Mamoru's Shadow Clone stepped closer, stopping before her. "It's over. Surrender."
"Never!" Temari hissed through clenched teeth.
"Stubborn children pay for it." The clone said lightly, increasing the output of Blue.
At once, an invisible force began crushing Temari's body. The wall behind her groaned and cracked inch by inch. Pain lanced through her, but she bit her lip until blood ran, refusing to cry out.
"Honestly…" The clone frowned at her obstinacy.
He pushed Blue harder and pale blue light rippled across the wall, energy bleeding out before the technique fully formed.
Bang!
The wall caved inward, leaving a crater, and Temari was driven into it. The crushing force tore a scream from her at last, blood spilling over her lips.
"Hey, if you don't give up, you'll be a pancake." The clone warned.
A louder buzz of voices rippled through the stands. Such brutality was beyond most Genin's experience.
The clone scratched his head, studying the girl who endured agony yet would not yield, wondering what to do next.
Just as he hesitated over increasing Blue's output again, a familiar shout rang from the stands.
"Oi! Don't kill her!"
It was Mamoru himself.
"Tch…" The Shadow Clone glanced back, eyes dangerous. "Ordering me around?"
"Big bro, please!" The real Mamoru clasped his hands, shamelessly pleading with his own clone.
His shameless display left the onlookers speechless and the solemn match's tension evaporated in an instant.
The invisible pull vanished and Temari slid from the cracked wall and crumpled, pain leaving her immobile.
Footsteps approached. Through blurred vision, she saw the figure crouch beside her.
"Don't be so stubborn next time, alright."
With that quiet admonition, the clone tapped two fingers to her brow. Gentle Chakra flowed in, and her mind sank into deep darkness.
Seeing her asleep, the clone rose and looked to Hayate, silently demanding a verdict.
Hayate finally collected himself, cleared his throat, and announced, "Winner—Tenten!"
As victor, Tenten felt no joy. She stared at the field, emotions tangled. She didn't realize that after this fight, she had become one of the most feared Genin. No one wanted to face an opponent who could summon "Mamoru " at will.
Given the strength that clone had just shown, many would swear it was the real one. Facing Tenten now meant likely fighting two-on-one.
When the result was declared, Kankuro leapt from the stands and rushed to Temari, lifting her upper body. "Hey! Wake up, Temari!"
"Idiot." The still-present clone said coolly.
"You!" Kankuro glared. "What did you do to her?"
"Put her to sleep, that's all. She's not dead, so calm down." The clone sighed, a trace of mockery in his voice. "So many fools."
Before Kankuro could retort, the clone vanished in a puff of white smoke, leaving him fuming with no one to blame.
Tenten walked slowly back to the stands, brows slightly knit. The joy of victory never touched her face. Instead, a faint bewilderment lingered.
Mamoru tilted his head and asked quietly, "What's wrong? You won, why aren't you happy?"
"I can't really explain." Tenten murmured, fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her jacket. "It just… doesn't feel like a real win."
"So dramatic…" Ino sniffed, scooting even closer to Mamoru. "A win's a win, right?"
Tenten caught sight of Ino practically glued to Mamoru's side and let out a soft hmph, turning away.
"Hey, what's with that attitude!" Ino's eyes flashed and she ground her teeth.
"Tenten, are you upset because you used my Shadow Clone instead of your own strength, so the victory feels tainted?" Mamoru cut straight to the heart of her worry.
Tenten gave a tiny nod, voice barely a whisper, head drooping lower.
"Then you're mistaken." Mamoru folded his arms, his words ringing across the stands. "The ninja world isn't fair. To complete missions, we use every means against an enemy. Coming back alive is what counts, understand?"
His statement echoed through the stands. Several Jōnin instructors nodded in approval, Kakashi even widened his usually sleepy eyes. The Genin reactions varied—some agreed, some pondered, some looked lost.
"Mamoru, well said." Ino clasped her hands, eyes shining with admiration.
Mamoru went on, "Besides, that victory was still born from your power. Only you, with your Space-Time Ninjutsu gift, could pull off that Shadow Clone summon in the whole arena. So don't feel ashamed, this win belongs entirely to you."
Tenten listened, the haze in her eyes lifting and a relieved smile finally surfaced. "I understand. Thank you."
Mamoru arched a brow, lips curving slyly. "Just a verbal thanks?"
Tenten's cheeks flared red and she stepped back reflexively. "Wh-what do you want?"
Beside them, Ino glared daggers at the flustered Tenten, fists clenched as if she might pounce.
"Ten barbecue feasts ought to cover it."
"Drop dead!"
…
While they bickered, the scoreboard flashed the next match: Nara Shikamaru vs. Tsuchi Kin.
As the two entered, Mamoru eyed Shikamaru's lazy stroll and muttered, "Great, I just cost my buddy his future wife, didn't I?"
"Shikamaru, don't hold back! Wipe the floor with her!"
Ino's yell right beside Mamoru's ear nearly deafened him.
The bout ended quickly, Shikamaru's clever tactics secured the win.
As Shikamaru trudged back, passing Mamoru, one comment left him speechless.
"So why didn't you strip?"
Shikamaru rolled his eyes. "Trying to get me killed? Troublesome."
If he'd actually done it, every girl present would've declared war. Just picturing it made him shudder.
Nearby girls caught Mamoru's meaning and shot disgusted looks.
"Pervert!" Ino planted hands on hips, glaring at Shikamaru, who protested, "I didn't say it."
"Lecher!" Tenten echoed, face scarlet.
Hinata said nothing, but the way she looked at Mamoru turned oddly delicate.
"What's in that head of yours?" Kurenai scolded, brows knit.
"Just joking." Mamoru laughed, hands up, inching back.
Just then the board began to spin.
"Only a few fighters left." He deflected, pointing. "Next match should—"
Before he finished, the text froze: Uchiha Mamoru vs. Uzumaki Naruto.
"It's me, it's me! Everyone, the wait is over!" Naruto whooped, fists pumping. "Watch me shine!"
Everyone stared as if at an idiot.
Dude, check your opponent first.
Mamoru rubbed his brow, a trace of resignation in his eyes. Of course it'd be the most troublesome one. With Naruto's refusal to lose, who knew what chaos would erupt?
"Huh, just Naruto." Ino scoffed, openly dismissive.
"No suspense there," Tenten smirked, arms folded, certain of the outcome.
Mamoru brushed the thought aside and said, "Be right back."
He silently added, 'Time to beat the protagonist.'
The words hadn't left his mouth before he vanished, reappearing an instant later in the center of the arena.
Meanwhile, over at Team 7.
"Naruto, maybe… forfeit?" Sakura fretted, fingers knotted. "You can't win."
"Like hell! No way I lose to that guy!" Naruto boasted, chin high. "I'll clobber him!"
"You're impossible." Sakura flushed, words stuck.
"Give 'em hell, Naruto."
Unexpectedly, Sasuke offered encouragement.
As rivals, he wanted to see how far Naruto could go, anticipation flickered in dark eyes.
"Just watch me!" Naruto thumped his chest.
Then he spotted Mamoru below, calm, effortless, and bristled. He hated show-offs.
"Hmph!"
With a swift vault over Sakura's exclamation, he flipped from the stands.
Thud!
Naruto stumbled on landing, dust swirling, barely keeping his footing, no public face-plant, at least.
(End of Chapter)
Read 50 Chapters ahead on
patreon.com/astralicity