After hearing Hyuga Yufumi's words, Yūgao Uzuki's body stiffened. Her eyes narrowed into slits, sharp as kunai, and her fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. "You think I'm afraid of you?" she spat, her voice low but laced with venom. "If I'm paired with you today, I'll make sure you regret opening your mouth."
Uchiha Hui, standing a few paces away, adjusted his sunglasses with a casual flick of his wrist. His gaze drifted lazily over the scene—Yūgao's fiery defiance, Yufumi's smug smirk, and Hayate Gekkou's furrowed brow. He could almost hear the gears turning in Hayate's head, trying to decipher Yufumi's motives. But Hui? He didn't care. Not one bit.
"Oh?" Yufumi drawled, his voice dripping with mockery. He tilted his head, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Defending Uchiha now, are we? How noble of you."
Yūgao's cheeks flushed, but she didn't back down. "Yes, I am," she shot back, her voice rising. "And if it means putting you in your place, then so be it!" She didn't truly believe Uchiha Hui needed her protection—he was more than capable of handling himself—but Yufumi's arrogance was too much to ignore.
Hayate stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Yūgao, don't let him bait you. He's not worth it."
Yūgao whirled on him, her eyes blazing. "What I do is none of your business, Hayate!"
Hayate's jaw tightened, his face reddening with a mix of anger and embarrassment. He shot a glare at Yufumi, who merely chuckled, clearly enjoying the tension he'd stirred.
Uchiha Hui observed it all with detached amusement. He could see Yufumi's plan unfolding—Hayate was being manipulated, and Yufumi was relishing every second of it. Hui had already guessed that Hayate would be his opponent. This little drama was just the prelude.
The Chunin instructor's voice cut through the tension. "Next match: Yūgao Uzuki versus Hyuga Yufumi!"
The crowd buzzed with anticipation as the two stepped onto the training field. Yūgao, a genjutsu specialist, was at a clear disadvantage against Yufumi's superior taijutsu. The match was brutal and one-sided. Yufumi toyed with her, landing precise strikes while mocking her for defending Uchiha Hui. When he finally decided to end it, he did so with a flourish, sending Yūgao sprawling to the ground.
Hayate watched, his fists clenched, but before he could move to comfort her, Yūgao was already on her feet. She brushed past him, her face set in a determined scowl, and marched straight to Uchiha Hui.
"That Hyuga," she said, her voice low but urgent, "he's up to something. Be careful."
Hui adjusted his sunglasses, his expression unreadable. "He's a clown," he replied flatly. "Nothing more."
Yūgao huffed, frustration bubbling over. "You're impossible!" she snapped, turning away with a sharp flick of her hair.
Hayate, meanwhile, stood frozen, his hope crumbling as Yūgao ignored him entirely. His eyes narrowed, and he shot a cold glare at Hui. "Next match: Hayate Gekkou versus Uchiha Hui!" the instructor announced.
Yūgao's head snapped up, her eyes widening. She rushed to Hayate, grabbing his arm. "Listen to me," she said, her voice earnest. "Yufumi's using you to get to Hui. Don't let him manipulate you."
Hayate's expression darkened. He shook her off, his voice cold. "I'll deal with Yufumi later. But Uchiha Hui? He's on his own." With that, he leaped onto the training field, his movements sharp and deliberate.
Yūgao stomped her foot, muttering under her breath. "Stubborn idiot. He'd rather be a pawn than listen to reason."
The crowd buzzed with excitement as the two combatants faced off. Whispers rippled through the spectators.
"Hayate Gekkou? Isn't he the top graduate this year? But Uchiha Hui's a prodigy. This is going to be good."
"Hayate's sword speed is insane. I heard even Jonin struggle to keep up. Hui's fireball jutsu won't save him here."
"Hui doesn't stand a chance."
In the corner of the crowd, Kotetsu Hagane nudged Izumo Kamizuki. "What do you think?"
Izumo scratched his chin, his eyes narrowing as he studied the two figures on the field. "Hard to say. Hui's strong, but Hayate's speed is on another level. I don't see him losing this one."
Kotetsu frowned, his gaze flickering between the two. "We'll see."