Mind's Eye

Instantaneously, I chose to close my eyes and rushed forward. I could tell that Chino, for one, was taking this lightly. I couldn't blame her for not having anyone to humble her while she was on her winning streak.

For any genin, Chino would be a tough fight. She likes to keep her opponents at a distance while she uses genjutsus or bubbles as her main form of attack. To those who managed to get close to her and boy was that few, we got to see her greatest weakness was close combat.

I'd compare her to a Summoner or Elementalist, mid-long ranged combat was her go-to. Her use of kunais wasn't anything special so I didn't have much to fear in that regard.

I heard a swift gust blow by, I knew that she shushined.

It didn't take long to find exactly where she went, I figured this wasn't something she'd think would be too much of a challenge so she would decide to go for the neck first.

M: (I would've too.) (Hisashi)

B: (That's 'cause you're a boring geezer) (Yasu)

M: (Unlike you, I don't play with my food!) (Hisashi)

S: (Both of you, just shut up for once.) (Hikari)

I've been training hard for the coliseum for the two years I've been here. Watching every fight, every movement, and mistake. It wasn't that Chino was better overall, but she knew how to make use of her skillset better than anyone else. So it was about time she met her match, at least that's what I'd say.

Chino appeared behind me with the pommel of her kunai, about to strike when I grabbed her wrist with my left hand. It was risky but I needed to be quick about it.

"Well would you look at that, it looks like Chino wants to make quick work of this fight against our fresh blood! If Kohaku can't counter then we wouldn't have much to look forward to!"

I heated the chakra within me and brought my right hand up to her chin. Before she had the moment to think, I rotated and slammed Chino to the ground before retreating backward. I heard the wind being knocked out of her, so I retconned the idea of an axe kick until I could see the damage done.

Well, seeing wasn't exactly what I was doing. I was enacting my [Will] to spread my awareness, making a sort of mental diagram of the arena I was in. Still just as versatile in use, as long as you could envision what you wanted to achieve precisely, your [Will] responds. It was mostly spellcasters who could use their will as freely with a spell and process in mind. I normally run on overtime with Hisashi but that's not without its issues.

I remembered a person who came up to me super excited when they found out I could do this. I still remember the mad man taking out enemies left and right while I was adjusting my fighting style to fit my needs.

He kept on calling me Sensor-Sensei and everyone else ended up doing it too so I ended up teaching others how to do it although they weren't all to the same degree as me.

I barely dodged out of the way of a kunai that slit the skin against my cheek. It stung but healed over just as quickly, which was when I started to get concerned. I activated [Mind's Eye] to see that she managed to roll away and throw a kunai while I was lost in thought, I guess she wasn't the only one taking this too lightly.

"OH! WOULD YOU TAKE A LOOK AT THAT LADIES AND GENTS, LOOKS LIKE THE FIRST HIT GOES TO KOHAKU BUT CHINO MAKES IT EVEN WITH A STRIKE BY HIS FACE!"

The steam I produced was still in my mouth so I made some hand seals, Chino did the same. We both puckered our mouths and unleashed our attacks.

[Suiton: Water Bullet]

[Futon: Steam bullet]

The two barrages of gas vs liquid met, canceling out each other as a few stray bullets managed to make their mark. Let me tell you, that hurt like a motherfucker but I wasn't to take one lying down. I can't say it was perfect but I got this low steam to float around the floor. I looked up to see that Chino was there-

M: (No, don't!) (Hisashi)

…Eyes red,… fuck!

Everything around me looked like I was looking through a glass of wine, I was fucked.

What am I supposed to do! My mind's eye relies on my senses as well, if they're distraught now I might as well say fuck it all.

S: (Kohaku, let's stay calm.) (Hikari)

Just as Hikari got their words across, I punched myself in the face. I could dully hear the announcer in the distance but I couldn't care less, I needed to come up with a response to this quickly.

M: (Hey, Kohaku?) (Hisashi)

(Yes, Hisashi?)

M: (Are you having fun?) (Hisashi)

Am I having fun?

Fighting in a world I've always wanted to challenge.

Meeting characters who inspired me?

Being bloody like this? Not so much. But for whatever comes next, I'm here for the ride!

(Heh, yeah. I'm having lots of fun. Don't count me out just yet!)

Another fist punched me in the gut, instead of letting her control the situation I started blowing steam out of my mouth. Trying to control the shape was much more difficult than I thought as I could feel the vapor scorching my skin as I contracted my [Will] to form these beehive-shaped gauntlets going up my forearms. I wasn't Sensor-Sensei for nothing.

My mind may be here but my body is there. I used my newfound gauntlets to lift my fists and slam them into the ground, creating this giant puff of vapors that only kept expanding with the steam I already set up.

"WH- WHAT'S THIS HERE?! IT LOOKS LIKE KOHAKU MANAGED TO BREAK CHINO'S GENJUTSU WITHOUT ANY SEALS?!"

Damn, right I did! The rush of energy flowing through me felt amazing!

[Bloodline Awaken: Hoizuki/ C—--]

I couldn't focus on the rest I heard before taking another water bullet to the face.

"Seven to Three, The division is only widening! This is the difference that comes with experience everyone!"

Experience? EXPERIENCE?!

S: (Oh brother…) (Hikari)

M: (There's no use talking to him now.) (Hisashi)

B: (YES! WE GOT THIS IN THE BAG!) (Yasu)

M: (Or, this could all go horribly wrong) (Hisashi)

You haven't done enough, you need a stupid degree, you don't have a stupid amount of followers. EVERY. GOD DAMN. TIME!

B: (So …how far off the deep end are we thinking?) (Yasu)

M: (Hmm… I guess it only matters if he-) (Hisashi)

[Mind's Eye]

M: (Yup, okay um..) (Hisashi)

S: (I salute his sensibility) (Hikari)

M: (Farewell! You'll be forever missed!) (Hisashi)

I let the chakra heating up inside me take over as I felt my form become lighter by the minute. My vision became hazier until all I could see was white. Chino slit her wrist with her kunai, spilling some blood on the ground that wrapped around her in the form of a dragon's head. It's time to begin my onslaught.

From the steam, a fist-shaped blast struck the barrier around her. One time, two times, three! For fuck's sake, if she used this the first minute I'd lose, it was easy to tell that it was taking more of a toll on her than me to keep going.

Losing her focus, I ran up from behind the barrier, built up the steam towards my left fist, and struck, four. The backlash was worse than expected with the explosion blowing both of us back.

"A good ol' offense vs defense match has begun everyone !"

I backflipped and managed to stand my ground by spreading my chakra into the remaining steam. It was tiring but it's been so long since I had a good fight. My chakra wouldn't be able to hold up for much longer so I had to end this quickly.

"We're looking at a 7 to 4"

Making the hand signs, I unleashed my assault before I even got the chance to see her

[Futon: Steam Bullet]

"Chino makes good on her shushin to maneuver out of the way but is still struck again! 7 to 5!"

My muscles were aching, I guess experience isn't the only thing I'm lacking right now. Everything was no good if my body couldn't keep up with me. I don't want things to end now.

I threw my body to the ground out of the path of water bullets coming at me, I rolled and felt my body suddenly move faster. By the time my mind caught up to me, I was up in the air in front of a wide-eyed Chino, her Ketsuryugan was active but I didn't mind it anymore. I would've said I was reckless but I got to see myself in her eyes. My shoulder-length white locks kept in perfect shape compared to my battered body.

The audience kept chanting "STEAM BEAST, STEAM BEAST, STEAM BEAST!"

"9 to 7, It all comes down to this! Wh- What's this?!"

The pair of black sleeves that covered up to my elbow, leaving my upper arm and shoulder visible along with a black turtleneck tank top with dark gray shin guards over my gray pants with an iconic pair of black sandals on my feet.

If I'm gonna be in Naruto, how could I not have the right shoes?! Betting against other competitors for money came in handy. Everything was worn and torn, I could've had protagonist energy if it was just my shirt but whatever.

Besides the condition of my awesome fit, the thing that attracted my attention was the look in her eyes along with a major headache. I could've sworn I saw a pair of Ketsuryugan staring back in the reflection. Once again, with horrible timing, a notification popped up in my face.

[First to face someone of greater skill than yourself]

[6 more psyches will soon be joining the Original Four (3/10)]

That was the last thing I saw before I heard everyone in my psyche again.

M: (I told you so.) (Hisashi)

S: (That's on Yasu, don't blame me for this. I kept my word.) (Hikari)

B: (Whoopsie…) (Yasu)

The body. If Hisashi was compared to my ability to perform all sorts of skills, Yasu would be the toll it can take. Each aspect of our psyches involved our health in some form. Yasu's the physical side of that for me, with him it wasn't like Hisashi could think ahead freely without worrying about what I could do within my capabilities.

My mind spun in circles while I felt the wind blowing against my face. Just before everything faded to black.

That was that.

The official end to my first fight in Naruto was a defeat. Of course, it still stings to this day but it was the start of something great.