Teaching Hakuda

Might Duy's impassioned voice had barely faded!

Sosuke suddenly appeared right before him!

He threw a punch!

The sudden attack caused Might Duy's pupils to constrict, his body instinctively raising his arms to block the strike.

However, as that fist landed on Might Duy's arms, the corners of Sosuke's mouth curled into a smile.

"Bang!"

It was as if he had been slammed by a train moving at full speed! Might Duy's body flew backward at high velocity!

Suspended in mid-air, Might Duy's face was filled with disbelief.

Nani!? How is this possible!! Could it be that Sosuke was hiding his true strength while fighting me yesterday!!!

Might Duy's body flew back a considerable distance, only coming to a halt after snapping several large trees and kicking up a cloud of dust!

Amidst the swirling dust.

Sosuke's voice drifted over! It sounded like a gentle teacher giving a lecture, yet the magnetic tone brought with it a sense of terror!

"Dai, can you feel the difference between this punch and an ordinary one!?"

Still immersed in his shock over Sosuke hiding his strength, Might Duy wore a puzzled expression upon hearing these words.

The difference!? Could it be that Sosuke has already started teaching me the techniques of Hakuda!

Seeming to sense Might Duy's hesitation, Sosuke smiled and murmured.

"It seems you haven't. In that case, Dai, let your body feel it a few more times!"

Haven't discovered the difference yet? It seems I still have plenty of opportunities to adapt to this power.

The moment the words fell.

Behind Might Duy! A fierce gust of wind from a punch suddenly struck!

Might Duy had no time to turn his head to look, his heart filled with deep astonishment and awe!

How is this possible!? This speed!!

"Bang!"

Sent flying by a punch once again, Might Duy could not hide the excitement and burning passion in his heart!

Like a cockroach with high fighting spirit, he quickly scrambled up, ignoring the dust on his body, clenched his fists tight, and shouted with eyes full of confidence!

"This is what a taijutsu duel is all about!! Attack to your heart's content! Sosuke, I will definitely discover the mystery behind it!"

No sooner had Might Duy's impassioned words landed!

"Bang!"

Sosuke appeared behind him again as silently as a ghost, his hand-blade swinging down lightly!

His pupils tightened, and he hurriedly raised his hands to block the sharp strike!

Might Duy was sent flying once more!

In contrast, Sosuke, who had caused all this, wore a gentle smile on his face and said with a grin.

"Well, Dai, a strong will can allow an ordinary person to achieve amazing miracles, and I believe in your potential even more. There is still plenty of time, let us continue."

In the time that followed.

Might Duy was subjected to a one-sided, inhumane pummeling!

The entire forest was filled with broken branches and fallen trees, and the pitted, uneven ground was entirely created by Might Duy's body slamming into it.

One could only imagine the treatment he had received at Sosuke's hands!

Finally!

After sending Might Duy flying for the one hundred and ninety-eighth time, Sosuke stood where Might Duy had previously been, gently clenched his palm, and the smile on his face grew even deeper.

Have I already fully adapted to the body after opening the Gate... This feeling of abundant power is truly wonderful... I really wonder, if I were to release Kido now! How many levels of Kido would I be able to chant!

Just as Sosuke was thinking this to himself.

Far away from him.

Might Duy climbed up from the ground, trembling, his green bodysuit already torn in many places!

He looked just like a pitiful beggar.

But there was no decadence or frustration in Might Duy's eyes at this moment; instead, they were filled with excitement and hope!!

His thick-browed, large eyes stared intently at Sosuke's position, and he thought with pleasant surprise.

Could it be!? So that is the mystery of this punch!! One more time!? It shouldn't be wrong!

He charged toward Sosuke full of confidence, appearing as if he were preparing for a counterattack!

Seeing this, Sosuke wore a light smile, remaining completely calm.

Suddenly!

Only his afterimage remained in place.

Seeing Sosuke's afterimage slowly fade away while moving at high speed, Might Duy hurriedly braced himself against all directions.

Behind him, a dark shadow appeared once more!

It was Sosuke, who had arrived rapidly using Flash Step.

He swung a light punch toward Might Duy again!

"Bang!"

Just as before, Might Duy was sent flying backward for the one hundred and ninety-ninth time.

But!

Suspended in mid-air, he wore a smile on his face and shouted happily!

"Sosuke! I understand now!! The secret to this punch is that it is fundamentally impossible to block!"

Hearing his answer, a look of approval appeared on Sosuke's face.

That was correct; this punch was like an endless river—no matter how one tried to block it, they would be pierced through by the hidden force contained within!

Feeling pleased that Might Duy had been able to see through this in such a short time, Sosuke looked at him and said softly.

"Yes, Dai, as you said, this punch isn't actually a fixed technique. To be precise, one can only strike with this punch easily once they have reached a level of mastery in controlling their strength."

"In the eyes of a taijutsu master, a forceful punch is actually full of wasted power. To land a punch that no one can block, you need perfect control over your force."

"You've probably noticed by now that your body hasn't suffered any damage from the punches I've landed; it's simply because the force of my strikes is perfectly controlled at a critical threshold."

Hearing this, Might Duy nodded with a serious expression. It was precisely because he had observed that his body hadn't suffered much pain after taking so many hits that he had realized this.

"Since you've seen through this, then! Next, try your best to block my punch. Remember, learn to use every part of your body as a weapon to deflect my attacks. Carefully recall the methods I used to face your attacks yesterday. For the time remaining, just do your best to block my offensive."

Just as Sosuke had said, before practicing the Eight Inner Gates, how could Sosuke have possibly stood his ground against Might Duy's long-honed physique with his own slightly weaker body?

It was precisely the various techniques of Hakuda combined with perfect force control that made it possible.

Now that his strength had increased several times over, facing the straightforward Might Duy with his exquisite Hakuda skills, he could naturally send him flying over and over again with ease.

And so, for the rest of the time, the sounds of trees collapsing and explosive impacts echoed endlessly through the forest.

It wasn't until the sky began to darken that Sosuke finally walked away with a relaxed gait, a gratified smile on his face.

Behind him followed Might Duy, his clothes tattered and torn.

Although his clothes were full of holes and his head and face were covered in dust, he didn't care in the slightest. The look in his eyes was incredibly bright, and his spirit was full of vigor!

It was as if an ascetic monk, who could calmly face birth, old age, sickness, and death, had suddenly been moved to his core and bowed in reverence before a scripture of universal salvation, treating it as a precious treasure.

At this moment, having witnessed such exquisite Hakuda techniques, Might Duy was like a traveler dying of thirst in the desert who had suddenly found an oasis, his fighting spirit reignited!

In his eyes, every technique of Hakuda was a surprise!! He marveled repeatedly at their brilliance and ingenuity, and at the profound understanding of human anatomy they displayed.

In one day of training, Might Duy had learned a great deal, and what he had learned today was enough for him to study and ponder seriously for a long time to come.

With that, the two of them departed.

However, following Sosuke's guidance, Sosuke was no longer just a simple friend or benefactor in Might Duy's heart.

He was more like a mentor in life, a guide on the path of his ninja way.

Under the setting sun.

Sosuke walked gently along the street, facing the sunset. His body swayed rhythmically with the breeze, and the edges of his robes danced lightly.

His small but straight figure gave people a feeling as towering as a mountain.

Behind Sosuke, Might Duy looked at his back with a face full of reverence.

His heart was filled with deep gratitude.