The big screen began to scroll, and everyone looked over at the same time.
[Hiru Zeyu VS Uzumaki Naruto]
"No way..." Kakashi muttered, wearing a deadpan expression as he glanced at Naruto in front of him.
I got Naruto? This should be pretty boring, but at least I can keep a low profile, Zeyu thought as he looked at the big screen.
"Good luck, Zeyu-kun!" Hinata said with a smile, clenching her fist beside him.
Zeyu smiled at Hinata.
"Thanks, Hinata. I'll be right back."
With that, Zeyu vaulted over the railing and jumped into the arena, then looked back toward the viewing stands.
With his hands behind his head, Kiba watched Zeyu below with envy. "Zeyu's really lucky, getting the weakest opponent, Naruto. I wish I'd gotten him."
The few people around him who hadn't fought yet looked worried, cold sweat running down their faces.
"Okay, I'm up!" Naruto clenched his fists, looking excited as he prepared to head down.
Kakashi grabbed Naruto by the shoulder. "Don't go, Naruto. You're no match for him. Forfeit."
Naruto immediately pouted in displeasure and looked back at Kakashi. "Kakashi-sensei, aren't you supposed to encourage me?"
Sakura was confused too and tried to reason with him. "Kakashi-sensei, you should at least let Naruto try. Zeyu's only average in class. He's not that strong, is he?"
Naruto nodded in agreement.
Kakashi sighed helplessly and let go. "Well, don't say I didn't warn you."
Naruto stared at Kakashi, bewildered, his eyes narrowed.
With his hands in his pockets, Zeyu waited for Naruto upstairs. He was getting so bored that he yawned.
Seeing this, Hayate hurried Naruto along.
In the distance, the Third Hokage took out his pipe and began to smoke.
"Zeyu and Naruto? They should settle this pretty quickly," the Third Hokage thought with a chuckle.
He looked at the two already standing in the arena.
"Zeyu, I've wanted to have a proper fight with you for a long time. I won't hold back, so you'd better give it your all!" Naruto crouched slightly and smiled confidently.
Zeyu smiled and lowered himself into a fighting stance. "Yeah, yeah. I know you won't give up either, Naruto, so don't blame me for what happens."
Naruto was delighted that Zeyu had said just what he wanted to hear. He straightened up, held his fists out in front of him, and shouted, "Of course! My dream is to become Hokage! I can't go down here!"
Some of the spectators looked surprised, while others looked disdainful.
Another idiot. You're unlucky to have drawn that guy, Megumi thought, crossing her arms.
He's got some nerve, Kiba thought.
Go, Naruto! Sakura thought.
Here we go again. Honestly, Kakashi thought.
Just then, Hayate shouted and announced the start of the fight.
"Take this! Ura!" Naruto yelled, charging straight at Zeyu.
"Not bad, Naruto. You've got some spirit," Sakura said.
Naruto swung his fist at Zeyu. It looked like it was about to land.
Zeyu simply kicked him square in the chest.
Naruto cried out in pain and went flying.
He flew about ten meters before skidding along the ground and coming to a stop.
The arena fell completely silent. The air suddenly seemed still.
"Uh..." Sakura looked speechless, the corner of her mouth twitching.
"I told you, but you wouldn't listen." Kakashi sighed helplessly.
"Kakashi-sensei, why didn't Naruto dodge?" Sakura asked, puzzled.
"It's not that he didn't want to. Naruto couldn't react in time. He can't keep up with Zeyu's movements," Kakashi explained, looking at Naruto on the ground.
Naruto lay there for a little while, then clutched his chest and shakily got back to his feet.
"Y-you're... really strong," Naruto said, looking at Zeyu and coughing twice.
"You should probably give it your all, Naruto," Zeyu said, rolling his neck.
"Yeah," Naruto said, forming the cross-shaped hand seal.
"Shadow Clone Technique!"
A cloud of white smoke appeared out of nowhere. It dissipated in an instant, revealing five Narutos.
"Here we go!" the Narutos shouted in unison.
Three Narutos ran around to surround Zeyu, while another charged straight at him.
Hm? Is he going to use the Naruto Uzumaki Combo now? Zeyu thought, glancing around.
As he considered it, Naruto had already reached him and thrown a punch.
Zeyu smiled faintly and caught Naruto's fist with one hand.
The Naruto in front of him froze, cold sweat running down his face.
Zeyu looked behind Naruto. Sure enough, another Naruto was running toward him.
He glanced around and spotted three more Narutos running at him from different directions.
The Naruto in front realized his fist was caught in Zeyu's grip and couldn't move. Panicking, he threw another punch.
Zeyu caught that one too, then yanked hard and swung Naruto around without letting go.
Holding Naruto, he spun around twice.
The three clones surrounding him were struck by the feet of the Naruto in Zeyu's grasp. They each turned into clouds of white smoke and disappeared.
Zeyu released his grip and flung the Naruto in his hand toward the last one, who was hiding behind him.
The last Naruto cried out as he was knocked to the ground. His clone disappeared in a cloud of white smoke.
"The gap's too big. Naruto doesn't stand a chance," Kiba said.
Kakashi looked at Naruto on the ground and sighed helplessly. "It's over."
"Then..." Hayate looked at Naruto lying on the ground and stepped forward to announce the result.
"Wait!" Naruto cried, wiping the corner of his mouth. He slowly stood up, his face full of unwillingness, and stared at Zeyu.
"I... I can't go down yet! I'm going to be Hokage!" Naruto yelled, raising his hands to form the cross-shaped seal.
Does he still want to fight? Hayate wondered as he looked at Naruto.
"Honestly..." Zeyu said, looking at Naruto's determined expression with a helpless sigh.
The next second, Zeyu charged straight at Naruto.
Naruto was startled. Before he could use a jutsu, Zeyu was already in front of him.
Naruto flailed wildly, trying to punch Zeyu, but Zeyu vanished from sight.
Zeyu appeared behind Naruto and brought down a hand chop.
Naruto didn't have time to react. He felt a sharp pain at the back of his neck, then slowly began to lose consciousness as his eyelids drooped.
Zeyu whispered from behind him, "Sorry, Naruto. Go to sleep."
With that, Naruto collapsed face-first onto the ground.
Seeing this, Hayate immediately declared Zeyu the winner.
Zeyu turned toward Hinata on the second floor, smiled, and flashed a V sign.
Hinata's face instantly turned red, and she looked embarrassed.
"Zeyu-kun is amazing," Hinata murmured, clasping her hands to her chest.
"Tch, of course he'd win," Megumi said with her arms crossed, looking disdainful.
Just then, hurried footsteps approached, growing louder.
Shota rushed over to the group and hurried to the railing, anxiously looking down at the arena.
"Huh? Big bro's already finished? How could this happen..." Shota said, gripping the railing.
Then he plopped down on the floor, head drooping in disappointment.
Megumi saw this, rubbed her forehead helplessly, and sighed.
That idiot's hopeless, Megumi thought.
"Well, you'll get another chance," Nana said, crouching down and patting Shota on the shoulder to comfort him.
Zeyu jumped back up to the second floor and immediately hugged Hinata.
"I'm back. Where's my reward?" Zeyu said with a smile, stroking Hinata's head.
Hinata jumped in surprise, then obediently wrapped her arms tightly around Zeyu. She closed her eyes in his embrace, unable to resist taking in his scent.
Everyone there looked speechless.
"Anko, ask Hayate to come over for a moment," the Third Hokage said slowly, taking a puff from his pipe.
Down in the arena, Hayate was just about to start the next match when Anko's voice came through his earpiece.
He immediately went up to the Third Hokage on the second floor.
"What are your orders, Lord Hokage?" Hayate asked.
Anko also looked at the Third Hokage, puzzled.
After the group finished discussing things, Hayate came over to Zeyu and, seeing everyone's confused expressions, asked, "Zeyu, would you be willing to fight another match?"
"Why?" Zeyu asked.
"We're a little short on participants. But don't worry, you'll advance whether you win or lose this match," Hayate said, coughing twice.
"Was this arranged by Lord Hokage?" Zeyu asked.
"Yeah," Hayate replied, curious.
Is there something special about this shinobi that makes Lord Hokage pay so much attention to him? Hayate wondered, studying Zeyu.
Zeyu thought for a moment and looked toward the second-floor stands across from him.
Just then, Hinata looked up from his arms, worried. "Zeyu-kun, are you okay? Maybe you shouldn't fight."
Zeyu smiled faintly and stroked Hinata's head again. "It's okay, I'm fine. Don't worry. Sorry, Hinata, but you'll have to wait a little longer."
"I don't mind, but please be careful, Zeyu-kun. Don't push yourself," Hinata said, her eyes full of reluctance.
Zeyu kissed Hinata on the forehead, smiled, and said, "That's a kiss to put your mind at ease. Don't worry, Hinata. I'll be right back."
With that, he let go of her and followed Hayate down to the arena.
Hinata froze for a moment as the warmth against her slowly faded, and she couldn't help feeling a little lonely. But when she watched Zeyu's retreating figure, she touched her forehead and felt much more reassured.
Megumi watched from the side, furrowing her brow as she thought, unable to bear the sight.
He really knows how to show off.
"Yeah! Now I get to see big bro show off his skills! Woohoo!" Shota cheered excitedly.
"Oh no, did I jinx it?" Nana said awkwardly, covering her mouth.
"It's fine. No one here can beat Zeyu," Shino suddenly said from behind them.
Hearing this, the team members smiled and nodded.
Nana and Kurenai were also curious, and both looked toward Zeyu in the arena.