Feasibility Report on Instant-Killing Taijutsu Ninjas (Part 1)

After trying for quite a while in the Training Ground, Kurenai finally gave up on trying to understand Hagoromo's words. "Maybe you're telling the truth, or maybe you're trying to confuse me. But it doesn't matter. Since you want to see my Genjutsu, then as you wish—I'll defeat you with my strongest Genjutsu."

Yuhi Kurenai stopped using Shuriken and did not attempt Taijutsu or any other Genjutsu either. She knew she held no advantage over the opponent before her in either of those areas, so she turned instead to the Genjutsu she excelled at most.

Kurenai's hands began forming seals at high speed:

"Ninja Art: Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!"

This was a B-rank Genjutsu, and also the most advanced Genjutsu Yuhi Kurenai could currently master!

Her body vanished from the spot as though it had vaporized. Then, a large tree began silently growing behind Hagoromo. Its branches would bind his hands and feet, after which Kurenai would emerge from within the tree and deliver a "one-hit kill."

A B-rank Genjutsu was something Ninja Academy students could never handle. If perfectly executed, even a Chunin teacher might not be able to resist it.

"Not good!"

Aizawa-sensei cried out, but it was already too late to stop Kurenai.

Tree Binding Death was undoubtedly a powerful Genjutsu, but the prerequisite for Genjutsu to work was that the enemy had to fall for it.

When Kurenai cautiously approached Hagoromo and found that he truly had no reaction, she assumed her Genjutsu had worked. Just as a victorious smile was about to appear on her face, Hagoromo suddenly moved.

Just as Hagoromo had expected, the Genjutsu had not worked.

At that moment, his head was like a computer monitor that had been struck with a hammer, with a bright blue Electric Arc flickering across it from time to time. That was how he had defended against the B-rank Genjutsu.

His outstretched right hand twisted around the wrist holding Yuhi Kurenai's kunai, and then his five fingers tightened!

Kurenai's wrist felt as though it had been clamped in iron pincers. The sharp pain made her kunai fall to the ground with a clatter.

Then Hagoromo raised his left hand, his fingers pressed together like a blade, and lightly struck the back of Kurenai's neck.

She was knocked unconscious.

"The battle is over. The winner is Kamishiro Hagoromo!"

Aizawa announced loudly. To be honest, when Kurenai had used that B-rank Genjutsu just now, he had thought Hagoromo was bound to lose. Yet unexpectedly, he had truly remained unaffected by it.

Even as a Chunin teacher, Aizawa still could not figure out how Hagoromo had defended against Yuhi Kurenai's Genjutsu. After all, as a Chunin himself, he would not have been able to withstand a B-rank Genjutsu if caught off guard.

The unconscious Yuhi Kurenai slumped limply against Hagoromo. Once the Chunin teacher announced the end of the battle, two Medical Ninjas quickly came to Hagoromo's side and carried Yuhi Kurenai away.

His first victory had not come too difficultly, but Hagoromo was still quite pleased. If he could defend against that kind of move, then naturally he could defend against ordinary Genjutsu as well.

After Kurenai was taken away, he also left the Training Ground. Honestly, whenever he saw Yuhi Kurenai's red eyes, he did not think of the Uchiha Sharingan, but of Kurapika forever...

Hagoromo followed the medical team out of the Training Ground. The students were still buzzing with discussion. They had not expected Hagoromo to defeat Yuhi Kurenai, an honor student—and with just a few moves, no less. It had seemed like a rather easy victory.

By the time Hagoromo returned to the sidelines, the next match had already begun.

Uchiha Obito versus Anko Mitarashi. The highlight of this battle was... that there was no highlight at all. As expected, Uchiha Obito did not last three seconds before Anko Mitarashi quickly defeated him in an instant.

After the first round of matches ended, aside from Uchiha Obito, the veteran dead-last student, Kamishiro Hagoromo, Might Guy, and Nohara Rin all successfully entered the top fifteen.

Unlike Uchiha Obito, Might Guy truly was second from the bottom in the class. However, that was because he rarely scored points in any subject other than Taijutsu Class. When it came to Taijutsu and actual combat, though, he unquestionably belonged among the class's strongest group.

"Now, the second round begins. I will announce the matchups."

"First match: Might Guy versus... Kamishiro Hagoromo!"

"Great, Hagoromo! Let's settle this!"

The moment he heard his own name, before he had even figured out who his opponent was, Might Guy had already rushed into the center of the Training Ground.

Then, after hearing his opponent's name, he immediately began shouting excitedly.

Hagoromo also stepped onto the field right after him. If he was not quick enough, Guy could keep shouting forever.

Still, he was not especially looking forward to this battle—although Guy's training was insane, his Taijutsu was still far from mature due to his age. At this point, he naturally could not use the Eight Gates Formation, and could not even use the Lotus.

"The battle begins!"

"Leaf Great Whirlwind!"

The moment the Chunin teacher announced the start of the battle, Might Guy launched a fierce attack at Hagoromo.

He leaped high into the air and swept a horizontal kick toward Hagoromo's head.

Without an advantage in speed or strength, such a leaping attack was clearly inappropriate. Before Guy could hit Hagoromo, Hagoromo had already caught his ankle in one hand.

Then Hagoromo stepped back with his right leg, spun around, and used Might Guy's own momentum to throw him away.

"Damn it, again!"

Guy, who had been thrown to the ground, seemed not to feel any pain at all as he immediately charged at Hagoromo again!

Hagoromo raised a palm to block Guy's incoming fist, then kicked Guy's shin with his right foot, sending him tumbling away once more.

Then Guy charged over a third time, only to be thrown out again.

Then came the fourth time, the fifth time, the sixth time...

Although Might Guy usually acted rather comically, someone who worked so hard and refused to give up easily was difficult to dislike...

So Hagoromo decided to defeat him using his true strength.

"Guy, be careful. I'm going to get serious now!"

"Just what I want!" Guy's fighting spirit surged!

Hagoromo slowly closed his eyes, then suddenly opened them again. He still made no hand seals. Lightning Release Chakra flowed through his meridians, and blue electric arcs flickered across his body.

When Might Guy charged again, Hagoromo did not throw him aside. He tilted his head to dodge Guy's punch, then drove a fist into Guy's chin. Before Guy could react, Hagoromo viciously raised his right knee!

Guy's body immediately arched as Hagoromo's sudden force kicked him a full meter into the air!

But it was not over. During the fraction of a second Guy was suspended in midair, Hagoromo swiftly curled up, then leaped and put his strength into a right-footed kick, striking Guy in the abdomen once more. Guy's body rose even higher!

Both of them were now in the air, but after taking two heavy blows, Guy was completely unable to fight back!

Hagoromo spun at high speed in midair, then viciously kicked again with his still-unspent left leg!

Guy was hit for the third time!

By the time Hagoromo used the recoil from his attack to land swiftly, Guy had already been flung more than six meters into the air!

A large amount of chakra concentrated in Hagoromo's feet. Then, as his lower body exerted force nearly to its limit, he almost instantly leaped to a position higher than Guy.

From above, Hagoromo's right leg came crashing down on Guy's head!

"Lion's Barrage!!!"

"Boom!"

Like a falling meteor, Guy slammed viciously into the ground!

When the dust settled, a shallow crater covered in cracks had appeared in the Training Ground, and Guy, lying at its center, had already lost consciousness.

For three full minutes, not a sound could be heard!

At that moment, Yuhi Kurenai, who had already awakened, happened to see Guy in that state. She began to feel fortunate that she had not challenged Hagoromo in taijutsu...