Li Chuan's Combat Ability

"Now that you've gotten the basics of ninjutsu down, I'll teach you new techniques gradually. Starting today, we'll begin practical combat training.

As a ninja, ninjutsu, body techniques, and genjutsu are all just means of fighting. The ultimate goal of learning them is to defeat your opponent.

So learning how to fight is the most important thing."

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

Originally, Chiriku hadn't planned for practical combat in Li Chuan's training. If the esteemed prince got injured, it would cause trouble for the Fire Temple. Teaching some flashy ninjutsu to keep the prince entertained was the safest approach.

But now his thinking had changed, so combat training couldn't be left out.

At that moment, the Monk Ninjas of the Fire Temple were going through their daily Body Technique drills. With the boost from their Sage Art, their displayed skill level was considerable.

Chakra could activate cells and enhance physical functions, especially lightning-natured chakra, which had a particularly pronounced effect.

The Fire Temple's Sage Art also had certain advantages in this area, so most Monk Ninjas focused on Body Technique in combat.

Of course, part of the reason was that the Fire Temple, unlike Konoha, didn't have as many ninjutsu for its monks to learn.

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

Chiriku led Li Chuan to a corner of the training ground and asked.

Most Nobles, even if they didn't study ninjutsu, would learn some simple fighting skills from a young age, most commonly swordsmanship and bladework.

Before the spar, he needed to gauge Li Chuan's level to plan his subsequent training.

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

Li Chuan smiled faintly. Though his words were modest, the confidence in his tone didn't escape Chiriku's notice.

"Kukai, come over here!"

After a moment's thought, Chiriku turned and called over a young monk who looked about seventeen or eighteen.

"This is Kukai. He's at Genin level. Spar with him."

Then he instructed Kukai: "Kukai, no ninjutsu, no chakra, and watch your limits."

He just wanted a rough idea of Li Chuan's fighting skill. If Kukai used chakra or ninjutsu, he feared Li Chuan wouldn't even block a single blow, which would crush his confidence too much.

Kukai gave Chiriku a Buddhist salute: "Understood, Head Priest."

The other party was the Prince of the Land of Fire. Even if he had the nerve, he wouldn't dare actually hurt him.

Still, getting to rough up a noble prince was something worth bragging about in the future.

The monks in the temple all knew Li Chuan's status as the Prince of the Land of Fire, but because of his high rank and his habit of training behind closed doors, they'd barely exchanged a few words.

In their hearts, like Chiriku at first, they thought the prince was just here to play around.

The older monks didn't mind much, but younger ones like Kukai couldn't help feeling a bit jealous.

Having the Head Priest personally guide training—before this, only Kukai had that privilege at the Fire Temple.

Seeing that Kukai was about to spar with Li Chuan, the monks who'd been watching stopped their training and gathered around with barely concealed glee.

Chiriku didn't say anything about it, just cleared the center space for Li Chuan and Kukai.

Though he'd told Kukai not to go too hard, letting Li Chuan recognize his own shortcomings and motivating him to work harder was a good thing.

That's how guiding a disciple worked—you couldn't crush them, but you couldn't give them no pressure either. The balance had to be just right.

"Senior Brother Kukai, please guide me."

Standing in the center of the training ground, Li Chuan's face showed a rare hint of excitement.

He wanted to see what a Genin-level ninja was really capable of, and where he himself stood in this world.

"You're too kind, junior brother. I'm about to strike."

Kukai warned him, then assumed an attacking stance. In a flash, he was charging straight at Li Chuan.

Facing Kukai's rapid approach and the fist aimed at his stomach, Li Chuan's brow furrowed slightly, then relaxed.

"Right, this isn't Konoha after all. How could a Genin's strength compare to Sasuke or Naruto? Especially without chakra enhancement."

In his eyes, this young monk named Kukai was full of openings, and his movement and punch speed were much slower than expected.

To outsiders, though, Li Chuan looked like he was frozen in shock. Only Chiriku seemed to catch something in his expression.

"Sorry, junior brother!"

Seeing Li Chuan standing there dumbfounded, Kukai didn't hold back. His fist drove straight toward Li Chuan's stomach, though he pulled his strength by about thirty percent.

But the expected scene of Li Chuan getting hit and crumpling to his knees didn't happen. Instead, his fist met empty air, and Li Chuan's figure vanished before his eyes.

"Substitution Jutsu?"

Kukai's first thought was that Li Chuan had used a substitution technique to dodge—a common ninja tactic in battle.

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

"Senior Brother Kukai, you can use ninjutsu and Chakra. Otherwise, you won't be my match."

It turned out that when Kukai lunged forward with a punch at Li Chuan, Li Chuan sidestepped with a leap, his toes skimming the ground like a swallow skimming water, and had already moved behind Kukai.

If he had counterattacked at that moment, Kukai would have been on the ground.

"Impossible!"

Hearing Li Chuan's voice, Kukai's pupils contracted sharply. He spun around and immediately lashed out with a whip kick.

Unfortunately, Li Chuan dodged it with ease again.

Having entered the temple at nine and trained hard for seven years to become a Genin, Kukai refused to believe his combat skills could be inferior to a pampered prince's.

He threw punches and kicks, still without using Chakra, launching a storm of attacks at Li Chuan.

To the onlookers, Li Chuan seemed to have turned into a swallow—light and agile. No matter how Kukai attacked, he dodged from every impossible angle with ease.

After a relentless barrage, Kukai began to gasp for breath, while Li Chuan remained calm and composed, as if taking a stroll.

"Kukai, go all out!"

Chiriku, who had been observing from the sidelines, now had a gleam in his eyes. He never expected Li Chuan to possess such a high level of combat skill.

Was Kukai weak?

At least among the Genin of the Fire Temple, he wasn't. Yet in this fight, he couldn't even touch the hem of Li Chuan's robe. Their combat levels weren't even on the same tier.

True, Kukai hadn't used Chakra or ninjutsu, but Li Chuan hadn't used them either.