61 - The Third Match

The air in the arena crackled with tension as Chiba and Hirohiko exchanged glances before turning their attention to Yukina. The young kunoichi stood poised at the edge of the battlefield, her face a mask of concentration.

"Kento Kiuchi," Chiba mused, his brow furrowed in thought. "I remember him from the first round. His ninjutsu and physical skills were unremarkable."

Hirohiko nodded in agreement. "He didn't leave much of an impression on me either."

Yukina listened to their assessment in silence, her eyes fixed on the arena below. Without a word, she moved towards the stairs.

"Good luck," Hirohiko called after her, his voice tinged with concern.

Chiba's tone was more stern as he added, "Stay alert. Don't underestimate your opponent."

With a firm nod, Yukina descended the stairs and entered the arena. The packed stands buzzed with excitement as she took her position opposite her opponent.

Kento Kiuchi, a young man of about fourteen, stood waiting. A sword was strapped to his back, and his eyes narrowed with disdain as he watched Yukina approach. The proctor's voice rang out across the arena, announcing the match.

From the stands, whispers and jeers erupted. "Kento Kiuchi? This'll be an easy win for Miss Yukina."

"Isn't he the one who begged to be the Sannin's student? Pathetic!"

"His teammate surrendered to Hirohiko Uchiha earlier. The whole group is full of cowards!"

Hirohiko's face twisted with disgust at the cruel remarks, but Chiba's attention was drawn elsewhere. He watched Shiga Takeyuki, Kiuchi's teammate, who stood impassive amidst the taunts. The young ninja's composure was remarkable, his eyes clear and focused despite the verbal assault.

"Hirohiko," Chiba murmured, nudging his friend. "Look at Shiga. He's not reacting at all. If it were me, I'd be ready to throw punches."

Hirohiko followed Chiba's gaze and nodded. "Yeah, you're right. That's... concerning. He seems awfully confident in his team's abilities."

Their conversation was cut short as Minato Namikaze, the proctor, raised his hand to signal the start of the match. The crowd fell silent, all eyes on the two young ninjas facing each other in the arena.

Suddenly, a commotion swept through the audience. Heads turned toward the high platform where the village leaders sat. The Third Hokage was there, flanked by the legendary Sannin: Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru.

"The Third Hokage and the Sannin are here!" The excited whispers rippled through the crowd.

Even Yukina and Kento momentarily lost focus, their eyes drawn to the imposing figures watching from above. The Third Hokage's weathered face betrayed a hint of surprise, while the Sannin engaged in hushed conversation.

Chiba couldn't help but smile. 'The old man still commands such respect,' he thought to himself.

The distraction was short-lived, however, as Minato called for attention. With a wave of his hand, he announced, "The third match of the second round of the Chunin exam begins now!"

Kento's eyes flickered with determination. 'This is my chance,' he thought, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword. 'I'll show the Sannin what they missed. This prodigy will be my stepping stone!'

Across from him, Yukina's expression hardened. The veins around her eyes bulged as she activated her Byakugan, sinking into the distinctive stance of the Gentle Fist style.

'He's combining swordsmanship with taijutsu,' Yukina observed, her enhanced vision taking in every detail of her opponent's stance. 'I can't let my guard down.'

The air seemed to crackle with anticipation as the two young ninjas faced off. Then, in a blur of motion, Kento charged forward, his sword flashing in the arena lights.

The crowd gasped as the blade seemed to split in two, twin arcs of steel slicing through the air toward Yukina. Chiba and Hirohiko leaned forward, their eyes wide with shock.

"This... this is Kento Kiuchi?" Chiba breathed, disbelief evident in his voice.

The mocking laughter in the stands died abruptly, replaced by stunned silence. The same thought echoed through the minds of the spectators: 'If it were me, I'd be cut down for sure!'

But Yukina was not like the others. In a display of grace and skill that belied her young age, she swayed to the side, the blade missing her by a hair's breadth. A small piece of her clothing fluttered to the ground, the only evidence of how close the strike had come.

Kento's eyes widened in disbelief. 'Impossible! She dodged the *Crane Wing Strike*?'

Yukina frowned slightly as she glanced at her arm, now exposed by the torn sleeve. 'His sword is faster than I anticipated,' she thought. But there was no time for further reflection.

With a soft cry, Yukina launched her counterattack. Her palm shot out, striking Kento squarely in the chest. The force of the blow sent him staggering back, gasping for air.

But Yukina didn't relent. She pressed her advantage, her hands becoming a blur as she unleashed a flurry of strikes. "Two palms! Four palms! Eight palms!"

The crowd watched in awe as Yukina's assault continued. "Sixteen palms!"

The final strike sent Kento flying backward. He hit the ground hard, a spray of blood escaping his lips as he gasped for air.

In the stands, Chiba and Hirohiko exchanged looks of amazement. "The *Eight Trigrams Sixteen Palms*," Chiba whispered. "At her age... it's incredible."

Hirohiko nodded, his eyes never leaving the arena. "But did you see how she dodged that sword strike? It was like she knew it was coming."

As the dust settled in the arena, a hush fell over the crowd. The match had ended as quickly as it had begun, leaving spectators and participants alike in stunned silence.