The arena had grown louder.
Students leaned over the railings of the stands, shouting and reacting to every exchange.
In the center of the arena, Shin Torakawa rolled his shoulders once more.
Dust scattered across the stone floor beneath his feet.
Across from him, Raizen Tenrai kept his stance light.
Balanced.
Moving slightly side to side.
The instructor stepped back.
"Continue."
The Grappler Advances
Shin attacked immediately.
His steps pounded against the stone.
Heavy.
Driving forward like a charging bull.
Raizen shifted to the side.
Shin's arm shot out—
A grab.
Raizen ducked under it and countered with a quick strike to Shin's ribs.
Shin barely reacted.
Instead—
His other arm hooked around Raizen's shoulder.
The grappler had him.
The crowd gasped.
"He caught him!"
Shin twisted his hips.
A throw was coming.
The Rotation
Raizen felt it instantly.
The moment Shin's weight transferred.
Instead of resisting—
He stepped forward.
Into the throw.
His body rotated with the motion.
The momentum shifted.
Instead of being slammed—
Raizen slid off Shin's shoulder and landed behind him.
Students erupted.
"WHAT?!"
Daigo nearly fell over the railing.
"How did he do that?!"
Akari crossed her arms, impressed.
"He redirected the throw."
Close Quarters
Shin spun around immediately.
Now they were extremely close.
Too close for large movements.
Shin grabbed again.
This time both arms locked around Raizen's torso.
The grappler squeezed hard.
Raizen felt the pressure instantly.
This wasn't just strength.
It was control.
The crowd leaned forward.
"Now he's got him!"
Shin lifted slightly.
Preparing the throw.
Escape
Raizen reacted instantly.
His knee drove upward toward Shin's thigh.
Not powerful.
Precise.
The impact shifted Shin's stance.
Just enough.
Raizen twisted sideways.
His elbow pressed into the grip.
A frame.
A sharp pivot—
The hold broke.
The crowd roared.
"HE ESCAPED!"
Shin stepped back, laughing.
"That's annoying!"
Raizen smirked.
"Glad to hear it."
The Final Exchange
Both fighters were breathing slightly heavier now.
Sweat ran down their arms.
The match had become intensely physical.
Shin crouched again.
Slower this time.
Studying Raizen carefully.
Then he burst forward once more.
Raizen moved too.
Not backward.
Forward.
Their bodies collided.
Shin reached for the grab—
But Raizen stepped inside his arms.
His palm struck Shin's chest.
At the same moment—
His foot hooked behind Shin's ankle.
Shin's balance shifted.
Raizen pushed.
The grappler stumbled backward.
The instructor's hand shot up.
"Point!"
The arena exploded with noise.
The Result
Shin stood still for a moment.
Then he laughed loudly.
"Alright!"
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"You win."
Raizen nodded.
"Good fight."
Shin grinned.
"Yeah."
Then he added honestly—
"You're hard to grab."
Daigo shouted from the stands.
"THAT'S OUR GUY!"
Akari shook her head but smiled slightly.
New Respect
As the students began leaving the arena, Shin walked past Raizen.
He stopped briefly.
"You ever want to train grappling…"
He shrugged.
"I'm around."
Then he walked off.
Not angry.
Not bitter.
Just respectful.
Growing Reputation
From the stands, several students watched Raizen carefully.
Some impressed.
Some thoughtful.
Others less pleased.
Because one thing had become clear inside the academy of Kumogakure—
Raizen Tenrai was rising fast.
And that meant more challengers were coming.