Dust flew across the arena, and smoke billowed over the shattered ground!
"Whoa!!"
The stands erupted in an uproar!
"Is this what battles between ninja are like? Amazing!" someone cried in astonishment, staring at the arena with wide eyes.
"Is that child all right? The ground's been smashed into a huge crater!!"
A woman covered her mouth, watching Tokino anxiously through the clouds of dust and smoke.
"So this is Sosuke's strength... I never imagined that boy was so powerful..." a man murmured, dumbfounded.
After all, the civilians lacked the skill to spot some of the finer details.
In the Uchiha Clan's section.
Even the clan head, Uchiha Maya, looked briefly stunned and watched the arena in confusion.
At that distance... with Tokino's three-tomoe Sharingan, how had he failed to notice Sosuke? Or had Sosuke used some kind of trick...?
Hiruzen Sarutobi, seated alongside the Feudal Lords, was also watching Sosuke's battle intently. He, too, was surprised by what he saw.
That boy... had already grown this strong...
In the examinees' section.
In a corner, Uchiha Sakuya watched the scene with a pale face. Her slender hands were clenched tight, the veins standing out.
Her wide eyes were filled with worry!
Brother... be careful...
Nearby, several people who knew Sosuke and Tokino watched with grave expressions!
They imagined themselves in Tokino's place, facing Sosuke. Would they be able to handle him?
The answer was... no...
In the arena.
Sosuke stood where he was.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he gazed at the area shrouded in dust and smoke. He spoke softly.
"You're quite a tenacious one."
"Crack!" "Crack!"
Uchiha Tokino, covered in wounds, pushed aside the rubble. His wide, blood-red eyes glared at Sosuke through the smoke, but he couldn't suppress his astonishment!
How