Running away?
The onlookers stared, stunned, as Naruto ran.
For a six-year-old, such behavior was practically unheard of. Kids that age would jump from a second-floor window just to save face.
Tang San was stunned too. After a brief hesitation, he immediately took off after Naruto, hot on his heels.
What else was Naruto supposed to do—stand and fight Tang San head-on?
Naruto cursed inwardly. His words had barely left his mouth when the sound of a fist slicing through the air came from behind him. Tang San, using Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, had already caught up!
Naruto turned and raised his arm to block. With a thud, Tang San's fist slammed into his forearm. The blow sent Jiang Naruto staggering backward. He didn't even try to close the distance—he kept retreating, fighting as he fled!
The gap in their strength was simply too obvious.
Tang San had a six-level advantage in Soul Power alone. Their physical strength and experience were worlds apart.
After all, Tang San had begun cultivating when he was only two or three, and by six he could swing a hammer at the forge. He was born with an Innate Iron-Forging Saint Body—a pure brute!
Jiang Naruto had only crossed over six months ago. By the most generous count, he'd been cultivating for just two weeks. Even with the No Regrets Youth and Ninja Academy Student labels, that gap wasn't so easily bridged.
And then there was experience.
Tang San had learned killing techniques in his previous life. Naruto had learned how to build socialism. How could those two possibly compare?
After dozens of exchanges, Naruto was already being driven back, barely holding on.
Another punch landed. Naruto's feet carved two furrows in the ground as his arms went numb and trembled. With no time to think, he raised his hand and sent Chains of Heaven shooting out!
Tang San darted aside again. To Naruto, Tang San's years of training in Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track made him seem no different from a ghost! Chains of Heaven struck only an afterimage. Tang San had already lowered his body and rushed in close!
Turn!
Naruto leaned back and yanked hard on his Martial Soul. The missed chains swished around, curving gracefully through the air as they shot toward Tang San's back!
Something was wrong?
Naruto's pupils contracted. Behind Tang San, Chains of Heaven abruptly changed direction again, but this time they darted about like headless flies.
His eyes shifted. Tang San's palm was pressed against Naruto's right wrist in a strange posture. With the slightest push, the strength in Naruto's arm went haywire.
Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon?
Damn it!
Cursing inwardly, Naruto only had time to raise his left arm in front of his chest.
Bang!
A loud crash rang out. Naruto flew several meters before rolling to bleed off the force. Just as he was about to rise, his own Martial Soul suddenly yanked him back.
He looked up. Tang San was gripping Chains of Heaven with both hands!
Naruto's gaze turned cold.
Why hadn't Chains of Heaven's ability to slow the flow of Soul Power worked?
Poison?
Feeling the Soul Power in his arm move sluggishly, Tang San instinctively assumed it was poison. Still unconcerned, he flexed his arm, muscles bulging, and dragged Naruto's Martial Soul toward himself with a hard pull!
Already off balance, Naruto lost his footing again and flew toward Tang San!
Only now, with the distance between them so short, could Naruto make out the tiny sparks at the base of Tang San's thumb—and his jade-like fingers.
Mysterious Jade Hand?
Once he understood what was going on, Naruto stopped trying to force it. He withdrew his Martial Soul decisively, and Chains of Heaven dissolved into specks of Soul Power light.
Without the chains pulling him, Naruto's speed plummeted. He was about to roll with the fall when a huge shadow suddenly appeared in his vision. Tang San was closing in, and the fist he hurled with the wind behind it rapidly grew larger.
Bang!
The two passed each other!
Jiang Naruto hit the ground on his backside and slid across the Soul Fighting Arena, which was strewn with sand and gravel. He rolled over and drew Chains of Heaven out of the ground, panting hard. His nose, which had only grazed the wind of Tang San's punch, was tinged red.
If he hadn't dodged that punch just now, would he have been seriously injured?
He had enough evidence now.
Time to stop!
"All right! That's enough! The Soul Fighting is over! You were only demonstrating your Soul Skills—don't let it turn into a real fight!" Before Naruto could say anything, Principal Fuqi called out loudly, seeing the two of them fighting more and more fiercely. The bout naturally ended with Naruto's defeat.
Principal Fuqi loudly announced the result, his face beaming. The onlookers around him were just as delighted.
The two had performed far beyond expectations. Whether one looked at it as a teacher appreciating their skills or a classmate envying them, it had been an impressive Soul Fighting match. Considering their age, one couldn't help but be amazed.
Tang San had already turned to give chase when he heard Principal Fuqi declare the bout over. Disappointment showed in his eyes. He lowered his fists and slowly approached.
Naruto, meanwhile, let out a long breath and flopped onto the ground, arms and legs sprawled in every direction.
Tang San stopped beside Naruto and crouched down.
In the eyes of those around them, Tang San should have offered Naruto a hand up. The two would make up after their fight, talk happily, and end up admiring one another. That was how the street-story booklets always told it.
Unfortunately, that wasn't what happened.
Leaning over, Tang San lowered his voice so only the two of them could hear.
"Those things you said in the office that day—you said them on purpose!"
Naruto lay on the ground, eyes half-lidded. He couldn't quite make out Tang San standing in the sunlight, only the cold gleam in his purple eyes and the certainty in his voice.
Since Tang San was already sure,
Naruto dropped the act. There was no point in playing dumb any longer. He looked up and met Tang San's gaze directly, then smiled faintly.
"Was I wrong about anything?"
Tang San glared at Naruto, clenching his fist until his knuckles crackled. His voice turned threatening. "A teacher is a father for life. Insulting my teacher is the same as insulting me, Tang San. If there's a next time, I won't let you off as easily as I did today!"
"So your teacher can look down on this and look down on that, but when it happens to you, you can't take it?" Tang San's shameless words truly riled Naruto. He immediately raised his voice and shot back sarcastically.
His voice rang out. Even though the onlookers were whispering and chattering, his words carried clearly to everyone.
Tang San's eyes widened slightly.
In an instant, he reached out and clamped a hand over Naruto's mouth.
"If you don't learn to hold your tongue, I can take care of you right now!" Tang San's face twisted. He forced down his anger, but his voice was already edged with murderous intent. The Silent Sleeve Arrow on his right wrist was aimed at Naruto's throat.
Click.
The crossbow bolt was cocked.
The metallic click rang clearly, like a death knell sounding in their ears.
This wasn't the time to kill him! There were too many people watching. There was no way the Silent Sleeve Arrow could escape everyone's notice! Tang San's gaze swept across the onlookers' faces as his mind raced, forcing down the urge to take a life.
For some reason, Tang San had expected the person under him to struggle wildly and hurl more filthy insults at his teacher. Instead, Naruto had gone still, making no move at all.
Good. At least he knew when to quit!
Before Tang San could think any further, Principal Fuqi frowned and called from nearby.
"Xiao San! What are you two talking about?"
After giving his defeated opponent one last threatening look, Tang San withdrew his hand. When Naruto didn't move, he slowly stood and turned to explain to the chubby principal.
"Nothing. I was just asking how to control this whip-shaped Martial Soul."
Tang San's tone was calm, and his smile warm. For a moment, everyone was taken in and left a little confused.
Tang San secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
He was about to continue, smooth over the bastard's nonsense, when the expressions on the onlookers' faces suddenly froze right before his eyes!
What happened?
Bang!
The thought had barely formed when pain exploded through him. Tang San saw stars, stumbled, and tasted blood at the corner of his mouth. A bright red fist mark had appeared on his face.
From the corner of his eye, he saw Naruto standing in a punch-recovery stance.
When had he gotten up?
Why hadn't he made a sound?
Tang San, who had always trusted his senses completely, began to doubt himself. But the doubt lasted only a few seconds. If Naruto was back on his feet, then they could keep fighting!
Rather than steady himself, Tang San let his body's momentum carry him. He twisted at the waist, turning his body as his arm swung in a circle, channeling his full strength into his palm!
His arm swept through the air with a sharp whistling crack like a bullwhip. This was the force-redirection technique of Controlling Crane Capturing Dragon—nothing like Naruto's Bar Dance Tai Chi.
The hand strike came too fast for Naruto to block or react!
Bang!
Tang San's palm passed straight through Naruto, stirring only wisps of smoke. His attack missed... Tang San's eyes widened in confusion, then his pupils shrank to pinpoints. Behind the Naruto who had burst into a cloud of smoke, another Naruto had appeared!
Naruto let out a soft breath. The fist at his waist, wrapped in his Martial Soul, had been waiting for this moment. He twisted at the waist and drove his fist forward!
One punch slammed out!
Bang!
With his balance gone, Tang San had no way to dodge. The fist crashed into the bridge of his nose. His features rippled like the surface of a lake, and blood sprayed through the air as he flew like a rag doll!
"Just because I hadn't shown my fangs, you thought I was a sick cat? I was holding back, and you really started thinking you were somebody!"
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