Sasuke stared at the wall made of solid wood, then glanced at Toru Kujyo's impassive face. Finally, he gave a cold snort, dismissed his Chidori, deactivated his Cursed Seal, and turned to leave the arena.
The red chakra around Naruto slowly faded as well. He knelt on one knee, gasping for breath, his fists clenched so tightly that his nails nearly dug into his flesh.
I lost. I was utterly crushed.
He watched Sasuke's indifferent retreating figure, then looked at Toru Kujyo, who had blocked Chidori with ease, his eyes filled with conflicting emotions. That enormous gap in strength weighed on his heart like a mountain.
The lively party drew to a close amid a somewhat somber atmosphere. As everyone left, Shikamaru took one last look back at the grand estate bathed in the setting sun. It still had no name, yet it loomed in a corner of Konoha like a silent beast, mysterious and oppressive.
Toru Kujyo stood at the entrance, watching his friends depart. At some point, the gentle smile on his face had turned into something far more meaningful.
The pieces were in place. The game had only just begun.
The heavy atmosphere in the arena did not last long. With Toru Kujyo mediating, a conflict that might have escalated dissolved into nothing. The boys left first, each carrying his own complicated feelings, while Toru Kujyo asked the girls to stay and continue touring the mysterious estate.
They crossed the cold arena area and went around the traditional Japanese buildings. When Toru Kujyo pushed open the door to the modern villa, Sakura Haruno's and Ino Yamanaka's mouths once again formed perfect O's. If the gardens outside were a vision of classical luxury, this was a paradise from the future.
Yet it was only when they entered a