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Haruto stood across from his opponent, the one he had internally nicknamed Bandage Man. It was a simple enough name, given the fact that the guy was wrapped head to toe in thick, worn bandages, with only a pair of cold, focused eyes visible beneath his hood. There was something unsettling about him, though. The guy was just… too calm, as if he already had everything under control before the fight had even started.

That eerie stillness radiated off of him, like he knew something Haruto didn't. But Haruto had faced creepier foes, and there was no way he was letting Bandage Man's strange vibe shake him. His heart beat steadily in his chest as he silently observed his opponent. If anything, that calm made him more curious.

Haruto's chakra sensitivity, enhanced by the system, allowed him to see what most others would have missed. Bandage Man's chakra, Haruto noted. He's weaving it into the bandages. Not just a defense, then. They're part of his offense, too. It's always the quiet, unassuming ones you have to watch out for.

Bandage Man's chakra manipulation wasn't flashy or obvious, but the way it subtly bled into the cloth made Haruto's brain tick. Are those bandages a weapon? Maybe a trap? His instincts told him to be careful. The guy wasn't making any fast moves yet, but that could change the moment the fight began.

Alright, so what's my play here? Haruto thought, running through his options with quick mental precision. Thunder Scalpel's out, at least for now. That jutsu had been refined and enhanced through his intense training, but there was no sense in pulling it out in the first round. Too many people were watching, and he needed to save his aces for the later rounds. Directional tags? He considered it for a second before shaking the idea off. He had invented those tags himself, but like the Thunder Scalpel, they were better kept under wraps for now.

Besides, he didn't need them yet. He had more than enough tools at his disposal without tipping his hand too early. Thunder Ball, for example, was a staple C-rank jutsu, but with the upgrades he had gained from the system, it was stronger than ever. His enhanced lightning affinity had turned a simple technique into something that could easily rival B-rank attacks. The ball of lightning he could summon now was larger, more condensed, and packed a serious punch. He could feel the raw energy coursing through him even just thinking about using it.

But beyond raw power, Haruto had something else up his sleeve—Static Charge. On paper, it was a basic C-rank jutsu meant to stimulate muscle response with electric currents, making the user's movements faster and more responsive. It was the kind of technique that subtly enhanced speed and reflexes, making dodging, attacking, and defending just that little bit smoother. But with Haruto's increased affinity for lightning and his golden ninjutsu talent, just like lightning ball was a pseudo b rank jutsu. He could feel the small electrical field it generated around him almost naturally, boosting his already impressive speed and reflexes to near elite levels. It wasn't flashy, but it was effective—and in a fight like this, that's what mattered.

As Haruto considered his strategy, his eyes remained fixed on Bandage Man, who still hadn't moved. But Haruto knew better than to take that for granted. He could feel the chakra swirling within those bandages, growing more focused by the second.

This guy, Haruto thought, narrowing his eyes, he's dangerous. There was no question in his mind now. The guy didn't have the appearance of some nobody, despite his unremarkable exterior. Anyone who was paired with Rasa and Pakura had to be formidable in their own right. An elite genin for sure, Haruto reasoned. No way someone like this is weak.

It wasn't that Haruto was nervous; he wasn't. But the realization that this wouldn't be an easy fight had fully settled in his mind. He couldn't rely solely on brute force or overwhelm his opponent quickly. Bandage Man was too calm, too calculated. There was a strategy behind that silence, and Haruto wasn't about to let himself be outmaneuvered.

I'll start with the basics. Test him, see how he reacts, Haruto thought. He could stick with lightning jutsu for now—nothing too flashy, but enough to gauge Bandage Man's abilities. His Static Charge would be a good start, giving him the extra speed and fluidity he needed to outmaneuver whatever his opponent had planned. And if that didn't work, well, he had other tricks up his sleeve.

But first, he needed to see what Bandage Man was really capable of. Haruto's gaze locked onto his opponent as the tension in the arena began to build. Everyone was watching. The air between them was thick with anticipation, and the moment the fight started, everything would change.

Alright, Bandage Man, Haruto thought, muscles tensing in preparation. Let's see what you've got.

He could already feel the crackle of lightning surging beneath his skin, ready to be unleashed. And when the moment came, he would be more than ready to strike.