The Lightning Gauntlet had been running for hours.
The sky above Kumogakure darkened slowly.
Storm clouds gathered over the mountains.
Thunder rolled in the distance.
But no one in the arena noticed.
Because the Thunder Board had changed.
And this time—
Everything stopped.
The Board Reveals the Match
Lightning carved across the stone.
Names formed.
Students leaned forward.
Then—
"…No way."
Akari's eyes locked onto the board.
Daigo blinked.
"…Already?"
Across the arena—
Rei looked up.
Slowly.
Because the next match read:
REI KUROGANE
vs
HAYATE ARASHI
The courtyard erupted.
"Two Seven Stars!"
"They're doing this now?!"
"This early?!"
Instructor Balcony
Above the arena—
Ren raised an eyebrow.
"You're accelerating things."
Aran didn't look away.
"Yes."
Ren folded his arms.
"…Testing the ceiling."
Aran nodded once.
The Arena Platform
Rei stepped onto the platform.
Relaxed.
But focused.
Hayate Arashi followed.
Light.
Balanced.
Controlled.
Wind users always moved like that.
Hayate's eyes sharpened.
"…Rei."
Rei smirked.
"…Hayate."
No more words were needed.
The signal flag dropped.
Speed vs Flow
Hayate moved first.
A blur.
Wind chakra flowed through his legs—
Not visible—
But felt.
Rei vanished at the same moment.
They collided.
Impact cracked across the arena.
Kick.
Punch.
Counter.
Students gasped.
"They're too fast—!"
Akari narrowed her eyes.
"…Hayate's faster than before."
Daigo shook his head.
"…Still not faster than Rei."
Blade vs Lightning
Hayate shifted.
Changed rhythm.
A short blade flashed into his hand.
Wind chakra wrapped the edge—
Thin.
Sharp.
He struck.
Rei ducked.
The blade sliced air—
A clean, dangerous line.
The crowd leaned forward.
This wasn't sparring anymore.
This was precision combat.
The Breakpoint
Rei stepped in.
Lightning flickered.
Not armor.
Acceleration.
He closed the gap instantly.
Elbow.
Hayate blocked—
But the force pushed him back.
One step.
Then a kick followed.
Hayate braced—
But slid again.
Closer to the edge.
He lunged forward—
Trying to reset.
Rei didn't let him.
He read it.
Predicted it.
A shoulder strike landed clean.
Hayate lost balance.
One step.
Two—
Across the boundary.
"Instructor decision — eliminated."
Aftershock
The arena exploded with sound.
"That was insane—"
"They were moving too fast—"
Daigo grinned.
"…Yeah."
"That's top-tier."
Akari nodded.
"…Hayate improved."
Raizen watched silently.
Inside—
Astra spoke.
"Match intensity: highest recorded."
Raizen responded.
"…For now."
Rival Acknowledgment
Hayate exhaled.
Then laughed softly.
"…Still faster."
Rei smirked.
"…Barely."
They stepped down.
No bitterness.
Just understanding.
The Board Shifts Again
Lightning surged across the Thunder Board.
Names changed.
Students leaned forward again.
This time—
The reaction was quieter.
Heavier.
"…Another one."
Akari's expression shifted.
"…This is different."
Daigo stared.
"…Yeah."
"…This one's dangerous."
Rei looked up.
Slowly.
Because the board now read:
RAIZEN TENRAI
vs
MIZUKI SUIREN
Silence fell.
Not excitement.
Not hype.
Tension.
The Strategist Appears
Mizuki stepped onto the platform.
No wasted motion.
No visible pressure.
Her eyes moved once—
Scanning.
Not Raizen.
The arena.
The boundaries.
The angles.
Then she looked at him.
"…So."
A faint smile.
"Let's see which of us the instructors consider more dangerous."
The Shift in Tone
Raizen stepped forward.
For the first time—
There was no rush in the crowd.
No loud reactions.
Even Daigo stayed quiet.
"…This isn't like the others."
Akari nodded.
"…No."
"…This is a thinking fight."
Astra's Warning
Inside his mind—
Astra spoke.
"Opponent classification: high-level strategist."
"Prediction difficulty: elevated."
Raizen answered calmly.
"…Good."
Two Minds, One Battlefield
Mizuki adjusted her stance slightly.
Not aggressive.
Not defensive.
Flexible.
She wasn't preparing to fight.
She was preparing to solve.
Raizen's hand rested near his senbon.
Not drawing.
Waiting.
Because he understood something immediately.
This wouldn't be decided by speed.
Or strength.
Or technique.
This fight—
Would be decided before the first strike.
The Storm Tightens
Above Kumogakure—
Lightning flashed.
Thunder rolled louder now.
The air grew heavier.
Below—
Two of the most dangerous minds in the academy stood facing each other.
And for the first time in the Lightning Gauntlet—
No one could predict what would happen next.