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Chapter 37: The Next Rounds Begin

Haruto stood on the sidelines, watching as the proctor announced the next round of matches. There were still plenty of strong contenders left, and he was eager to see how things would play out. The arena hummed with tension, each genin focused, the air thick with anticipation. These matches would start separating the truly exceptional from the average, and Haruto couldn't help but feel his own excitement growing.

The first match was called: Reina Aoyama from the Land of Tea versus Taro Shimura from the Hidden Leaf. Reina, a quiet, calculating figure, stepped forward with calm confidence. She didn't look intimidating, but Haruto sensed that there was more to her than met the eye. Taro, on the other hand, was a stocky taijutsu specialist, built like a wall and clearly ready to brawl. His hands were wrapped tightly, and his expression was one of determination as he squared off with Reina.

The moment the match began, Taro rushed forward, trying to overwhelm Reina with a barrage of punches and kicks. His movements were fast, but Reina was faster, gracefully evading each attack with nimble footwork. It almost seemed like she was cornered, dodging without retaliating. But Haruto could tell she was waiting for the right moment.

Taro, growing frustrated by her evasive tactics, pressed harder. Finally, Reina made her move. In one fluid motion, she tossed a smoke bomb at Taro's feet. A thick cloud of smoke erupted, obscuring the arena for a brief moment. When it cleared, Taro was stumbling, his movements sluggish.

Haruto smirked as he realized what had happened. The smoke bomb had been laced with one of Reina's poisons—a slow-acting toxin that sapped Taro's strength. Now, the big genin could barely move. Reina approached calmly, placing a kunai to Taro's throat. The match was over, and the proctor declared Reina the winner.

"Interesting," Haruto muttered. Reina's style was all about patience and precision. She didn't overpower her opponents—she outsmarted them. It wasn't flashy, but it was effective.

Next up was Natsumi Inuzuka from Konoha and her black puppy versus Shinji from the Hidden Sound. Natsumi's reputation as a fierce competitor preceded her, and as soon as the match began, she and her dog charged at Shinji in perfect sync. The sound ninja struggled to keep up as Natsumi's relentless attacks came from all directions, her small partner biting and clawing alongside her.

Shinji tried to defend himself, launching shuriken and kunai, but Natsumi was too fast. Her movements were sharp and aggressive, her taijutsu overwhelming. In a matter of seconds, she and her dog had Shinji pinned, her canine companion clamping down on his arm. The match ended as quickly as it had begun, with Natsumi standing victorious.

The third match was one Haruto had been curious about: Jiro, a puppet master from the Land of Wind, versus Kenta Fujita, a Hidden Leaf genin. Jiro summoned his wooden puppet, the eerie creaking of its limbs filling the arena as it came to life. Kenta, visibly unsettled by the puppet, tried to defend himself with earth jutsu, raising walls to block its attacks. But the puppet was fast, its limbs extending and twisting unnaturally to strike from unpredictable angles.

With a swift motion, Jiro sent the puppet's arm flying forward, disarming Kenta and knocking him to the ground. The match was called in Jiro's favor, the puppet master barely breaking a sweat. Haruto noted Jiro's calm demeanor. He had the efficiency of a seasoned fighter, not wasting a single move. Another formidable opponent to keep an eye on.

The fourth match featured Kaito Tanaka, a Land of Tea genin wielding a long sword, against Rokuro from the Hidden Stone. Kaito's fighting style was graceful and precise, his blade cutting through the air with fluid motions. Rokuro tried to counter with earth jutsu, creating thick stone walls to protect himself, but Kaito was relentless. His sword cleaved through the barriers with ease, leaving Rokuro on the defensive.

With one final, elegant strike, Kaito disarmed Rokuro, sending his weapon flying across the arena. Rokuro, realizing he was beaten, raised his hands in surrender. Kaito was declared the winner, his calm, methodical style earning the respect of those watching.

As the proctor called for the next match, Haruto's attention was piqued. Genma Shiranui, another Konoha genin, stepped forward. Haruto recognized him instantly—the trademark toothpick in his mouth was a dead giveaway. In the future, Genma would become a well-known Jonin, but here, he was still just a genin like the rest of them. His opponent, a Hidden Sound ninja, seemed nervous, perhaps sensing the aura of confidence Genma exuded.

The match began, and Genma wasted no time. His movements were quick, but not overly flashy. He was precise, each strike calculated. His opponent tried to fight back, but Genma's agility and experience were too much to handle. In one smooth motion, Genma dodged an attack, countering with a series of swift strikes that left his opponent disarmed and on the ground. It was over in less than two minutes.

Genma's victory drew murmurs from the crowd. Haruto couldn't help but smile. It was rare to see someone as composed as Genma at such a young age. He would definitely be a competitor to watch in the later rounds.

With the conclusion of these matches, the preliminary rounds were drawing closer to an end. The strongest genin were beginning to emerge, and the competition was heating up. Haruto stood with Shisui and Daichi, feeling the excitement building within him. His own fight had been intense, but he knew the real challenge was yet to come.

"Next round's gonna be even tougher," Daichi muttered, crossing his arms.

Haruto nodded, his gaze focused on the arena. The strongest genin had made it through, and now it was time to see who would rise to the top.