Chapter 8: Utterly Defeated!
(Author's Note: Please Vote for more!)
Swish! Swish!
The moment Futagi Ryusei gave the command, Kinoshita Genichi and Sarutobi Asuma leaped backward almost simultaneously. While still in mid-air, they each flicked their wrists, sending a shuriken flying.
Clang!
The shuriken collided and fell to the ground.
The instant Asuma's feet touched the ground, he pushed off and charged forward, not in a straight line, but in an arc.
Genichi, however, met him head-on.
Pow! Pow! Pow!
Fists and palms met as their bodies intertwined. Genichi swept a leg toward Asuma's head. Asuma raised his arm to protect the side of his head while preparing to attack Genichi's lower body.
But the next moment, his body couldn't help but stagger. His expression changed instantly. "This guy's strength is immense!"
Genichi pressed his advantage, forcing Asuma into a continuous retreat. The two clashed again and again, causing the spectating students to watch with wide eyes, no one daring to even cheer.
Shizune clasped her hands together, her gaze glued to Genichi, her heart in her throat. "Amazing!"
On the other side, Might Guy was ecstatic. "As expected of Genichi, the one who beat both me and Kakashi!"
However.
Genichi still wasn't using his full strength.
Suddenly, Asuma leaped a great distance backward, evading Genichi's relentless assault, and formed a hand seal to create a clone. The two Asumas then charged at Genichi from the left and right.
Genichi stood his ground. He could have used shuriken to test which was the clone and which was the real one, but this wasn't the place to be throwing them around carelessly, lest he hit one of the spectators, even with the teachers standing guard.
Of course, Asuma's basic Clone Technique couldn't fool him anyway.
Thus, the Asuma charging from the front was destroyed with a single punch. The real Asuma used this opportunity to circle around behind him.
Genichi ducked, avoiding Asuma's leg sweep, while simultaneously attacking Asuma's lower body. Asuma leaped into the air, bringing his leg down in a powerful axe kick.
The blow was heavy and powerful, but Genichi didn't dodge or retreat. Instead, he took a step forward, precisely catching Asuma's thigh with his shoulder. With his right hand, he grabbed the front of Asuma's shirt and, with a burst of strength, flung him through the air.
Before Asuma could even get up, Genichi already had a kunai pressed against his neck.
"Kinoshita Genichi is the winner!" Futagi Ryusei announced, then said to the two, "Form the Seal of Reconciliation!"
After they formed the seal, Asuma said, "I'll beat you next time!"
Genichi smiled warmly. "Asuma, I believe you can. Besides, it's more interesting when we're chasing after each other."
Asuma was taken aback by his words.
"Keep it up!"
With that, Genichi returned to Shizune's side.
Shizune whispered, "Genichi, you're amazing! Asuma is the Third Hokage's son, you know."
It wasn't that the Hokage's son was guaranteed to be strong, but he at least had pre-school training, which Genichi did not. To become this strong in just a few months... Shizune's eyes were filled with admiration. She had watched Genichi's rapid, step-by-step progress. She couldn't describe the feeling, but it was truly marvelous.
The practical combat class continued. Student after student took the field. However, most of the matches weren't very spectacular, not nearly as exciting as the one between Genichi and Asuma.
Genichi was feeling a bit bored, until the names Hatake Kakashi and Uchiha Obito rang in his ears. His spirits were instantly lifted.
Here we go!
The fated rivals, Kakashi and Obito, took the field. After the Seal of Confrontation, they began their assault.
"This Obito guy's hand-to-hand skills aren't weak at all," Genichi noted inwardly as he watched Obito trade blows with Kakashi.
The turning point in the battle came when Kakashi used the Body Replacement Technique. He baited Obito in, then appeared from behind with a kunai to secure his victory. Obito was stunned, clearly not having expected Kakashi to be able to use the Transformation and Replacement techniques so effectively in such a short amount of time.
Genichi watched and sighed to himself. "As expected of Kakashi. He's already mastered the Three Academy Jutsu to this extent."
If Asuma had used his clone as cleverly, using angles and lines of sight, he might have had a chance to win. Of course, if he had used the Shadow Clone Technique instead of the non-corporeal Clone Technique, it would have been even better.
"The normal Body Replacement Technique is too much trouble. You have to prepare a replacement object beforehand... Using a clone as a substitute, combined with the Transformation Technique, would make it much harder to identify."
"It's a shame I can't learn the Shadow Clone Technique or the Water Clone Technique right now..."
Genichi sighed internally. He had zero ninjutsu resources.
"Can't get impatient. I can't mess up the plan."
"It will come. Everything will come..." Genichi reassured himself, smoothing over the impatience in his heart.
After school.
As they left the gates, Kakashi suddenly said, "Genichi, want to spar with swords?"
Genichi's eyes lit up. "No problem! I'll go get my sword. Let's meet at the cliff!"
With that, he used the Body Flicker Technique and vanished.
By the time Genichi arrived at the base of a mountain cliff with his tantō, Kakashi and Might Guy were already nearing the summit.
With his sword on his back, Genichi used both hands and began to climb swiftly. This was also a form of training. When climbing, he could only use his hands, not his feet for support, so it wasn't the rock climbing of his previous life. This was an extreme test of hand and arm strength.
When Genichi reached the top of the cliff, Kakashi and Guy were sitting and resting, facing the vast crimson sunset.
After resting beside Kakashi for a moment, Genichi leaped to his feet. "Kakashi, let's go!"
Kakashi and Guy both stood up.
Once they were ready, Guy shouted from the side, "Begin!"
Clang!
The two short swords collided, sending sparks flying.
A continuous series of metallic clashes rang out. The blade in Kakashi's hand moved rapidly, attacking Genichi from all angles with slashes, stabs, swipes, and cuts. His movements were so fast they were a blur.
Genichi desperately swung his own blade to parry, sweat quickly beading on his forehead.
Fast, too fast!
And it wasn't just the speed, but the angles of attack. If not for the combat experience supporting him, Genichi was certain he would have been defeated in moments. After the first exchange, he completely forgot about any basic sword techniques, and his hand began to use the blade just like a kunai, which paradoxically felt more natural.
Kakashi, on the other hand, was relieved. He had been worried that Genichi's swordsmanship would be on the same level as his ninjutsu.
A minute later, Genichi voluntarily admitted defeat.
There was no comparison. He had been completely and utterly dominated by Kakashi.
However, Kakashi was the one who offered comfort. "Genichi, for someone who's had no instruction, you're already very good."
Genichi nodded, not feeling discouraged at all.
But he made a decision.
From now on, he wouldn't practice any other moves. He would practice only one technique: the drawing cut!
Until he found someone to instruct him in swordsmanship, he would only practice the iaijutsu.
(End of Chapter)