Konoha’s White Fang Shines

Chapter 46: Second Round Matches

With Kurenai and the two men jointly targeting Taito, the referee immediately announced the start of the match.

The atmosphere in the stands buzzed with excitement, but in Genma's eyes, the scene was anything but fair.

It was obvious that Kurenai had no prior interactions with the two men, yet here she was, working alongside them to take on the mysterious swordsman, Taito.

First, Genma confirmed what he had suspected: the man being targeted was undoubtedly Taito. His aura, demeanor, and composure closely matched the Taito from the future—an infamous swordsman feared even by elite ninja.

Second, the two men partnering with Kurenai were nothing short of obnoxious. Their smug grins practically screamed petty opportunists.

The more Genma observed, the more irritated he became. He wanted to leap onto the stage and teach those two a lesson himself. But with the match ongoing, any interference would be seen as disruptive and inappropriate.

忍 (忍者) means to endure, right? Endure this, Genma, he told himself.

Just as Genma was clenching his fists to keep his frustration in check, the scene on the stage took an unexpected turn.

In a matter of moments, Taito made his move. Swift and precise, he completely dismantled the two men. His blade danced with deadly elegance, knocking them both to the ground before they could react.

The two men who had smugly taunted moments earlier were now thoroughly humiliated. Genma almost cheered in delight, resisting the urge to jump up and clap.

But his joy was short-lived. Taito's wooden sword now pointed directly at Kurenai, his cold gaze cutting through the distance.

Genma's elation was replaced by simmering anger. The audacity of this man to intimidate Kurenai—his Kurenai—was enough to make his blood boil.

---

Taito didn't underestimate Kurenai just because of her petite stature and sweet appearance. If anything, his expression turned even more serious, as though he were facing a true threat.

With blinding speed, Taito closed the distance between them, his blade slashing down in an arc. Kurenai barely managed to block the strike with both hands, her wooden sword trembling under the force.

The clash revealed the disparity between them. Taito's speed, power, and reflexes were on a completely different level.

Undeterred, Kurenai gritted her teeth and braced for the next attack. However, Taito gave her no time to recover. He pushed her back with another powerful strike and followed up with a rapid flurry of blows.

Overwhelmed, Kurenai attempted to counter, but Taito's relentless assault left her no openings. With a deft twist of his blade, he disarmed her. Her wooden sword spun through the air before landing with a dull thud on the ground.

The match was over.

---

The referee declared Taito the winner, but Kurenai's calm demeanor surprised everyone. She quietly stepped off the stage without protest, her expression unreadable.

Genma, however, wasn't fooled. He could sense the frustration and disappointment she was suppressing.

Pulling Raido aside, Genma whispered, "We can't let this slide. That guy humiliated Kurenai—what do you think?"

Raido's face darkened. "Yeah, he's infuriating. But that guy's not easy to deal with."

Genma smirked. "One all-you-can-eat barbecue feast. How about that?"

"Deal. That bastard's going down," Raido said, his face lighting up with exaggerated outrage.

Genma rolled his eyes. He sure sold out quickly.

---

With the first round of the swordsmanship tournament completed, the organizers announced a second elimination round. From the initial pool, 33 fighters remained in the unarmed division, while 22 advanced in the swordsmanship division.

Before the matches resumed, the referees explained the stakes. The winners wouldn't just receive material rewards—they would earn military ranks.

The champion of each division would be granted command of 500 soldiers, the runner-up 200, and the third-place finisher 100.

The fighters from This Country seemed eager, their excitement palpable. Yet Taito stood apart from the crowd, his demeanor detached and indifferent.

Genma couldn't take his eyes off him, his frustration bubbling beneath the surface.

Kurenai noticed and tugged on his sleeve. "It's fine, Genma. Let it go. It's just a loss—I'll be okay."

Genma's jaw tightened. "It's not fine. He didn't just beat you—he humiliated you. I can't stand it!"

His fiery response caught Kurenai off guard. After a moment of silence, she squeezed his hand.

"Alright, I'm not upset anymore. But…" She smiled playfully. "I want you to feed me lunch later."

Genma's eyes widened. "W-wait, for real? Did I hear that right? I'm not dreaming, am I?"

Kurenai giggled, reaching out to pinch his side.

"Ow—nope, not dreaming. But it hurts in the best way possible."

"You're just as silly as when I first met you."

"Hey, silly people live happier lives."

---

The second round of the unarmed tournament was announced next, with updated rules: three fighters per match, one victor.

For Might Guy, this was no problem at all. The enthusiastic shinobi could easily handle two opponents.

But for Ebisu and Iwashi, the stakes felt higher. Their strengths lay in ninjutsu, and while their taijutsu wasn't weak, they weren't specialists like Guy.

Watching Guy perform push-ups to warm up, Ebisu sighed. "Doesn't that guy think about anything besides training? How boring…"

Turning away, he wandered toward the crowd of adults and began observing them with a sly grin.

Iwashi, meanwhile, sat nervously on the sidelines, munching on sunflower seeds. He barely noticed when someone reached into his stash without asking.

When Guy's turn came, he was unstoppable. His opponents barely stood a chance against his relentless attacks, and the crowd cheered his energetic display.

Ebisu's match was less flashy but no less impressive. Using his agility and wits, he outmaneuvered his opponents and took them down one by one.

Finally, Iwashi stepped into the ring. While his approach was unorthodox—he even ate sunflower seeds between punches—his clever tactics ultimately secured his victory.

With all three of them advancing to the next round, the team's morale was high. Genma couldn't help but smirk as he watched Kurenai smiling beside him.

But deep down, he was already strategizing for the next challenge. Taito… you won't get away with this.

End of Chapter 46