Old friends reunited

The most bustling central street in Konoha.

Taiichi shook his head with a helpless smile, then casually took the steaming skewers of meatballs from Uncle Tuanzi: "Alright, alright, Captain Yohei is the most generous. But—"

He took a bite of the soft, chewy dumpling, his gaze sweeping over the team members behind Yohei, each with their own distinct expression. His tone held a hint of genuine approval. "Chief Fugaku's judgment is truly remarkable."

Yohei was stuffing a string of meatballs into his mouth when he heard this, he paused for a moment, and then his smile became more serious.

He swallowed his food, patted his chest, and the badge on his brand-new Military Police Force gleamed in the sunlight.

"That's right! The clan leader said that the Military Police Force is the front line in protecting the Konoha. It's not enough to just know how to fight and kill. We need to make everyone feel that we are approachable, trustworthy, and reliable!"

As he spoke, he felt embarrassed and scratched the back of his head, then asked Taiichi with considerable curiosity, "That sounds really awkward; it doesn't sound like something a clan leader would say."

He spoke quite loudly, seemingly unconcerned that those nearby might hear him.

The stall owners listened and nodded in agreement with a smile.

"Captain Yohei is right!"

"With you here, we all feel at ease on this street!"

"The Military Police Force is indeed much better now than before."

3

The two Uchiha members who had been covering their faces finally lowered their hands. Their expressions were still somewhat complicated, a mixture of helplessness and embarrassment.

But looking at the sincere smiles and trusting eyes of the vendors around him, the deep-rooted "Uchiha- style" aloofness and detachment in his eyes seemed to be quietly melted away by the warmth of the marketplace.

One of them sighed softly and whispered to his companion, "Although—but—it seems—it does have some effect?"

His companion didn't speak, but nodded silently. His gaze swept over his Captain, who was being enthusiastically surrounded by the vendors, then looked at Taiichi, who was smiling and eating dumplings next to him, and finally landed on the Inu-ya member who was warily scanning the edge of the crowd with the black Inuzuka Clan.

The Headband from different families shone with the same luster in the sunlight.

Taiichi put the last dumpling into his mouth, the sweet and glutinous taste melting on his tongue. He was about to say Taiichi more to Yohei when a youthful shout interrupted him.

"Yohei, I'm back again! My passionate youth makes me determined to fight you three hundred rounds this time!"

With such youthful talk, Taiichi knew who it was without even turning around. But how could Kai know Yohei? They shouldn't have any connection.

"Kai, you bastard, can't you see I'm on duty?"

Yohei retorted without hesitation, clearly indicating that the two were already very familiar with each other.

A robust young man with thick eyebrows and a bowl cut, dressed in a green bodysuit, stopped in front of Taiichi with his foot at a 45-degree angle to the ground.

Seeing his hands pointing diagonally to the sky, his thick eyebrows raised, and his big white teeth flashing as he showed off, Taiichi covered his eyes, which was uncharacteristically difficult to bear.

"Ah, Taiichi, I didn't expect to see you here. Are you going to join the duel between me and Yohei?"

Only then did Kai realize who was standing next to Yohei. He quickly stopped what he was doing and stepped forward to put his arm around Taiichi's shoulder in a familiar manner.

Taiichi glanced left at Kai, who was arm in arm with him, and right at Yohei, who was standing to the side with great interest, and nodded knowingly.

These two people have surprisingly compatible personalities, and it's understandable that they would become good friends given the opportunity to spend time together.

"Kai, what's going on between you and Yohei?"

"Haha!" Kai gave a thumbs up, his teeth gleaming in the bright sunlight. "We're best friends who inspire each other. Our youth brought us together on the Training Ground, and two people full of passion for life sparked a fierce competition!"

Although what they said was nonsensical, Taiichi still understood. The two guys met during training, took a liking to each other, and then became good friends.

Yohei nodded with satisfaction, looking at him with an annoyingly smug expression, as if he knew his son was teachable.

"Taiichi, you have no idea how reckless this guy's training is. I was shocked the first time I saw it; I couldn't believe someone could actually endure such intense training!"

At this point, Yohei also expressed his sincere admiration.

"Haha, why bring that up? The passion of youth constantly reminds me that I can't afford to slack off in the slightest."

With tears streaming down his face, Kai excitedly embraced Yohei, "My efforts haven't been enough; I need to persevere much more. But today, Yohei, let's have our 32nd duel!"

Kai continued to challenge Yohei, his previously tearful eyes immediately replaced by fighting spirit.

"Alright, no problem. I will definitely not refuse a duel." Yohei also ignited his inner power.

"It's you again, Yohei. Unlike Kakashi, who always makes excuses." Kai's enthusiasm had reached its peak, and he couldn't wait to start the match.

Taiichi, watching from the side, was speechless. Pointing at the team members behind Yohei, he said, "Aren't you supposed to be patrolling? Is it okay to abandon your post like this?"

"Haha!" Yohei laughed, patting the shoulder of the Uchiha clansman behind him, seemingly oblivious to their "disdainful" expressions. "Don't worry, I'm just looking around on patrol, it's no trouble. Taiichi, let's go!"

Taiichi glanced at the three team members behind him, who were clearly used to this, so he didn't say anything more and readily agreed.

On the edge of Konoha, near the outer edge of the Death Forest, lies the 8th Training Ground.

Compared to the well-equipped and bustling Training Ground in the village center, this place appears exceptionally desolate.

Tall trees surround the area, forming a natural barrier. The ground is compacted soil, with occasional tenacious blades of grass sprouting from the gaps.

This is the ideal place for high-intensity, undisturbed Taijutsu sparring.

Yohei Uchiha, Might Guy, and Taichi Matsushita were standing in the center of this somewhat empty space.

Yohei crossed his arms and chest, his whole body relaxed, appearing completely unguarded, but in reality, he was already silently gathering strength in his feet;

Kai stood there gently warming up, his thick eyebrows and big eyes burning with fighting spirit beneath his watermelon-shaped haircut;

Taiichi stood quietly between the two, acting as the referee. His expression was calm, with a hint of gentle smile that was hard to detect, as he looked at the two energetic people in front of him.

"Yoshi! Yohei- Senior! Let's begin today's youthful duel!" Kai clenched his fist, assuming a standard starting stance, his eyes gleaming with pure and fiery light. "A pure Taijutsu contest, the 32nd time! My burning blood is itching for it!"

Yohei laughed heartily, adopting the same stance, his eyes sharp. "Come on, Kai! Let me see how much your 'youth' has improved! It's a deal, you're not allowed to open that dangerous door without activating your Sharingan!"

"Of course! Pure Taijutsu are the true romance of a man!" Kai shouted back.

Upon seeing this, Taiichi suddenly brought his raised right hand down and shouted, "Begin!"

Before the words were even finished, the person had already retreated like an arrow released from a bow.

The battle erupted instantly.

Leaf Whirlwind!

Kai's signature move is swift and fierce, his right leg sweeping across Yohei's lower body with a whooshing sound.

Yohei reacted extremely quickly, dodging the attack with a clean and neat backflip. The moment he landed, he used his feet to propel himself forward like a cheetah, delivering a precise straight punch straight to Kai's face.

Kai neither dodged nor evaded, but instead lowered his waist and stood at attention, unleashing a punch of his own!

Bang!

The fists collided, producing a dull thud of flesh hitting flesh.

The two of them swayed at the same time, and shallow pits were created in the soil beneath their feet.

In terms of strength, Yohei seemed to have a slight advantage due to his age and physical strength, but Kai's foundation was surprisingly solid, his lower body was as stable as a rock, and he managed to withstand the punch.

"Great power, Senior! But the speed of youth is the key to victory!"

With a loud shout, Kai used the recoil to spin around, bracing himself with his hands on the ground, his legs transforming into a green phantom as he unleashed a storm of kicks at the Yohei Konoha Whirlwind.

Yohei's pupils Sharingan was not activated, his dynamic vision, honed through years of combat, remained excellent.

He retreated swiftly, his hands moving like a blur, precisely blocking or deflecting Kai's tricky kicks.

For a moment, the only sounds on the Training Ground were the dense "bang bang bang" of blocking, the heavy breathing of the two men, and the low roars when they exerted their strength.

Kai's attacks were like surging waves, one after another. His Taijutsu was fierce and direct, full of explosive power, and each strike carried an indomitable momentum, showcasing the essence of Konoha's Taijutsu to the fullest.

Yohei's style is more agile and skillful. He makes full use of the space, his steps are elusive, and his movements are elegant and refined, reflecting the essence of the Uchiha.

The two exchanged blows, their fists and feet clashing, their figures moving at high speed across the empty Training Ground, colliding, separating, and colliding again.

Sweat quickly soaked their clothes, which glistened in the sunlight.

Time slipped away quietly amidst the intense confrontation. Half an hour passed, and both of them began to breathe heavily, their movements starting to become slightly distorted.

During a close-quarters fight, Yohei seized a tiny opening in Kai's defenses and delivered a swift chop to Kai's neck.

Kai reacted with lightning speed, suddenly ducking his head while simultaneously thrusting his right knee upwards, aiming for Yohei's abdomen!

Yohei's chop grazed Kai's hair, while Kai's knee strike landed squarely on Yohei's hastily parrying forearm.

Bang!

A tremendous force struck him, Yohei Ping groaned, involuntarily staggering back several steps before barely managing to regain his balance. A tingling, numb sensation spread through his forearm.

Although the block was timely, Kai's attack was perfectly timed and powerful.

By the time he regained his balance, Kai's fist had already stopped in front of him.

"Stop! Kai has won this battle!"

Taiichi immediately made the announcement from the side.

Kai stopped his stance, his chest heaving violently, sweat streaming down his face, but his eyes shone with an astonishing light, filled with the joy of victory and pure satisfaction.

He suddenly raised his right fist, pointed it to the sky, and tears instantly filled his eyes. "Victory! Senior Yohei! This is my ninth victory against you! Waaah—this is the power of passionate youth!"

His voice was loud and clear, choked with emotion, echoing across the Training Ground.

Yohei rubbed his numb forearm, looked at the watermelon-headed boy in front of him who was excitedly moved to tears, and smiled helplessly yet sincerely, "Impressive, Kai! Your Taijutsu have improved amazingly. That knee strike just now was impeccable in both timing and power. I lost!"

"You're the real Senior! You're this amazing even without the Sharingan!" Kai wiped away his tears and said sincerely.

"A brilliant duel." Taiichi's voice rang out at the right moment. He stepped forward with an approving smile on his face. "To reach this level in pure Taijutsu, you two are both remarkable. Yohei's experience, skill, and control of rhythm, and Kai's explosiveness, speed, and never-give-up will were all displayed to the fullest."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the two men. "However, that concludes the warm-up. How about I be your opponent later? You two, come at me together, it'll be a Taijutsu."

Yohei and Kai exchanged a glance, both seeing a gleam of eager anticipation in each other's eyes. Even if they were to be crushed while fighting a powerhouse like Taiichi, it would still be a valuable experience.

"Taiichi, please enlighten us!" The two spoke in unison, abandoning even the need for rest, instantly adjusting their stance, one on the left and one on the right, subtly forming an encirclement.

"Begin!" Taiichi said without further ado.

Without the slightest hesitation, Yohei and Kai, like two arrows released from a bow, carrying the residual heat of their previous battle, simultaneously pounced on Taiichi from two tricky angles!

Yohei attacked from three directions, sweeping his legs like whips; Kai leaped into the air, delivering a powerful downward kick straight for Taiichi's head! The two coordinated perfectly, sealing off most of Taiichi's evasive space.

However, facing the two's fierce combined attack, Taiichi merely turned his body slightly to the side, the movement so small as to be almost imperceptible.

His movements didn't seem fast, but he precisely avoided Yohei's sweeping leg, while simultaneously raising his left hand and casually meeting Kaina's powerful downward kick.

Bang!

A soft sound rang out. The expected scene of Taiichi being cleaved away did not occur.

Kai felt as if his leg strength, powerful enough to split rocks, had vanished into thin air, held aloft by a gentle yet overwhelming force, instantly neutralizing the momentum of his downward strike.

Just as Kai was stunned, Taiichi's right hand reached out like a ghost and gently touched Yohei's wrist the instant Yohei changed his move to attack his ribs.

A sudden, skillful force struck, and Yohei felt his concentrated power instantly deflected, causing him to involuntarily stumble forward.

Taiichi's physical abilities, honed through countless skill point additions, training, and the tempering of Senjutsu, have long surpassed the realm of ordinary ninjas.

His strength, speed, reaction time, nerve reflexes, and musculoskeletal strength have all reached an unbelievable level.

At this moment, he could gain an overwhelming advantage simply by relying on his physical body, without even needing to mobilize Chakra for amplification.

The ensuing battle was less of a friendly sparring match and more of a teaching demonstration by Taiichi.

Yohei and Kai used all their skills. Kai used his Strong Fist, Leaf Whirlwind, and Lotus Kick, while Yohei used Uchiha Taijutsu.

Joint locks and grappling techniques rained down on Taiichi like a storm.

But these were like children playing in front of Taiichi, easily neutralized by him, and he even used their power to make them interfere with each other and lose their balance.

In less than five minutes, Yohei and Kai were panting heavily and drenched in sweat.

They felt as if they were fighting an unshakeable Takayama. Every attack felt like hitting cotton, and was bounced back by an invisible force. Their physical strength was greatly depleted, and their minds were under immense pressure.

"Stop!" Taiichi shouted softly, his figure instantly retreating several meters.

Yohei and Kai felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They immediately stopped, put their hands on their knees, and gasped for breath. Their eyes were filled with shock and admiration as they looked at Taiichi.

They knew Taiichi was very strong, but personally experiencing this pure, unreasonable physical crushing was still beyond their imagination.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Taiichi looked at the two of them and began to comment in a calm tone, "Your teamwork is quite good. It's rare to have such tacit understanding on your first time working together."

Yohei, your idea of trying to control the rhythm during a close fight is good, but against an explosive opponent like Kai, and given my speed, your attempt to "control" is too obvious and makes you easier for me to exploit. Your movements could be smoother and more subtle, reducing the traces of anticipation.

Yohei nodded seriously, carefully savoring the feeling he had just experienced.

"Kai," Taiichi turned to the still-breathing, thick-browed boy, "Your strength and speed are advantages, but your attacks are too direct, and your intentions are too easy to see through. Just now you had at least three opportunities to change your Feint, disrupting my rhythm, but you chose the most direct route."

Remember, Taijutsu are not just about strength and speed, but also about strategy. Infuse your youthful passion with a few tactical variations, and your power will be multiplied.

Kai's eyes lit up, and he clenched his fist tightly. "Yes, Taiichi, I'll remember."

Taiichi smiled and continued to summarize, "Overall, your foundations are very solid. Yohei's skills and experience, and Kai's explosiveness and willpower are all top-notch."

However, if Yohei wants to go further, he needs to make his movements more flexible, reduce fixed routines, and increase improvisation and deception.

Kai needs to learn to incorporate softness into his strength, achieving a balance of both, controlling his power freely, and varying his attack routes more frequently.

The pinnacle of Taijutsu is the perfect fusion of strength, speed, skill, timing, intelligence, and even willpower.

His comments were incisive, affirming their strengths while precisely pointing out their weaknesses and areas for improvement. Yohei and Kai listened with complete conviction, nodding repeatedly, and firmly remembering every word Taiichi said.

"Alright, the sparring session is over." Taiichi clapped his hands. "Come on, you guys look exhausted."

Yohei and Kai sat down next to Taiichi to rest. Yohei looked at Kai, who was tired but still excited, and suddenly remembered something. He turned to Taiichi and spoke with concern.

"Taiichi, Kai always trains incredibly hard, I'm worried he might have some hidden injuries. Your medical skills are so excellent, could you check him out?"