Konoha’s White Fang Shines

Chapter 50: Luck or Misfortune?

As the midday sun shifted slightly from its zenith, the (Martial Tournament) resumed.

The Taijutsu group began first. The eleven remaining participants lined up neatly on the stage, awaiting the judge's spirited announcement of the rules. As predicted by Genma and his team earlier, the next round would include a draw to determine matchups, and one lucky participant would get a free pass to the semifinals to conserve energy.

To everyone's surprise, it was Ebisu who drew the lucky blank, securing his spot in the semifinals without lifting a finger.

However, unbeknownst to the others, Ebisu would have to deliberately lose in the next round or simply forfeit, as they weren't allowed to take any titles or rankings. For Ebisu, though, the idea of resting, reading under the sun, and skipping a fight seemed like the ideal situation.

Meanwhile, Might Guy was practically vibrating with excitement. He walked—no, flipped—off the stage on his hands, his enthusiasm radiating off him in waves.

For him, the more battles, the better. Fighting more skilled opponents was an opportunity he welcomed with open arms.

Although there were five matches in this round, Guy's match was scheduled as the third. His vibrant green outfit and signature bowl cut made him instantly recognizable, and the audience erupted in cheers as soon as he stepped onto the stage.

"That's him—the spinning whirlwind kid!"

"Yeah! He's amazing—did you see him last time? I can't wait to see this match!"

Guy's opponent, however, wasn't impressed. Standing shorter than average but with a stocky, muscular frame, the man scowled at Guy's flamboyant entrance.

"Hey, kid, this isn't some playground. Don't think that winning a few matches means you can slack off. Take this seriously!"

The man's irritation deepened as Guy continued to flip his way onto the stage. Despite the man's irritation, his bald, gleaming head and stern expression gave him an intimidating aura. His chiseled muscles suggested raw strength, though his combat experience seemed limited to straightforward brute force.

The match began with the judge's signal, and Guy immediately dashed toward his opponent, testing the waters with a flurry of attacks.

Both fighters exchanged blows, their movements blurring with speed. Guy's agility gave him a slight edge, leaving the bald man alarmed but not disheartened. Instead, the man narrowed his eyes, his gaze becoming razor-sharp as he focused.

His attacks became simpler and more precise. Every strike was aimed at vital points, each move designed to incapacitate. Recognizing the change in his opponent's strategy, Guy shifted to a defensive stance, relying on his well-trained reflexes to avoid or block each strike.

It didn't take long for Guy's opponent to realize that his efforts were futile. Guy's speed and reaction time made landing a solid hit nearly impossible, and his well-developed muscles absorbed what little force did connect. Meanwhile, the bald man's hands began to sting with every punch he threw.

Sweat poured down his face, and his frustration boiled over. His eyes turned bloodshot as he roared, "You've made me angry now, brat!"

Though his words were clichéd, the sheer fury in his voice lent them weight.

Abandoning precision, the man swung both fists together like a hammer, leaping high into the air before bringing them down with all his might.

Guy had anticipated this. Remembering Genma's earlier advice to utilize the elasticity of his movements, Guy waited until the last moment before catching the man's fists with his hands.

Using the man's own momentum, Guy redirected the force, pulling his opponent forward and flinging him across the stage.

The bald man tumbled to the ground but managed to rise, albeit with some difficulty. By this point, however, it was clear that the match was nearing its end.

With a burst of speed, Guy appeared behind his opponent, his foot already in motion.

"Unstoppable Whirlwind!"

The attack came in two stages: an upper kick followed by a lower sweep. Both strikes landed with precision and devastating speed, sending the man flying once more. This time, he didn't get up.

"The winner of the third match: Might Guy!" the judge announced.

The audience erupted, chanting his name. No longer calling him "Whirlwind Kid," they now cheered, "Might Guy! Might Guy!"

Guy was overwhelmed with emotion. Bowing deeply to the crowd, he expressed his gratitude before exiting the stage, his heart swelling with pride.

After the final Taijutsu matches concluded, it was time for the Kenjutsu group to step forward. Like before, the format was a single-elimination bracket with one participant drawing a blank and skipping to the semifinals.

Genma watched closely as the draw began. His focus was entirely on Taito.

"Don't let him get the free pass," Genma muttered under his breath, clutching his own drawn slip.

When he unfolded it, his stomach dropped.

A blank.

It was the worst possible outcome for him. While others might celebrate such fortune, for Genma, it was nothing short of a disaster.

Raido approached with a dejected look, his slip indicating he hadn't drawn the free pass.

"Man, I thought my luck was better than this," he sighed.

Genma glared at him.

"Luck? You think this is lucky?" Genma snapped, shoving his blank slip into Raido's face.

Raido blinked, then burst into laughter.

"Wait, seriously? You drew the blank? Man, you've got the worst luck!"

Genma groaned. His jealousy burned as he realized his carefully laid plans to face Taito were crumbling. However, he quickly pivoted.

"Fine," he grumbled. "Since you're up, listen carefully. Injure him if you can, and I'll buy you dinner. Win, and you get three dinners. Got it?"

Raido's eyes lit up.

"Three dinners?" he repeated, his face turning red with excitement. "Don't worry, Genma. I've got this!"

With newfound determination (and the promise of free food), Raido approached the stage, his usual swagger replaced by an exaggerated display of confidence.

As luck would have it, his opponent was none other than Taito.

Genma's heart sank as he watched Raido stride forward.

"Great," he muttered bitterly. "Of course, he gets the match I wanted."

Raido, oblivious to Genma's grumbling, clenched his fists and prepared to face Taito.

The judge called for the match to begin, and the stage was set for another clash.

End of Chapter 50