru didn't stop. He threw a Shuriken and formed Hand Seals again.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
More than a dozen small fireballs flew at Shin from every direction, like scattered petals.
The crowd's gasps grew louder.
"Another Fire Style technique!"
"How many Ninjutsu does he know?"
"Is he really only in first grade?"
Before you continue