New Pose: Prone

Hayate Gekko casually picked up a branch and used it as a sword. "This is the Konoha Style: Basic Body Technique I practice."

Ninja skills had many subdivisions.

Under taijutsu classifications,

there were Hard Fist, Gentle Fist, as well as saber techniques and sword techniques.

However, sabers and swords were not clearly distinguished in this world, so the latter two were sometimes not all that different.

Hayate Gekko specialized in his own Kekkei Genkai, "Transparency Release," as well as swordsmanship.

He assumed a stance and faced Jueming.

"Other than Illusion Techniques, I currently practice everything."

Jueming indicated that he was well-rounded in every aspect—morally, intellectually, physically, aesthetically, and labor-wise...

"As you can see, I defeated Might Guy and Obito Uchiha earlier using inverted taijutsu."

"..."

Hayate Gekko nodded slightly.

Uzuki Yugao, however, still found it rather absurd...

"Now, I will defeat you using this inverted stance." Jueming spoke seriously, his face toward the ground.

"Alright. I'm attacking."

Hayate Gekko nodded forcefully.

For the first time, someone had seen into his heart. For the first time, someone had acknowledged his dream. He was very happy.

In the blink of an eye, he made his move. His movements were swift as the wind, truly living up to the name Hayate Gekko.

The small branch whistled through the air as it stabbed toward Jueming.

Jueming neither dodged nor evaded, allowing the strike to land on his body.

"Put some strength into it. Don't be afraid of hurting me. My defense is quite high."

Amid Hayate Gekko and Uzuki Yugao's surprised expressions, Jueming stood unmoving like a mountain.

This was because "Grass Release - Body - Lying Flat" came with a buff. Under a Strange Stance, his defense increased beyond what it would be while standing normally.

Furthermore, fencing with Might Guy and Obito Uchiha had also increased his skin's defense.

The two effects stacked together, creating extremely strong defense.

[ Tough Skin +1 ]

"Alright."

Hayate Gekko's expression turned even more serious.

He viciously thrust the branch forward. With a crack, it snapped.

[ Tough Skin +1 ]

After casually tossing away the branch, Hayate Gekko drew the sword he carried with him.

"This sword hasn't been sharpened. I normally use it for practice, but it's still forged from refined iron. Be careful..."

The blade tore through the air and slashed fiercely against Jueming's body.

In order to test just how high his defense was,

Jueming naturally remained motionless.

After enduring this attack, Jueming gained a deeper understanding of how the two states stacked.

[ Tough Skin +1 ]

"How is that possible?"

"This..."

This sight stunned Uzuki Yugao and left Mito Uzumaki somewhat surprised as well.

She had originally intended to teach Jueming a lesson, which was why she had paralyzed his lower body and made it impossible for him to move.

Later, she released the restraint on Jueming, only for him to continue doing as he pleased and standing upside down.

Standing upside down was one thing.

But he could even withstand attacks head-on?

Mito Uzumaki immediately examined Jueming's body and discovered that his skin seemed to have become tougher.

Yet even so, it should not have been able to withstand that sword strike.

Mito Uzumaki: If more of my strength had recovered... perhaps I could perceive the mystery behind this...

"My turn."

Jueming swung his hands, and his entire body moved swiftly forward.

The speed of his inverted walk exceeded Hayate Gekko and Uzuki Yugao's expectations.

He threw a punch.

Hayate Gekko quickly retreated.

Then they saw Jueming, using just one hand, exchange blows evenly with Hayate Gekko.

Uzuki Yugao was completely dumbfounded.

"Is this the strength of the top scorer in the Entrance Exam?"

Watching Jueming stand upside down on one hand,

the two traded blows back and forth, and Jueming even began to faintly gain the upper hand.

She felt as though her entire worldview had been overturned.

If there truly was a genius in this world, it had to be Senju Jueming.

"Didn't they say the Senju Clan had already declined?"

Uzuki Yugao watched the battle between her childhood friend and Jueming, muttering to herself.

"Is this a final flash of brilliance? Or after hitting rock bottom, is the Senju Clan rising again?"

At that moment, Jueming supported himself on one hand, leaped up, and knocked Hayate Gekko back with a punch.

Hayate Gekko's blade, meanwhile, struck Jueming's arm with all its strength, leaving only a white mark.

[ Tough Skin +1 ]

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Hayate Gekko immediately began coughing after being struck in the abdomen.

Then he fell to his knees.

Hayate Gekko's constitution is still somewhat frail... Jueming thought.

After defeating Hayate Gekko, Jueming took out a slip of paper.

There were five people left.

Ebisu and Genma Shiranui were good buddies.

Aoba Yamashiro and Namiashi Raidō were good buddies too.

The large Ibiki Morino was alone.

"Then I'll challenge the first two first."

In a corner of the academy.

"Hehehe... hehehe..."

Ebisu crouched in the corner, grinning lewdly.

Genma Shiranui pressed close beside him, occasionally letting out startled cries.

The two children, engrossed in adult magazines, had yet to notice Jueming approaching from behind.

"Does it look good?"

Jueming, upside down, asked them.

"Y-Yeah, it looks good... hehehe..." Ebisu nodded.

"It's so thrilling..." Even the toothpick fell from Genma Shiranui's mouth.

"?!"

Only then did the two realize something was wrong.

They abruptly turned around and found Jueming's upside-down face before them.

"Waaaahhh~~~~!"

The two were scared out of their wits.

Ebisu hurriedly hid the magazine behind his back and put on a serious expression.

So this was the kind of person Ebisu was.

But...

"What's the point of just looking at magazines?"

Jueming said something that left the two utterly confused.

They did not know... they were merely reading magazines.

But Jueming was already taking actual action to pick up girls.

Rin Nohara, Uzuki Yugao, Anko Mitarashi, Natsu Hyuga... they were all tools to help me revive the Senju Clan.

"You two, come have a Friendly Spar with me."

Jueming looked at them.

Then the fencing began.

Time flew by.

Over the next few weeks,

Jueming went around challenging the male students in the class.

In the end, he defeated them one by one, or two by two.

He won while standing upside down.

Through fencing matches, he greatly strengthened his skin's defense.

The notifications of [ Strange Stance +1 ] also continued to increase along with his inverted stance.

At a certain moment...

[ Scrap Achieved ]

[ Your "Grass Release - Body - Handstand" stance has reached mastery, unlocking a new Strange Stance.

"Grass Release - Body - Prone": I am a vine. Friend, have you heard of Voldemort?

Note 1: An advanced variation of the handstand stance.

Note 2: In this state, you cannot gain the "Stamina +1" growth effect, but you can increase a portion of your defense.

Note 3: Can randomly and permanently increase the Upper limit of mobility while in the "Special Posture" state, "Strange Stance +1."

Note 4: Can stack the defense buff from "Grass Release - Body - Handstand." Conversely, the former can also benefit from the stacked defense effect of "Prone."

Note 5: Work hard. One day, you will become a true Abnormal Type! ]