Chương 144: Rule Two
"Prepare to be swallowed whole!" Chen shouted, overriding the sound of the swirling vortex encircling him.
Arthur could feel the pressure of the wind and the raw force of the technique aiming to consume him. Yet remained unmoved.
The dragon then charged toward him. He stood his ground, his expression inscrutable, his eyes locked onto the approaching technique. In that intense moment of connection, the dragon lunged, enveloping him whole!
Inside the swirling winds, he could hear the roar of the dragon. Chen, knowing he had succeeded, felt victorious. "That's it—I've got you!" he exclaimed, feeling triumphant.
The force of the tornado increased, razor-sharp winds slicing through everything within. As the dust settled, Chen felt a curious stillness. The winds around him died down momentarily, but all he could focus on was the victory he believed was at hand.
When he landed, he turned to the announcer, waiting for the confirmation of his win.
"Call the match! He's down!"
Yet to his surprise, the announcer's face was filled with anxiety; his voice caught in his throat. The crowd murmured, as it seemed the match was still hanging.
"What's the matter?" he barked in confusion, glancing back at the announcer. "Call it already! He's down."
But just as he was about to demand again, he felt an immense force grip his entire face. He gasped, caught completely off guard.
'Chakra-enhanced strength…'
In one sweeping motion, Arthur, who was supposed to be down, managed to capture Chen's face with a pure chakra-enhanced grip! And with a swift and powerful move, he swiped downward, sending Chen hurtling through the air like a ragdoll!
Dust exploded into the air around them as Chen smashed against the wall, leaving a sizeable dent in the arena's structure—he had been ringed out, thrown out of the bounds of the match.
The arena erupted into an exciting chorus. Many gasped and many shouted. The announcer, still shocked at what transpired, rumbled, "The match is over! Hoshikaze is the winner!"
Chen's head burst from the wall with confusion and indignation all over his face. He yelled, "Hold on a minute! What just happened?!"
Arthur walked back to his area without at all acknowledging anyone. He seemed unfazed, returning to the calm before the turbulence of the next match. But Chen's anger erupted, following him.
"You cheated!" he shouted, trying to shake off his bewilderment.
Arthur merely glanced over his shoulder with a relaxed stance and said, "You got overconfident, Chen. You assumed your technique landed. Nothing more…"
His voice was cool, devoid of irritation or excitement, and the comment stung.
Chen could feel shame threatening to seep in, battling fiercely against his indignation. Trying to suppress the tremour in his voice, he asked, "Then will you tell me how you won?"
Arthur could practically hear his desperation. "Get lost," he stated flatly, not looking in Chen's direction or offering any further explanation.
The dismissal weighed heavily on the taijutsu specialist. He felt bitter.
"What's wrong with you?" he challenged, simmering his anger. "I thought we could exchange some insights after the battle. Didn't I earn your respect?"
Arthur continued to walk away, unresponsive, but Chen felt a sense of defeat like he had never experienced before. How had he lost? It didn't add up. He had executed his signature technique flawlessly!
Because he had come to this tournament alone, there was no one to turn to and ask questions. He truly was at a loss, seeking clarity of what happened during the match.
How had Arthur escaped the bounds of the ultimate Leaf Dragon?
Unbeknownst to many, he had skillfully utilized his Tamashii to create an intricate genjutsu—a realm of illusion that transformed the entire arena.
The clash that had unfolded earlier was nothing more than a deception, designed to make those affected think Chen's technique had landed.
He had excluded the referees and most spectators from his illusion, steering the outcome in his favour. That was why the announcer had an anxious look on his face when Chen kept asking him to call the match.
Those who weren't affected by the genjutsu saw Chen's attack completely miss. Afterwards, Arthur merely strode toward the taijutsu user and claimed the real victory.
As far as most participants were concerned, his victory seemed to have been earned through strength and combat prowess. But in truth, it was because he was a tactful fighter.
This tournament was not merely about demonstration of flamboyant techniques; it was a test of the mind, and Arthur had expertly proven himself in that realm as well.
An unwelcome sense of contentment rose within him as his mind now shifted focus to the wider picture: who else had been affected by his genjutsu? He had expanded its reach throughout the entire building, targeting not only his opponents but also the Kages present in the audience.
During the moment, he noted that while Mei and A resisted his illusion, three other names quickly crossed his mind: Lars, Jada, and William. They were susceptible; they had fully succumbed.
Jada had not activated her Sharingan like she had before. Because of that, she couldn't sense the chakra behind his blindfold. It made it all the more easy to dull her senses. This knowledge would prove valuable if he desired to use his Tamashii so openly again.
As he maintained his composure, he continued to reflect on the recent match.
Chen's taijutsu was certainly better than Arthur's. For instance, Arthur couldn't use his main fighting style, which was a mixture of common techniques from earth and this world. Chen's level of skill over his, however, was to be expected considering this filler character could go toe-to-toe with Might Guy, the undisputed best taijutsu user.
Even after Arthur threw him out of the ring like a ragdoll, Chen still managed to recover as if it were a normal attack. Any average-level fighter would have at least received a concussion.
And if it wasn't for Arthur's Tamashii, he would have been bested many times over. What really helped him was that he had a blindfold on, preventing Chen from reading his eyes. Then there was his bulky, iron-like physique.
Even if the ferocious fist could break bones, it most certainly couldn't crack medal.
With that in mind, Arthur's focus shifted back to examining the space surrounding him. There was a lot he still had to learn, and through observation, he would surely find the time to further hone his skills.
Chen, now back in his solitary space, looked defeated yet ignited by confusion. "How could I lose like that?" he asked himself. He scrambled his thoughts to find an answer just as Rock Lee and William approached him.
"Chen, you fought well!" William said, trying to be encouraging.
Yet his words were drowned by Chen's thoughts. Whatever they were saying, he couldn't hear. They could see that he was blatantly ignoring him due to that unsettling feeling as he once again reflected on Arthur's calmness and skill.
"I might just have to come out of retirement," he suggested to himself, trying to instill some sense of motivation in his heart. "Next time, I'll be ready!"
"Yes," Rock Lee agreed, not disheartened that Chen hadn't heard him earlier. He then got on his knees with his head down. "But before that, I would like you to teach me the Leaf Dr—"
"Ugh, Lee," William said, cutting him off. "He's leaving."
"What?!" Lee said, raising his head in utter embarrassment.
Chen's mind was still tangled in the events of the match and the destruction of his confidence. Something about Arthur's demeanour had shaken him. Having felt the sting of loss once more, he knew he had to come back stronger.
Meanwhile, Arthur remained in his area as the annals of the tournament went on. The announcer's voice abruptly brought the attention of the crowd back to the present.
"Ladies and gentlemen!" he boomed. "This has indeed been the most exciting turn of events I have had the pleasure of witnessing! Things are really heating up as we climb higher and higher to the finals."
Arthur could hear the murmurs in the crowd. They were very eager to hear the names of the next contestants. Yet, the announcer first had to remind everyone: "Raidō Namiashi has—sadly—decided to forfeit his match! That means that Anko Mitarashi advances directly to the third round!"
"Great job!" Anko heard from across the arena. It was Jada waving at her. She waved back, trying to look cool because of the free win.
"And now," the announcer continued, "for the next match we've all been waiting for! We have two strong competitors stepping into the ring: Han, the Jinchūriki of the Five-Tails!"
At the mention of his name, Han stepped forward with a fierce gaze, locking onto the announcer. It sent a shiver through the latter because he had stated his title out loud.
Han's expression was void of any humour. He stood tall, muscular, and formidable with an aura of power as he regarded the audience. They hadn't seen him fight yet since he was given a bye last round, so they were eager to see another Jinchūriki showcase themselves.
As the announcer felt the weight of Han's stare, beads of sweat formed on his brow.
"Uh… and we also have Darui!" the announcer pressed hastily, eager to dissipate the tension he was receiving. "The Raikage's right hand man! An elite ninja with extraordinary skills!"
Darui stepped into the ring with a calm demeanour. The crowd, still buzzing with excitement, looked back and forth between the two fighters, ready for something epic.
The announcer, sensing their eagerness, continued, "This promises to be an interesting match!" His voice was steadier this time as he glanced nervously at Han. "Especially since both fighters can harness their chakras in ways few others can! We're bound to see a spectacular show, folks!"
The mention of Han's status as a Jinchūriki, coupled with Darui's position with the Raikage, had a significant impact on the audience.
As the two fighters squared off in the middle of the arena, they exchanged unreadable glances. Arthur could tell that both fighters were sizing each other up, just as he had done in all of his matches.
Tension continued to rise. However, the announcer felt compelled to address a pressing matter.
"Before we begin, Han, I must humbly request that you remove your armour, as it's against the rules to have any chakra-enhancing items during a match." The words tumbled out of him hurriedly, underscored by a quiver in his voice.
Han raised a dismissive eyebrow and let out a low growl. His tone was in disbelief as he asked, "Where does it say that in the rules?"
"Um, it's rule number two," the announcer stammered, his eyes darting around, searching for nothing in particular. "Chakra-enhancing items are restricted." His voice trembled as he spoke. Realizing that his own authority was being challenged, he bit his lip and shuffled uncomfortably.
Yet it was true: chakra-enhancing items were not permitted in this tournament. And what Han wore qualified as such.
In the background, the crowd began to murmur, their anticipation muddled by the unexpected turn of events.
Han's irritation grew, so he called for a referee to intervene: "You there, get over here!"
One of them arrived and said, "Han, we're aware of your steam armour, which enhances your vapour style Kekkei Genkai. This is a standard protocol."
Han became more astounded that mere officials were aware of his unique fighting style than he was by their prohibition of his armour. He flexed his hands in frustration and growled, "Who gave you that knowledge? I want names!"
Unlike the announcer, the referee remained firm and answered, "We don't need to disclose that information since you signed the contract that clearly outlines the rules and regulations of this tournament."
The Jinchūriki's frustration morphed into a scowl. He stepped closer to the referee and snapped, "You think I care about some silly contract?" His towering frame against the smaller official made the scene look intimidating.
Was Han really going to attack a citizen of this country under everyone's gazing eyes? Surely he wasn't that stupid.
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