Do That, and They'll Turn the Tables on You

The ninja sparring matches had reached the last few bouts, and the final showdown was almost upon them.

"Momokusa Harukawa, you're next. Who will you choose as your opponent?" Asuma Sarutobi asked.

"I choose..." Momokusa Harukawa swept her gaze over the crowd before saying, "I choose Linghua-Reika Hyuga-as my opponent."

"You little rascal! All right, then! Just don't let me hurt you!" Reika Hyuga said with a smile.

With her hands behind her back, Momokusa Harukawa smiled sweetly and said, "Come on, Linghua!"

"All right, next up is Momokusa Harukawa versus Reika Hyuga!" Asuma Sarutobi announced as he stepped aside.

After the two bowed to each other, the match began!

"Little Harukawa, here I come. Be careful!" As she spoke, Reika Hyuga assumed an Eight Trigrams Palm stance.

"Come on!" Momokusa Harukawa said, watching Reika Hyuga as she readied herself for battle.

Reika Hyuga charged at Momokusa Harukawa, thrusting both palms forward as she said softly, "Take this, Harukawa!"

Momokusa Harukawa stood watching Reika Hyuga rush toward her. Then her gaze sharpened, and she charged forward as well.

As they clashed, Momokusa Harukawa knocked Reika Hyuga's palm strike aside, while Reika Hyuga blocked Momokusa Harukawa's kick.

They continued trading blows, parrying strikes and blocking kicks, until both were nearing their physical limits.

"Here I come. Watch out!" Momokusa Harukawa said to Reika Hyuga.

With that, Momokusa Harukawa drew three Ruowu with Explosive Tags tied to their ends. All three flew from Harukawa's hands, heading straight for Reika Hyuga.

Reika Hyuga was no pushover either. She remained calm at the sight of the three Ruowu Momokusa Harukawa had thrown. Spotting a piece of wood on the ground, she quickly picked it up and raised it in front of herself just as the Ruowu were about to reach her.

Thock! Thock! Thock!

All three Ruowu embedded themselves in the wood. Just as a smile appeared on Reika Hyuga's face, the Ruowu lodged in it exploded.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Smoke billowed up where Reika Hyuga had been standing. When it cleared, she was sitting on the ground.

Thinking the Explosive Tags had injured Reika Hyuga, Momokusa Harukawa immediately ran over and crouched beside her. "Linghua, what's wrong? Are you hurt? Let me see!"

As Momokusa Harukawa worried over Reika Hyuga, Ruri Hyuga smiled from the sidelines and said, "Harukawa! You're still too young! You're strong, but you're too softhearted!"

At that moment, the corners of Reika Hyuga's mouth lifted, and she said quietly, "Harukawa, you lost!"

Only then did Momokusa Harukawa notice that Reika Hyuga was holding a Ruowu against her stomach.

"Harukawa, you're far too softhearted! If this happened on a battlefield, would you run over to your enemy and ask about their injuries too?" Reika Hyuga asked, looking at Momokusa Harukawa.

"Oh well! A loss is a loss! As long as Linghua's all right, that's what matters. Hehe!" As she spoke, Reika Hyuga put away the Ruowu in her hand, and Momokusa Harukawa helped her back to Ruri's side.

"Reika Hyuga wins!" Asuma Sarutobi announced with a smile.

"Ah, what a shame! If Harukawa weren't so softhearted, she would've won this match!"

"Exactly! You really can't afford to be softhearted on the battlefield! Otherwise, your enemy could turn the tables and kill you!"