Leaf Dragon
Among the spectators, some were taken aback, while others were indifferent. Given that the arena was mainly situated with ninjas from the Leaf Village, it came as no surprise that two of their own were squaring off against each other.
However, the unexpected choice of Makaro, who appeared overweight and somewhat sluggish, raised eyebrows.
The Akimichi clan was known for their incredible talent; figures like Torifu and Dōtō had made a name for themselves, yet here was Makaro, an average Genin, stepping into the spotlight.
Few knew the truth behind his selection. Unbeknownst to many, Makaro had unwittingly provided Arthur information on the Akimichi's secret technique, Calorie Control, which helped boost Arthur's prowess.
Trying to lure in fighters from across the world wasn't his only objective; it was also created to gather enough important characters for him to place them under his genjutsu!
Arthur, who was secretly in charge of selections, aimed to manipulate the famed clans of the Leaf Village—Akimichi, Nara, and Yamanaka—by employing his technique to his advantage during the tournament.
As the match began, Anko wasted no time showing off her agility. The spectators watched with bated breath.
She approached Makaro, employing a series of quick taijutsu attacks. The boy, caught a little off guard, grunted and attempted to counter, but it became clear that Anko was not a pushover. She dodged his attacks while landing her own, making it apparent the difference in skill between a Special Jōnin and Genin.
As Arthur watched the fight unfold, he stepped away from his area. He decided to approach the clans observing the match. When he arrived in their group, he clapped his hands, drawing attention to himself.
"It's commendable to see such valour from your clans," he remarked coolly. Many within the Akimichi clan turned, surprised that someone had acknowledged them in such a manner. "Be not alarmed…"
Kasuga Nara, seated nearby, raised an eyebrow in curiosity, hardly expecting anyone outside their country to recognize their contributions.
Arthur continued, this time activating his Evil Illusion Flattery technique. His words cascaded over them like an invisible shower.
"Your clans are legendary for their ability to work together seamlessly... The Akimichi with their strength, the Nara with their strategy, and the Yamanaka with their manipulation—a well-meshed synergy, wouldn't you agree?"
They all nodded as if in a trance, waiting for more words to fill their ears. As he spoke, Arthur's illusion wove itself around the group, their attention captured completely.
Though their eyes were trained on him, their minds were slowly but surely succumbing to the trap he had set. They continued to nod with an engrossed expression, paying no heed to the ongoing battle in the arena.
Returning to the fight, Makaro attempted to summon all of the training he had undergone, but Anko's speed continued to overwhelm him. She executed a swift horizontal swipe, knocking Makaro off his feet.
It was a barrage of moves that even he had trouble understanding. Before long, he was on the defensive, dodging, breathing heavily, and sweat pouring from his face as she continued to close in.
Meanwhile, Arthur, content with the success of his illusion, casually made his way back to his area. His work had gone unnoticed. And the instant he returned, the announcer's voice boomed across the arena, declaring, "Anko Mitarashi wins!"
Unsurprisingly, Makaro had fallen short against the experienced kunoichi, a fact that most had already anticipated.
As Makaro trudged back to his clan, he felt embarrassed and wanted to apologize. But to his surprise, his clan members seemed distant, almost forgetful. They greeted him with confused expressions, as if they had been pulled from a dream.
"I'm so sorry for the loss," he tried to relay.
"Loss? What loss?" one clan member replied, glancing around as though struggling to piece together what had transpired.
"Anko… I just fought against Anko," Makaro tried to clarify, bewildered that his clanmates seemed to lack any recollection of the match. It was uncanny for him. It was as if the whole encounter had slipped from their collective memory.
"We're just glad to see you back, Makaro! Not to worry; things will be fine," another clan member said with an encouraging smile. Yet he had no recollection of the fight.
Confused, Makaro decided to play along, recognizing that there was little rationale in arguing. Their comfort was enough, yet it was almost as if they were genuinely oblivious to the stakes of the tournament.
He felt a tad frustrated, believing something unnatural had happened during that short span but not being able to put his finger on it.
Now it truly made sense why Makaro was selected; he was too innocent and too foolish to deduce his clan's subtle invasion. While their weakest link was out fighting, their strongest assets had been seized.
Before Makaro could dwell further in the confusion, the next match was announced: "Atsui vs. Chen!"
"Get ready!" the Raikage boomed. His behaviour was almost too laughable at this point since he would only cheer for his ninjas.
Atsui was written to be a character from the Cloud Village, known for his impulsive conduct. His personality was the opposite of his sister's, Samui's.
While he was marked by an eagerness to engage in direct confrontations with adversaries, it often led him to act independently and charge into battle without considering support or strategy.
This same impulsive nature is reflected in his frequent use of the word "hot" in conversation, a catchphrase that's similar to his name.
Physically, he sports a distinct hairstyle, characterized by neck-length, blond locks styled into an asymmetrical bowl cut, which adds to his youthful look. His green eyes are expressive, often showing off his determination.
His typical outfit features a sleeveless adaptation of the conventional shinobi attire from his village, complemented by their signature flak jacket. His forearms tend to also be wrapped in bandages, suggesting a readiness for action. Additionally, he bears a tattoo on his left shoulder that features the kanji for "heat," once again emphasizing his fiery nature.
That same nature likely won't help him here. Atsui is mainly skilled in kenjutsu, wielding a long katana with a white hilt. This weapon is not just for show; he has the ability to channel fire-based chakra through his sword, allowing him to unleash attacks that can engulf enemies in flames.
Sad for him, that weapon was confiscated for the duration of the tournament.
Arthur could always take it, but then that would stir up an investigation. Plus, he didn't care for Atsui's worthless weapon when he himself had several, more unique swords.
If he recalled correctly, during the Fourth Shinobi World War, Atsui served in the First Division of the Allied Shinobi Forces alongside his sister. He demonstrated his combat prowess when confronting the reincarnated Gold and Silver Brothers.
However, the tides turned during their battle, in which the brothers imprisoned him and his sister in one of the Treasured Tools.
Let's see how he fairs now.
The crowd stirred, focusing on the next combatants. Among the sea of onlookers, the Raikage, who had been subdued after watching his ninjas fall in previous matches, finally spoke up. "Let's go, Atsui!" he roared. His behaviour was the opposite of what one might expect from a Kage.
Mei was unsure of how to respond to his overt excitement. "He's getting wound up," she commented to the feudal lord nearby, suppressing a chuckle. "If his ninjas don't achieve some success soon, he might never live it down."
This was understandable due to the pressure the Raikage felt in upholding the prestige of the Cloud Village.
As the fighters stepped into the arena, Atsui eventually stood across from Chen. There was no need for any words to be said; it was clear what both fighters came here for. The announcer yelled begin, and the battle commenced. Atsui's brute strength met Chen's cunning tactics.
The Raikage, caught up in the moment, roared, fueling the crowd's energy: "That's it! Show that Leaf ninja what it means to be a Cloud shinobi!" He continued to shout, clearly invested in the outcome of the match.
As the two traded blows, the spectators copied his sentiments, feeding off the Raikage's energy. Mei practically felt embarrassed to be sitting next to him.
With each attack that both competitors executed, the observers cheered. Their techniques weren't that straightforward to analyze. Atsui unleashed strikes, while Chen danced deftly around his attempts. It soon became clear who's agility was better.
The fight raged on, and Arthur couldn't help but observe from the sidelines, his attention remaining mainly on Chen's maneuvers. That character was reported to be a legendary taijutsu user. But what Arthur was witnessing was nothing short of an above-average martial artist.
It was no wonder Rock Lee was able to best Chen in one move during the war.
When Arthur wasn't fixated on him, he was observing the Leaf clan members, who were unwittingly under his illusion. It all felt like a brilliant game of chess, where each piece moved according to his design without anyone's comprehension.
The illusion would serve its purpose long after the matches ended. So for now, he didn't need to think about it too much.
Then something unexpected happened. The arena became excited as Chen succeeded in landing a blow that sent Atsui sprawling to the ground. For a moment, the Raikage's looked anxious.
"Get up, Atsui! You're not done yet!" he bellowed. Many of the spectators could feel the Raikage's raging spirit.
Despite the setback, Atsui quickly regained his footing, breathing heavily but composed. In retaliation, he darted forward, unleashing a barrage of punches, pushing Chen back just long enough to catch him off guard.
The back-and-forth nature of their battle kept the audience slightly on edge. They thought that Chen was just an old geezer. But after seeing him in action against a more younger, favourable opponent, each side was banking on the other to stumble.
As the fight continued to reach its climax, neither side willing to back down, it was evident who the winner would eventually be.
Just as Atsui sought to capitalize on a moment of weakened defense, his foot caught on the uneven floor, allowing Chen to counter.
"No way!" he gasped after recovering.
Chen smirked and declared, "You're worthy of my full strength, I see."
The statement comically caught Atsui off guard. "Wait, you weren't going all out just now?!"
"Not even close," Chen replied nonchalantly.
With those words, an immense energy began to radiate from him. The atmosphere shifted; an electric charge surged in the air as he prepared to unleash his ultimate technique—the Leaf Dragon.
He pivoted on his heel with an upward spin kick that seemed to defy gravity for just a moment. Suddenly, the arena became windy, spiraling upward as a tornado formed around Chen. The swirling dust particles began to coalesce, intertwining into a dragon with elongated whiskers glimmering in the sunlight. It roared, ready to crush its prey.
The spectators gasped in awe; they had never seen a taijutsu technique like this before.
Atsui, momentarily mesmerized, snapped back to reality as the dragon launched forward. He barely had time to react before it engulfed him. The howling winds spiraled around him, creating a barrier. He felt the intense pressure suffocate him, unable to escape the very maw of the beast.
"No, no, no! Not like this!" he yelled, throwing up his arms to shield himself as the razor winds cut into him, leaving gashes across his body.
The force of the Leaf Dragon then propelled him backward like a ragdoll, crashing violently against the arena's boundary. Chaos of cheers came from the audience, half in awe and half in shock at the rapid turn of events.
As Atsui lay on the ground, Chen stood at the center of his storm, breathing casually and triumphantly.
The Raikage exploded with fury, his frustration boiling over. He shot to his feet, glaring at the fighters with darkened eyes. "That's not how a Cloud ninja fights!" Unable to contain his rage, he hurled his seat against the wall, completely shattering it. "I need a bathroom break!"
Some of the feudal lords around him were actually scared. As he stomped away, Mei finally let out a hearty laugh, lightening the mood. The scene was both tense and humorous, playing out like a well-scripted show.
It's then that the announcer's voice broke through the laughter, declaring the match over, "Chen is the victor!"
Yet in the midst of it all, Chen understood that this would not be the last time he'd need to use his ultimate technique again. There were still others to face, and he was ready to meet them head-on.