Did Masata really fail to notice the people quietly surrounding him?
Of course not.
As mentioned before, Masata's five senses had already reached an extremely sharp level. These students were far from professional ambushers. From the very beginning, he had noticed their presence.
"So… you're really this patient?" Masata thought calmly. "Not planning to make the first move? Or do you think you still don't have enough people?"
The terrain where Masata stood was extremely complex.
Buildings flanked both sides.
A high slope lay in front.
Behind him was a simulated explosion zone, filled with broken rubble and debris.
It was a perfect place for an ambush.
Yet Masata walked leisurely along the narrow road, hands in his pockets, completely relaxed.
Since his opponents refused to reveal themselves, he had no intention of dragging them out one by one.
That would be too troublesome—and inefficient.
However, some people clearly couldn't tolerate his carefree attitude.
"Is this really the first-place winner of the U.A. Sports Festival?"
"He's way too arrogant!"
Suddenly, a student leaped out from a nearby building.
Clutching a ball tightly, he hurled himself toward Masata.
It was from Masata's blind spot.
The attacker was confident that Masata couldn't possibly react in time.
"Huh? Finally making a move?"
Without even turning his head, Masata casually stepped sideways.
The attack missed completely.
"What?! How did you dodge that?!"
The attacker froze in shock.
There was no way this guy had eyes on the back of his head!
In truth, even Masata himself didn't fully understand what had just happened.
A sudden sense of danger had surged in his heart.
A blurry image flashed through his mind.
And his instincts told him to move.
So he did.
And it worked.
"Could it be… that instinct again?"
Masata was secretly thrilled.
This was the same mysterious perception he had experienced before.
If he could truly awaken and control it, it would be an enormous boost to his strength.
Like stirring up a hornet's nest, the first attacker exposed everyone else.
One after another, students rushed out from their hiding places.
"Take this, U.A.!"
"So this is the so-called elite?!"
"Even if you're number one, you can't fight all of us!"
For once, students from different schools were united.
All of them charged toward Masata.
After all—
Defeating U.A.'s strongest student meant instant fame.
Sometimes, climbing step by step was too slow.
Stepping on others was the fastest shortcut.
But that shortcut carried a risk.
The hunter and the prey could switch roles at any moment.
"Perfect…"
Masata looked at the flying balls and smiled.
"I'll use you as my sharpening stone."
Instead of dodging, he closed his eyes.
"What is he doing?!"
Ms. Joke grabbed Aizawa's sleeve in shock.
"This is an exam about their future! Even if he's strong, isn't this too reckless?!"
Aizawa remained silent.
But even he was confused.
Still, he chose to trust his student.
"I believe Igarashi has his reasons."
Surrounded by countless flying balls, Masata stood calmly.
He had plunged himself into darkness.
With his eyes closed, he relied only on sound, sensation, and the strange instinct growing inside him.
He didn't want to waste this rare opportunity.
That was why he had taken such a risk.
And even if it failed—
He was confident he could still react in time.
That confidence came from absolute faith in his own strength.
Snap!
A sharp gust of wind passed.
A ball struck his forehead.
Before he could even feel the pain, another one followed.
This time, Masata vaguely sensed its trajectory.
He tilted his body and avoided it.
Then—
Dozens more came flying.
All escape routes were blocked.
No matter where he moved, he would be hit.
"He's given up!"
"Keep attacking!"
"U.A.'s best is nothing special!"
The attackers grew more excited.
Balls poured toward Masata like a storm.
It seemed as if he would be buried completely.
But in that pitch-black world—
A light appeared.
At first, he had only felt vague danger.
Now, he could see it.
In his darkness, every ball turned into a shining trajectory.
Clear.
Precise.
Predictable.
Masata's body stopped retreating.
He stood in place and began to move.
Twisting.
Leaning.
Shifting.
Dodging one attack after another.
"What… is this?!"
Everyone was stunned.
On the field.
In the stands.
Ms. Joke.
Aizawa.
All of them stared in disbelief.
Masata moved like a leaf dancing in the wind.
Surrounded by countless attacks, yet untouched.
Not a single ball hit him.
"Is this… the feeling of true perception?"
Masata felt exhilarated.
Everything around him seemed under his control.
He was like someone walking through a field of flowers—
Without touching a single petal.
Every movement.
Every trajectory.
Every intention.
He could sense them all.
This was the power he had risked everything to awaken.
Observation Haki.