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Haruto stood across from his opponent, Reina Aoyama, the air thick with tension as they both braced for the match to begin. The arena stretched out around them, a vast space dotted with small boulders and jagged rocks, remnants of old battles and time. The terrain was uneven, rough and unforgiving, with chunks of stone and earth scattered haphazardly across the landscape, creating natural obstacles and strategic cover. The ground beneath them was dry and coarse, patches of wild grass stubbornly reclaiming parts of the battle-worn soil. The overcast sky hung heavy overhead, casting a dim, gray light across the arena, while the east wind continued to tug at their clothes, brushing against their skin like a whisper of the battle to come.

Haruto focused his energy, pulling chakra into his feet, readying himself to unleash his Static Burst technique. The familiar crackle of electricity rippled through his body, dancing across his muscles, sharpening his senses. His chakra surged within him, amplifying his strength as his lightning-based taijutsu, Static Charge, hummed in anticipation. He could feel the power building, coiling like a spring ready to be unleashed. His gaze fixed on Reina, and he knew what was coming.

POV: Reina Aoyama

Reina's sharp eyes stayed glued to Haruto, her mind racing as she sized him up. She'd watched him fight before, observed how effortlessly he had dismantled his last opponent. He'd moved with a speed and grace that was almost unreal, dodging strikes with the elegance of a dance. She had never seen anyone move quite like that. It wasn't just speed or power—it was precision. He made it look easy, as though he was simply toying with his opponent.

The way he'd staggered two lightning balls, one after the other, had been both a display of raw power and tactical brilliance. He knew how to keep his opponents off balance, how to control the pace of a fight.

He's impressive, Reina thought, her fingers twitching near her pouch. But I'm fast, too. And I'm not afraid. She had trained for this moment, for this fight.

The referee's voice sliced through the heavy silence, echoing across the rocky terrain. "Match start!"

In an instant, Haruto exploded forward, his chakra-enhanced feet tearing into the ground beneath him. The earth cracked and split under the force of his movement, leaving a deep imprint where he had stood just moments before.

He's even faster than before! Reina's eyes widened in surprise. She had barely enough time to register his movement before Haruto was upon her, his fist rocketing toward her chest. But she was prepared—her body flickered, and Haruto's punch met solid stone.

A large boulder shattered under the impact of Haruto's fist, fragments flying in all directions.

Substitution jutsu. Reina reappeared behind one of the larger rocks, her heart pounding in her chest. She stared at the remnants of the boulder Haruto had just destroyed. He was strong before, but this… this is something else.

Haruto turned toward her, his movements calm and deliberate, the wind now at his back. She cursed inwardly. He had positioned himself perfectly, using the wind to carry toward her, giving him a strategic advantage. Before she could react, Haruto formed a lightning ball in his hand and hurled it toward her. Reina dodged instinctively, but Haruto had anticipated the move. The moment she shifted, a second smoke bomb exploded at her feet, engulfing her in a thick, suffocating cloud of smoke.

"Damn it," she muttered under her breath, her voice swallowed by the dense smoke. She couldn't see a thing, and then, before she could react, pain—unbearable, blinding pain—tore through her ribs as Haruto's fist slammed into her side. She heard a sickening crack as she was launched backward, her body tumbling across the rough ground before colliding with a jagged rock.

Her hand flew instinctively to her side. Broken rib. The thought came with a grimace as she gritted her teeth. She didn't have a choice anymore.

Haruto emerged from the smoke like a predator, his eyes locked onto her with deadly precision. He was charging toward her, ready to finish the fight. In desperation, Reina hurled her own smoke bombs, filling the arena with a thick, toxic cloud. The pungent smell of her poison permeated the air, a thick veil that would cripple any normal opponent.

I just need to outlast him, she told herself, breathing steadily. I've developed resistance to my own poisons. All I need is time.

The smoke engulfed them both, but Reina felt confident. Her antidote was ready, her resistance to her own toxins giving her the edge. She just had to endure.

POV: Haruto

Haruto stood within the thick fog of smoke from his smoke bomb, his stance relaxed and his breathing steady. After his initial strike, he had already created a shadow clone, sending it to deal with Reina. Meanwhile, he stayed back, carefully observing the battlefield with his heightened chakra sensitivity. He couldn't see through the smoke, but he didn't need to. His senses were sharp, his awareness acute. He could feel Reina's chakra, could sense her movements.

The poison? That wasn't a concern.

Haruto smirked inwardly. Reina thought she had him trapped in her smoke, thought her poisons would finish him off. She was wrong.

The shadow clone moved through the cloud, masking its presence with precision. Haruto watched it unfold from a distance, his real body still hidden.

POV: Haruto's Clone

The shadow clone staggered through the smoke, coughing violently, its chest heaving with exaggerated pain. "Poison!" the clone rasped, clutching its chest, staggering toward Reina. "I— I need the antidote! Please!" It reached out a trembling hand, desperation in its voice. "I can't— I can't breathe—"

The wind began to shift, pushing the toxic cloud away.

Reina's heart swelled with triumph. She had him now. She smiled, her antidote ready in her hand. She was moments away from victory. But then—something felt off.

Her smirk wavered. Wait.

Suddenly, Reina blinked in realization. The scene around her shifted, and in that moment, she knew she had made a fatal mistake.

From behind her, Haruto moved like lightning, enhanced by his Static Burst technique, chakra surging through his muscles. Before she could even turn to react, the cold steel of his kunai pressed lightly against the delicate skin of her neck.

"Too late," Haruto whispered, his voice a calm, deadly whisper.

Reina's POV

Reina's heart raced in her chest. What… how? Her mind scrambled to process what had just happened. She had thought she had him, thought her poisons would outlast him, that she would wear him down. But now, as the cold edge of the kunai pressed against her skin, she realized just how outmatched she had been.

The referee's voice boomed across the arena, cutting through the thinning smoke.

"Winner—Haruto of the Hidden Leaf!"

It was over.

POV: Hokage

From his seat high above the arena, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, watched the match unfold with a quiet intensity. His sharp eyes, keen and observant, took in every detail of the fight between Haruto and Reina. He stroked his beard thoughtfully as he analyzed Haruto's movements, his technique, and his strategy.

"Interesting," he muttered softly to himself, eyes narrowing slightly. Haruto had shown exceptional speed, but more than that—he had demonstrated foresight, a tactical mind well beyond his years. Using a shadow clone to create a false sense of weakness in the smoke had been a clever ploy. And even more impressive was his composure. He had never rushed, never panicked.

Beside the Hokage, the Daimyo of the Land of Fire leaned forward slightly, intrigued. "This one… he's special," the Daimyo remarked, a hint of admiration in his voice.

"Yes," the Hokage replied quietly, his mind already considering what lay ahead for the young genin. Haruto was still rough around the edges, but with the right guidance, he could become a truly formidable shinobi. "He has great potential."

As the smoke cleared from the arena and the crowd erupted in cheers, the Hokage's gaze remained fixed on Haruto. There was something in the boy's eyes, something that spoke of a deeper hunger. Hiruzen could see it, even from this distance.

A shinobi to keep an eye on, indeed.

POV: Orochimaru

Orochimaru didn't often attend events like the Chunin Exams. Normally, the reports were more than enough for him—precise, detailed, and convenient. But Haruto intrigued him. The boy wasn't from any prominent clan, yet there was something about him that caught Orochimaru's eye.

He watched from the shadows, his gaze sharp and unblinking. The way Haruto moved, how he harnessed his chakra—there was more to him than brute strength. Orochimaru's smile was faint, barely a flicker, as he observed Haruto's tactics in action. The boy didn't just fight; he played his opponent. Reina's confidence in her poisons, her belief that she had the upper hand, was all part of Haruto's plan.

When the shadow clone feigned succumbing to the poison, Orochimaru's eyes glinted with amusement. Clever. The boy was already using deception, letting his opponent think she had won. And then, in a flash, Haruto was behind her, the kunai at her throat.

Orochimaru's smile returned, his interest deepening. The boy was more than just potential. He had instinct, and more importantly, he had the hunger. That was something Orochimaru understood all too well.