I'll Go Easy

Margaret and her friends huddled together.

"You've got this, Marge!" Jada shouted. "Time to show them how legendary you are!"

Naruto grinned and said, "Yeah! I wanna see what you're always talking about when you're not reading those perverted magazines!"

The unexpected comment made her blush, and everyone who heard laughed. "How do you know about that?" She eyed William, who had a mischievous grin on his face, a clear indication he had been spreading rumours.

After the shared laughter, her initial confidence returned. With a fist, she said, "I won't let you guys down!"

As she moved toward the center of the arena, everyone couldn't help but be mesmerized by her look. Her long red hair gleamed under the sunlight, reminiscent of flames dancing freely in the wind.

It was both long and beautiful that even Mei adjusted her own locks and commented, "I like her hair. It reminds me of mine." She then eyed the Raikage, believing that someone with such style wouldn't lose.

Margaret's opponent, Samui, was written to be a skilled kunoichi. Unlike her overly enthusiastic and impulsive teammates, as well as her hot-tempered younger brother, Atsui, she stands out due to her maturity and calm presence.

She tends to speak sparingly, preferring to reserve her words for moments of significance. In the story, she fought the Gold and Silver Brothers, who managed to seal her in the Crimson Gourd after capturing her word soul.

Her most commonly used word was "cool," which reflects her laid-back attitude.

In terms of reputation, she earned the respect and trust of the Raikage. He views her as an invaluable asset to his team, confident in her abilities to handle delicate missions effectively.

Regarding her appearance, it's quite striking. She has stunning blue eyes and sports straight, shoulder-length blonde hair, characterized by an asymmetrical bob that gives her a distinctive look. She is also tall and has a fair complexion, complemented by her curvaceous figure.

Her facial expression typically conveys aloofness and seriousness, aligning with her straightforward personality.

Her attire is a revealing outfit that highlights her features while still serving a tactical purpose. She wears mesh armour underneath her clothing for protection and has a short skirt paired with high boots.

Because she's wearing her flak jacket, which covers her stomach but leaves the rest of her torso exposed, the other players couldn't tell if she was a Jōnin or Chūnin. Arthur, however, understood after her background check that she's currently a Jōnin.

In battle, she was mainly a kenjutsu expert, adeptly wielding a short sword, which was usually secured to her lower back for quick access. Yet that doesn't mean she's not an adaptable and intelligent fighter.

As she entered the ring, she could feel an unusual weight settle on her shoulders. It was like a vague sense of accountability abroad that she couldn't put her finger on. Oblivious to her Kage's secret gambling, she focused on the match ahead, narrowing her eyes at Margaret.

In a playful yet determined tone, Margaret exclaimed, "I'll go easy on you, okay?"

Samui scowled, insulted. "You think I need you to take it light on me? I plan to win, whether you like it or not."

The unexpected trash talking caused the crowd to get excited. Even the Raikage had to smirk at the sight of their banter.

"Hey," Margaret countered, "I'm just saying I've trained hard and pushed my limits. You might be surprised! I'm even stronger than your Kage!"

Samui laughed heartily and said, "Stronger than our Raikage? I don't think so."

"Enough of this talk!" the Raikage shouted from his seat. He didn't care about trying to maintain his dignity before the feudal lords or the Mizukage seated beside him. "Can someone tell them to hurry up and fight? I'm not here to get my name dragged through the mud!"

Unfortunately for him, neither the feudal lord nor the emcee had any authority to hasten the combatants.

In the ring, Margaret stood resolute and said, "I guess I'll have to prove it to you then!" She then rolled her shoulders, shaking off the tension. "Talk is cheap anyway, so get ready!"

With that, the announcer yelled begin, and the two charged at one another.

Time seemed to speed up as Margaret twisted and turned, dodging Samui's first flurry of attacks with ease. The agility demonstrated left the audience breathless.

Margaret was light on her feet, weaving under Samui's strikes, making it look as if she was enjoying a game of tag rather than a fierce competition. The Raikage gripped his biceps, annoyed that his talented Jōnin was being played with.

Samui, slightly flustered, struggled to understand Margaret's rhythm. So she wildly increased her strikes. As the blows swung past Margaret, Samui caught glimpses of her enigmatic enjoyment.

"Calm down!" Margaret yelled through the chaos. "I'm just assessing the situation!"

Seeing her attacks were seemingly ineffective, Samui grew aware of a cunning beneath Margaret's playful facade. If there was one thing she might have been thinking, it was, 'This girl is serious…' But Margaret was not simply observing—each evasion was a tactical assessment. With a flash of insight, she decided it was time to act.

As Samui lunged for another thrust, Margaret dodged nimbly, spinning quickly and striking with a rapid four-palm combo to Samui's torso.

The crowd gasped at the impact, watching Samui fly backward and inevitably tumble out of the ring!

The announcer's voice boomed through the arena: "Samui is disqualified! Margaret is the winner!

Immediate cheers erupted in applause as surprise filled the stands. Some gasped in disbelief, while others celebrated Margaret's unexpected dominance.

Perhaps the most astonished was Neji, who recognized the last strike as a version of his clan's Gentle Fist technique. He was quite curious as to when or how she learned it.

With her fists still shaking a little from adrenaline, she glanced around at her friends and waved, though a small frown creased her brow.

"That was too easy," she whispered to herself, already feeling a sense of anticlimax shrouding her achievement.

She stepped down from the ring, heading toward the still-disoriented Samui. While the Cloud kunoichi wasn't hurt by any means, she was still surprised at how she had lost so quickly.

Margaret reached out a hand, and a look of astonishment crossed Samui's face. "You fought well," Margaret said sincerely, helping her opponent to her feet. "I saw some real talent out there. Let's both train harder and meet again one day!"

For a moment, she stared at Margate's hand. It was like something ignited within Samui—underneath the tough exterior. She couldn't help but accept her aid and admit, "You're not so bad yourself."

Some yards away, the Raikage displeasure was unmistakable. He growled, clenching his fist tightly and saying, "Dang it!"

Losing the bet to Mei didn't help his mood; he didn't like the idea of defeat even though he had initially started it. Because of the humiliation, he got up slightly and contemplated leaving, ready to give up on the rest of the matches.

However, the innocent yet sincere exchanges ringing from Margaret's conversation with Samui caught his ear.

"I love the Cloud Village!" Margaret exclaimed. "You're all so strong! I hope to visit one day to learn from you guys." She then smiled brightly, which caused the gloomy atmosphere around the Raikage to lighten. "And I'd love to hear Killer Bee rap at his concerts, too!"

Suddenly intrigued, the Raikage sat back down, crossed his arms, and leaned forward. He watched as Margaret's joy brightly contrasted with his looming uncertainty. It was clear that he appreciated her respect toward his village, even if he still didn't fully believe in her strength.

On the sidelines, Mei observed the scene with different feelings. She smirked, wanting to poke fun at Raikage but was smart enough to stay her tongue. Any tightrope walk with his intense demeanour was risky, especially after the stakes of the wager and the tone of the match.

Meanwhile, Margaret's friends rushed over, drowning her in congratulations and praise.

"You were remarkable, Marge!" Jada squealed, hugging her tightly.

"I'm wondering where you learned that technique?" Neji asked, awe colouring his tone.

Margaret blinked, looking up at him innocently, and said, "Oh, I learned it when I watched Hinata train once. She looked so cool doing it that I wanted to try it!"

The remark took Neji aback. What surprised him wasn't that she trained with Hinata; it was that she learned it by only watching.

"It just kinda stuck on the first day," Margaret explained.

"Is Hinata really that strong?" Naruto wondered. William had to correct Naruto, stating that Hinata wasn't strong but that Margaret was simply a genius.

That's when Neji understood something: this girl has incredible potential. He wasn't easily impressed, but she was becoming something he would like to unravel—a kindred spirit, perhaps one full of surprises.

Yet one person was absent among the admiration.

Arthur, who stood stagnant, having surveyed the entire scene, kept his arms crossed, feeling quite unimpressed.

"She held back," he thought to himself, dismissing the praise she was receiving. 'She probably could have gone all-out, but decided to end things."

What was more was that he was finally convinced that she was indeed stronger than Jada. Not many in Margaret's rank could compete with a Jōnin, let alone take them down that quickly. It was an impracticable feat, one that showed her strength and speed.

For instance, she had managed to bob and weave through Samui's attempts. Afterwards, she had managed to take her down with one counter.

Samui was a character who could go against the Gold and Silver Brothers. For Margaret to have bested a Jōnin like her in taijutsu only proved that she was a challenging player, and one that Arthur was happy to know how much stronger he needed to grow.

After she and her friends returned to their group, the announcer gathered everyone's attention: "We're moving on to the next match! Get ready, folks!"

The monitor displayed the next fighters: Kitsuchi versus Kurotsuchi.

"Eh?" Kurotsuchi said in surprise. It was a clear shock to her because Kurotsuchi is her father!

Kurotsuchi and Kitsuchi are two notable figures hailing from the Stone Village.

Kurotsuchi, who is also the granddaughter of the third Tsuchikage Ōnoki, would eventually ascended to the position of the fourth Tsuchikage once Ōnoki retired.

In her youth, she witnessed significant events, including a traumatic encounter with the then-Akatsuki member Deidara. In terms of personality, she is very committed to her village and often prioritizes its strength over individuals, as seen in her willingness to pursue dangerous adversaries like Jinchūrikis.

While her seriousness defines her leadership approach, she does have a sarcastic humor, particularly when interacting with her grandfather, often teasing him about his age and ailments. She also hides an immature side that emerges in humorous situations, such as when she criticizes her comrade Akatsuchi for his childish excitement.

Kitsuchi, on the other hand, presents a contrasting demeanour that complements Kurotsuchi's character. He is resolute and disciplined, respected for his calmness under pressure and decisiveness in critical situations.

His personality reflects a sense of responsibility, especially as a father. He believes deeply in both his abilities and those of his daughter, regarding their capacity to influence the outcome of battles. Of course, that doesn't mean he wouldn't snap on her for being too loud during a serious moment.

Physically, he has a robust build, short dark-grey hair, a beard, and strong features. Unlike her daughter, who's more petite and has short black hair.

Kitsuchi's combat abilities are notably better than his daughters; he has demonstrated his strength and proficiency in taijutsu, once shown to have single-handedly dispatch large numbers of enemies, including White Zetsu Army clones.

"You'll take it easy on her, right?" Akatsuchi smiled.

"Nonsense!" Kitsuchi replied. While he did love his daughter, he also values her growth and desires her to be strong. "Kurotsuchi embodies the spirit of our village. It would be shameful if I went light on her."

"Dad!" she pouted, feeling embarrassed.

It was clear by her youthful energy and Kitsuchi's disciplined approach that he had reinforced her daughter for the sake of the village. Their connection was being highlighted at this very moment.

"Will the fighters please take the stage?!" the announcer beckoned.

The two looked at each other with fierce smiles, both nodding to show their determination.