Fight! Might Duy!

Sosuke walked over for a closer look!

Sure enough!

Who else could that green figure standing upside down in the morning breeze be but Might Duy!?

At that moment, Might Duy was supporting himself with both hands on the ground, his entire body upside down!

His arms trembled as if they were bearing immense pressure!!

A rope was tied around his waist. Behind him!

He was actually dragging an enormous tree trunk, so large that several people would have to link arms to encircle it!!!

At the sight, Sosuke's pupils shrank slightly. He was genuinely shaken!

This guy, Duy!! Training this terrifyingly hard!! Did he have any idea what a terrifying force he himself was?

After steadying himself, Sosuke stepped forward and spoke softly.

"Duy, long time no see."

Might Duy, drenched in sweat and on the verge of giving out, heard the voice and opened wide the eyes he had squeezed shut in pain!

He looked toward the white-robed figure ahead!

Might Duy was naturally thrilled. With a forceful push of his hands, he snapped the rope and sprang to his feet!

He gazed at Sosuke, his face alight with joy and excitement!

"Huff... Sosuke, long time no see!!"

Facing Sosuke, he seemed both excited and somewhat ill at ease. After all, Sosuke was more than just a simple friend to him!

Sosuke had saved him! Pulled him back from the depths!! He had helped him rediscover the passion of youth and rekindle his resolve to follow his own ninja way!!!

At the thought, he remembered what Sosuke had said to him at the Ninja Academy training ground, when he had stepped forward to fight Teacher Morino on his behalf.

"...The so-called rules exist for those who cannot survive without following them."

"...Duy, do you believe in your Taijutsu?"

"...Then, Duy! Watch closely. With enough strength, even Taijutsu alone can carve out a place for you beneath the sky."

The memories were vivid. To him, Sosuke was the person who had acknowledged him, someone worthy of his deepest respect!

Seeing how excited Might Duy was, Sosuke couldn't help smiling faintly.

What a simple and straightforward guy. Maybe you've never even realized how frightening your potential is.

Looking at Might Duy, whose body was covered in scars and whose hands were thick with calluses, Sosuke thought to himself.

A ninjutsu loser? What a bunch of ignorant fools. No one had noticed the talent in someone like Might Duy.

Suddenly, an idea occurred to Sosuke!

As he considered whether it could work, the corner of his mouth curled into a smile.

"Duy, do you still have any strength left? If you're up for it, could I ask you to spar with me in Taijutsu?"

At Sosuke's words, Might Duy froze in place!

It was as though his mind had short-circuited. It took a while before he could stare at Sosuke in astonishment, nearly speechless!!

"Huff... Sosuke, I still... still have some strength, but how could I!?"

"How could I be your... your opponent? With my skills, there's no way I could fight you."

Looking at Sosuke's earnest expression, Might Duy hurriedly waved his hands, his face flushed red.

Everyone knew how strong Sosuke was. His skill was there for all to see!

He had defeated a Chunin teacher with nothing but Taijutsu!

For Sosuke to suddenly ask him to spar in Taijutsu was truly astonishing.

Though he stayed true to his ninja way of training in Taijutsu, for Might Duy it was also a choice born of necessity. He simply had no way to train in ninjutsu, so he could only devote more of his effort to Taijutsu!

And he knew his own limits. His Taijutsu had a few points in its favor, but if his opponent was Sosuke, his skills would be insignificant.

However, though Sosuke was usually gentle and amiable, he was being unusually firm now. His gentle insistence left Might Duy unable to refuse.

He could only agree awkwardly. Even though he knew he had no chance of beating Sosuke, Might Duy still took the spar extremely seriously!

This was his ninja way, and his way of showing respect for his opponent!

On the field.

Looking at Might Duy's serious expression, Sosuke's face also grew solemn. His opponent was someone worthy of respect!

Duy, let me see just how strong you are now!

But before they began, Might Duy suddenly raised a hand to call a halt. His face flushed as he looked at Sosuke, speaking a little sheepishly.

"Sosuke, wait a moment. If you're my opponent, even though I can't possibly win, I still want to give it everything I've got!"

With that, under Sosuke's surprised gaze, he removed the weights from his wrists and ankles.

"Thud!"

As the weights hit the ground, they left a small dent and kicked up a cloud of dust. They were clearly extremely heavy!

Seeing this, then seeing Might Duy loosen up after taking off his weights, Sosuke's gaze grew slightly more serious behind his glasses!

This guy, Duy!! Had he been training all this time while carrying those weights? What frightening talent!

Across from him, Might Duy was now fully ready. He looked at Sosuke with a serious expression.

"Sosuke! Here I come!"

The moment the words left his mouth!

His figure vanished in an instant, like a blur!

Sosuke stared at the sight in shock, but within the range of his Slash Path, everything around him for several yards lay within his absolute perception!

A dark shape gradually solidified behind him!

"Thud!"

A powerful kick came at him, and Sosuke blocked it with his left arm.

The rocks beneath his feet cracked apart!

Feeling Might Duy's strength through his left arm, Sosuke's eyes darkened!

Just as expected!! Under that terrifying training, Duy's strength was like something out of a cheat—utterly beyond what a human should possess. If anything could wield strength like that, it would be a gigantic beast!

But he had only just blocked the first strike!

Before Sosuke could move, Might Duy's body had already solidified right in front of him. His expression was utterly serious!

"Thud!"

A fierce knee strike!

In the split second between one heartbeat and the next, Sosuke blocked it with his elbow!

The two clashed violently, then both fell back!

Looking at Might Duy, Sosuke smiled and couldn't help saying,

"Duy! You have unparalleled talent in Taijutsu! But this alone isn't nearly enough to satisfy me. Show me a little more of your true strength. I know this isn't your limit."

Duy, show me your true power. I know you're capable of far more. Your terrifying physique is incredible. Feeling a faint ache in his elbow and arm, Sosuke thought with a smile.

Only after fighting Sosuke did Might Duy truly understand how powerful he was!

It seemed nothing could threaten him. No matter the attack or the speed, Sosuke appeared to have everything under control!

At that, he couldn't help feeling a little unwilling to accept it. He hadn't expected to defeat Sosuke in Taijutsu! But was he really unable even to make Sosuke enjoy the fight!?

Might Duy looked at Sosuke seriously and said,

"Sosuke, then you'll have to take me seriously from here on. I've never used this technique in front of anyone! I hope it'll satisfy you!"

At his words, a hint of excitement showed in Sosuke's eyes behind his glasses.

A gentle breeze brushed past. Sosuke stood straight in the distance, smiling faintly as he studied Might Duy, seemingly full of anticipation for what was to come!

Duy, let me see your hidden true strength!

"Opening Gate! Open!"

As Duy shouted!

"Boom!" A powerful surge of chakra burst from him like a column of clouds shooting into the sky, but he wasn't finished!

"Heal... Gate of Healing! Open!"

Duy's face had turned red, and veins bulged across his body! His hair whipped about in the chakra streaming skyward!

In the distance, Sosuke stared at Duy in shock!!

So this is the strength you've been hiding, Duy!! You've raised your chakra to such a level in an instant!!! What a terrifying technique!!

Thinking of his own chakra shortage,

Sosuke's eyes filled with delight, despite his astonishment!

If this really is possible, then it couldn't be better!!!