"Welcome back."
Senju Nawaki practically dragged Shangguan Yue out of the barbecue restaurant as if fleeing.
"Slow down. What's the rush?"
"One-on-one. I've rested enough."
"Fine. Let's have some after-meal entertainment. Do your best to amuse me."
"Hmph. I'm getting serious this time, so watch out."
Before long, the two of them were back at the Senju Mansion. They stood facing each other on the training ground.
Nawaki looked as if he were facing a formidable enemy, while Shangguan Yue stood there casually, as if it were nothing.
"Look, that's Young Master Nawaki. Who's the guy facing him? Are they going to duel?"
"No idea. I've never seen him before."
"Quiet, everyone. It's about to start."
Nawaki quickly formed Hand Seals with both hands and pressed them to the ground. With a bang, smoke billowed away, revealing a sword lying on the ground.
"Wow, is that the Sword of the Thunder God? So cool."
"Watch out. This is the weapon of my Second Granduncle, Senju Tobirama."
"Hah!"
Nawaki strode forward with a grim look, leaped into the air, twisted his hips, tucked in his left side, and swung his sword down hard with his right hand.
"Why isn't he dodging? Is he planning to take that blow with his bare body?"
"Clang!"
A crisp metallic clash rang out, and everyone stared.
"Huh? Where did that sword in his hand come from?"
"I don't know. I didn't see it just now."
"Clang, clang, clang!"
Sparks flew as the two swung their weapons at each other.
"Hmm. Young Master Nawaki's Senju Sword Style and Taijutsu have grown much more refined. That young fellow opposite him is untrained, but his reflexes are pretty quick."
"Then, in your opinion, Young Master Nawaki should win, right?"
"No! Not necessarily. Look."
Nawaki's attacks were well-organized, and he kept pressing Shangguan Yue, but he never managed to land a single blow.
Nawaki leaped back, using the force of their clash to put some distance between them. They faced off again. Seeing that Shangguan Yue wasn't even out of breath, Nawaki grew wary.
Shangguan Yue, meanwhile, felt bitter. Sigh, it seems my body really is hopeless.
He had been dodging for no other reason than to see if he could copy the moves. After all, Taijutsu—
It was worth a try. There was no chakra flow involved.
But even with his spiritual sense, Shangguan Yue was still completely baffled by how to perform the Taijutsu moves. He couldn't understand them. How was he supposed to learn?
"'Temporary challenge recorded successfully.'" Hearing the Balance of God's notification, Shangguan Yue finally let go of the idea. Good thing I have the system.
Recording is just too much trouble. I have to fight the other person, and the stronger they are, the longer it takes to record.
Nawaki formed Hand Seals and released his grip. The Sword of the Thunder God disappeared. He formed Hand Seals again. "Earth Style: Earth Dragon Bullet!"
Nawaki spat out an earth dragon that hurtled toward Shangguan Yue. Shangguan Yue could only watch enviously.
"Void Step."
Shangguan Yue stepped on his right foot with his left and shot straight into the air, dodging the attack with ease.
"Void Step: Explosive Flash."
Shangguan Yue shot toward Nawaki like a cannonball.
"So fast!"
Feeling Shangguan Yue suddenly appear behind him, Nawaki formed Hand Seals.
"Substitution Technique!"
A log appeared where Nawaki had been standing. With a scrape, it split in two.
Shangguan Yue sensed Nawaki's location and launched another "Void Step: Explosive Flash."
The two chased each other around the training ground. Shangguan Yue couldn't use ninjutsu, but he was fast.
Before you can even finish forming Hand Seals, my blade will be at your throat. Nawaki didn't dare let his guard down. With no time to form Hand Seals, all he could do was flee.
"What kind of ninjutsu is that? He can move so fast in midair!"
Shangguan Yue wasn't having an easy time moving through the air, either.
This won't do. If this keeps up, I'll be at a disadvantage. Berserk Mode is still too crude, and it puts too much strain on my body.
He felt pain throughout his body as his spiritual power and chakra squeezed him from all sides.
Then I'll use this move. I might as well see how it works—I've never tried it before.
Shangguan Yue struck a pose in midair. "Void Step: Draw-Sword Strike."
His back, thighs, and ankles—his whole body seemed to have thrusters installed, unleashing immense energy in an instant.
Shangguan Yue seemed to teleport, appearing before Senju Nawaki in a flash. Before Nawaki could react—
"Draw-Sword Strike!"
They passed each other. Shangguan Yue staggered to a halt, leaning on Longque as he gasped for breath.
"This feels awful. My organs feel like they're trembling. The strain on my body is enormous. I can't move.
"Thank goodness I have the Sage Body. I'll just take a moment to recover. I wonder how Nawaki's doing."
Nawaki turned around and saw Shangguan Yue striking an impossibly cool pose. "Hey, could you—huh?"
Nawaki felt a sharp pain in his chest. Looking down, he saw a slash across it. He fell to the ground and looked at Shangguan Yue, still posing, feeling irritated.
What a show-off. Still, I lost again.
Huh? What's he doing? Is he going to humiliate me too?
With the help of his Sage Body, Shangguan Yue had already regained his ability to move. He dragged his exhausted body over to Nawaki at a leisurely pace.
"Nawaki, until you beat me, you're just a little brother."
A thousand horses galloped through Nawaki's mind. You're the little brother! Your whole family's full of little brothers! Forget it, he's my brother-in-law, so I just insulted myself.
"You should be glad I used the back of my blade. Otherwise, you'd be dead by now.
"Oh, still not convinced? I'll be waiting for your next challenge."
Shangguan Yue placed both hands on Nawaki's chest. As his chakra flowed, Nawaki's wound gradually healed and disappeared.
"Y-you can use Healing Jutsu? My sister really is stupid for giving you—"
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