Konoha’s White Fang Shines

Chapter 45: Kurenai Awakens a New Skill

"Damn it! They're clearly working together—that's so unfair!" Raido was the first to shout when he saw Genma being surrounded.

"Raido, don't you trust Genma's skills by now?" Despite the unfavorable situation, Kurenai remained composed. From the opponents' movements, she quickly assessed their skill levels and knew Genma could handle it.

"Oh, right! Genma's swordsmanship is top-notch. If Sensei hadn't stopped him, he might've even won the championship!"

As Raido began to calm down, the situation on the field suddenly shifted.

Genma sidestepped a slash aimed at him, spinning swiftly to bring his wooden sword horizontally across. With a single, decisive motion, one opponent's sword flew out of their hand and clattered to the ground.

The other two attackers were visibly shocked. Despite their three-on-one advantage, their opponent had remained unscathed while one of their own was disarmed.

In a swordsmanship match, losing your weapon was as good as being defeated. Unless they retrieved the fallen sword, their team's coordinated attack was already crumbling.

Seizing the opportunity, Genma immediately turned his focus to the nearest opponent. He stepped in with lightning speed, his wooden sword arcing in a right slash. The targeted opponent, attempting a vertical strike, barely had time to register the attack before Genma's blade stopped mere inches from their neck.

The strike was clean, precise, and undeniable. The opponent raised their hands in surrender, acknowledging their defeat.

The crowd erupted in murmurs. Genma's swift and efficient takedown left an impression not only on the audience but also on the remaining opponents. One had rushed to retrieve their sword, while the other hesitated, clearly rattled by Genma's display of skill.

---

Despite his back being turned to the remaining opponent, Genma remained alert. Years of brutal training under Sturt had honed his ability to identify subtle sounds and movements, allowing him to anticipate attacks from behind.

As the second opponent lunged with a diagonal slash aimed at Genma's back, the sound of their movement betrayed them. Genma turned just in time, deflecting the blow with his sword.

However, the opponent's blade slid dangerously close to Genma's hand. Wooden practice swords lacked the protective guard of real blades, and this posed a real threat.

Adapting quickly, Genma tilted his sword slightly, disrupting the opponent's downward momentum. When the enemy adjusted their grip to continue pressing the attack, Genma shifted his footing and pushed them back with a burst of strength.

This maneuver bought him just enough time to reposition himself. But now, the first opponent had recovered their weapon, and the fight was once again two-on-one.

---

The previous skirmishes had given Genma insight into his opponents' coordination. Before they could regroup and synchronize their attacks, he targeted the one he had just pushed back.

Genma struck with a diagonal slash, forcing the opponent to block. The clash of wooden swords resounded through the air.

Unlike their speed, their strength was evenly matched. But Genma had a distinct advantage: chakra.

With a subtle surge of chakra, Genma manipulated his blade to pull the opponent's sword outward, creating an opening in their defense. He slipped inside their guard and delivered a swift strike to their arm, ending their participation in the match.

The crowd gasped in awe. Genma's technique wasn't just about brute force—it demonstrated precision, finesse, and strategy.

---

This left only one opponent.

The last man standing was the first to face Genma at the start of the match. Watching his teammates fall one by one had visibly shaken him. Despite his tall stature and larger build, he hesitated, seemingly paralyzed by indecision.

Genma wasted no time. He closed the distance with a calculated step and delivered a quick slash. The strike forced his opponent back, disrupting their balance. Before they could recover, Genma deftly struck their arm, claiming the final victory.

"Match over! Winner: Genma Shiranui!"

The crowd erupted in cheers. The young swordsman's skill, precision, and poise had won them over. His boyish charm and graceful movements only added to his appeal, drawing enthusiastic cheers from female spectators.

Genma barely had time to enjoy the moment before Kurenai stormed onto the stage. With a fiery glare, she grabbed his hand and dragged him off.

Her possessiveness was clear, but the bashful blush on her face softened the scene, drawing knowing chuckles from their teammates.

---

Next up was Raido. Unlike Genma's initial bad luck with his grouping, Raido faced only one opponent at a time. He carefully bided his time while two other contestants fought each other.

When the opportunity arose, Raido dispatched the last remaining contestant with two precise strikes, securing his victory.

As Raido stepped off the stage, the next match was announced:

"Next match: Taito, Kurenai Yuhi—prepare to enter!"

Genma froze.

Taito was no ordinary competitor. A true swordsman of renown, Taito's skills were said to rival those of elite ninja. Genma's mind raced with concern for Kurenai.

As Kurenai stepped forward, Genma reached out, gripping her hand. "Kurenai, be careful. This group is no joke."

Kurenai nodded, her determination unwavering. When she ascended the stage, her group of opponents was already waiting. Among them, one man stood out: Taito. His aura was sharp and imposing, like a blade poised to strike.

The other two men, however, seemed far less threatening. Their smirks and casual attitudes marked them as overconfident fools.

"Hey there, little lady," one of them taunted. "This isn't the place for you. Why don't you forfeit now before you get hurt?"

The other chimed in with a grin. "Come stand behind me, and I'll protect you until it's just the two of us left. How about that?"

Kurenai's grip on her wooden sword tightened, her knuckles turning white. However, she forced a sweet smile and played along.

"Oh, thank you! If you could just take care of that scary-looking guy for me, I promise to surrender afterward."

Her voice was honeyed, laced with feigned innocence. The two men, intoxicated by her charm, immediately turned their focus to Taito.

Kurenai blinked in disbelief. Was it really this easy? Watching the two fools charge at Taito, she couldn't help but smirk. Perhaps she had discovered a new talent—manipulating her enemies to fight for her.

"Interesting," she murmured to herself, her confidence growing.

End of Chapter 45