The Spiral Ring Arena was carved into a floating colosseum suspended between three magnetic towers. Thousands of shinobi watched from rotating bleachers as the inter-village exhibition matches began.
The floor of the arena constantly rotated in rings—some floating, some fixed—designed to simulate chaotic gravity fields. The inner zone, the "Zero Core," was where matches typically ended: a sphere with no directional pull at all.
Shisui stood across from Kōetsu, the murmurs of the crowd quiet compared to the silent storm between them.
Both were 16.
Both top of their classes.
And both had trained to surpass the other.
"Match: Shisui of Hanagakure vs. Kōetsu of Jūryokugakure!"
The gong echoed.
Kōetsu moved first—faster than expected—his feet gliding along an invisible curve as he twisted gravity around his body, creating a zero-drag dash. His fist struck toward Shisui's chest.
Shisui spun with his signature Aether Slipstep, vanishing briefly from gravity's influence and reappearing behind Kōetsu, palm flashing with chakra.
"Blooming Pulse: Crimson Palm!"
Kōetsu twisted midair, slamming both hands into the ring floor.
"Jūton: Gravity Pulse Net!"
Spiraling waves of compressed force exploded outward, sending Shisui hurtling toward the arena wall. He flipped, landing on one of the rotating rings. Blood trickled down his lip, but his smile only widened.
"So you've stopped holding back."
Kōetsu narrowed his eyes. "You'll need more than tricks."
Shisui's chakra flared.
"Good."
He leapt into the Zero Core, both of them now fighting in free space. Kunai spun with delayed arcs, jutsu bent in unnatural curves, and gravity-defying taijutsu filled the air like a deadly dance.
Blow for blow.
Technique for technique.
Shisui's Crimson Bloom Style met Kōetsu's Orbit Combat Flow, petals against planets.
Just before the match could end, Kaien stepped forward and signaled.
"That's enough."
Both boys froze in midair.
Oshitari Zanka, watching from above, nodded in approval. "So this is the new generation."
As they floated back to solid ground, Shisui extended a hand.
Kōetsu stared at it… then grasped it firmly.
"I'll still surpass you."
"I'd be disappointed if you didn't," Shisui replied.
Their rivalry was not one of hatred.
It was destiny, gravitationally bound.