The atmosphere at the preliminaries remained tense. The electronic screen flashed again, settling on two familiar names:
Sakura Haruno vs Ino Yamanaka
"Huh?!" Both girls cried out at once, complicated expressions crossing their faces. They had once been best friends, but their shared crush on Sasuke had driven them apart and even turned them into rivals.
Up in the stands, Ling also turned his gaze toward the arena. This clash between teammates stirred little in him, but when his eyes fell on the cheerful, outspoken girl with the blond ponytail, they lingered a moment longer than usual.
[Oh?] Tobirama's cold, keen consciousness immediately caught that minute fluctuation in Ling's emotions. [It seems you feel somewhat differently about that little girl from the Yamanaka Clan.]
Ling inwardly tensed, immediately reining in his thoughts and replying calmly, "She's just a classmate."
[Hmph. No need to deny it.] Tobirama's voice seemed to carry an exceedingly rare, almost imperceptible hint of teasing. [That emotional fluctuation may have been slight, but it couldn't escape my perception. Ino Yamanaka... her temperament is more straightforward than that shy little girl from the Hyuga Clan or that hotheaded little girl from the Haruno family. The Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques focus on the mind. Their potential is respectable, provided she receives proper guidance...]
Tobirama paused, seemingly giving the matter serious thought. Ling could even feel the Second Hokage's mind racing within their mental space, as though assessing the value of an important strategic resource.
Down below, the battle had already begun.
"Ino-pig! There's no way I'm losing to you! Especially not in front of Sasuke-kun!" Sakura took a fighting stance and shouted, trying to hide her nerves behind her voice.
"Forehead! Stop talking big! I'm the one who's going to win!" Ino refused to back down, her hands already