Chương 57: 57. Clumsy

(B150; Guys We are currently in 10th Position, Let's aim for 9th Position!, So Give me your Powerstones!)

Chapter 21: Chunin Exam Chaos and Invasion Shenanigans

The gentle rays of morning sunlight crept through the window, slowly illuminating the small, cluttered room of one very sleepy redhead. Suddenly, a loud, obnoxious blaring noise shattered the peaceful silence, causing the small figure bundled under the covers to stir.

"Five more minutes, Mom," Sora mumbled, his voice muffled by the pillow he'd pulled over his head in a futile attempt to block out the noise. For a blissful moment, he drifted back towards unconsciousness before reality came crashing down on him like a bucket of ice water.

Sora bolted upright, his vibrant red hair sticking up in every direction as if he'd been struck by lightning. "Wait a second," he muttered, rubbing the sleep from his eyes, "I don't have a mom. I'm an orphan!"

A twinge of sadness gripped his heart, threatening to dampen his spirits. But Sora, being the plucky six-year-old he was, quickly shook it off. Today was far too important to waste time feeling sorry for himself. After all, it was the day of the Chunin Exam finals!

"Right!" Sora exclaimed, leaping out of bed with newfound enthusiasm. "Time to show everyone what I'm made of!"

He rushed through his morning routine with all the grace of a caffeinated squirrel, nearly choking on his toothbrush in his haste. As he threw on his clothes, he couldn't help but grin at his reflection in the mirror. Sure, he might be small for his age, but what he lacked in stature, he more than made up for in determination and skill.

"Alright, Sora," he said to himself, striking a heroic pose. "Today's the day you become a legend!"

With a spring in his step, Sora bounded out of his apartment, ready to face whatever challenges the exam might throw his way. However, his confident stride came to an abrupt halt just a few steps from his front door.

"Oh, crud," he muttered, his face falling faster than a lead balloon. "I have no idea where the exam is being held."

For a moment, Sora stood frozen, his mind racing through possible solutions. Then, a lightbulb went off in his head. "I've got it!" he exclaimed, his hands flying through a series of hand signs. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

In a puff of smoke, five identical Soras appeared, each sporting the same determined grin as the original.

"Alright, team," Sora addressed his clones, pacing back and forth like a tiny general. "We've got a mission. Spread out and find the location of the Chunin Exam finals. We've got exactly..." He glanced at a nearby clock and blanched. "Twenty-eight minutes! Move out!"

The clones saluted and took off in different directions, leaving the original Sora to pace nervously. As the minutes ticked by, he could feel sweat beading on his forehead. What if they couldn't find the location in time? What if he missed his match? What if-

His spiralling thoughts were interrupted by a sudden influx of memories as his clones were dispelled one by one. Relief washed over him as he processed the information they'd gathered.

"Got it!" he exclaimed, pumping his fist in the air. Without wasting another second, he took off towards the exam venue, his feet barely touching the ground as he raced through the streets of Konoha.

Sora skidded to a halt in front of the imposing arena just two minutes before his appointed time. Panting heavily, he quickly activated the seals for his disguise. In a shimmer of chakra, the small redhead vanished, replaced by a stoic-looking boy with spiky green hair.

"Akira" straightened his shoulders and marched into the venue, his face a mask of calm indifference that belied the excitement bubbling just beneath the surface. As he made his way to the competitors' area, he found himself face to face with a familiar figure – Hanabi, or rather, her disguised form known as Yumi.

"Well, I hope this battle will be amazing," Yumi said, a hint of challenge in her voice.

Akira, maintaining his silent persona, simply reached for the kunai in his pouch. His lack of response seemed to irk Yumi, whose eyebrow twitched ever so slightly.

From their vantage point in the stands, the clan heads and the Third Hokage watched with barely concealed amusement. Hiruzen Sarutobi, in particular, had to stifle a chuckle at the sight of the two young prodigies facing off against each other.

"They certainly take their roles seriously," Hiashi Hyuga commented, his usually stern face softening slightly as he watched his daughter.

"Indeed," Shikaku Nara agreed, a lazy smile playing on his lips. "Though I can't help but wonder if young Sora realizes just how much his 'silent type' act resembles a certain Copy Ninja we all know."

As if on cue, a puff of smoke appeared in the stands, revealing none other than Kakashi Hatake and Sasuke Uchiha.

"Sorry we're late," Kakashi said, his visible eye curved in his signature smile. "You see, we got lost on the path of life and-"

"Save it, Kakashi," Asuma Sarutobi cut him off with a good-natured eye roll. "You're just in time for the first match."

Down in the arena, the proctor took his position between Akira and Yumi. He looked between the two young competitors, a glint of excitement in his eyes. "Alright, you two. Let's give the audience a show they won't forget. Begin!"

The word had barely left the proctor's mouth when Akira launched himself forward, his body becoming a blur as he utilized the Body Flicker technique. His kunai gleamed in the sunlight as he closed in on Yumi, who stood her ground, Byakugan already activated.

At the last possible instant, Yumi sidestepped the attack with a grace that belied her original age. Her chakra-coated fingers thrust towards Akira's neck in a lightning-fast counter, but they met only the cold steel of his kunai.

The crowd gasped as the two considerably young shinobi engaged in a deadly dance, their movements so fast that many civilian spectators could barely keep up. Fingers met Kunai again and again, each clash sending small shockwaves through the arena.

"Impressive," Hiashi murmured, his Byakugan active as he analyzed the fight. "Hanabi's form is nearly perfect."

"And young Sora's reflexes are extraordinary," Inoichi Yamanaka added, leaning forward in his seat. "To be able to consistently block the Gentle Fist at his age..."

Back in the arena, Yumi increased the intensity of her attacks, forcing Akira to retreat from close-range combat. He flickered backwards, putting some distance between them, but Yumi was hot on his trail.

Realizing he needed to change tactics, Akira's hands blurred through a series of hand signs. In the blink of an eye, a barrage of water senbon materialized in the air from his mouth, hurtling towards Yumi at point-blank range.

A collective gasp rose from the ninjas in audience who were able to actually follow the battle. At such close range, there was no way for Yumi to dodge. But just as it seemed the match might end then and there, Yumi began to spin.

"Rotation!"

A dome of chakra enveloped Yumi, deflecting the water senbon with ease. The crowd erupted in cheers and murmurs of amazement. Even some of the clan heads couldn't hide their surprise.

"An advanced technique from the Main Family," Hiashi said, a hint of pride in his voice. "And executed flawlessly."

Akira, seizing the moment of breathing space afforded by Yumi's defensive move, quickly wove another set of hand signs. An earthen wall, long and narrow, erupted from the ground. Without missing a beat, Akira scaled it, his movements fluid and practised.

From his new vantage point, Akira unleashed his next technique. "Water Release: Water Colliding Wave!"

A massive vortex of water exploded from the top of the wall, quickly filling the entire arena. Yumi, still recovering from her Rotation, found herself engulfed by the surging waters. For a moment, it seemed as though Akira had gained the upper hand.

But Yumi was far from defeated. As the waters settled, she emerged, standing atop the water's surface with her chakra control, however, she was wet now. Her eyes, still marked with the telltale veins of the Byakugan, locked onto Akira's position.

"Not bad," she called out, a smirk playing on her lips. "But you'll have to do better than that!"