The training field was still abuzz with excitement following the previous matches, spirits high as students chatted animatedly about the outcomes.
In the midst of the cheerful chaos, Sakura bounced in front of Gojo with an exuberant smile, her ponytail bobbing energetically.
"Gojo! Did you see me? I did it! I actually won!" she exclaimed, eyes sparkling with glee.
"Of course, I saw you! You were amazing out there, Sakura," Gojo replied, without even hesitating.
He reached out and ruffled her pink hair playfully, causing her cheeks to flush with pride.
"Thanks! I really appreciate it!" Sakura giggled, twirling with delight.
As he turned from her exuberant happiness, he noticed Ino sitting a bit apart, her head bent down as if she were deep in thought.
Gojo furrowed his brows, concerned she might be disappointed after her loss.
"Hey, Ino! Don't be too hard on yourself.
You fought well!" he called out, his voice echoing through the training grounds.
With that encouragement, he approached her and ruffled her hair affectionately. "You just need more experience!"
Before he knew it, Ino's eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and she flung herself at him, hugging him tightly.
"G-Gojo!" she cried, face buried in his chest, her voice muffled.
Gojo was taken aback but patted her back gently.
"It's okay! You'll come back stronger next time," he reassured her while looking over at Sakura and Hinata, who were equally surprised.
Sakura's eyes widened. "I thought she was sad because she lost!"
Hinata, feeling a slight warmth in her cheeks, wondered if hugging Gojo was acceptable. "Maybe I should…?" she uttered softly, contemplating the courageous act.
Ino pulled back slightly, wiping her cheeks. She looked between Sakura and Hinata, a triumphant smile spreading across her face as she clucked her tongue.
"You see that? I have a special bond with Gojo!"
"Shameless!" Sakura said with mock annoyance, crossing her arms, while Hinata simply clutched her hands together shyly.
Just then, Shizuka walked up, arms crossed and brow furrowed.
"What's this all about, you stinky man? Always thinking about girls!" She shot a glare at Gojo. "What a playboy!"
"Hey, don't drag me into this!" Gojo returned defensively, raising his hands. "I was just encouraging them!"
Before any more could be said, Iruka-sensei called for the final match.
"Alright, everyone! The last match of the day will be between Gojo and Shizuka!"
Excitement rippled through the crowd as they watched the two contestants step forward.
Sasuke stood proudly with arms crossed, supporting his sister.
"You've got this, Shizuka! Kick his ass hard!" he shouted, smirking at Gojo.
Naruto, never one to let Sasuke get the final word, retorted, "No way! Gojo's gonna take her down, Sasuke!" The two boys soon devolved into their familiar bickering, each trying to out-shout the other.
Amidst their squabbles, the boys were inadvertently rallying support for Shizuka too; her attractiveness caught the attention of several boys in the crowd, adding more noise to the excitement.
As the impromptu cheerleading rally continued from both sides, Gojo stood calmly, accepting the raucous energy but mentally preparing.
He couldn't deny a touch of nervousness at facing Shizuka, especially with the Chunin level taijutsu reward she had received after the kiss.
"Just remember, don't hold back! I want to see your best moves!" Gojo called out, a competitive spark igniting between them as they squared off.
"Of course! I won't! And I have a few tricks up my sleeve," Shizuka said with a confident smirk, leveling her gaze at him.
Iruka raised his hand, signaling the beginning of their match. "Okay! Fight!"
The two rushed at each other with surprising speed, the ground beneath them trembling slightly as they leaped into action.
Gojo aimed a swift kick, but Shizuka ducked under it, artfully spinning around and delivering a quick jab to his ribs.
"Nice one!" Gojo remarked, momentarily flashing his trademark grin. "You're faster than I expected!"
"Just watch!" she replied, retreating slightly before throwing a couple of shurikens in his direction.
Gojo dodged them with agility but could feel the adrenaline start to course through him.
The audience erupted with excitement as Gojo sprang forward again, launching into a series of quick punches.
Shizuka matched his speed, countering effectively.
They exchanged blows—swift, sharp, and fluid, each move a testament to their training.
Gojo felt the sting of her fist connect with his cheek, something he was not quite ready for. However, it wasn't enough to knock him off balance.
He returned the favor, landing a solid hit on Shizuka's shoulder.
She barely stumbled back but regained her footing quickly.
Both were now strategically engaged, carefully watching each other's movements, gauging how each might react next.
Gojo aimed to use his superior speed, but Shizuka spurred forward, following up with another flurry of punches.
"You'll have to do better than that!" Gojo said, smirking as he hastily guarded against another attack.
"Better? Okay!" She answered, suddenly launching forward with a powerful leg sweep.
The surprising angle caught Gojo off guard, and he felt himself hit the ground.
The gasp from the crowd echoed in his ears. Gojo felt a surge of determination to rise back up quickly.
Using his arms, he flipped back onto his feet, but Shizuka was already in motion.
Without missing a beat, she descended upon him, launching a rapid series of punches that he desperately tried to evade.
"Okay, now it's getting serious!" Gojo grinned, dodging to the side but feeling a punch graze his shoulder.
"Is that the best you've got?" He taunted.
"I haven't even broken a sweat yet!" Shizuka retorted, her confidence radiating.
She took advantage of Gojo's momentary distraction and threw a shuriken aimed directly at him.
Gojo reacted quickly, dodging to the right and countering with a low kick, hoping to unbalance her.
But Shizuka leaped over his leg gracefully, flipping backwards to maintain her distance.
The crowd cheered wildly at their dynamic exchange.
Hinata's hands tightened into fists, her heart racing. "They're both so strong! Gojo… you can do it!" she whispered, gripping her hands with anticipation.
The two warriors faced off again, circling each other cautiously, assessing their respective strengths.
Gojo, confident in his Sage Body's regenerative abilities, decided to play coy; after all, he wanted to win this match without revealing all his cards too early.
Shizuka quickly threw another shuriken, and this time it cut across his forearm, creating a shallow wound.
Gojo winced at the brief pain but surprised himself as the skin healed quickly, the blood already starting to clot.
The visible astonishment on the Third Hokage's face mirrored the reactions of the audience.
He leaned forward, observing intently, his brow furrowed with intrigue. "Could it be possible that Gojo has obtained the same sage physique as Hashirama Senju?"
Back in the arena, Gojo felt the excitement of battle coursing through his veins.
"Nice try, Shizuka! But I'm not going down so easily!" he called, shifting his stance and charging at her with renewed vigor, attempting to capitalize on his healing powers.
Shizuka braced herself, readying her stance as he closed in.
The impact sent them both reeling; Gojo had more weight than she had anticipated.
Yet she was quick to regain balance, driving forward with a swift uppercut aimed at Gojo's chin.
The punch connected, but Gojo managed to turn his head at the last moment, which softened the impact but still sent him stumbling backwards.
"Not bad! You really are strong!" he exclaimed, a smile on his lips despite the hit.
Shizuka's heart soared at the compliment. "I won't hold back!" she exclaimed again, determination shining in her eyes.
Before he could initiate another attack, Shizuka vaulted forward, catching him off guard with another series of quick jabs to his midsection.
Gojo stumbled slightly but steadied himself, returned the favor with a quick kick targeted at her knee, and pushed back to regain some distance.
Crafty and quick on her feet, Shizuka flipped backward, narrowly evading his kick, and repositioned herself with a confident grin.
"You can't win just on charm, Gojo! You'll have to do better than that!"
"Are you trying to seduce me with all this taijutsu?" he replied cheekily, setting up for another charge.
The two clashed again mid-arena, a flurry of punches and kicks echoing into the space, each blow ringing loudly, fueling the excitement that resonated among the watching crowd.
Sasuke, still supporting his sister, yelled out, "Come on, Shizuka! Show him that you can beat this 'playboy'!"
"Yeah, Gojo! Show her what it means to mess with the best!" Naruto cheered, intent on keeping the spirit high for both sides.
"Fighting for your girl now, are you?" Shikamaru quipped at Naruto's enthusiasm, chuckling to himself.
As the duel wore on, Gojo found himself slightly at a disadvantage against Shizuka's experience now amplified by her Chunin-level taijutsu.
He could feel the pressure as she landed a well-aimed strike to his abdomen—not enough to hurt him, but the impact winded him slightly.
The cheers from the audience surged forward, punctuating the tension in the air. Gojo felt the heat, focused intensely on Shizuka's next movement.
"I can't let her beat me!" he thought, shaking off the remnants of his fatigue and pushing forward with renewed vigor.
As Gojo retaliated with a powerful spin kick, Shizuka ducked under it, her next move perfectly timed.
She launched herself upward and drove her heel into his shoulder, throwing him off balance again.
"You're getting more predictable," Shizuka taunted, a confident smirk adorned her face, pushing her advantage further.
"Predictable? I thought that was your specialty!" Gojo called back, shaking his head to clear his thoughts.
The two exchanged rapid blows, sweat glistening on their brows as the intensity of the match heightened.
Gojo felt his hands starting to sting where the cuts from earlier were healing, a testament to the fight's rigorous pace.
Finally, Gojo saw an opportunity.
As Shizuka repositioned for another strike, he sidestepped at the right moment, dodging her kick and countering with a decisive punch—one he had been saving for just the right moment.
The punch landed solidly against her stomach, and she stumbled back, eyes wide with surprise.
Gojo pressed the advantage, dashing towards her again, surprising everyone with his speed.
He delivered a flurry of calculated blows, landing quickly once more.
"Gojo! You've got this!" Hinata cheered, clenching her fists in excitement.
"You can do it, you playboy!" Shizuka threw back the compliment but with a hint of playful sarcasm.
Seizing upon his moment of surprise, Gojo swiftly transitioned into a series of taijutsu maneuvers, each faster than the last.
As if he had been holding back this entire time, he poured all his remaining energy into his strikes, evoking gasps from the crowd.
Shizuka, regaining her composure, quickly tried to counter, deflecting one of his punches and attempting a kick aimed at his side.
Yet, in focusing on her strike, she left herself slightly open.
"Gotcha!" Gojo shouted, ducking under her kick and pivoting. He delivered a swift uppercut to her chin, forcing her backward.
Shizuka stumbled, trying to brace herself against the impact but ultimately lost her footing and fell to one knee.
"Ugh!" she groaned, annoyance flickering in her eyes even as she grinned through gritted teeth.
"Alright, you actually got me there."
The audience erupted into cheers. "Gojo!" they shouted, clapping and clamoring for the famed competitor.
Realizing he had the upper hand, Gojo continued to press forward.
He knew he needed to finish the match decisively before Shizuka could regroup.
"This is it!" he thought, concentrating hard.
With surprising speed and agility, he landed a swift combination of punches and low kicks, each aimed with precision, pushing her onto the defensive.
Shizuka scrambled to deflect and dodge, but Gojo's strikes began to rain down on her like a storm.
"Come on, Shizuka!" Sasuke shouted, fiercely rooting for his sister while trying to contain a flicker of apprehension.
Gojo offered one last determined attack: a powerful kick aimed at her chest.
Just as it seemed she might block it, Shizuka twisted, attempting to sidestep but miscalculated.
The impact caught her off guard, sending her sprawling to the ground.
The crowd held its breath, anxious eyes widening. Gojo stood, panting but triumphant.
"I win!" he shouted, pumping his fist in the air as the cheers erupted around him.
Iruka-sensei stepped forward, raising his hands to calm down some eager students while announcing, "And the winner of the final match is… Senju Gojo!"
The cheers grew into a roar as Gojo approached the fallen Shizuka, who lay breathless on the ground, looking both impressed and frustrated.
"You did great, really! You almost got me there," he said with genuine admiration, extending a hand to help her up.
Shizuka took his hand and pulled herself up, brushing off the dirt.
"Thanks, but I won't lose to you next time!" she replied assertively, though the respect in her tone was unmistakable.
"Next time," he said with a grin, "I'll have to watch my back."
As they both smiled in camaraderie, Gojo caught Shizuka's incredulous gaze scanning the crowd, taking in the moment.
The girls whispered amongst themselves, consumed with excitement—and jealousy.
"Did you see that? He praised everyone and made them feel special!" Ino said, looking incredulously at him.
"What's the secret here, Gojo?"
Sakura rolled her eyes in playful exasperation. "I just don't get why he can't stick to a single one of us!"
"Yes! Someone should claim their hero before it's too late!" Hinata added, her voice noticeably quivering.
Gojo felt a rush of laughter bubbling up; he enjoyed the playful back-and-forth and the competition from his friends, all of whom were clearly invested in the chaos unfolding around Gojo.
As they began to gather for their next discussion of training, Shizuka quickly pulled herself aside to finally gather her thoughts.
She had enjoyed the fight—and it felt refreshing to compete so vigorously—but the glare of the spotlight was ever so bright in Konoha.
In her heart, she knew she could embrace a sense of unity within their team, yet she also felt the stirrings of rivalry pushing her forward.
Glancing back at Gojo, she silently considered her next move, motivated to match her skills and perhaps even draw closer to him.
"Looks like you survived!" Sasuke called out, a hint of amusement in his tone.
"But next time, don't get too comfortable. I'll train you to be better."
"Thanks for the pep talk, Sasuke," she retorted.
"How do you feel about the Sage Body?" the Third Hokage pondered aloud, observing Gojo with keen interest.
There was much left to uncover about him and the true potential looming just beneath the surface.
The sun began to dip lower in the sky as the day wrapped up, signaling the end of the matches.
While laughter and chatter filled the air, one thing was for certain: bonds were being heightened, rivalries were ignited, and the next chapter of training was on the horizon.
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Chapter 31 Ends
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