บท 269: 267
Pakura stood at the edge of the arena, her arms crossed as she watched Rasa and Genma face off. The tension in the air was electric, the crowd's murmurs falling into a hushed silence as they anticipated the fight. Rasa was one of the most promising genin in the Sand, but Pakura knew that he had been holding back in the earlier round. The Magnet Release was his ace, something the village had kept under wraps for as long as they could.
But Genma Shiranui wasn't a pushover. Pakura had seen him fight with calm precision, always thinking a few steps ahead. This will be the fight where Rasa will be tested, she thought. The question was, would he be forced to reveal his hidden power?
The crowd hushed as Rasa and Genma squared off in the arena. Dust swirled lazily around their feet, kicked up by the wind that swept through the rocky terrain. The sun hung low, casting long shadows across the scattered boulders. It was the perfect stage for a battle between two of the most promising genin in the exams.
Rasa stood calmly, his golden dust shimmering faintly at his feet, though he kept his Magnet Release hidden for now. He preferred to bide his time, waiting for the right moment to reveal his power. Genma, on the other hand, was all about action. His senbon rested lightly between his teeth, his eyes sharp and calculating. Genma wasn't one for close combat if he could help it; he excelled at ranged tactics, controlling the battlefield from a distance with precision and quick reflexes.
The referee dropped his hand, signaling the start of the match.
POV: Genma
Without hesitation, Genma launched himself backward, his body moving fluidly as he flicked a handful of shuriken toward Rasa. He wasn't about to let the Sand ninja close the distance—keeping his opponent at range was key. He'd picked up on Rasa's calm demeanor, the way he stood so still, as if waiting for something. Genma didn't like waiting.
The shuriken spun through the air, but Rasa moved with a casual ease, sidestepping the projectiles without so much as a flicker of concern. Genma narrowed his eyes. He'd expected Rasa to block them or counter, but this passive reaction was more unnerving.
"You're not going to make this easy, are you?" Genma muttered under his breath, already reaching for more senbon.
He darted around the arena, staying on the move, refusing to give Rasa a clear target. With every step, Genma launched more senbon, each one aimed at vital points—legs, arms, neck. His strikes were precise, but Rasa remained composed, dodging and weaving with minimal effort.
The distance between them shrank for a brief moment, and Rasa lunged forward, aiming to close the gap. Genma's eyes flashed, and he instantly leaped back, flipping gracefully to maintain the distance. As he moved, he whipped out a trio of kunai, their silver blades gleaming in the sunlight as they flew toward Rasa in rapid succession.
POV: Rasa
Rasa didn't flinch as the kunai hurtled toward him. His eyes tracked their movement, calculating the trajectory in an instant. Rather than dodge, he swung his arm out in a sharp, controlled motion, batting one of the kunai away with his own kunai. The other two struck the ground at his feet.
He's keeping his distance, Rasa thought. Smart. But distance alone won't save him.
Rasa could feel the weight of the golden dust at his feet, ready to respond at his command. But he didn't want to reveal his Magnet Release just yet. No, he would fight the way any other shinobi would—until Genma forced him to do otherwise.
With a burst of speed, Rasa closed the distance between them, launching a kick toward Genma's midsection. But Genma was quick, far quicker than Rasa had expected. He dodged the attack with a sharp pivot, retreating once again into a flurry of senbon and shuriken. This time, the projectiles came from multiple angles, as Genma moved with incredible speed, trying to catch Rasa off guard.
POV: Genma
Rasa was getting closer, too close for Genma's liking. He needed to slow him down. He leaped onto a large boulder and crouched, quickly launching another round of senbon from his higher vantage point. The needles spun through the air, fast and precise, aimed directly at Rasa's exposed shoulder and legs.
But again, Rasa dodged with that eerie calmness. This guy was tough to shake. Genma grit his teeth, realizing he needed to change tactics. He had to keep Rasa at bay, or the Sand shinobi would eventually pin him down.
Genma dropped to the ground again, circling Rasa with swift movements. He threw a few kunai to distract him, then, in a split-second decision, flicked a senbon directly toward Rasa's exposed chest. He was sure this one would land.
The needle shot through the air, straight and true. But just before it made contact, something shifted in the air.
POV: Rasa
The senbon came close, closer than Rasa had expected. His eyes widened slightly as he felt the rush of air from the approaching needle. He knew he had to act now. In an instant, his Magnet Release surged to life.
The golden dust swirled up from the ground, catching the senbon at the last possible moment. The needle froze mid-air, suspended in the shimmering particles. Rasa's heart raced slightly—Genma had almost forced him to reveal his power too early. But now that it was out, there was no turning back.
He flicked his hand, and the gold dust coiled around the senbon, dropping it harmlessly to the ground.
POV: Genma
Genma's eyes widened as he watched his senbon get caught mid-flight. "What the—? Gold dust?!" he muttered, disbelief flashing across his face. He'd never seen anything like it. Whatever Rasa was using, it was beyond normal.
The gold dust settled back at Rasa's feet, but the damage was done. Genma knew that he was dealing with something far more dangerous than he'd anticipated.
"Alright," Genma said quietly, adjusting the senbon between his teeth. "You've got some tricks up your sleeve. But let's see how well you handle this."
Genma moved in, feinting to the left before darting to the right, his speed and agility pushing him closer to Rasa once again. He was fast—too fast for the average shinobi to keep up with—but Rasa was no ordinary opponent.
Just as Genma closed the gap, preparing to strike with a kunai, the golden dust flared to life again. This time, Rasa didn't hesitate. The dust rose in a swirling wave, intercepting Genma's attack and forcing him back.
POV: Rasa
Rasa could feel the battle shifting in his favor. Genma was skilled, his speed and tactics were solid, but the Magnet Release gave Rasa control over the battlefield in a way that Genma couldn't match. He extended his hand, and the gold dust responded, sweeping across the arena like a wave.
With a final flick of his wrist, Rasa sent a spiraling tendril of gold dust toward Genma, trapping him in a tight grip. Genma struggled against the force, but the Magnet Release was too strong. His body was immobilized, the senbon he'd held in his hand falling uselessly to the ground.
"Winner—Rasa of the Hidden Sand!" the referee's voice echoed through the arena.
As Rasa turned to leave the arena, the crowd's cheers echoed around him, but his thoughts were already on the next fight. The Leaf had seen what he was capable of—but they hadn't seen everything.
Hokage's POV:
From his seat high above the arena, Hiruzen Sarutobi observed the match between Rasa and Genma Shiranui with sharp focus. The young Sand shinobi had impressed him with his calm demeanor, moving with calculated precision. Genma was fast and strategic, staying at a distance and using ranged attacks, but Rasa had held his own, not showing much beyond basic skills.
But then, as the golden dust shimmered around Rasa, Hiruzen's eyes narrowed slightly. Magnet Release. The realization hit him immediately.
The Hokage's thoughts turned serious. Another shinobi from the Sand with Magnet Release? It reminded him of the Third Kazekage, whose mastery over iron sand had made him a formidable figure in the shinobi world. But this was gold dust, a different variation, and the implications were clear. The Hidden Sand was showing its hand, even if reluctantly.
Hiruzen kept his expression neutral, though inwardly he made note of Rasa's abilities. This young genin was far more dangerous than he first appeared, and the Kazekage's decision to keep him hidden until now was a calculated one.
This changes things, Hiruzen thought. Another genin with Magnet Release could shift the balance of power if the Sand continued to cultivate such talent.
But the Hidden Leaf had excellent Shanobi, he wasn't worried.
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