The moment the names were called out, the crowd fell into an anticipatory hush.
Even Murakami curiously sharpened his gaze. He didn't know either student personally as he barely knew most of the Academy students for that matter, but a Senju-Uchiha pairing was enough to guarantee a fight worth paying attention to.
This was a clash between two clans whose names carried weight.
Senju Tomoe stepped forward first with a composed bearing, and without any unnecessary theatrics.
No smugness, just a calm determination in her eyes, the look of someone who intended to prove exactly why the Senju name still meant something.
The Senju were known for their strong chakra and natural talent with ninjutsu so even if Tomoe wasn't a prodigy, she likely had more to offer than the average student.
Uchiha Masaru followed after her, carrying a very contrasting kind of energy.
He looked restless, fingers flexing at his sides, eyes flicking rapidly between Tomoe and the watching crowd.
Excitement could be felt off of him like static, an almost eager hunger to demonstrate whatever new power he'd awakened.
'He should've awakened the Sharingan to be this excited.' Murakami thought as he observed the Uchiha.
Both students took their positions on the field.
Tomoe exhaled slowly, and took a fighting stance.
Masaru followed suit, ready to pounce the moment he was allowed.
The proctor lifted his hand.
"Begin!"
As soon as the proctor's hand fell, Tomoe wasted no time and launched forward. She aimed a swift, low kick toward Masaru's legs, but the Uchiha stepped back with precise ease, letting the strike pass harmlessly before widening the distance between them.
He was fast, faster than most expected.
Before Tomoe could press her assault, Masaru's hands were already flying through seals, far too quickly for an average academy student.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball burst forth, roaring across the field with explosive heat.
Tomoe reacted instantly and dove aside in a fluid roll, the fireball scorching the space where she'd stood earlier.
She recovered on her feet with practiced grace just as Masaru hurled a volley of kunai in her direction.
The blades sliced through the air with deadly precision, but Tomoe twisted, turned, and weaved around them with sharp, economical movements.
"Impressive," Murakami muttered under my breath, watching as the fight went on.
She wasn't just quick in her movement, she was composed and she didn't waste a beat as her hands snapped into motion.
"Earth Style: Earth Pillar Jutsu!"
The ground tore open in front of her, jagged pillars of stone erupting toward Masaru viciously. His eyes widened and the Sharingan spun to life as he leaped back, dodging the incoming spikes by mere inches.
For the first time, he looked genuinely attentive.
As soon as he landed, he formed more seals, slightly slower this time. "Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Jutsu!"
Streams of flame shot toward Tomoe in rapid, scattered bursts.
Tomoe countered immediately, thrusting her hands to the earth.
A short, sturdy wall of stone rose in front of her, blocking and absorbing the flames. Fire licked over its edges but failed to break through.
Masaru paused, eyes narrowing. His Sharingan tracked Tomoe's movements.
He was reading her. But there was a reason the Senju were able to keep the Uchiha in line afterall.
Her hands blurred again as she formed seals, "Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
Tomoe inhaled sharply, chakra surging in her throat as a torrent of water erupted from her mouth, spiraling forward in a violent surge that twisted and shaped itself mid-air.
In moments, the mass of water condensed into the form of a roaring dragon, its serpentine body coiling as it launched straight toward Masaru.
The sheer pressure and volume of the technique made the crowd gasp, even Murakami had his eyes wide open in amazement.
'So this is the benefit of being born into a clan…' He thought to himself. Although it wasn't the A-rank jutsu, it still carried a pressure that was hard to ignore.
One thing of note is the fact that there was no water source nearby, so she was generating the water herself, something only shinobi with exceptional chakra control could do.
Uncaring for the reaction of the audience, the water dragon tore across the training field like a living thing, jaws wide as it lunged at Masaru.
Masaru's Sharingan didn't seem to have a counter, so he threw himself aside, narrowly avoiding being swallowed whole by the water dragon, twisting like a living creature as it turned and chased after him.
He tumbled back having barely evaded the snapping jaws of the dragon but he rose quickly, regaining his composure and bringing his hands together.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive blaze, far larger than his earlier attempt, erupted forward, colliding with the water dragon in a violent explosion of steam. The impact shrouded the field in thick mist.
For several long seconds, the area around them was nothing but white fog and anxious silence.
Then, slowly, Masaru's figure came into view, breathing heavily, sweat dripping, his chakra clearly taxed from the last technique.
The Uchiha clan carried many strengths, but vast chakra reserves weren't one of them.
The water dragon had dissipated but Tomoe was nowhere in sight.
Just then, the ground beneath Masaru shifted.
Boom.
A sharp tremor rippled across the field.
Tomoe appeared through the steam, her hands moving through seals with an eerie and calm expression.
"Earth Style: Earth Hammer."
She slammed her palms into the ground and the ground erupted violently as a massive stone boulder shot upward and swung toward Masaru with crushing force.
His Sharingan caught it, but even with enhanced perception, he had no time to react as the boulder slammed into him, sending him rolling across the dirt in a heavy crash.
He struggled in dazedly, forcing himself upright, but the fight had already been decided.
Tomoe stood firm, breath steady.
Masaru tried to rise again but failed.
The proctor raised his hand.
"Match over!"
"Winner: Senju Tomoe," the proctor announced.
The crowd applause rippled through the training field but Tomoe didn't smile to register the praise.
She simply dipped her head in acknowledgment and stepped back into the crowd where a few girls began clamoring around her.
Murakami nodded to himself, quietly impressed by the Senju's bearing.
'She'd make a damn good comrade if the opportunity ever showed up,' he mused as his eyes observed Tomoe
'Hopefully she doesn't die too quickly. I'd pick her over Tsunade eleven times out of ten.' Murakami thought as he withdrew his gaze.
Unlike with Sakumo, Murakami didn't feel the excitement he felt while watching her battle.
For some odd reason, he felt both Sakumo and himself would win in a battle against her.
He didn't think it was arrogance...just confidence.
On the other hand, Masaru walked himself back with labored breath, one hand pressed against the side where the boulder had slammed into him.
His expression was a mixture of pain and frustration.
Murakami let out a low chuckle under his breath. "Not bad for an Uchiha though."
Kenji, standing beside him, arched his brow. "Not bad? That was a damn good fight."
Murakami only shrugged. "Sure, but the ending was too predictable. Tomoe had him the moment that water dragon was executed. A one-tomoe Sharingan can't keep up with that kind of versatility."
"What do you mean?" Kenji asked but before Murakami could answer, Katsuro replied.
"The Uchiha are known for their Fire Style Jutsus. The only way Masaru could deal with the technique was by taking the hit with his body or defending with a Fire Style Jutsu."
Murakami nodded. "Either way, the result would've remained the same."
Kenji frowned, but didn't argue, or rather, he couldn't, not after seeing the exchange himself.
Murakami's eyes narrowed with interest as he reviewed the battle mentally. His appreciation for the Senju girl's battle IQ gradually increased.
But he didn't dwell on it.
The matches were only getting better and there would be more wonderful shows to watch.