"Roar-!"
A thunderous cheer erupted from the stands, nearly lifting the roof.
Countless sunflower seed shells and half-finished paper cups of water flew into the air, tossed by excited spectators.
The genius of the Hyuga Clan, Konoha's strongest clan.
Against that Senju freak who, rumor had it, could punch through walls and wield Wood Release with godlike finesse.
This matchup was more loaded than a bowl of ramen with two extra servings of pork.
Several jonin team leaders in the front row set down their teacups.
Kakashi tucked Icha Icha Paradise into his pocket, a rare trace of seriousness entering his dead-fish eyes.
Beside him, Guy rubbed his hands anxiously, the calluses on his palms rasping against each other.
"That kid Neji... he's been training like a madman this past month."
Neji rose from the other side of the stands.
He wore a brand-new short white jacket, and his air of cool arrogance was even stronger than it had been a month ago.
Rather than take the stairs, he lightly tapped his toes against a stone pillar.
Like a white bird, he floated down into the center of the arena, its floor covered in dust and scars from previous battles.
A faint puff of white dust rose beneath his feet.
"Thud."
A muffled impact.
Sen's entrance, meanwhile, was an entirely different story.
He dragged along in his old cloth shoes, their soles nearly worn flat.
He ambled down the rusty metal stairs, swaying with every step.
The stairway was so narrow that he bumped shoulders with a fat examiner on his way down.
"Whoa, excuse me. Coming through, coming through."
Sen let out an enormous yawn, nearly bringing tears to his eyes and making his nose run.
He carelessly wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, then smeared