Bonus chapter đ
"Are you stupid?"
Jokichi snorted, walking towards Sasuke unhurriedly. "The opponent showed formidable strength, yet instead of being worried, you are actually more excited. Do you think I will let you off easily, or..."
Before the words fell, Jokichi's figure suddenly vanished from the spot, with only two leaves fluttering down.
Konoha-Style Body Flicker Jutsu.
The so-called Body Flicker Jutsu refers to all high-speed movement jutsu.
In a sense, the Flying Thunder God Jutsu and the Raikage's Lightning Release Chakra Mode also belong to a type of Body Flicker Jutsu.
But the most widely circulated is still the D-rank Body Flicker Jutsu, which is a ninjutsu that utilizes chakra bursting in the legs to temporarily gain high speed.
And the Five Great Ninja Villages all have their own unique Body Flicker Jutsu.
For example, Gaara's Sand Body Flicker, Haku's Water Body Flicker, Zabuza's Mist Body Flicker...
Each Body Flicker Jutsu is faster than the mass-produced D-rank ninjutsu and has its own unique aspects.
The Konoha-Style Body Flicker Jutsu used by Jokichi only has two characteristics: showing off, and being fast.
Every time it is used, it leaves behind two falling green leaves.
At the moment the Body Flicker Jutsu was used, two leaves drifted down, and Jokichi erupted with unprecedented speed, charging at Sasuke from the front.
But this time, Sasuke saw it clearly. In his blood-red eyes, two tomoe spun wildly.
"No matter how fast you are, there is nowhere to hide under the Sharingan. The same move won't work on me a second..."
Before the arrogant thought could finish, Jokichi had already rushed in front of him. The fist formed by his right hand ruthlessly smashed into his face again. His entire body flew out uncontrollably, while the voice arrived a step later ringing in his ears.
"Did you think you could beat me?"
"Bang!"
His body hit the ground and slid a distance before stopping.
Sasuke clutched his bleeding nose and stood up, looking at Jokichi with eyes full of disbelief.
He clearly saw it, but his body couldn't react.
Moreover, what was with that voice that arrived a beat late?
Genjutsu?
Impossible, any genjutsu would be seen through in front of the Sharingan. That was absolutely not a genjutsu; it was because Jokichi's speed exceeded sound in that instant.
Damn it, he clearly stayed at the Ninja Academy all this time, why did he become so strong?
Sasuke bit his lower lip, looking at Jokichi unwillingly.
Just like the emotion Naruto felt in the previous battle after realizing the gap between them, Sasuke felt the same, and even more strongly.
He, who wholeheartedly wanted to surpass Itachi, couldn't even snatch first place in competition within the same village right now.
That anger, unwillingness, and remorse for his own incompetence.
"Damn it, I won't lose to you!"
Sasuke's hands rapidly formed seals.
"Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique."
Sasuke successively spat out several fist-sized fireballs. The attack trajectories, like the seeds of the balsam flower, enveloped Jokichi along with all his evasion routes.
"Naruto, Sakura, step back."
Jokichi warned, and without caring if they heard or not, his hands rapidly formed seals.
"Water Release: Water Shockwave."
The moisture in the air rapidly condensed into water, swirling and rising around Jokichi like a tornado, and then crashing towards Sasuke like a tidal wave.
The fireballs plunged into the water, only raising a bit of steam, not even splashing a wave.
"Waaaaa..."
It was Naruto's first time seeing such an exaggerated ninjutsu. He ran back in a panic. Sakura, after being stunned for a moment, also hurriedly ran towards the opposite bank.
As for Sasuke, although he experienced a brief moment of surprise, he immediately calmed down and jumped backward at the moment the tidal wave crashed down from high above, dodging the fatal impact.
The water submerged the nearby area, and the bank turned into an ocean.
Sasuke landed on the water, looked around, and spotted Jokichi sliding at high speed across the water surface, charging towards him.
Water Release: Wave Riding Strike.
The Second Mizukage's ninjutsu, a jutsu that allows one to stand on the water and utilize the water's flow for high-speed movement.
Although Jokichi's speed at this moment lacked the burst of the Konoha-Style Body Flicker Jutsu, he could continuously maintain a high speed that was difficult for the eyes to catch.
Sasuke had just spotted Jokichi when Jokichi had already closed the distance, kicking him away with a flying kick.
Next, the person followed closely. Both hands and both feet went to work, striking left, right, up, and down, hitting Sasuke with crackling sounds.
Jokichi did not want to cause trouble, but if trouble came knocking on his door, he would completely solve the trouble or make it so the trouble would never come knocking again.
Think you are really awesome?
Think you are a genius?
Let me show you what a gap is, let you understand the chasm-like distance between us, so you will never want to show off in front of me again.
"Bang, bang, bang..."
Jokichi's punches and kicks fell like raindrops.
Sasuke raised his arms to protect his vital parts. Since Jokichi did not strike to kill, his body did not sustain severe injuries.
However, the humiliation of being continuously beaten without being able to fight back made him suffer more than being severely injured.
At this time, Naruto suddenly popped his head out near their fight.
Jokichi was distracted by the commotion, and the movement of his hands slowed by a beat.
Sasuke seized the opportunity and counterattacked suddenly. Although Jokichi easily dodged it, Sasuke also used this chance to open up the distance.
He hadn't given up yet.
Although the speed of Jokichi using the Wave Riding Strike was fast, it wasn't so fast that his body couldn't react. If he just stood in place to defend and counterattack, there was a chance to win.
The reason he was in such a sorry state just now was that he was caught off guard, and the continuous combo attacks gave him absolutely no chance to fight back or catch his breath.
Now, he was prepared.
His body's center of gravity was lowered, his muscles were tense, and his spirit was completely focused on Jokichi. Even water droplets from his hair flowing into his eyes couldn't make him blink.
Seeing the two separate, Naruto complained to Jokichi, "I was just there, you almost drowned me."
"Yeah, yeah, exactly!"
Sakura, who had run to the opposite bank in time and was safe and sound, also complained at this moment.
Jokichi spread his hands and said innocently, "I'm wrongly accused. I knew you guys would definitely be fine, which is why I dared to use this kind of ninjutsu. As teammates, I trust your strength very much."
"Really?" Naruto was half-believing and half-doubting.
"Mhm." Jokichi nodded vigorously.
Naruto instantly forgot about being submerged by the massive water just now, patting his chest with a smug look. "You have a good eye, Jokichi. I am the man who will become Hokage in the future!"
"You are too easy to fool!"
Sakura couldn't help but retort, and even the fully tensed Sasuke looked speechless.
Naruto, however, laughed foolishly as if he hadn't heard.
Only, no one saw the loneliness deep within his eyes.
The gap between Jokichi and Sasuke, and the gap between Sasuke and himself, were visible to the naked eye.
The unwillingness in his heart poured back and forth in his chest and throat like bitter water, extremely uncomfortable, yet he couldn't speak of it to anyone.
Jokichi and Sasuke withdrew their gazes and focused on each other again.
The atmosphere that had lightened up because of Naruto froze once more.
On the opposite bank, Sakura placed her hands over her heart, looking at the two with a worried face.
She liked Sasuke very much, but Jokichi was her teammate.
Moreover, it was Sasuke who picked the fight first.
She had no reason to speak up for Sasuke.
It's just that they had already fought so fiercely before, even using such large-scale ninjutsu.
Although both sides were still holding back, it had already exceeded the scope of an ordinary fight.
If they continue, won't something really happen?
Thinking of this, Sakura shouted to Jokichi, "Jokichi, let it go!"