Li Chuan's Combat Ability

"You have now mastered the basics of ninjutsu. I'll slowly teach you new ninjutsu later. Starting today, we will begin practical combat training.

As a ninja, ninjutsu, Body Technique, and genjutsu are merely means of fighting. The ultimate purpose of learning them is to defeat your opponent.

Therefore, learning how to fight is the most important thing."

After testing Li Chuan's Three Body Technique, Chiriku brought him to the Fire Temple's training grounds.

Originally, Chiriku had not included practical combat in Li Chuan's lessons. If the high-status prince were injured, the Fire Temple would be in trouble as well.

Teaching the prince some flashy ninjutsu to keep him happy had been the safest approach.

However, his thoughts had changed now, so practical combat training could not be left out.

At that moment, the Monk Ninjas of the Fire Temple were carrying out their daily Body Technique training on the grounds. With the Sage Art within their bodies empowering them, the level they displayed was not low.

Chakra could activate cells and enhance physical abilities. Lightning-nature Chakra was especially effective in this regard.

The Fire Temple's Sage Art also had certain advantages in this area, so most of its Monk Ninjas primarily fought using Body Technique.

Of course, part of the reason was that the Fire Temple was not like Konoha, with so much ninjutsu available for its Monk Ninjas to learn.

"Chuan, have you learned any basic combat techniques before?"

Chiriku brought Li Chuan to a corner of the training grounds and asked.

Although most nobles did not learn ninjutsu, they learned some simple fighting techniques from an early age. The most common were swordsmanship and saber techniques.

Before practical combat began, Chiriku needed to understand Li Chuan's current level so that he could formulate the rest of his training plan.

"Master, I've learned a little, and I often practice at home."

Li Chuan smiled faintly. Though his words were modest, Chiriku still sensed the confidence in his tone.

"Kukai, come over here!"

After thinking for a moment, Chiriku turned and called over a young monk who looked to be around seventeen or eighteen.

"This is Kukai. He has the strength of a Genin. Spar with him."

After saying that, he gave Kukai an instruction.

"Kukai, don't use ninjutsu or Chakra. Watch your strength."

He only wanted to roughly assess Li Chuan's fighting ability. If Kukai used Chakra and ninjutsu, Li Chuan might not even be able to take a single move, which would be too damaging to his confidence.

Kukai gave Chiriku a Buddhist salute.

"Understood, Abbot."

The other party was the Prince of the Land of Fire. Even if Kukai had several more lives, he would not dare truly injure him.

Still, being able to beat up a prince of such high status would be something worth bragging about in the future.

The Monk Ninjas in the temple all knew Li Chuan's identity as the Prince of the Land of Fire. However, because of his noble status, and because he usually stayed shut away in the cultivation room training, they had barely exchanged a few words with him.

Deep down, they shared Chiriku's original opinion. They believed this prince had merely come here to play around.

The older Monk Ninjas were better about it, but younger ones like Kukai inevitably felt some jealousy.

The abbot personally guiding someone's cultivation was a privilege that, until now, only Kukai had received at the Fire Temple.

When they saw Kukai preparing to spar with Li Chuan, the Monk Ninjas who had been watching all stopped training and gathered around with faintly gleeful expressions.

Chiriku said nothing about it. He merely had everyone clear the center area for Li Chuan and Kukai.

Although he had told Kukai not to strike too heavily, it was also a good thing for Li Chuan to recognize his own shortcomings and be motivated to work harder.

Guiding a disciple's cultivation was like that. One could not suppress them too much, but neither could one give them no pressure at all. The balance had to be handled properly.

"Senior Brother Kukai, please guide me."

Standing in the middle of the training grounds, Li Chuan showed a rare hint of excitement.

He also wanted to see what a Genin-level ninja was truly capable of, and where his own current strength stood in this world.

"You are too polite, Junior Brother. I'm about to make my move."

After giving him a warning, Kukai took an attacking stance. His figure flashed, and he rushed toward Li Chuan in quick strides.

Facing the rapidly approaching Kukai and the fist he had raised toward his abdomen, Li Chuan frowned slightly, then relaxed.

That made sense. This wasn't Konoha, after all. How could a Genin compare to Sasuke and Naruto, especially without using Chakra to enhance himself?

In Li Chuan's eyes, this young Monk Ninja named Kukai was full of openings. His movements and punches were also much slower than Li Chuan had expected.

Of course, to the onlookers, Li Chuan looked more like he had been scared stupid. Only Chiriku seemed to notice something from his expression.

"Excuse me, Junior Brother!"

Seeing Li Chuan standing there blankly, Kukai did not stop. His fist still shot straight toward Li Chuan's abdomen, though he held back roughly thirty percent of his strength.

However, the scene of Li Chuan being struck, clutching his stomach, and dropping to his knees did not appear. Instead, Kukai's hand struck empty air, and Li Chuan's figure vanished before his eyes.

"Substitution Technique?"

Kukai's first reaction was that Li Chuan had used the Substitution Technique to evade the attack, a ninjutsu commonly used in ninja battles.

But he quickly realized something was wrong, because there was no substituted object in front of him. Instead, Li Chuan's calm voice came from behind his ear.

"Senior Brother Kukai, you can use ninjutsu and Chakra. Otherwise, you're not my opponent."

It turned out that when Kukai bent forward and threw his punch, Li Chuan had taken a sidestep and leapt away. His toes touched the ground like a swallow skimming the water, and he had already moved behind Kukai.

If he had counterattacked then, Kukai would already have been on the ground.

"Impossible!"

Hearing Li Chuan's voice, Kukai's pupils contracted. He turned and immediately threw a roundhouse kick.

Unfortunately, Li Chuan dodged it with ease once again.

He had entered the temple at nine and trained bitterly for seven years to become a Genin. He refused to believe that his fighting ability was inferior to that of a pampered prince.

Punching and kicking, Kukai did not use Chakra as he continued to unleash a storm-like barrage of attacks against Li Chuan.

Yet in everyone's eyes, Li Chuan seemed to have turned into a swallow. Light and agile, he easily evaded Kukai's attacks from all manner of unbelievable angles.

After the relentless assault, Kukai had begun to pant, while Li Chuan remained calm and composed, as though he were taking a stroll.

"Kukai, use your full strength!"

Chiriku, who had been watching from the side, now had his eyes shining. He had never expected Li Chuan to possess such superb fighting ability.

Was Kukai weak?

At the very least, he was not weak among the Fire Temple's Genin. Yet now, in battle, he could not even touch the corner of Li Chuan's clothes. Their fighting skills were simply on entirely different levels.

Indeed, Kukai had not used Chakra or ninjutsu, but Li Chuan had not used ninjutsu or Chakra either.