"Give up, Keimei. It's my win," Kaori said calmly as she faced Keimei despite the intense happiness within her.
How can she not be happy? She manages to trap Keimei with her plan despite the huge gap between their capabilities.
Kaori wasn't blind; the reason why she managed to successfully execute her plan. If Keimei takes this match seriously and ends it quickly, Kaori might never have a chance to fully execute her plan and have to resort to countless methods in order for her plan to be successful.
The success rate isn't even going to be high since she will definitely have to forfeit the match after receiving Keimei's assaults.
'But it doesn't matter how I successfully execute my plan. All that matters is I win this match' Kaori thought to herself.
Keimei didn't respond to Kaori's statement, and instead a small smile appeared on her face at this moment, which made Kaori frown.
Before Kaori could even ask the proctor to end the battle, when everyone heard a sudden burst of smoke, making them turn their heads to see the source.
It was a kunai that suddenly exploded into smoke, and the moment the smoke dissipated, it showed the appearance of Keimei, who bolts towards Kaori—not the clone but the main one.
'How?! Kaori's eyes widen after witnessing this and instinctively react to the clone's attack.
But how can Kaori match the clone when the clone has almost the same strength as the main body and someone Kaori is unable to match? In a short exchange, Kaori was sent flying a few meters away after receiving a kick to her stomach.
The clone didn't dash towards Kaori and focus its attention on saving its main body and, with one powerful punch, cause the crystal around Keimei's body to explode into tiny pieces.
"When did Keimei use Shadow Clone?" Sakura asks while looking at Kurenai.
"She already had her clone transformed into a kunai," Asuma chimed in and answered.
"It was a brilliant contingency plan if you ask me," Kushina praised while staring at Keimei before turning her attention on her friend.
"Are you the one who taught her such a plan?" she asks.
"No," Mikoto slightly shook her head as she stared at Kushina before refocusing at Keimei.
"I didn't teach her such tactics; it was her own decision, and just like you, I also felt surprised by it, especially given how much chakra she had to place on the clone," Mikoto added.
"You had a great plan, Kaori. I'll be honest, I didn't see it coming despite sensing your clone," Keimei said while staring at Kaori, who already managed to get her bearings and is accompanied by her clone, who hasn't disappeared yet.
"You as well," Kaori responded. "I didn't think you already planned out a contingency the moment you fell for my plan."
"If you interact with someone for so long, you cannot help but adapt their own habits to yourself," Keimei said with a smile on her face.
'What did she mean by that? Kaori slightly frowned before a thought appeared in her mind. 'She couldn't possibly be thinking of Naruto, right?' '
Kaori can only think of Naruto at this moment, especially after learning Keimei knows Naruto more than anyone, and this also made her a little bit wary of Naruto.
If Naruto plans a contingency, then what kind of goal was he planning to achieve that made him have such habits, and how long does he plan for it?
But right now Kaori can't think of that as Keimei suddenly launches wind bullets at her, forcing her to snap back to reality and dodge the attack.
Keimei didn't let Kaori have a chance of taking a breath as her clone launched wind bullets towards her and the clone. Keimei right now doesn't play around anymore and wants the match to end as soon as possible.
After launching the jutsu for some time now, Kaori's clone couldn't help but sacrifice itself in order to save Kaori. This forces Kaori to temporarily halt her movements.
Keimei didn't let such a window of opportunity slip away and instantly arrived behind Kaori and placed a kunai on her neck.
"Give up," Keimei whispers coldly.
Kaori couldn't help but raise her hand and surrender. She knows that there's no way she can execute another plan since she only thinks of one plan and bets around it to win this match.
The only reason why she still decides to continue such a fight for as long as she can is because she wants to know how big the gap between them is.
Kaori wanted to surpass Keimei, and in order to do that, she must learn everything about Keimei, especially her strength.
"The winner of the match is Keimei Uzumaki," Hayate announced.
Both of the girls return together while having a small talk with each other as if they just didn't fight. It's completely different from what happens when Naruto and Kiba fight.
After they returned, Hayate didn't hesitate to call out the next contestant since, unlike the match between Naruto and Kiba, both Keimei and Kaori didn't suffer any severe injuries.
"Haku Yuki vs. Choji Akimichi," Hayate announces.
The two names echo throughout the arena as both combatants step forward. Haku calmly walks towards the battle arena with her usual composed expression while Choji follows behind her a bit hesitant yet determined.
Choji knows the low chance of him passing this round, but that doesn't mean he will give up that easily, especially after hearing Asuma's promise once he wins.
Asuma, who was watching Choji, couldn't help but shake his head and at the same time felt pain in his wallet. Like Choji, he also understood the low chance of him winning, but in order to avoid such a mentality sticking in his students, he had to offer him a free meal.
'I hope I won't go bankrupt once he wins,' Asuma thought to himself with a helpless smile.
After both of them stood in their respective positions, Hayate didn't waste any more time.
"Begin!" Hayate announces before jumping out of the way.
The moment Hayate disappeared in the two genins' field of vision, Haku already made a move. With a swift motion, multiple senbons flew towards Choji.
Choji's eyes widen but quickly cross over his arm, blocking the incoming attack. The sabons hit his sleeves and bounced off, some grazing his skin but not enough to cause serious damage.
After the ends of the attack finished, Choji immediately weaves hand signs, as he didn't want to stay defensive this entire time.
"Human Bullet Tank Jutsu!"
Choji crouches slightly before his body rapidly rolls into a ball, spinning at high speed as he charges straight towards Haku with immense force such that the ground cracked beneath him as he barreled forward.
But Haku didn't panic and instead sidestepped at the last possible moment with incredible precision. Choji's spinning form rushed past her, missing entirely before crashing a short distance away, forcing him to stop his technique.
'She's fast...' Choji thought while quickly regaining his footing and turning to face her.
Haku didn't give him time to adjust as she quickly formed a series of hand signs as she intended to launch an attack to weaken or at least slow down Choji.
An ice shard formed in the air and shot towards Choji at high speed.
Choji barely had time to react as the ice shards pierced through the walls behind him, causing him to slightly sweat upon witnessing the jutsu capability.
Choji forces himself to dodge the attack as fast as he can while thinking of a way to get closer to Haku. He didn't have any long-range jutsu unlike his opponent, but he is confident that if he can get closer and deliver one attack, it will be his win.
'Argh! It was usually Shikimaru's job to think of a plan, not mine! 'Choji complains.
Asuma, who is watching the fight, slightly shakes his head, and despite knowing the outcome, he feels slightly disappointed in the result.
Asuma knows that a one-on-one fight isn't the strong suit of his team since they focused on teamwork.
"It seems Choji will lose this match," Kurenai said.
"Indeed," Asuma nods in agreement.
"Isn't it too early to judge that?" Ino exclaims.
"Choji hasn't showcased his full capabilities yet, especially the fact that he wasn't up close to his opponent," she added.
"While that might be the case, his opponent also didn't go all out yet," Shikimaru chimed in.
"Even you," Ino stared at Shikimaru.
"What a pain... It should be obvious that Choji's opponent isn't ordinary," Shikimaru said.
Just as Ino was about to respond when she noticed the fight between Choji and Haku was about to end.
Choji, who focused on dodging, forgot to keep an eye on Haku, and the moment he had room to breathe, he was shocked to find Haku suddenly vanish in her previous location.
'Where-?!'
Choji barely had time to react when he felt a cold presence behind him.
Haku, who was behind Choji, placed her hand on Choji's back, and in a split second, ice began to spread rapidly, freezing Choji in place.
"W-What?!" Choji exclaimed in shock.
The ice climbed up his limbs and torso, locking him completely before he could even struggle. Within moments, Choji's entire body was encased in ice—only his head remained free.
Choji tried to move, but no matter how much effort he placed to move even just a finger, it failed. His body didn't even budge an inch.
"Give up," Haku said, but her voice was slightly colder.
"I... give up," Choji responds after a short moment of silence.
"The winner of the match is Haku Yuki."