The next second!
A thick column of water surged out of the shadows behind Shinichi like a dragon bursting from the sea.
It slammed into the arena, sending water splashing everywhere and making the entire platform shudder several times!
The tremendous roar made everyone's eardrums ache, and the spectators gasped.
What kind of monster made an entrance like that?
The oppressive force washing over them alone was enough to make their skin crawl.
"Wahahaha! Finally, it's my turn!"
"I thought I'd be warming the bench all year! Turns out you idiots from the Sealed Village have some guts after all! You actually dared to challenge me by name!"
Jūsai stuck out his long tongue and gave his rusty broadsword a hard lick. Bloodthirsty excitement filled his face as he stared fixedly at Shinki.
"But don't be scared. I'll show you what real despair is soon enough!"
Shinki visibly froze for a moment. He hadn't expected the fellow to be so outrageously arrogant, but feeling the terrifying, deep-sea-like chakra fluctuations coming from him, he had to admit the man had the strength to back it up.
But why was there something so strange about him? He was soaking wet, like a drowned ghost freshly hauled out of the water.
"Here he comes!"
"It's Lord Jūsai!"
"Stunned, huh? Tough luck for that kid from Sunagakure, running into Lord Jūsai. Now we're in for a good show!"
Listening to the Mist Ninja talking around him, Shinki gained some idea of the situation. This freak before him seemed to be quite famous in Kirigakure.
At that moment, in Konoha's rest area outside the arena, a bespectacled kunoichi adjusted the frames on her nose and calmly analyzed the situation.
"The legendary 'Three Mists' have finally all made their appearances!"
"The first, Shinichi, is the strongest