Evaluation
Spectators from all corners of the world gathered in the arena, filled with cheers and excitement. Many had entered, but only a select few had been chosen.
The immense attention this tournament garnered was not without reason. The idea of a gathering where the best of the best came to test their prowess drew interest not only from fans but also from two Kages—Mei Terumi and A.
The Raikage, who hadn't been invited, was forced to depart due to pressing matters back in his village. Only Mei remained, seated in her VIP section alongside other high-ranking government officials.
The tournament structure was simple yet exhilarating: the initial rounds consisted entirely of taijutsu battles, allowing the most skilled fighters to showcase their physical prowess.
Competitors came from various hidden villages, each with its own unique styles and backgrounds.
As the dust settled from the preceding battles, the semi-finals spotlighted two fighters who had fought tooth and nail to reach this point.
On one side of the arena stood Rock Lee. He had made quite a name for himself throughout the tournament, demonstrating unparalleled taijutsu skills. Victories over formidable foes such as Omoi from the Cloud Village and Neji Hyūga solidified his reputation.
The fact that he had also fought Fū, the Jinchūriki of the Seven-Tails, and emerged victorious only added to his legend.
Facing Lee on the opposite side was William "Uzumaki" Rodriguez. He stood with a smile, adjusting his Leaf Village headband.
While his unorthodox fighting style had drawn laughter and skepticism from some, he had proven to be a tenacious contender, known for his creativity that kept audiences on the edge of their seats.
Fighting against seemingly weaker adversaries such as Ebisu and Iruka Umino had revealed his capacity for clever tactics, which emerged in each bout. Even Anko Mitarashi—while deemed a formidable opponent—had fallen prey to William's unusual approach, an accomplishment not to be understated.
It is worth mentioning that most of his opponents weren't as strong as they were made out to be. What brought William so far was his foreknowledge and the traits granted by his Uzumaki heritage.
Did he understand the depths of what it meant to survive? Nay. What about perseverance and faithful hard work? Not even that.
Despite his methods, the crowd was still eager to see how he would fare against a powerhouse like Rock Lee. If he could survive that challenge, perhaps he'd have a chance against the revered man waiting for him in the finals—Arthur Bennett, who was disguised as Hoshikage.
As the crowd clamoured with their opinions, Arthur remained stationary, arms crossed and blindfolded. He had orchestrated this whole event himself, creating conditions in which almost every worthy fighter could showcase their talents.
It had taken a lot of hard work, but he would eventually look back on it, review the recorded footage, and exploit any worthwhile technique that he could.
"Welcome, one and all, to the last match of the semi-finals!" the announcer boomed with his arms outstretched. "Today, we have the honour of witnessing a confrontation between the unstoppable Rock Lee and the unpredictable challenger, William Uzumaki!"
"Why am I the unpredictable one?" William asked in surprise, pointing to himself.
"Get ready for an incredible show, folks!"
Cheers erupted from the crowd, drowning out the announcer's voice as they rallied behind who they thought would win.
If Lee emerged victorious, it wouldn't change much about his already established character. For William, however, progressing beyond the semi-finals would mean solidifying his place in a world where his honour and fame could flourish.
With the crowd drumming their hands against the walls in excitement, the tension in the arena mounted. The fighters exchanged confident stares.
"May the best fighter win!" the announcer declared, signaling the start of the match.
The two advanced toward one another, showcasing a display of taijutsu. Their movements were deliberate, each attacking in synchronization, darting back and forth with above-average agility.
In the heat of battle, William called out, "It feels like ages since the last time we fought like this, doesn't it?"
Lee nodded, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead as he replied, "It really has! But you aren't holding back, are you?" While Lee launched a series of strikes, William dodged and weaved.
Nearby, Naruto's group, consisting of Iruka, Neji, Jada, and Naruto himself, was completely engrossed in the action. Margaret was present initially but had stormed out during the second round after her passive healing ability got her disqualified.
Naruto glanced sideways at Jada and asked, "Since when did those two become friends?"
Jada couldn't recall when or how, so she answered, "Well, I don't really know. Will and I don't communicate much like that."
Naruto gave her a cheeky grin and said, "You know what would be great? If you two started dating!"
Jada turned beet red, stuttering, "W-What?! I mean, I like Will as a friend, but—"
"Come on!" he insisted, leaning in closer with a mischievous expression. "I've seen the way he looks at you! He totally likes you! Just admit it!"
Not hearing the banter, both fighters continued their bout on stage.
With a well-timed spin, Lee managed to land a strong kick that sent William spiraling toward the edge of the arena. The crowd gasped as William teetered at the precipice. Grunting, he quickly regained his footing on the very edge, barely managing to stay within the ring.
"That was close," he muttered to himself.
The two exchanged blows for some time longer, but it became evident that Lee was the superior taijutsu fighter. With each kick and punch, he landed more hits on William.
Yet, what intrigued the audience was William's uncanny ability to rise back up each time!
With exhaustion creeping into his muscles, Lee squared his shoulders. It was time to push his limits once more. With determination, he shouted, "Fifth Gate of Vision, open!"
A vibrant yellow aura enveloped him. Before William could react, Lee zipped forward, striking with blistering speed.
To the spectators, it seemed as though Lee darted like a beam of light, landing a relentless barrage of blows—each hit earning their applause.
William, however, maintained a stoic presence, raising his guard but allowing Lee's strikes to come crashing down upon him. Over seven powerful blows landed, with William absorbing the hits with surprising composure.
Finally, Lee's energy began to wane after his attacks. The yellow aura started to fade, and he staggered slightly, catching his breath.
When he looked up, he was shocked to find William standing there, a wide grin spread across his face, his eyes closed in a carefree expression.
"How can he possibly withstand my True Hidden Lotus?" Lee wondered aloud.
His disbelief was mirrored in the crowd's expressions. The True Hidden Lotus was a technique that had never been shown until now. Two fighters had already fallen prey to it, one of whom was a Jinchūriki!
With his fifth gate having run its course, fatigue seized Lee. He staggered backward, struggling to maintain his balance.
As he fell to one knee, William seized the opportunity. He launched a counterattack, striking Lee with a series of punches that sent him sprawling toward the edge of the ring.
"Rock Lee is falling out!" the announcer cried. "What a surprising turn of events, ladies and gentlemen!"
William stepped back to allow Lee the space to regain his footing, but it was too late. Lee's body succumbed to exhaustion, and with a final gasp, he relinquished the fight, falling out of bounds.
"That makes William our winner, folks!" the announcer yelled as the crowd erupted in cheers.
William quickly approached Lee, helping him up and ensuring he was alright.
"Bro, that was a great fight!" he said. "You really pushed me there."
Lee breathed heavily, but despite his exhaustion, a smile spread across his face as he replied, "That indeed was incredible. I had not realized how strong you've become; I felt your passion like no other, Will!"
"Oh no!" Naruto exclaimed, smacking his cheeks. "My cousin's gay!"
A sudden smack echoed as Iruka punched him from behind, yelling, "Don't say that, you idiot!"
As the two fighters caught their breath, Arthur mentally noted the dynamics of the match. He was intrigued not just by their determination but by the resilience shown by William.
Arthur recalled what he had witnessed: it became increasingly clear to him that William exhibited an elite ability to withstand damage and keep fighting, as if his body wasn't prone to taking damage.
Then something clicked in his mind: William had fought Sasuke once.
Among the rules that Elysium imposed on this world was that pain was real—excruciatingly so. While Arthur had not interacted physically with the other players enough to discern whether they felt the same way, it was clear they did after his fight with Jada.
William's case, however, was strange. When he had fought Sasuke during the Chūnin Exams, Sasuke performed the Falcon Drop technique, slamming William's skull onto concrete from a height.
Yet William managed to recover, claiming that "it felt like a boulder" hit his head.
Arthur had already verified that William wasn't utilizing any unique techniques, let alone exerting any chakra during that previous exchange or this one. So what was making him so resilient without using any techniques?
Simple: he was being fueled by an endless reservoir of chakra.
'Even if he were to use something as chakra-consuming as the Rasengan multiple times,' Arthur thought to himself, "it would be as if his stamina remained at one hundred percent…"
With the semi-finals concluded, Arthur began to plot his next steps for the final match against William. He needed a strategy that would break through William's seemingly limitless reserves.
As William returned to his group with Lee, he exclaimed with euphoria, "I made it to the finals, guys!"
"You were amazing out there!" shouted Naruto.
"Yeah, Will!" Jada added. "I must admit, that's some over-the-top taijutsu!"
"Thanks, everyone!" William said. "I couldn't have done it without you guys."
He brushed off their flatteries with a smile, but he couldn't contain what was in his chest.
"Just wait till you see what I do next!" he promised. "I'm going to give it my all in the finals!"
"Yeah!" Naruto agreed, pumping his fist. "Put that show-off Hoshi-whoever in his place!"
"Definitely!" William laughed. "He won't know what hit him!"
At that moment, the announcer suddenly yelled, "Things have been fantastic so far, folks. Every fighter has wowed this announcer! Before the finals commence, we will take a brief moment to evaluate the next participants!"
"Evaluate?!" William repeated. "What does that mean?"
"Beats me," Naruto said, leaning forward.
"It might just be a break for both of you to rest up and prepare for the last fight," Neji suggested.
"But he said evaluate," Jada pointed out.
"Maybe it's a chance for them to see how the fighters handle themselves psychologically," Iruka wondered. "Or assess tactics?"
As they discussed, the announcer continued, "While the fighters rest, let's take a moment to pay tribute to the leaders who have taken the time to watch this incredible tournament!"
The announcer then gestured over toward Mei, who was taken aback by the sudden spotlight. Being widely recognized as the Mizukage, however, she knew how to act in this situation.
In truth, it was merely a distraction to buy time—time for Arthur to make his move.
An official approached Naruto's group. With a calm demeanour, he stated that William needed to come with him to be evaluated by their doctor.
Whatever the reason for this "evaluation," he didn't have a choice in the matter. Unless he wanted to be disqualified. He had come too far and was anxious to win the prize money at the end—one million ryō.