Sasuke walked into the lit area on his own.
Naruto reached out to support him, but he raised a hand to stop him. Before entering the light, he opened his eyes.
He had barely settled into position when his opponent moved first.
Zaku flipped his hand, sending a blast from his palm skimming over the bricks and lifting a layer of dirt.
Wind pressure palm. The wind arrived before the palm did.
The examinees in the front row all stepped back half a pace, then held their ground. The guards outside the edge of the arena stood in a line.
Sasuke tilted his head. The wind brushed past his shoulder and scattered behind him.
The wind stirred up the earthy smell of dirt. Someone in the front row covered their face with a sleeve.
Zaku did not wait for the wind to stop. He was already following through with his second step.
His left arm had never swung out, not even at the start. Every attack came from his right hand.
He was rushing.
The strap of the Forehead Protector across from him had come loose, but Sasuke had not spared a hand to tie it.
Sasuke evaded the third strike, then switched from defense to offense.
An elbow drove in beneath the wind.
Zaku retreated too hastily. On his third step, his back heel caught against the floor. Once steady, he shook his right hand, curling and uncurling his fingers.
Breaths hissed around the arena. Someone edged half a step toward the lit area, only to be caught by the sleeve by the person beside them.
The moment he pulled his palm back, he glanced toward the edge of the arena, where several pairs were still waiting.
Three paces separated them. Neither advanced again.
Sasuke did not pursue him.