Kapitel 179: 178-Precision

As Iwata, one of the three commanders of the Konoha Police Force besides Fugaku and another shinobi, continued his speech, his voice took on a more encouraging tone.

"You've all worked hard to be here, and today is your chance to prove your worth. This contest isn't just about strength, it's about leadership, strategy, and the will to protect our village. Remember, each of you has the potential to be a great leader. Show us your determination, your skill, and your heart."

The gathered shinobi stood a little taller, the encouraging words bolstering their spirits. Iwata's commanding presence and inspiring speech set a tone of respect and anticipation.

He then notified the shinobi that the whole contest was divided into three parts, with the first part involving a battle royale. "This is for trimming the fat," Iwata stated bluntly, causing murmurs to spread among the group of squad leader aspirants. The idea of a battle royale was daunting, and the term 'trimming the fat' made the stakes clear, only the best would advance.

'Why did they only inform us of the first part?' Renjiro wondered.

Iwata continued, informing the shinobi before him that they would be grouped into squads of about twenty, and only the top five from every squadron would move forward.

Renjiro furrowed his brow, contemplating the logistics. 'Wait, how many are we here?' he thought.

Activating his chakra field, he assessed the levels of his competitors. He noticed a variety of reactions, a few sensed his chakra field but found it hard to trace it back to him, while others did not react at all.

'Most of us are chunin, although I sensed some genin here and there. Why would anyone encourage a genin to apply for this? Either the genin who applied are talented or just stupid,' Renjiro thought, shaking his head slightly.

Iwata finished by saying, "The last five people to remain in their assigned combat areas will proceed to the next stage. You have a time limit of forty minutes to complete this round. If more than five people are still standing after that, all of you will be disqualified. As future squad leaders, you must be decisive."

'Well, that is a bit harsh but fair,' Renjiro thought, nodding slightly at the logic behind the rule.

Iwata informed them that only one group would go at a time, as all their superiors in the force would be the ones to judge them and score them.

The aspirants were then told to draw numbers, which would determine which round they would go in. Renjiro drew number 79, meaning he would go in the final round.

'While I wanted to get done with this quickly, at least I have time to observe my other competitors,' Renjiro mused, folding his slip of paper and tucking it away in one of his pockets.

The aspirants then made space as two shinobi created thick earth walls over a significant portion of the training ground. The walls rose with a rumbling noise, enclosing the battlefield in a formidable arena. One of the shinobi reminded the aspirants,

"You are only to use light force. Anyone who uses lethal force will be immediately disqualified."

'No killing? Well, that makes sense but if people do not fight to the death, then are the stakes really high?'

Renjiro thought before he paused and quickly reigned those thoughts back in. It seemed he was growing a bit uncaring towards human life, something that was concerning.

Shifting his focus, Renjiro watched as the first group of twenty shinobi stepped forward, nerves and determination etched on their faces. The ground beneath them was uneven, with patches of grass and dirt, and small rocks scattered around. The thick earth walls loomed high, creating an arena that felt both claustrophobic and expansive.

The signal to begin was given, and the first group launched into action. The clash of kunai and shuriken filled the air, mingling with the grunts and yells of the combatants.

One shinobi, a tall man with a scar across his cheek, moved with impressive speed, dodging attacks and countering with swift strikes. Another, a petite woman with short black hair, expertly wielded her dual blades, her movements a dance of lethal precision.

'Interesting.'

Renjiro observed carefully, noting their techniques and strategies. Some focused on brute strength, while others relied on agility and quick thinking. One shinobi, a genin by the looks of him, displayed surprising skill in evasion, narrowly avoiding hits while countering with well-placed strikes.

'Maybe he's one of the talented ones,' Renjiro thought, impressed by the shinobi's performance who was not that behind in age from Renjiro.

As the time limit approached, the numbers dwindled. The once crowded arena now had only six remaining shinobi, each one visibly exhausted yet resolute.

The scarred man and the petite woman were among them, their prowess evident in their standing. In a final burst of speed and strategy, the scarred man managed to disarm two of his opponents, while the petite woman cornered another, forcing a surrender.

'Are they working together?' Renjiro thought.

With the signal from the judges, the match ended, and the remaining five stood victorious. The crowd of aspirants murmured in approval, impressed by the display.

The next group stepped forward, and the process repeated. Renjiro continued to watch, analyzing the different fighting styles and tactics. He noticed a trend, those who combined ninjutsu with taijutsu seemed to fare better, using their versatility to adapt to various situations.

One shinobi, a burly man with earth-style techniques, created barriers and traps to control the battlefield, demonstrating a keen strategic mind.

Each round brought new insights. By the time it was Renjiro's turn, he felt a mixture of anticipation and calm. He knew what to expect and had a plan in mind. As he stepped into the arena, he felt the weight of the earth walls around him, the ground firm beneath his feet.

The other nineteen shinobi in his group eyed each other warily, the tension palpable. Some had expressions of determination, others of steely resolve. Renjiro took a deep breath, centring himself.

'Stay focused, stay sharp,' he reminded himself.

"Begin!"

When the signal was given, chaos erupted. The air filled with the sounds of clashing kunai, the grunts of combatants, and the swift movements of shinobi.

However, Renjiro remained motionless, standing tall amidst the frenzy, his senses heightened.

'There's no need to waste energy,' he thought, his eyes scanning the battlefield with a calm intensity.

'I'd rather have them come to me than go to them.'

For the first couple of minutes, the fight raged around him without anyone daring to challenge his seemingly aloof stance. He watched as shinobi engaged in high-paced, aggressive combat, their Sharingans flaring as they read each other's moves and countered with precision.

The ground was a blur of rapid footwork and the clanging of metal against metal. Dust kicked up in small clouds as shinobi leapt and spun, their movements almost too fast to follow.

Renjiro observed the skirmishes, noting the strengths and weaknesses of his competitors. He saw one shinobi using a combination of fire and wind jutsu to create a blazing whirlwind, which another countered with a powerful water technique.

The clash of elements was spectacular, but Renjiro remained unimpressed. He knew conserving his energy was key.

After a few minutes, a chunin, emboldened by the heat of battle, dared to launch a kunai at Renjiro.

"Whoosh!"

The kunai whistled through the air, aimed straight for Renjiro's head. With a swift, fluid motion, Renjiro dodged the kunai, his body moving inches to the side.

He countered with a well-placed kick, the force of which sent the attacker sprawling out of bounds. The impact was strong enough to make the attacker crash out of the earth walls which also served as the bounds, marking his elimination.

Renjiro's strategy of maintaining a low profile became increasingly difficult as the number of competitors dwindled. His stillness and non-engagement began to draw attention.

Despite this, he managed to keep a low profile, swiftly and efficiently eliminating another shinobi with minimal effort. His strikes were precise and powerful, sending his opponents crashing out of the combat area.

Now, with only eight shinobi remaining, the arena grew quieter. Among the remaining competitors were two women who looked almost like carbon copies of each other.

They had matching build, height, and facial features, with the only noticeable difference being their hair colours and attire. One had short, fiery red hair and wore a crimson outfit, while the other had long, raven-black hair and wore a deep blue ensemble.

These twins, known as Akira and Yumi, had eliminated a majority of the competitors in their round. Their synchronized attacks were a sight to behold, they moved in perfect harmony, their strikes complementing each other flawlessly.

Akira specialized in close combat with swift, powerful taijutsu moves, while Yumi used her chakra control to cast genjutsu and disorient her opponents.

'Casting genjutsu on people with Sharingans is pretty bold, the fact that she succeeded just shows how dangerous they are.' Renjiro thought.

As the eight remaining shinobi eyed each other, assessing their competition, the differences in their states became apparent. Some were panting heavily, visibly exhausted from the intense combat.

Others, like Renjiro, appeared calm and composed, as if they were merely taking a stroll.

The twins, Akira and Yumi, gave each other a knowing nod. They had noticed that Renjiro had contributed the least to eliminating others and decided he must be hiding something, either power or cunningness. They moved towards him with synchronized precision, their eyes narrowing in determination.

'He's either skated through without anyone noticing, or he's powerful. Either way, eliminating him would remove a significant threat,' Akira thought as she dashed forward, her sister Yumi following closely behind.

The twins moved like a well-oiled machine, their attacks coming in swift, coordinated bursts. Akira lunged at Renjiro with a powerful punch, while Yumi cast a genjutsu to disorient him.

But Renjiro was ready. With minimal effort, he sidestepped Akira's punch and dispelled Yumi's genjutsu with a burst of chakra.

With a swift, powerful kick, Renjiro sent Akira crashing through the earth wall, her body slamming through it with a thud that echoed across the arena.

Yumi's eyes widened in shock, but before she could react, Renjiro turned and delivered a similar kick to her. The force of the blow sent her hurtling through the same earth wall, landing next to her sister, both of them knocked out and eliminated from the competition.

'I need to work on my precision,' Renjiro thought. He had intended to make Yumi land on top of her sister but unfortunately he couldn't/

'Well, coming for me now would be stupid, so I can just chill,' Renjiro thought as he assumed a meditative stance and closed his eyes, his breathing steady and controlled.

The remaining shinobi watched in awe and confusion. 'Is he closing his eyes?' This thought ran through almost everyone's mind. Renjiro's calm demeanour amidst the chaos made him an enigma, a puzzle that none were eager to solve directly. They opted to avoid him, focusing on each other instead.

The battle continued, with shinobi clashing in a desperate bid to be among the final five. One by one, the competitors fell, until only five remained.

When the signal was finally given, indicating the end of the round, Renjiro opened his eyes and stood up.

'Finally!' Renjiro thought.

=====

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Kapitel 180: 179-Strategy

"I told you about him!" Fujioka was practically beaming with pride, boasting to his colleagues. "Renjiro is talented. I knew this whole thing wouldn't be a challenge for him."

Fujioka had placed a bet with some of his colleagues, who were also evaluating the candidates. They each had their own favourites in the competition, but Fujioka had confidently backed Renjiro. Now, he was reaping the rewards of his faith.

One of his colleagues, a burly man named Takeshi, begrudgingly reached into his pocket and pulled out a handful of Ryo, handing it over to Fujioka.

"Yeah, yeah, he just got lucky this time," Takeshi grumbled. "But there's no way he's getting through the next stage. Mark my words."

Another colleague, a woman named Nao, nodded in agreement as she handed over her payment. "He's good, but he hasn't faced the real challenges yet. The next stage will weed out the rest."

Fujioka chuckled, pocketing the money. "We'll see about that. You all said the same this morning."

'We don't even know what will happen in the next stage. We only know what they would be tested. Or do they know? If they do, I can take advantage of this opportunity since I am sure Renjiro will succeed.' Fujioka wondered.

"But if you still believe so we could make another bet." Fujioka smiled as he proposed.

As Renjiro made his way out of the combat area, he noticed someone approaching him. He sighed inwardly, mildly irritated.

'Huh, who is this?' he thought.

"Renjiro, it has been a long time," said the young woman who had walked up to him. She was as tall as Renjiro's shoulder and had her black hair tied up neatly.

Renjiro looked at her, puzzled. 'Why is she talking as if I know her?'

He furrowed his brow and asked, "Um... Who are you?" He tried his best to sound polite, but his tone came off more brusque than intended.

The lady looked slightly annoyed. "What? You don't remember me?" she asked.

Seeing the confused look on Renjiro's face, she continued, "I am Uchiha Amari."

That did not ring any bells for Renjiro and it only made his confusion deepen.

'Am I supposed to know her? Was there someone called Amari from the Uchiha clan in the story? I don't think so,' he thought.

As the silence stretched, Amari's annoyance grew. "We fought during the Chunin Exams in the Forest of Death, remember?" she huffed.

Realization dawned on Renjiro, but before he could respond, Amari stormed off, muttering under her breath.

'Why did she walk up to me and then storm off? People sure are strange nowadays,' Renjiro mused as he watched her leave.

After the initial round was over and the remaining competitors had regrouped, Iwata called for the twenty aspirants who were moving on to the next stage.

He handed each of them a scroll. Those who had been eliminated were allowed to leave, but many chose to stay and watch the rest of the contest unfold, eager to see how their friends and rivals would fare.

Renjiro noticed Amari among the twenty shinobi proceeding to the next stage. 'Oh, that crazy girl also managed to survive her round,' he thought with a touch of amusement.

He received his scroll and unfurled it, expecting some sort of message or instruction. Instead, he found it blank.

'Are they supposed to do something?' he wondered, turning it over in his hands.

Iwata, standing tall before the remaining competitors, addressed them. "The scrolls in your hand will be useful in the next part."

Renjiro looked around, seeing similar expressions of curiosity and confusion on the faces of the others. The tension in the air was palpable as Iwata continued.

"You will have to get as many scrolls from each other; however, you also must not remain with the same scroll you were handed in the beginning."

Murmurs of confusion and speculation spread through the group. One shinobi, a tall young man with spiky hair, raised his hand and asked, "How are we supposed to do that?"

Iwata smirked, his eyes glinting with amusement. "That is for you to decide. You have an hour to complete the task."

With that, he turned and walked away, leaving the aspirants to figure it out on their own.

The group of aspirants erupted into hushed conversations, trying to piece together the meaning of Iwata's cryptic instructions. Renjiro, however, remained silent, standing still and observing.

'There's got to be more to this,' he thought, trying to decipher the underlying purpose of the test.

Suddenly, a commotion broke out. One shinobi, a muscular young man decided to take matters into his own hands. He lunged at another competitor, a smaller shinobi with quick reflexes. The smaller shinobi dodged just in time, his eyes wide with surprise.

"Hey! What are you doing?" the smaller shinobi shouted, but the larger one didn't respond. He was determined to get that scroll.

"Whack!"

The larger shinobi swung a punch, which the smaller shinobi barely managed to block. Renjiro watched the chaos unfold, his mind racing. 'They're going about this all wrong. If everyone starts fighting, we'll waste too much time and energy. There has to be a better way.'

Meanwhile, Daichi, who was watching from the sidelines, turned to Fugaku, who stood beside him. "Why didn't Iwata just tell them the whole point of the test?" he asked, frowning.

Fugaku, his arms crossed and his expression serious, replied, "We are testing their composure and adaptability. If we have to spell out the picture for them, then there is no need for them to become squad leaders."

Minato, standing nearby, nodded in agreement. "The real challenge is for them to understand the objective and find the best way to achieve it. This isn't just about fighting; it's about strategy."

Daichi mulled over their words, his eyes narrowing as he continued to watch the aspirants. "Interesting..."

All this managed to happen because of Fugaku. Daichi was already delegating some of his tasks as the clan head to prepare him for what was to come in the future as so far, the Uchina Clan head had never been disappointed.

Back on the training ground, Renjiro was deep in thought. 'We have to give up our current scroll and get others, but Iwata did not say we have to fight them, right?' His mind raced as he considered the possibilities.

As the first scuffles broke out among the aspirants, Renjiro remained still, observing. One aspirant, a determined-looking young woman, managed to wrestle a scroll from another competitor. The struggle was intense, with grunts of effort and the dull thud of bodies hitting the ground.

"Give it to me!" she shouted, yanking the scroll free. The other aspirant, now scroll-less and visibly frustrated, glared at her but made no move to retaliate immediately.

Renjiro's eyes flicked over to another pair of shinobi who were arguing heatedly. "We need to figure this out together!" one of them insisted, but his partner seemed unconvinced, clutching his scroll protectively.

It was then that an idea sparked in Renjiro's mind. He looked around and spotted Amari, who was fending off another shinobi trying to grab her scroll.

"Hey, Amari!" Renjiro shouted, his voice cutting through the noise. Amari turned to look at him, her eyes wide with surprise. "Take my scroll and give me yours!"

Amari hesitated for a moment, her eyes darting between Renjiro and the shinobi attacking her. 'What is he planning?' she thought, but she didn't have time to ponder. She ducked under a punch, spun around, and dashed towards Renjiro.