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Bandage Guy wasted no time as the match began, immediately sending multiple chakra-infused bandages toward Haruto. The pointed ends lashed out in rapid succession, aiming to entangle or pierce him. But Haruto moved with an effortless grace, dodging the attacks with precision that left the crowd watching in awe.

Using his heightened chakra sensitivity, Haruto could feel the subtle fluctuations of chakra running through each bandage, guiding his movements long before they struck. With his two-minds ability, he was able to process each attack independently, allowing him to focus on multiple threats simultaneously. His body reacted fluidly, sidestepping one bandage, bending under another, and twisting away from two more, all with an agility that seemed almost instinctual.

To Haruto, it was like going through a normal warm-up routine.

Shisui's a lot faster than this, he thought, dodging another barrage with a casual flick of his body. And Daichi's clones are much more unpredictable. This is almost too easy.

He couldn't help but think of the countless sparring sessions with his teammates. Shisui, with his insane speed and Sharingan precision, was always a challenge, constantly pushing Haruto to think ahead and stay on his toes. And Daichi, with his Shadow Clone Jutsu, would overwhelm with numbers, making every training session a chaotic whirlwind of activity. Compared to that, Bandage Guy's attacks felt almost slow, telegraphed.

The crowd, however, saw something entirely different. From their perspective, it looked like a dance—a mesmerizing display of acrobatics and agility. Haruto weaved through the onslaught of bandages with such grace that it seemed like he was in complete control of the match. Every movement was fluid, every dodge perfectly timed, making it appear as if the attacks were choreographed for him to evade.

Bandage Guy's expression tightened as he sent more bandages flying at Haruto. He infused them with more chakra, hoping to catch him off guard with faster, more aggressive strikes. But Haruto simply kept dodging, his body moving in sync with the flow of battle. It wasn't just about avoiding the strikes—it was about waiting. He could see that Bandage Guy was expending a considerable amount of chakra to control his attacks, while Haruto hadn't even broken a sweat.

If he keeps this up, he'll tire out before I even need to do anything, Haruto thought, smirking inwardly. Why make the first move when I can wait for him to wear himself down?

The crowd continued to murmur, awed by Haruto's evasive abilities. His flips, twists, and sidesteps were performed with an ease that belied the danger of the situation. He was turning what could have been a deadly barrage into a simple exercise. And yet, it wasn't arrogance that kept Haruto from attacking—it was strategy. He was studying his opponent, watching the patterns of the bandages, understanding the flow of chakra being used to control them.

It's not like he's weak, Haruto reflected as he ducked under a bandage aimed at his neck. He's just too focused on this one tactic. If I go after him now, I'll reveal too much. Better to keep him guessing.

Bandage Guy's frustration was growing, though he tried to maintain his composure. His attacks became more erratic, more desperate, as he realized Haruto wasn't playing along. Haruto could feel the shift—Bandage Guy was getting tired, and his chakra reserves were being drained with every attack.

He's going to run out of steam, Haruto thought. And when he does, I'll be ready.

He briefly considered using some of his more advanced techniques—the Thunder Scalpel, or even his directional explosive tags—but quickly dismissed the thought. There were too many eyes on him, and he wanted to save his more potent jutsu for later rounds. Besides, it wasn't necessary yet. Not against this opponent.

Haruto's two minds allowed him to focus on the fight while also strategizing his next move. He knew that the longer the fight went on, the more Bandage Guy would drain his chakra reserves. Eventually, the moment would come when Haruto could strike, but for now, he would continue to dodge, conserving his energy.

From the sidelines, Shisui and Daichi watched with quiet understanding. They had sparred with Haruto countless times, and they knew exactly what was happening. This was just another day in training for him. Without the added weight of his weighted seal, Haruto's movements were even faster, his stamina virtually untouched.

"Is it just me, or is Haruto not even trying yet?" Daichi muttered under his breath, watching Haruto's fluid movements.

Shisui nodded slightly. "He's making him work for it. Bandage Guy's gonna tire himself out, and Haruto's waiting for the right moment to end it. Typical Haruto."

Back in the ring, Haruto dodged another flurry of bandages, his focus unwavering. Bandage Guy's chakra-infused attacks continued to fly toward him, but Haruto knew it was only a matter of time before his opponent ran out of chakra—and when that happened, the real fight would begin.

For now, Haruto was content to let the dance continue.