Tournament Winner

A/N: Triple Release (2/3) Our next target is to reach 500 powerstones by Sunday for a Double Release. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! Goal: 500 Powerstones! Let's increase our power ranking, right now we aren't doing too well!

All the other matches had taken place and ended. The finals were set. Karui had earned her spot, and Goro knew from the moment she won her last match that he'd be facing her. There was no excitement in the air, no sense of mystery—everyone in the room already knew who the final two would be. All they were waiting for now was the screen to flash their names, signaling the start.

Karui had been glaring at Goro from across the room, her mean-mugging relentless. The tension between them seemed to fill the space, though it was entirely one-sided. Goro couldn't understand what her problem was. He could feel her gaze burning into him, but it wasn't enough to pull his attention.

'What's her deal? This behavior is deranged. I'm not even giving her the same energy, so why is she still staring? Does she think this'll make a difference?'

Meeting her stare for a brief moment, it was clear she was trying to psych herself up, building the confidence she was lacking. Goro didn't feel the need to participate in her intimidation game.

He looked away from her, uninterested. The truth was, Karui could stare daggers at him all she wanted—he wasn't bothered. To Goro, the fight wasn't something to get worked up about. He had no emotional investment, no thrill of competition. His goal had never been about winning this match. He needed to get closer to the Raikage, that was all.

"She probably thinks she's intimidating me," Goro muttered, stifling a smirk.

The screen in front of them finally flickered, and their names appeared in bold letters. Goro's name next to Karui's, separated by a small "v," signaling it was time. Without a word, they both stood. Goro rose from his chair, stretching his neck and shoulders. Karui moved quicker, already tightening her fists. It was clear she had been waiting for this moment.

Goro's eyes shifted to her again. She was still locked in on him, her glare as intense as ever.

'Still at it, huh?'

Goro was amused by her attempts. The tension she was trying to build in the room might have worked on someone else, but not him.

They walked silently as they made their way down to the arena. The anticipation wasn't lost on the crowd—their excitement built with every step the two fighters took.

Dodai stood ready in the center, but there was no need for him to explain the rules again. Instead, he launched into a speech, his voice booming over the gathered spectators. "This match will decide the victor of the Chunin Exam tournament. The winner will not only receive their Chunin uniform personally from the Raikage, but will also be given the honor of making a personal request from him. This is a great honor. Not only that, but the Daimyo of this land himself will take note of the winner. Make your mark."

Goro smirked upon hearing Dodai's words. He felt closer to his goal than ever before. His victory was practically guaranteed; he just had to go through the motions.

With those final words, Dodai stepped back, giving them space. Goro glanced at Karui one last time before the match started. She was still glaring, still wound tight with nervous energy. He could almost feel her desperate need to prove herself.

'She's incredibly skilled. It's a shame that I had to be here, otherwise she would have probably won this tournament, or maybe had a higher chance of winning. I think Omoi may have taken it, actually...'

As soon as Dodai stepped back, Goro activated Overdrive. Lightning chakra crackled across his body, coursing through his muscles, sharpening his reflexes. He didn't move, though; there was no need to rush.

Karui, on the other hand, charged forward immediately, her sword drawn as she rushed headfirst at him. Goro watched her as she approached. Her speed was impressive for a genin, but nothing that Goro couldn't keep track of. As her sword came down toward him, he moved to catch it, but at the last second, she changed the angle, twisting her wrist with precision.

"She's nimble," Goro thought, his eyes tracking the blade's altered path.

But even with her agility, Goro could easily predict where her strike would land. He sidestepped the attack with ease, watching her blade cut through the air beside him. Karui had put a great deal of power behind the first swing, causing her to lose balance.

Karui didn't waste time. The moment her first strike missed, throwing her off balance, she pivoted, her feet light on the ground as she launched another assault. This time, Goro decided to end it. There was no point dragging the fight on. She was quick, but he was faster.

As she swung her sword again, Goro met her movement with a powerful kick, sending his foot directly into her blade. The force knocked the sword clean out of her hand, sending it flying across the arena.

Karui's eyes widened in shock, but before she could react, Goro followed through. Using the same leg, he twisted his body and delivered a second, decisive kick to the side of her head. The impact was swift and brutal. Karui's body went limp before she even hit the ground.

The match was over.

"After seeing the way he performed in his previous match, this could only be expected. That boy far supersedes his peers. He is just like me when I was younger," the Raikage contemplated, analyzing Goro.

The crowd was silent for a moment, as if they couldn't believe it ended so quickly. Medics rushed into the arena, placing Karui on a stretcher and carrying her away.

Yugito stood up, holding onto the side rail and leaning in closer to affirm what her eyes had seen. "Ridiculous," she thought.

"Winner: Namaki!" Dodai's voice echoed through the arena. The crowd was slow to start cheering, still perplexed at the one-sided match, but before long, Yugito began clapping as she was told, and the rest joined in, cheering for Goro and his win.

Goro remained still, feeling a warmth grow in his chest. A relief he hadn't felt in a long time washed over him. He had finally completed the great task of getting closer to the Raikage; now he just needed to complete the easy part of gathering information. Letting out a sigh, Goro looked at Dodai expectantly.

Dodai approached Goro, the cheers of the crowd still ringing through the arena. There was no grand gesture, no congratulations—just the formality of what came next. "You've earned it," Dodai said, his voice calm but proud. He reached into his pouch and pulled out a small storage scroll. With a flick of his wrist, the scroll unfurled, and a moment later, a certificate materialized in his hand.

"This is for you," Dodai said, handing over the certificate for Chunin Exam Winner. "Take it to the Raikage tomorrow. He'll be expecting you."

The Raikage, who had now stood up and was walking away with the Daimyo, locked eyes with Goro and gave him a nod of approval before continuing.

Goro took the certificate without a word, giving it a brief glance before tucking it under his arm. The match was over, and with it, the tournament. It was time for the next step.

The next day, after checking on Miki and Atsui at the hospital and making sure they were fine, Goro made his way to the Raikage's office. The path to the Raikage's office was long, but it wasn't as tough as climbing the Great Cloud Mountain.

'It's time to claim my prize.'

Arriving at the gates outside the Raikage's mansion, Goro approached the guards stationed outside. They eyed him, their expressions wary. Without hesitation, Goro handed them the certificate.

One of the guards took it, inspecting it closely. There was a brief silence as they exchanged a glance, then nodded. "You're cleared. Proceed," one of them said, stepping aside to allow Goro entry.

As he walked through the gates, Goro took in a deep breath and exhaled.

'There isn't a more crucial moment where I have to not act suspicious. The Raikage is a straightforward man, so if he senses any funny business from my side, he'll point it out and things will get awkward fast.'

Reminder: Our next target is to reach 500 powerstones by Sunday for a Double Release. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! Goal: 500 Powerstones!