After a period of sparring, it became clear that these ten individuals were not specialists in swordsmanship. Their skill levels were relatively even, making it difficult to determine a clear winner solely through their blade techniques.
Realizing this, the participants began gradually incorporating other techniques into the fight.
"Hey, the person I bet on is actually a Medical-nin," Nagato remarked with some surprise. Medical-nin were rare, and those proficient in combat were even rarer. In the entire ninja world, there were few like Tsunade who excelled at both healing and fighting.
Nagato admitted he didn't know this Anbu personally—he had picked her at random, mostly for the fun of participation. His comment drew the attention of those around him to the match.
"She might even be a beauty," Kawakaze teased, glancing at the female Anbu before looking back at Nagato.
The kunoichi had distinctly feminine features, making it obvious she wasn't male. She had already sheathed her longsword, her hands now glowing with chakra. Her movements became noticeably faster and more fluid, reversing the slight disadvantage she'd been at moments earlier.
Her opponent, aware of the danger, dodged left and right, making every effort to avoid direct contact. The kunoichi's hands were wrapped in the telltale glow of Chakra Scalpels—an advanced A-rank Medical Ninjutsu capable of saving lives or ending them.
Kawakaze, though unfamiliar with the exact jutsu, recognized it immediately for what it was. Tsunade had once told him about the difficulty of using Chakra Scalpels effectively in combat, as their success rate could be inconsistent. For her, they were less practical than her powerful punches.
However, in skilled hands, this technique could have devastating lethality. The way this Anbu kunoichi wielded her Medical Ninjutsu was nothing short of extraordinary.
"What does that have to do with me…" Nagato muttered in confusion. He couldn't understand why someone's appearance mattered—it seemed completely irrelevant to him.
Kawakaze sighed in frustration, momentarily feeling a headache coming on. No wonder people complained about Nagato's personality. Even if he cared deeply for Yahiko, he seemed completely uninterested in Konan—or anyone else, for that matter. Nagato's entire world was about as romantic as hauling bags of bricks up a staircase. Love? Not even on his radar.
But things were different now. Kawakaze could only hope that Nagato would eventually wake up and find his other half.
"Dumb kid. Completely clueless," Kawakaze muttered, raising his hand and giving Nagato a light slap on the head, as if trying to knock some sense into him.
"Ouch~" Nagato winced, confused by the sudden hit from his Sensei. Beneath the mask, his childish expression was hidden from everyone else.
"I'll go talk to her after the fight," Nawaki said enthusiastically. "With her Medical Ninjutsu, they might have a lot in common. Maybe we can even set Nagato up with someone."
"Yes, yes, I'll go too!" Konan added, just as excited to join in.
"Haha~" The rest of the group burst out laughing, amused by the idea.
Nagato blushed under his mask, grateful that it hid his embarrassment.
These guys are so annoying!
"She's at a disadvantage because of her age—she's going to lose," Kawakaze remarked.
The good times didn't last long. It was clear to him that the female Anbu had already given her best effort, but her opponent was starting to adapt to her fighting style. Slowly but surely, the tide of battle was turning against her.
"She's done very well," Minato said, his admiration evident. "She's calm under pressure, and even while defending, her movements remain controlled and balanced."
From her figure, Minato guessed she was around his own age, while her opponent appeared to be at least in their twenties.
"You better hope Kushina doesn't hear you saying that," Nawaki teased, shooting Minato a sly look. The comment instantly put Minato on edge—he knew Nawaki had no qualms about snitching.
"I was just saying! Don't take it seriously, don't take it seriously," Minato quickly backpedaled, a nervous smile on his face. The thought of Kushina finding out made his heart race. If her temper flared, he'd be in for it.
"Pfft, you're such a coward," Nawaki sneered, unimpressed by Minato's sudden change of attitude. "Where's your husbandly authority?"
"Shut up. A Big Brother doesn't criticize his Little Brother," Kawakaze interjected, glaring at the two of them. They were all the same—quick to criticize others without taking a good look at themselves.
...
Minato and Nawaki were deeply offended by Kawakaze's remark.
It was one thing for others to say such things, but did Kawakaze Hatake really have the right? Where did he get the nerve? The two silently questioned how he, of all people, could talk. After all, it was no secret in Konoha—though perhaps to a select few—that Kawakaze himself was afraid of his wife.
Minato and Nawaki considered their own strength to be respectable, but they both knew that even if they joined forces, they wouldn't stand a chance against Kawakaze. Fearful of provoking him into a rage and risking a beating, they chose to swallow their anger and remain silent.
Meanwhile, during the casual conversation, the female Anbu found herself in an increasingly precarious position. Realizing she couldn't win through sheer strength, she intentionally made a mistake to create an opportunity.
With her final chance, she abruptly increased the speed of her attacks, depleting her chakra rapidly. Her palm aimed directly at her opponent's vital area. If the strike landed, it would be enough to disable him.
However, the increased ferocity left her defenses wide open—a risky gamble bordering on desperation. Her opponent, misinterpreting her actions as panic, fell for the trap.
Under the mask, a faint smile appeared on her face. I'll reluctantly accept this victory, she thought.
The male Anbu carefully dodged her strikes, his movements calculated yet strained as he evaded blow after blow. Though difficult, he managed to avoid her attacks, his confidence growing with each successful dodge.
A grin spread wider under his mask as he sidestepped her final strike. With a slight bend of his legs to gather strength, he delivered a powerful whip kick straight to the female Anbu's chest and stomach.
"Here it comes," the female Anbu muttered to herself, her expression grave.
This is the moment I've been waiting for!
Instead of dodging, she braced herself, tightening the muscles between her chest and stomach. She had resolved to take the attack head-on. The light on her palm suddenly flared brighter, and she transformed her stabbing motion into a powerful push.
"Ah~"
Even though she was prepared, the force of the kick was enough to hurt her. She let out a scream and fell backward, tumbling out of the tree. At the same moment, her palm struck her opponent's chest near the heart. He let out a muffled grunt before fainting on the spot.
A mutually damaging conclusion.
Jiraiya watched the exchange with admiration. It wasn't easy to force such a situation while being at a disadvantage. This female Anbu had definitely caught his attention.
Coincidentally, her fall sent her hurtling in the direction of Kawakaze and his group.
"Someone catch her," Kawakaze said, not bothering to act himself.
"You go," Nawaki said with a sly grin, nudging Nagato forward. It was an ideal chance for Nagato to make a connection, and Nawaki wasn't about to let it slip by.
Nagato, caught off guard by the push, stumbled forward with no choice but to act. With a leap, he reached the falling Anbu, catching her securely in his arms before landing gracefully.
Her mask had fallen off mid-air, revealing her face. Sweet and delicate features framed by short brown-yellow hair gave her a playful and charming look, complemented by her large black-framed glasses.
There was no trace of the ruthlessness or determination she had shown moments earlier in the fight.