Battle (Part 2)

Byakugan, activate!

Clone Technique!

"Poof!"

A cloud of smoke exploded out of thin air.

There were now two Hyuga Hoshishaku on the training ground.

Watching his actions, Senju Tobirama was somewhat baffled.

Clones were fragile things that shattered at a touch; aside from bullying weaklings in taijutsu or creating distractions to flee, they were utterly meaningless.

Just as he attempted to deduce Hoshishaku's tactics, the original Hoshishaku pulled out a stack of sealing papers and handed them to his clone.

"Teacher Tobirama, I am going to use Sealing Technique now."

The clone Hoshishaku gave a serious warning.

Upon hearing this, Senju Tobirama's expression became extremely strange, as did the expressions of the six youths watching from the sidelines.

It's just a sealing technique, isn't it?

Could this brat have been so spoiled by his family that he thinks learning how to use a sealing scroll is something to brag about to the heavens?

At the center of all those strange gazes, Hyuga Hoshishaku and his clone distanced themselves and simultaneously raised the sealing papers.

"Sealing-In Technique!"

As the words fell, a suction force like a hurricane erupted from thin air.

Senju Tobirama, standing in the training ground, was pulled forward, stumbling two steps.

Had he not reacted in time and adhered chakra to the soles of his feet, he likely would have been sucked right over.

The Sealing-In Technique used simultaneously by the clone also took effect.

Standing at the intersection of the two hurricanes, Senju Tobirama was pulled and dragged by the two massive suction forces from the very first second.

By the second second, a "rip" sound came from his clothes.

His gray short-sleeved shirt was instantly torn away and sucked in, revealing an upper body covered in scars.

Just before his pants were about to be shredded by the two forces, he appeared behind Hoshishaku's clone in a flash with a dark face, preparing to disperse the clone without a word.

But the original Hoshishaku had discovered the situation the moment it happened.

Right after the clone was blown apart.

The original Hoshishaku held that sealing paper, aiming it toward the direction of the clone.

He changed the way he used his chakra, causing the sealing paper—which had been absorbing the surrounding air—to switch to releasing it.

"Unsealing Technique!"

The next moment, the hurricane that had been absorbing for over five seconds reversed from suction to a blast, carrying dirt and dust as it rushed toward Senju Tobirama.

At this moment, Senju Tobirama had lost his shirt, and he had no desire to face those annoying hurricanes with his upper body exposed.

Thus, he flashed once more, appearing in the position directly opposite the hurricane.

Just as he stood firm, a sound of air being torn apart suddenly struck.

Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!

As it turned out, the moment Hyuga Hoshishaku's first clone was destroyed, he had been holding the sealing paper in one hand while weaving signs to use a new Clone Technique.

In that incredibly brief window, he had completed the hand-off of the sealing paper with his original body, while the original body used the Transformation Technique to become a pebble, which the clone then tossed a short distance behind him.

This position was one he had calculated while observing the other two undergoing their trials.

If Senju Tobirama did not want to be blown by the hurricane, he would certainly appear behind him.

Therefore, the moment the original body waited for Senju Tobirama to appear, he immediately unleashed his strongest attack.

Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!

An invisible Eight Trigrams formation appeared beneath his feet.

His first strike of the surprise attack landed with extreme precision on the opponent's chest.

The Gentle Fist, infused with chakra, directly severed the meridians in Senju Tobirama's chest, preventing the opponent's chakra from flowing through them.

Within one second, his second strike landed on the opponent's neck; through the vision of the Byakugan, the meridians in the neck were likewise severed.

Third strike, fourth strike, fifth strike... sixty-fourth strike!

In the span of seven or eight seconds, Hyuga Hoshishaku's arms moved so fast they were almost a blur, pinning the shirtless Senju Tobirama's Shadow Clone and pummeling him.

Yes, a Shadow Clone.

A technique more advanced than the Clone Technique, the Shadow Clone Technique capable of performing ninjutsu.

From the very beginning, after he had used System Inspection on Senju Tobirama, he knew that the opponent was merely a Shadow Clone carrying thirty thousand points of chakra.

One must know that the true body of Senju Tobirama possesses one hundred and fifty thousand units of chakra.

With only thirty thousand points, what else could it be but a Shadow Clone?

It is just that this Shadow Clone is far too resilient.

Having taken a full set of Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, it still has not been dispersed.

Does this mean that all the damage just now did not truly harm the opponent?

Then why were his meridians still severed?

That is right; because it is a clone, the chakra is like water without a source. Without a continuous supply of chakra to replenish it, the severed meridians simply remained blocked after being struck by the Gentle Fist. However, for him, the severing of meridians does not count as damage in the first place.

No, that is not precise enough. It is not for him, but for this Shadow Clone before me, that severing the meridians does not count as damage.

Just as Hoshishaku landed his final strike, a trace of a smile actually appeared on Senju Tobirama's perpetually stern face.

"This is the first time I have fully experienced the Hyuga Clan's Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms. The feeling of having one's entire body's meridians sealed is truly wondrous."

"To be honest, if the gap in our strength were not so vast, even my true body would have suffered a loss. Wouldn't you agree, kid Hoshishaku?"

As he spoke, he leaned backward, dodging Hoshishaku's Gentle Fist, and then took the initiative to launch an attack.

Hyuga Hoshishaku had originally intended to use the Gentle Fist to block the offensive, but a sonic boom suddenly erupted from the fist coming toward him.

This gave him a start, and he immediately leaped backward to avoid the blow.

However, after dodging a few times, he fell into an absolute disadvantage, and seeing that he could no longer evade, he was about to take a punch.

At that critical moment, Hoshishaku quickly formed hand seals.

Boar, Dog, Rooster, Monkey, Ram.

"Summoning Technique!"

A wall inscribed with summoning formulas was summoned, standing horizontally between the two!

The next moment, Senju Tobirama's fist struck the surface of the wall.

"Boom!"

The wall that had just been summoned was shattered instantly by a single punch.

This made Hoshishaku's temple twitch uncontrollably.

So it was the Strength of a Hundred Seal Fist!

If that had landed, wouldn't he have been sent straight to the hospital?

Breaking into a cold sweat, Hoshishaku pulled out another stack of sealing papers, preparing to play dirty.

However, Senju Tobirama, who had burst through the wall, clearly did not want him to use that disgusting Basic Sealing Technique again.

Thus, he said with some helplessness: "Alright, alright, let's end this. Your tricks are truly disgusting; between having my clothes torn and being hit dozens of times, I haven't been able to land a single blow back."

He spoke bluntly, expressing his desire to retaliate.

Yet, deep down, he had begun to ponder.

Previously, he had not paid much attention to Hyuga Hoshishaku's own claims of having a talent for Space-Time Ninjutsu.

But looking at his Basic Sealing Technique, it was clear that this was not just "a bit" of talent—it was talent bordering on explosive.

And the boy's Summoning Technique further confirmed this.

Why do ninjas usually only sign summoning contracts with ninja beasts?

Setting aside the power of the beasts themselves, it is because most ninja beasts possess a certain degree of space-time talent.

They can compensate for the caster's lack of talent, allowing the Summoning Technique to be successfully released through the joint effort of one side summoning and the other responding.

Those like Hyuga Hoshishaku who can summon inanimate objects are, without exception, people of exceptional talent.

Thinking of this, Senju Tobirama took a deep look at this new disciple, who stood in place, panting heavily.