Morning arrived cold and clear over the mountain terraces of Kumogakure.
Mist rolled across the academy grounds as students gathered once again at the Challenger Arena.
The previous day's matches were still being discussed everywhere.
Raizen Tenrai.
Ren Sōma.
Tetsuo Kurogane.
Three names echoed through the corridors of the academy.
But today…
The focus shifted.
A Different Kind of Fighter
The announcer's voice rang out across the arena.
"Next match!"
"Daigo Mizuta!"
Cheers erupted immediately.
Daigo stepped into the arena with his usual wide grin.
Unlike Raizen, he carried no weapon.
No special tools.
Just bandaged hands and the stride of someone who enjoyed fighting.
Across the arena stood a much larger student.
Broad shoulders.
A heavy stance.
A taijutsu specialist named Kenta Arashigane, from one of the older academy years.
Students whispered immediately.
"That guy's huge…"
"He's one of the strongest in his class."
In the stands, Akari Mizuta crossed her arms calmly.
"He picked a bad matchup."
Raizen stood beside her, watching quietly.
"He chose him."
Akari nodded.
"Yes."
Clash of Strength
The instructor dropped his hand.
"Begin!"
Kenta attacked immediately.
His fist came down like a hammer.
Daigo slipped to the side.
Barely.
The punch smashed into the arena floor, cracking stone.
Students gasped.
"Whoa!"
Kenta swung again.
Another powerful strike.
Daigo ducked under it.
Then countered.
A fast hook aimed at Kenta's ribs.
The impact landed solidly.
Kenta barely moved.
The larger student grinned.
"Not bad."
Then he grabbed Daigo's shoulder.
And sent him across the arena.
Daigo rolled across the stone floor before flipping back to his feet.
Still smiling.
"Okay," he muttered.
"Now it's interesting."
The Mizuta Style
Kenta charged again.
But this time Daigo didn't dodge immediately.
He stepped forward.
The two fighters collided in the center of the arena.
Fists.
Elbows.
Knees.
Taijutsu exploded across the ring.
Kenta relied on brute force.
Every strike heavy enough to break bones.
But Daigo moved differently.
Quick.
Compact.
His strikes came in tight combinations.
Short punches.
Sharp knees.
Body blows.
Raizen watched carefully.
"He fights like a storm surge."
Akari nodded slightly.
"Explosive pressure."
Daigo slipped inside another heavy punch.
Three rapid strikes hit Kenta's torso.
The fourth smashed into his jaw.
Kenta staggered back.
For the first time in the match.
The crowd roared.
The Iron Wall
Kenta wiped blood from his lip.
Then laughed.
"Good."
He slammed his foot into the ground.
His stance widened.
Then he rushed forward again.
This time he grabbed Daigo.
Locked his arms around him.
And lifted him off the ground.
The arena gasped.
Kenta slammed him into the stone floor.
Hard enough to shake the arena.
The impact echoed.
Dust rose into the air.
For a moment…
Daigo didn't move.
Akari leaned forward slightly.
Raizen's eyes narrowed.
Then—
Daigo laughed.
From the ground.
Kenta blinked.
"You're crazy."
Daigo rolled to his feet.
Spitting dust.
"Maybe."
He wiped his mouth.
"But I'm not done yet."
Breaking the Wall
This time Daigo attacked first.
He moved faster than before.
A rapid series of strikes.
Punch.
Elbow.
Knee.
Kick.
Kenta blocked most of them.
But Daigo kept moving.
Relentless.
Like waves crashing against stone.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Then suddenly—
Daigo changed rhythm.
Instead of another punch…
He stepped inside Kenta's guard.
His shoulder slammed into the larger student's chest.
A sudden grapple.
Kenta lost balance.
Daigo twisted his hips.
And threw him.
The massive student crashed into the arena floor hard.
The crowd erupted.
Daigo pinned him instantly.
Forearm across the throat.
The instructor stepped forward.
"Match concluded!"
Cheers exploded across the arena.
Daigo rolled off his opponent and offered a hand.
Kenta took it with a laugh.
"You're a monster."
Daigo grinned.
"I try."
The Archer's Test
Later that afternoon another challenger stepped into the arena.
A girl with long dark hair.
A bow in her hand.
Kaede Arashino.
Whispers spread quickly.
"That's the archery prodigy…"
"She never misses…"
Her opponent stood across the arena with two short swords.
The match began.
Before the swordsman could close the distance—
Kaede fired.
The arrow struck the ground directly in front of his foot.
Perfectly placed.
He froze.
Another arrow appeared on her bowstring instantly.
Her voice carried across the arena calmly.
"Next one hits your shoulder."
The instructor raised his hand.
"Match concluded."
Students erupted into excited chatter.
Precision like that was rare.
The Rising Board
That evening the Thunder Ranking Board updated again in the central hall.
Several names climbed higher.
Raizen Tenrai.
Daigo Mizuta.
Kaede Arashino.
Ren Sōma.
Tetsuo Kurogane.
Students whispered among themselves.
"These fights are getting insane…"
"They're all monsters."
From the edge of the hall, Akari studied the board quietly.
Then she spoke softly.
"Now it's my turn."
Raizen glanced at her.
"You already picked someone?"
Akari nodded.
"Yes."
Her eyes shifted to a name near the top of the board.
One of the elite class leaders.
The next match would be different.
A strategist versus a prodigy.
And this time… the entire academy would be watching.