Konoha’s White Fang Shines

Chapter 49: The Eve of the Finals

After Iwashi's match concluded, a few more rounds of the Taijutsu competition followed, and the round came to an end. Out of the 33 participants, only 11 remained, cutting two-thirds of the competitors. As the Taijutsu contestants gradually exited, the Kenjutsu competition resumed.

With only 22 participants left in the Kenjutsu bracket, the format changed to one-on-one duels. However, as the morning had stretched late into the day, nearing lunchtime, two matches were conducted simultaneously for efficiency.

This new setup meant there would be six rounds in total. In the first five rounds, four competitors fought simultaneously, producing two victors per group. Only the final round would feature a single match between two participants.

The organizers, still concerned about injuries that might affect subsequent rounds, maintained the use of wooden swords. The reduced number of rounds also meant that Genma and Raido would take the stage sooner. Not long after, it was Raido's turn to compete.

---

Raido's opponent was a woman, her delicate features and confident stance lending her an air of elegance. With a wooden sword in hand, she looked both sharp and poised.

Raido's combat style underwent a strange transformation as the match progressed. His usual aggressive and fast-paced attacks slowed down, becoming oddly sluggish and drawn-out.

Despite his clear advantage in skill and strength, he dragged the fight unnecessarily, entangling his opponent in a frustratingly drawn-out exchange.

From the sidelines, Genma and the others watched with incredulity.

"Is he… flirting?" Ebisu muttered, a deep frown crossing his face.

"Flirting?!" Genma's expression twisted in disbelief. "That's not flirting—this is straight-up harassment!"

Raido's persistent smirk only made things worse. His usual face-covering mask, which left just his nose and part of his cheeks visible, did little to hide the amusement etched on his face.

His opponent's frustration grew palpable. Her expression darkened, her brow furrowing deeply as she endured his antics. By the time Raido finally ended the match with a few decisive moves, it was clear her patience had run thin.

As she stepped off the stage, she shot Raido a venomous glare, her resentment unmistakable.

"Yeah, that was definitely harassment," Genma deadpanned.

"Absolutely," Ebisu agreed, shaking his head. "This guy just doesn't know how to flirt properly."

---

Next, it was Genma's turn to compete. However, to his frustration, he once again avoided facing Taito. With the tournament progressing into its fifth round, it was now guaranteed that Taito would compete in the final match of this stage.

After swiftly dispatching his opponent, Genma wasted no time rallying his group to leave the competition grounds.

"It's lunchtime," he declared. "Let's eat."

While the official excuse was to rest and recharge, everyone knew the real reason—he had already made plans with Kurenai.

Thanks to their strong performances thus far, the group was granted a rare treat: a meal at Kankan Garden, a renowned yakiniku restaurant in the Land of This.

Yuuji Kamase generously picked up the tab, and in an unusual show of favoritism, arranged a private table for Genma and Kurenai. To avoid any overt special treatment, the remaining six were split into pairs at separate tables.

---

The setup allowed Genma's promise to Kurenai to unfold naturally. Patiently observing the grill, he carefully tended to the meat, ensuring each piece was perfectly cooked before gently blowing on it and offering it to her.

His tenderness made Kurenai blush furiously, to the point where she could no longer meet his gaze. Her shyness only made her more endearing in Genma's eyes, though he refrained from teasing her further.

Instead, he whispered softly, "If it's too embarrassing, why don't you feed me instead? That way, we can share the awkwardness."

"Embarrassment doesn't work like that!" Kurenai shot him a glare, though her cheeks remained flushed. Nonetheless, she picked up a skewer and thrust it toward his mouth.

"See? You're doing great," Genma chuckled after taking a bite. "Though I wasn't expecting such a sudden attack."

"Hmph. I heard you've been fixated on challenging the guy who beat me," Kurenai remarked, her tone sharp.

"Wait, how did you—"

Genma froze. There was only one person who could've leaked that information: Raido.

"How I know isn't important," Kurenai cut him off. "What matters is why you're avoiding learning more about him and instead wasting time on lunch."

Her gemstone-like eyes bore into him, unwavering and full of reproach.

Genma felt himself shrink under her gaze. They said women were scarily perceptive when it came to infidelity, but he hadn't even strayed, and yet Kurenai's intuition was already proving formidable.

"Raido probably told her everything," he concluded with a sigh, deciding it was best not to lie.

Before he could explain himself, however, Kurenai silenced him by shoving another skewer into his mouth.

"Save your excuses. Just promise me you'll knock him out this afternoon," she demanded, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Genma nodded vigorously, his cheeks stuffed with food.

Satisfied, Kurenai continued feeding him. Her motions were brisk and devoid of tenderness, clearly venting her frustration. Still, despite her curt demeanor, the two couldn't help but enjoy the moment.

---

Meanwhile, at another table, Nomura Nozomi found himself grappling with an entirely different kind of challenge: Ebisu's relentless curiosity.

"Sensei, how's the spectator area? Fun?"

"Sensei, did you notice the kimono ladies in the back rows? Their obi were really long. Was there, uh, something special about that?"

Each question was accompanied by a sly grin and raised eyebrows, making Nozomi's stomach churn. The yakiniku he had been enjoying suddenly felt like lead in his gut.

"Nothing special," Nozomi gritted out. "Just a unique fashion choice here in the Land of This. They think longer obi are more elegant, that's all."

Ebisu's expression oozed disbelief. His sharp gaze seemed to pierce right through Nozomi's feeble excuse.

"Sensei, when you returned earlier, you smelled different. A floral scent, almost like perfume. That's not something you usually wear. Care to explain?"

Nozomi's face darkened.

"It's… mosquito repellent. I applied it because I got bitten a few times. That's all."

Ebisu smirked but chose not to press further, silently congratulating himself for outmaneuvering his teacher.

---

With lunch concluded, the group returned to the competition grounds, the mood light and cheerful despite the weight of the upcoming matches.

By now, the field had thinned significantly, leaving only a handful of competitors scattered across the area. Unlike before, when the waiting area was packed and noisy, it now exuded an air of quiet intensity.

Competitors stood apart, each emanating the aura of a seasoned fighter. In stark contrast, Genma's group remained tightly clustered, their camaraderie and chatter unbroken.

As they discussed strategies, one topic took center stage: when and how to intentionally lose.

Their unique predicament as outsiders barred them from claiming any titles. Consequently, they needed to plan their "defeats" carefully, ensuring the tournament proceeded smoothly.

The team reviewed potential scenarios, debating the best way to coordinate their fake losses. Although the specifics of the upcoming matches remained uncertain, one thing was clear—they would face significant challenges before the day was over.

End of Chapter 49