The Arena's Dance

With that, the opening ceremony concluded. The announcers took over, their commentary further igniting the crowd's excitement.

Kaizen took his place among the other Year 1 competitors as the announcers began explaining the structure of the tournament. Their voices boomed through the stadium.

"Today's tournament features the top students from Classes A-C of Years 1 through 6," the first announcer began. "Each year group will have their top 8 students competing in a series of matches to determine the best of the best."

The second announcer chimed in, "That's right! The competition will be fierce, and we're expecting to see some incredible talent. First up, we have the Year 1 matches. Let's give a warm welcome to these young warriors!"

The crowd roared in approval, their cheers echoing throughout the stadium.

The tournament brackets for each year group were shown to the audience, highlighting the matchups. Kaizen scanned the brackets, quickly locating his name among the Year 1 competitors. He noted the names of his potential opponents, preparing himself for the matches ahead.

The announcers introduced the first match with their usual enthusiasm.

"In the red corner, we have Kaizen! Known for his exceptional taijutsu skills and high intelligence, he's been making waves since joining the academy. And in the blue corner, we have Sora Hoshino, a speed and agility specialist from Class B!"

Kaizen stepped into the arena, feeling the eyes of thousands of spectators on him. The roar of the crowd was almost deafening, a sense of anticipation filling the air.

Sora Hoshino, a lean boy with a determined expression, stepped forward. He bowed respectfully, and Kaizen returned the gesture. The match began with the sound of a gong, and the two competitors sprang into action.

Sora darted forward, his quickness a challenge for most. Kaizen watched, noting the rhythm of his opponent's movements. As Sora launched a series of strikes, Kaizen dodged and parried, moving smoothly around each attack.

He focused on Sora's footwork and noticed that Sora was telegraphing his movements, allowing Kaizen to easily anticipate his next choice of attack.

The crowd reacted with gasps and cheers at each exchange, the announcers keeping up a lively commentary. "Look at Sora go! But Kaizen is handling him with ease."

Kaizen moved seamlessly, evading Sora's attacks. He ducked under a high kick, sidestepped a punch, and deflected a jab with his forearm. His eyes never left Sora, reading his intentions through subtle shifts in his stance.

'Sora is quick, but he's giving away his next moves. His footwork is too predictable, and his strikes lack subtlety.'

As he observed, he saw that Sora was too focused on offense, leaving gaps in his defense.

'He's leaving himself wide open. His aggression is his weakness.'

Sora pushed harder, his attacks growing fiercer. He unleashed a flurry of kicks and punches, hoping to break through. Kaizen stayed calm, stepping around each strike with grace.

'He's becoming reckless,' Kaizen noted.

'His lack of successful hits is building his frustration steadily. This impatience will be his downfall.'

Kaizen could see Sora's level of immaturity in each overextended strike.

'He's too young and inexperienced. He doesn't understand the importance of balance in offense and defense. He's trying to win with sheer force, but that won't work against someone who can read him so easily.'

Each time Sora overextended or left an opening, Kaizen noted it but waited for the perfect moment to act.

'Timing is everything. I suppose it's best he learns now rather than during real combat.'

The crowd was on the edge of their seats, captivated by the match. "Kaizen's reading his opponent like a book," one announcer said. "He's using Sora's own tactics against him!"

Sora grew frustrated, his attacks becoming reckless. He attempted a spinning kick aimed at Kaizen's head. Kaizen anticipated the move, ducking and stepping inside Sora's guard. With a swift motion, he delivered a palm strike to Sora's chest, sending him stumbling back.

Breathing heavily, Sora reset his stance and charged again. Kaizen sidestepped a punch and grabbed Sora's wrist, twisting it to throw him off balance. Sora tried to counter with a kick, but Kaizen deflected it with his shin.

Kaizen began to notice the signs of Sora's fatigue: the delay in his reactions, the heavier breathing, and the frustration in his eyes. He knew the moment had come. As Sora launched another flurry of attacks, Kaizen saw the opening he needed.

Sora overextended on a high kick, leaving his side exposed. Kaizen stepped inside Sora's reach and delivered a strong strike to his ribs. The impact forced the air from Sora's lungs, and he stumbled, trying to regain his balance.

Not giving Sora a chance to recover, Kaizen moved in close, using a technique from his previous life. He executed a perfect wrist lock, spinning Sora around and pinning his arm behind his back.

In a quick, controlled motion, Kaizen lifted Sora slightly off the ground and slammed him down onto the arena floor, using the momentum to maintain his grip and control. Sora's head bounced off the ground, concussing him enough to end the match.

The crowd erupted in applause, the announcers declaring Kaizen the winner. "What a display! Kaizen has shown he's not just a thinker but also a true fighter in the arena!"

Spectators cheered, their voices filling the air with excitement. "Did you see that? Amazing!"

"That was incredible! Kaizen is very talented in taijutsu!"

Among the spectators, the shinobi watched closely. They could tell Kaizen was holding back against Sora, which puzzled them.

"Why is he holding back?" one shinobi murmured to another. "He could have ended this much sooner."

"He must have a reason," another replied, eyes narrowed in thought. "Maybe he was testing Sora or trying to teach him something."

Kaizen extended a hand to help Sora up, offering a nod of respect. Sora accepted the gesture, a look of appreciation in his eyes despite his defeat.

Principal Kamiko, Hiruzen, and Sakumo sat in one of the private viewing areas, watching the match with keen interest. As Kaizen helped Sora to his feet and the crowd erupted in applause, each of them reflected on what they had just witnessed.

Sakumo, observing his pupil with a knowing smile, remarked, "Kaizen's kindness towards his comrades is evident. He held back, not wishing to embarrass Sora in front of such a crowd. It shows a level of empathy and respect that's commendable."

Principal Kamiko nodded, her expression thoughtful. "His restraint reminds me of the incident when the senior students first attacked him. He didn't retaliate with his full strength at first then either. His ability to read his opponent and maintain control under pressure is remarkable. It's a rare quality, especially at his age."

Hiruzen, seeing Kaizen in action for the first time, stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Kaizen's display today highlights his patience and combat awareness. He's not just overpowering his opponent; he's analyzing and adapting. This level of maturity in battle is quite promising. However, I would like to see him against opponents who can truly push him. Perhaps he would be better served fighting older students."

Sakumo nodded, considering Hiruzen's point. "That's a valid observation. However, you must remember Kaizen's ability to enhance his muscles with chakra. This makes most opponents too slow and too weak to counter him effectively. The real test for him would be in fights that involve all aspects of combat, rather than just taijutsu alone."

As they continued their discussion, Kaizen headed back to the waiting area. He had 10-15 minutes to rest before his next match. He took this time to meditate, centering himself as he always did.

Kakashi approached him during this brief interlude. "Kaizen," he began, a hint of curiosity in his voice, "why did you hold back against Sora?"

Kaizen opened his eyes briefly, giving Kakashi a knowing look. "You can probably guess why," he replied vaguely.

Kakashi nodded in understanding. "I see."

'He is always thinking of others rather than solely seeking benefits for himself. My father has always been good at determining the talent and character of people. Perhaps I should be more considerate of others as well.' Kakashi continued to think to himself as he went to prepare for his own match.

Little did Kaizen know that his presence and actions were having an impact on Kakashi's personality. In the original series, Kakashi was almost always isolated and solitary, but in this life, he had a loving family and even someone his age that was more talented than him.

Thus, Kakashi had taken to having two role models, first his father, and now Kaizen who he has begun to look up to whether it be through talent or his character.

Kaizen, unaware of Kakashi's conclusions, had his eyes closed, seemingly in his own world, unbothered by the events around him until he suddenly heard his name.

"Our next match features Kaizen facing off against Kaito Hyuga, known for his Byakugan and taijutsu prowess from Class B!" the first announcer exclaimed, hyping up the crowd.

Kaizen rose from his seated position, making his way back to the arena, ready to face his next opponent.

Kaito Hyuga, a lean boy with intense eyes and the distinctive white eyes of the Hyuga clan, stepped into the arena. He bowed to Kaizen, who returned the gesture with equal respect. The sound of the gong signaled the start of the match, and Kaito activated his Byakugan, veins bulging around his eyes.

Kaizen shifted into the Rooted Stance of the Leaf Dragon Fist style, which he had been practicing ever since Hiroshi Sensei introduced it to the class. His stance caught the attention of the shinobi in the audience, who recognized the rare technique.

"Is that the Rooted Stance?" one shinobi whispered.

"Looks like it. I didn't know any of the academy students were practicing it," another replied, eyes fixed on the arena.

Kaito's attacks were swift and aimed at Kaizen's chakra points. Kaizen dodged and parried, moving smoothly around each attack. He could feel the danger of the Gentle Fist style with every narrowly avoided hit. Kaito's fingers almost brushed against his clothing, missing vital points by mere centimeters.

To counter Kaito's attacks, Kaizen began to release chakra from the tenketsu points in his hands as he deflected each strike. This unique defense method caused a visible shock among the knowledgeable spectators. Even Hiruzen, Sakumo, and Principal Kamiko, watching from the private viewing area, were taken aback by Kaizen's advanced technique.

"He's releasing chakra to counter the Gentle Fist strikes," Hiruzen murmured, his eyes widening in surprise.

"I didn't know he could do that," Sakumo added, equally astonished. "It's incredibly advanced for someone his age."

The crowd reacted with gasps and cheers at each exchange, the announcers keeping up a lively commentary. "Kaito's targeting is formidable, but can he overcome Kaizen's adaptability and technique?" the second announcer wondered aloud.

Kaizen knew he had to end the match. Kaito's ability to see and strike his chakra points could easily cripple him if he wasn't careful. He began to use Kaito's focus on accuracy against him, disrupting his rhythm with unpredictable movements and creating openings for counterattacks.

Sensing an opportunity after deflecting another of Kaito's strikes, Kaizen immediately channeled chakra to enhance the muscles in his arm as he then delivered a powerful palm strike directly to Kaito's chest.

The sound of the impact resonated through the arena, amplified by the chakra's force, sending Kaito staggering backward, his breath escaping in a shocked gasp.

The young Hyuga tried to regain his breath, but the force of the strike left him disoriented. Kaizen didn't hesitate; he executed a follow-up sidekick to Kaito's abdomen. The added momentum and chakra infusion made the kick devastating, lifting Kaito off his feet and depositing him squarely on the arena floor, unconscious from the sheer force.

Silence enveloped the crowd for a brief moment, shocked by the sudden end to what was expected to be a lengthy match. Then, as Kaito lay motionless, the arena erupted in applause, the announcers praising Kaizen's performance.

As medical personnel attended to Kaito, ensuring his safety, whispers circulated among the shinobi present. Those who thought Kaizen had held back in his previous match nodded approvingly at his approach against a known dangerous opponent.

"His decision to end it quickly was wise. Against a Hyuga, prolonging the fight only increases the risk," a seasoned Jonin commented to his peers, acknowledging Kaizen's tactical awareness.

As Kaizen exited the arena, the respect from the spectators was palpable, their cheers a testament to their appreciation of a young prodigy who could balance mercy with the necessity of decisiveness.

'My first strike only had a small amount of chakra circulating so it wouldn't cause any damage to his heart. The following kick however, well, he will probably be hurting for a week or two after that.'

Kaizen may be confident in his skills, but he never thought of himself as invincible. He didn't see a point in risking a prolonged fight against a capable Hyuga.

However, it did get Kaizen thinking about what would happen if one of his tenketsu points were closed. He wondered what it would take to defend against it or reopen the tenketsu point. Perhaps it was a thought he should follow up on in the future.