The Hidden Leaf Academy's annual tournament was more than just a tradition—it was a chance for students to test their strength, showcase their skills, and earn the recognition of teachers, peers, and even Jonin observers. For most students, it was exciting. For Raiden Kageyama, it was just another step on his path.
Still, he couldn't deny it had drawn attention.
Every student knew about him by now—the emotionless boy who had defeated Sasuke with a single blow, who trained alone and barely spoke, and who somehow managed to remain untouchable. Rumors swirled that he was the Hokage's secret weapon, a reincarnation of a forgotten clan, or even a descendant of the Sage of Six Paths. The truth was far stranger than any of those theories.
Raiden didn't care about the rumors.
But his system had alerted him the moment the tournament was announced:
Special Event Detected: Chunin-Level Combat Simulation.
Mission: Reach Finals to Unlock Next Tier Skills.
Reward: "Observation Haki (Rare Skill)" + "Combat Instincts Boost"
He accepted without hesitation.
---
Preliminary Matches: Shadows of Growth
The first few rounds were one-on-one elimination duels. Raiden's first opponent was a loud-mouthed boy who boasted about his clan's secret taijutsu techniques. Raiden stood quietly, eyes half-lidded, as the boy charged forward.
One blow. A palm strike to the solar plexus. The boy collapsed, gasping.
The match was over in three seconds.
As the tournament progressed, Raiden's fights continued in the same fashion—quick, clean, and overwhelming. But with each match, more eyes watched him: instructors took notes, Jonin whispered amongst themselves, and classmates were forced to recognize that he wasn't just strong—he was something else.
Still, the real challenge wasn't the combat.
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Hinata's Confession (Almost)
During a break between matches, Raiden stood alone in the academy garden, leaning against a sakura tree. The petals fell around him silently. Hinata approached, her hands tightly clenched.
"Raiden… um… you're doing amazing in the tournament," she said softly, her face bright pink.
Raiden turned his gaze toward her but said nothing. Not coldly—just quietly observing.
"I… I wanted to say thank you," she continued, fidgeting. "For helping me with chakra control. I passed my last test because of your advice."
He nodded. "You improved."
There was a pause, filled only by the wind.
Hinata took a deep breath, as if ready to say something more personal—perhaps even confess her feelings—but just then, Naruto's loud voice echoed across the courtyard, interrupting the moment.
"Oi! Kageyama! Your match is next!"
Hinata flinched. Raiden looked at her a moment longer, then quietly walked past her, leaving her with a rapidly beating heart and words unsaid.
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The Rival Arrives: Shiro Arakawa
In the next round, Raiden finally met a true match.
His opponent was Shiro Arakawa, a sunny, golden-haired boy who had just transferred from another elite academy in the Land of Rivers. Shiro was the opposite of Raiden in every way—friendly, outgoing, loud, and full of fire. But beneath that bright smile was a deadly serious fighter.
When Shiro entered the arena, the crowd instantly fell for his charm. "Hey, everyone!" he called. "Hope you're ready for a good show!"
Then he turned to Raiden. "So, you're the mysterious Kageyama. Everyone's talking about you."
Raiden said nothing.
"I like strong guys," Shiro grinned. "Let's see which of us makes it to the finals."
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Raiden vs Shiro: Clashing Wills
The fight was electric.
Shiro used light-based ninjutsu—fast, flashy attacks that dazzled the crowd. But beneath the surface, his taijutsu was tight and refined. He moved like a dancer, each step choreographed, each strike full of intent.
Raiden activated Ultra Instinct Level 1 mid-fight. He dodged most attacks, his body moving before his mind could react, gliding through Shiro's strikes like water.
But Shiro adapted fast. "You're strong," he said between blows. "But are you alive?"
He pushed Raiden harder, using moves that forced him to actually block or counter instead of simply avoiding.
For the first time, Raiden's face showed a flicker of surprise.
Then came the system notification:
Observation Haki (Locked) — 90% sync.
To unlock: push mental focus under pressure.
Raiden narrowed his eyes.
In a split second, he stopped dodging—and countered with a palm strike so sharp, it sent a shockwave through Shiro's guard. Shiro was forced to his knees, stunned but smiling.
"You win," he said, coughing. "Man… you're unreal."
System update pinged:
Observation Haki unlocked.
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The Heroines Watch
From the stands, the girls couldn't take their eyes off him. Hinata clutched the railing, unable to look away. Ino leaned forward, mesmerized. Even Sakura, who'd once only had eyes for Sasuke, found herself watching Raiden with flushed cheeks.
He was untouchable. Unshakable. And somehow, that made them want to be near him more.
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The Finals and Beyond
Raiden won the tournament easily—but he didn't care for the trophy or applause. What interested him was the final system prompt:
Next Tier Unlocked: Choice of New Skill Tree
— Swordsmanship (Zoro-style)
— Nen (Hunter x Hunter)
— Summoning: Unique Beast Contract
And just as the Academy celebrated its top student, another figure watched Raiden from the shadows—a cloaked man with a sinister chakra signature.
Trouble was coming. And Raiden would need more than strength.
He'd need people. A team. A bond.
Even if he didn't yet understand what that mean.
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To be continued...