Watanabe's body instantly bent into a shrimp shape, and he flew backward seven or eight meters like a kite with its string cut.
[Hit hard: Vitality +35, Defense +23, Pain -15...]
"Awesome!"
Watanabe nearly let out a groan. The harder Tsunade hit him, the better he felt. His blood surged through him like a blazing furnace, turning his skin red from head to toe.
The onlookers erupted in an uproar.
Tsunade had definitely hit him with all her strength. She'd sent him flying seven or eight meters—how could he take that?!
Jiraiya couldn't help shuddering. If Tsunade had beaten him like that, he'd have been bedridden for days.
"She's practically killing him. Why make it look like a sparring match..." Jiraiya muttered.
"!"
Osaka Rukawa jumped in fright. Worried that Watanabe had been badly hurt, he hurried over to help him up, but Watanabe got to his feet and dusted himself off before he could reach him.
"Watanabe... are you okay?" Osaka Rukawa asked hesitantly.
"I'm fine."
Watanabe took a deep breath. Not only was he fine, but he felt healthier and better than ever.
He'd found his path to becoming stronger. If he kept walking down it, why bother going to school?
After all, aside from teaching the basic Three Body Techniques, the Ninja Academy offered nothing but brainwashing lessons about the Will of Fire. The advanced ninjutsu were all held by the various clans. He might as well quit. Besides, he had no idea where he'd get the money for next year's tuition.
"Your skin's turned completely red. How can you be fine?" Osaka Rukawa asked, full of doubt.
"It's normal. I'm really fine." Watanabe shook his head.
Once the thought of dropping out crossed his mind, he had no more reservations. He said frankly, "Teacher, Tsunade and I haven't decided a winner yet. Let us keep sparring."
If nothing unexpected happened, this might be his last fight at the Ninja Academy.
Osaka Rukawa: "..."
Keep sparring?
If this goes on, I'm afraid you'll lose your life!
He looked at Watanabe and saw nothing but firm resolve in his face.
After hesitating for a moment, Osaka Rukawa stopped trying to dissuade him and stepped aside to clear the way.
Everyone had their own ninja way. Osaka Rukawa thought Watanabe's was probably to never admit defeat.
There were plenty of people like Watanabe. Osaka Rukawa vividly remembered that during his own Chunin Ninja Exams, two female Genin had fought even more fiercely than Watanabe. They'd fought naked after their clothes were torn off, and neither had ever admitted defeat.
As Watanabe came back for another round, the anger in Tsunade's beautiful eyes gave way to complicated feelings.
After hitting Watanabe in the stomach, her first thought had been to use Medical Ninjutsu to treat him. She'd never imagined he would withstand the blow and still refuse to give up.
Did you really want to beat me that badly?
Tsunade bit her lower lip and urged him, "Watanabe, give up. You're nowhere near my match right now."
She could take pity on Watanabe and hold back so he wouldn't lose too badly, but she would never deliberately lose to him.
Watanabe smiled wryly to himself.
Of course he knew he wasn't Tsunade's match. But the more Tsunade beat him, the stronger he got. They only had two sparring sessions each school year. This was such a good chance to become stronger that he had no reason not to make full use of it.
"Tsunade, you don't need to hold back for my sake," Watanabe said calmly. "I may be much weaker than you, but right now I'm your opponent. Give it your all. That way, even if I lose, at least I'll lose with dignity."
Tsunade: "???"
She was a little stunned. In that instant, she understood a lot.
So Watanabe had kept going not because he wanted to beat her and show off. He'd realized she was holding back on purpose, so he'd kept getting back up to protest in his own way.
Was this... what they called a man's pride?
Looking at Watanabe, his body red all over from her beating, Tsunade suddenly felt something stir within her.
She'd pitied Watanabe before, but from this moment on, he had her respect.
A ninja with a strong heart was just as worthy of respect as one with great strength.
"Fine."
Tsunade nodded, her pretty face turning serious. "I'll respect you. From now on, I'll give it my all!"
Watanabe smiled faintly. You'd better mean it.
"Hiss!"
Among the onlookers, Jiraiya drew in a sharp breath.
"Watanabe's really got a hard mouth!"
Jiraiya was deeply unnerved. He knew how terrifying Tsunade's strength was. She could really beat someone to death. Watanabe was already in this sorry state, and he still had the nerve to ask Tsunade to go all out?
"If only my little Jiraiya were as hard as Watanabe's mouth," Jiraiya sighed.
"Watanabe, you can do it!"
Suddenly, a shout rose from the crowd.
A girl from the Moonlight Clan pumped her fist and cheered Watanabe on. "You may not be able to beat Tsunade, but you're so brave! Even if you lose, you'll have nothing to be ashamed of!"
"That's right, Watanabe! You're amazing! Keep it up!"
"I admire you! This is an honorable loss!"
"..."
As if setting off a chain reaction, the girls in the class all began cheering Watanabe on.
They'd never realized before that Watanabe was so tenacious. Though he was covered in dust and looked a complete mess, in the girls' eyes he was full of manly spirit, like a hero.
Watanabe was stunned when he heard them.
What was going on?
I got beaten up, and now I have fans?
Then he shook his head and put it out of his mind. Just as he was about to attack Tsunade again—
[Received a blessing: Confidence -2, Charm -2, Courage -3, Inferiority -5...]
???
A string of question marks appeared over Watanabe's head.
Karma Reversal could reverse things like this too?
Suddenly, he felt terribly unsure of himself.
"Watanabe, keep it up!"
"After this fight, no matter the result, you won't be the class's bottom-ranked student anymore."
"If you can knock Tsunade down, I, Jiraiya, will be your underling from now on!"
Even the boys began cheering Watanabe on. Jiraiya was the loudest of them all.
Watanabe: "..."
Don't go making trouble for me!
[Received a blessing: Confidence -4, Charm -4, Courage -5, Inferiority -6...]
Watanabe felt more and more uneasy. As the debuffs continued, a bead of cold sweat slid down his forehead.
Seeing that Watanabe had earned the approval of the other students too, Tsunade was rather happy for him. After glaring fiercely at the loudly cheering Jiraiya, she turned back to Watanabe, her face serious.
She meant what she said.
Going all out was how she showed Watanabe respect.
Holding back was how she showed pity for the weak.
"Hei!"
Tsunade suddenly cried out and stomped hard on the ground.
"Boom."
The training field shook, and numerous cracks spread across the ground like a spiderweb.
The cheers for Watanabe abruptly died away. The whole field fell silent.
Watanabe: "..."
╭(°A°`)╮
The cold sweat on his forehead grew even heavier.
If he took a kick like that from Tsunade, would the system have time to reverse the karma, or would it just kick him to death?
"Come on, Watanabe. I'm ready. Let's fight head-on!"
Tsunade said seriously.
Before you continue