Pressing Closer

How vast was the gap in strength between a Kage-level powerhouse and a quasi-Kage-level powerhouse?

Uchiha Yue, who had only recently advanced to the quasi-Kage level, had once considered that question. At the time, however, he had concluded that there was not much difference between quasi-Kage and Kage-level fighters. As long as one seized the initiative, it was not impossible for a quasi-Kage-level fighter to defeat a Kage-level fighter. It mainly depended on how each of them performed in battle.

But after truly fighting Lanqin, a Kage-level powerhouse, Uchiha Yue finally realized that the gap between a quasi-Kage-level fighter and a Kage-level fighter was much like the gap between an elite jonin and a quasi-Kage-level fighter. It was nearly impossible for an ordinary quasi-Kage-level fighter to defeat a Kage-level fighter. Just like Uchiha Yue now, when he exchanged taijutsu with Lanqin, he had no chance whatsoever of gaining the upper hand.

Even when Uchiha Yue erupted several times and attempted to suppress Lanqin with his quasi-Kage-level mastery of taijutsu, Lanqin used the true taijutsu mastery of a Kage-level powerhouse to forcibly suppress Yue's bursts of power. Then, Lanqin gradually expanded his advantage, completely suppressing Uchiha Yue, who possessed quasi-Kage-level strength, with his Kage-level power in pursuit of final victory.

If Uchiha Yue had not been an all-round ninja with methods beyond taijutsu that could restrain Lanqin, he would have effectively lost the moment Lanqin completely suppressed him and began expanding his advantage. Therefore, after truly recognizing the disparity between a quasi-Kage-level fighter and a genuine Kage-level powerhouse, Uchiha Yue no longer intended to deal with Lanqin using taijutsu alone. He was going to use every means at his disposal to settle things with Lanqin once and for all.

However, before deciding the victor with Lanqin, Uchiha Yue felt there was