At the Grand Martial Arts Tournament venue in Torrent City, night had fallen, but the feverish atmosphere had only grown more intense. The tournament's much-anticipated Heaven Shinobi Challenge was about to begin!
Only those who had defended their titles for five consecutive tournaments, or seven tournaments in total, earning the eternal earth shinobi qualification, could challenge a Heaven Shinobi at the end of the Grand Martial Arts Tournament!
To use Honor of Kings as an example, if the earlier matches were the ranked ladder, what came next was the KPL-the stage for professional players, a clash between the Ninja world's strongest fighters!
Boom! Boom! Boom-boom!
On the open grounds, twenty burly men from the Akimichi Clan pounded the drums with all their strength!
The Sarutobi Clan's elites performed flips, spewing dazzling flames into the sky!
The female Ninja from the Land of Nadeshiko danced gracefully, their long sleeves flowing!
Masculine strength and feminine grace blended seamlessly against the flames, earning a roar of cheers and applause!
The opening performance ended!
"Woo-yoooo~~~~~~~~!" Teacher Kogane, the pioneer of enka Ninja, stood atop an old raccoon's head. After delivering a note steeped in Showa-era flair, he announced in a ringing voice, "Let us welcome the Eternal Earth Shinobi to the stage!!!!!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Figures flashed from the stands on all eight sides and landed in the open arena!
Some were old, some young, but every one of them was a renowned Ninja!
The Third Hokage, the professor of ninjutsu-Hiruzen Sarutobi!
Amegakure's Angel, the unattainable beauty-Konan!
Konoha's beast, instructor of the imperial guard-Might Guy!
The legendary female Ninja, wife of the First-Mito Uzumaki!
The silent tale, the lecher of the Sannin-Jiraiya!
Greatness through ample capacity, the gambler of the Sannin-Tsunade!
Peerless elegance, the poison of the Sannin-Orochimaru!
The Senju orphan who finally came