When the committee convened to discuss the event with Seventh Hokage Naruto Uzumaki, nearly every young ninja in Konoha was aware of it to some extent. Some skilled participants, like Uchiha Yang, were already familiar with the rules.
The preparations progressed smoothly, and the conference quickly gained traction. News of the event spread widely, even reaching the Land of Fire's daimyo, who received an official invitation. However, since the registration period was short, by the time the news spread beyond Konoha, sign-ups had already closed, meaning interested participants from other villages would have to wait for future events.
Rules and regulations were posted throughout Konoha, and the event quickly became a hot topic among the village's shinobi, even more exciting than the Chūnin Exams.
Competition Format
The tournament was structured in multiple stages:
1. Preliminary Trials
Open to all Konoha ninjas under 20 years old.
Only ninja swords could be used in battle; no other weapons or jutsu were allowed.
Attacking an opponent's eyes or vital points was forbidden.
Victory conditions: forcing an opponent out of bounds, making them admit defeat, or incapacitating them.
Killing an opponent resulted in immediate disqualification. Injured participants were treated by Konoha's medical-nin.
A participant needed ten victories to qualify. If a participant lost twice within ten matches, they were eliminated.
2. Second Round: One-on-One Matches
Contestants were assigned numbers (e.g., No. 1 vs. No. 10).
A single elimination format was used.
If there was an odd number of participants, the last competitor received a bye.
3. Promotion Round
The remaining competitors were divided into ten groups, each with at least three participants.
A round-robin points system determined advancement, with the top contestant in each group moving forward.
The second- and third-place competitors entered the "loser group" for another chance at qualification.
4. Loser Group Knockout Round
The second-place contestants from each group faced off against the third-place finishers from other groups.
Each second-place finisher could avoid one challenge.
Wins earned three points, with the ten highest-scoring competitors advancing.
5. Final Stage & Special Exhibition Match
The top ten competitors entered a seeded ranking tournament.
The top five faced off in a challenge format, where lower-ranked fighters could challenge higher-ranked ones.
The winner received a prestigious prize, including personal training with a legendary master.
The final match featured a special exhibition, where ten esteemed judges, including elite swordsmen, selected a young disciple to mentor for a week before the final showdown.
Referee Panel
Chief Referee: Hatake Sakumo (Konoha's White Fang)
Deputy Referees: Uchiha Fugaku, Shimura Katsuhisa
Judges: Tsukihikari Nobuji, Uzuki Koshi, Fujitora, Monchkap, Oda Masashi, Kishimoto Rendo, Gusuke
All referees were personally recommended by Hokage Naruto Uzumaki.
Special Rules & Invitations
The first-place winner in each tournament could not participate in future editions.
Prominent ninja clans could sponsor one participant to enter directly into the second stage.
Each referee could nominate one participant to bypass the first round.
Bloodline limit users (e.g., Sharingan, Byakugan wielders) were allowed to use their abilities in conjunction with swordsmanship.
Uchiha Clan's Dominance
The Uchiha clan received two direct advancement slots:
Uchiha Yoshihisa entered the second stage.
Uchiha Hiro, Uchiha Kuzan, and Uchiha Yang were placed directly into the second round of the trials.
The true young elites of the Uchiha clan, however, opted to start from the first round to prove their strength. Unsurprisingly, Uchiha Yang and Uchiha Kuzan dominated their trials, each securing ten consecutive victories to advance. Alongside them, Uchiha Kenshin, Uchiha Masamune, Uchiha Yoshimoto, and Uchiha Motojo also progressed, with Uchiha Warro having already advanced due to his placement.
In the second round, the Uchiha clan continued to display dominance. While one member nearly lost due to overconfidence, the rest cruised through. The event organizers, primarily composed of traditional sword clans, ensured that prominent clan members were placed in separate brackets early on to prevent them from eliminating each other too soon.
Upon reaching the promotion rounds, all ten Uchiha contestants were evenly distributed across the ten groups. If they all won their groups, the tournament would essentially become an internal Uchiha competition.
This overwhelming display of talent forced the other clans in Konoha to acknowledge the Uchiha's continued strength. Even though they had been quiet for years, their sheer presence in this tournament made it clear that the Uchiha were still one of the most powerful families in the village.
Throughout the tournament, the Uchiha members displayed remarkable restraint, avoiding internal clashes in the early rounds. Their sheer dominance left an undeniable impression on the spectators. Konoha's residents were left in awe—if these young Uchiha were this strong, how powerful were the elite Uchiha warriors?
Even Uchiha Yang, despite his efforts to remain low-key, realized that the Uchiha's strength was simply too overwhelming to be ignored. From childhood, every Uchiha received basic kenjutsu training, with prodigies undergoing further refinement under family mentors. Those who awakened the Sharingan combined their sword techniques with its predictive abilities, creating a near-unbeatable fighting style.
As Yang observed the competition, he smirked.
"Even if you're a kenjutsu genius from another clan, I trained just like you... but I have the Sharingan. Do you?"
Final Rounds & Conclusion
In the promotion matches, the Uchiha dominated once again. Six members directly won their groups and advanced, while four entered the loser bracket for a second chance.
In the loser's bracket, the remaining Uchiha fighters became the primary targets. Other competitors realized their best shot at winning was overwhelming the Uchiha with repeated challenges. Though this allowed them to adapt to the Uchiha's techniques, it also proved how formidable the clan was.
Ultimately, the Uchiha clan secured multiple spots in the final rounds. Even those who were eliminated left with their heads held high, having fought fiercely.
The audience couldn't help but marvel at the sheer strength of the Uchiha. Many now understood why the Uchiha police force had been so feared in the past. If their young members were this powerful, their elite warriors were truly terrifying.
Once again, Konoha was reminded:
"The Uchiha are not to be underestimated."