Once they decided to play the game in Normal Mode, joysticks became essential.
Of course, if you insisted on playing with a keyboard, Ge Liang wouldn't stop you.
"Here, take your joysticks."
He pulled two sets of joysticks from under the computer desk and handed them to Kakashi and Guy respectively.
"Since you need to familiarize yourselves with the characters' abilities, you should fight each other, so you don't get killed by the enemy right away."
Hearing this, Kakashi said little, but Guy became excited.
"This game actually allows us to fight each other! Ah~ Kakashi, my fated rival, let's settle this!"
Guy was already fired up, eager to compete against Kakashi.
Meanwhile, Kakashi, who was entering the game, silently turned his head, looked at Guy, and asked blankly, "Huh? Were you talking to me just now?"
"Ah~ Kakashi, worthy of being my fated rival! Even if you ignore me, you can't avoid this battle!"
"Sigh~"
Sighing, Kakashi reluctantly started a Linked Battle against Guy.
"Oh right, there's a TXT file on the computer desktop. This is the Move List I specifically prepared. You can take a look."
The two, who had entered the game but hadn't started character selection, quickly opened the file and began reading.
Overall, the Move List for the king of fighters 97 was not complicated.
Moves like the Qi Gong Wave are mostly executed with a forward half-circle motion (↓→).
Counter-attack Moves are mostly executed with a backward half-circle motion (↓←).
Special Moves are mostly executed with a forward-to-backward half-circle, or a backward-to-forward half-circle.
They were very easy to remember.
Kakashi and Guy didn't look for long; there was no need to memorize everyone's Moves. They just needed to know how to execute the skill Moves.
Entering the game, Kakashi chose Kyo Kusanagi, Iori Yagami, and Mai Shiranui.
Guy chose Chin Gentsai, Choi Bounge, and Kim Kaphwan.
Based purely on character selection, Kakashi definitely had the advantage.
Both Kyo Kusanagi and Iori Yagami are quite formidable in Normal Mode.
As for Mai Shiranui... Kakashi probably chose her because of her 'indescribable assets.'
On Guy's side, Choi Bounge is strong in Normal Mode, but Chin Gentsai and Kim Kaphwan are completely dead weight.
However, since both of them were playing for the first time, they didn't know whether the characters were strong or not.
They would only know the outcome after fighting... In the first round, both focused on testing Moves and didn't fight seriously.
But starting from the second round, the two began a true duel.
However, it looked exactly like a Battle between Noobs.
"How about you, Boss, teach us how to play?"
Naruto and the others behind them, seeing Kakashi and Guy's 'battle,' all complained that it was too painful to watch.
To prevent his Sharingan from 'devolving,' Sasuke suggested Ge Liang play.
"I have no problem with that."
"Alright then, I'll be the Boss's opponent."
Seeing the entertainment, Naruto, Neji, and the others stopped standing behind Kakashi and Guy and moved to stand behind Sasuke and Ge Liang instead.
They entered the game, selected characters, and the Teaching Battle commenced.
"Aragami! Kizuato!" Sasuke's first character on the field was Kyo Kusanagi.
When Kakashi and Guy were looking at the Move List, the people behind them naturally saw it too.
Now that he was in the game, Sasuke naturally knew how to execute some characters' Moves.
Ge Liang's first character to appear was Iori Yagami.
Iori Yagami's figure flickered, narrowly dodging Kyo Kusanagi's attack. Then, Ge Liang quickly moved the joystick, and Iori Yagami performed a Kuzukaze, grabbing Kyo Kusanagi and throwing him aside... followed by a forward C heavy claw, then a ↓→↓←+C.
A flash of light appeared on the screen... Iori Yagami's Special Move: Yaotome!
On the screen, under Iori Yagami's flurry of claws, blood spurted wildly, making those watching feel their blood boil, even through the screen.
The attacks were solid and powerful!
A single Combo immediately knocked off two-fifths of Sasuke's Kyo Kusanagi's health bar.
"The Boss is so amazing."
Behind them, Naruto couldn't help but exclaim as he watched Sasuke, who was completely unable to fight back.
"This game character named Iori Yagami, his Moves are so bloody and violent."
Tenten, however, sensed a hint of bestial aura from Iori Yagami's Moves.
Ignoring Naruto and the others, Iori Yagami seized an opportunity in the game, using Kuzukaze plus forward C plus Aoi Hana Sanshiki to secure victory in the match.
'Your mama didn't wash her face!'
After winning, Iori Yagami was particularly arrogant, actually claiming that Kyo Kusanagi's mama hadn't washed her face.
Whether it was Ge Liang's use of Iori Yagami's Combos or that incredibly arrogant ending phrase, it left Naruto and the others dumbfounded.
Afterward, Ge Liang achieved a Perfect Sweep (one character beating three) with Iori Yagami, ending the Teaching Battle.
"My turn, my turn! Sasuke, let's have a match."
"Neji, let's settle this!"
After the match, both Sasuke and his companions behind him gained some insight.
At the very least, they learned that besides having powerful Special Moves, this game also featured various Combos.
If connected successfully, a full set of Moves could drain just as much health as a Special Move.
"Boss, shall we continue?"
"No, you play with Naruto and the others."
After finishing one round, Ge Liang lost interest.
He wasn't interested in crushing noobs. Given his current Rank, Sasuke and the others would probably need to practice for a week or so before he'd be interested in fighting them... "Damn you, Sasuke, watch my Special Move, Yasakazuki."
"Haha, idiot Naruto, the Yasakazuki Move is completely useless."
After Ge Liang left, Sasuke naturally only had Naruto to play with.
When Ge Liang was his opponent, Sasuke was a noob.
When Naruto was his opponent, Naruto became the noob.
To be honest, the Yasakazuki skill is indeed very powerful; judging by its Rank, it's practically a Divine Skill.
Once it hits an enemy, the power of the flames damages their nerves and body surface, and simultaneously stops their Subjective Perception of Time, meaning their consciousness goes blank for a certain period, making the target feel that time has stopped. (In reality: time continues to flow, but the controlled person feels time has stopped)
Unfortunately, this Move isn't very effective in the game, especially in Normal Mode, where the one-second Wind-up Time is simply too long.
Sure enough, seeing Naruto use Yasakazuki, Sasuke controlled his character to use A+B to dodge the attack, and simultaneously moved right in front of Naruto's Iori Yagami.
Forward C, Forward D + Shichijūgo-shiki Kai + Orochinagi.
With that combo, Iori Yagami, who didn't have much health left to begin with, was instantly defeated by Kyo Kusanagi.
"I refuse to believe I can't beat you! Again!"
"Give up, Naruto, you just can't win against me."
Naruto refused to admit defeat, and Sasuke didn't back down.
That Guy sneakily glanced at Sakura, and then looked back at Naruto and raised an eyebrow.
Could he endure this?
Naruto certainly couldn't endure it. With a roar of anger, he selected his character and continued the fight!