"Already!?"
Hyuga Niuer was stunned. Even with his Byakugan, he couldn't see through Takizawa Dan's movements!
"No... Where'd he go?"
Just then, a low voice came from behind him:
"Behind you!"
The next instant, a vicious roundhouse kick slammed into Hyuga Niuer's waist!
He put all his strength into it!
BAM!!!
"AAAAAAAH!!!"
Niuer let out a scream as he was sent flying, like a kite with its string cut. He shot seven or eight meters forward and landed headfirst in the mud right in front of Rock Lee. His exposed limbs twitched uncontrollably!
"..."
Rock Lee's eyelids twitched several times.
"Lee, are you okay?"
Takizawa Dan stepped forward and carefully helped Lee to his feet.
"I'm fine... Just a minor injury. But, Dan... when did you get so strong!?"
Rock Lee asked in astonishment.
Takizawa Dan's series of attacks had flowed as smoothly as water. Lee knew he could never pull off anything like that!
But how had Dan managed it when he wasn't even a ninja?
Takizawa Dan smiled. Years of grueling training had already given him exceptional combat instincts. Now, with Basic Taijutsu and his explosive strength, his abilities had leaped forward!
How could a little brat like that possibly be a match for him?
"Lee, I've watched you practice Taijutsu every morning. After a while, I picked it up," Takizawa Dan said, casually making up an excuse.
Rock Lee's eyes widened. "You learned Taijutsu just by watching me train? My goodness... Takizawa Dan, how did I never realize it before? You're a super-genius!!!"
Takizawa Dan was speechless. How had he somehow become a genius? Still, to allay Lee's suspicions, he had no choice but to play along.
Just then, Hyuga Niuer struggled mightily to pull his head out of the mud!
"Takizawa Dan! You... just you wait! I'm going to get someone to deal with you!"
Terrified out of his wits, he fled!
A white fragment fell from him.
Takizawa Dan stepped forward and picked it up. A flash of white light surged into his mind!
[Congratulations, host. You have obtained an ability: Basic Gentle Fist!] [Host's current abilities: Basic Taijutsu, Basic Gentle Fist!]
"Too bad I don't have the Byakugan. Without it, I can't see my opponent's chakra network, so Gentle Fist's power is limited." Takizawa Dan shook his head to himself.
Still, compared with Rock Lee's forceful, external attacks, Gentle Fist focused more on damaging the opponent from within. Used well, it could have remarkable effects!
Rock Lee had wanted to keep training despite his injuries, but Takizawa Dan sternly stopped him.
After taking Rock Lee home to recover, Takizawa Dan headed to the Ninja Academy's training field.
Now that his constitution had improved, he could finally start training in earnest and work toward becoming a ninja!
But if he continued to have no chakra and couldn't use ninjutsu, then no matter how good his Taijutsu became, he'd be nothing more than another Might Guy. There was nothing Takizawa Dan could do about that.
With time to spare, Takizawa Dan ran through several more sets of exercises on the spot. His movements were forceful and impressive.
It was quite a while before the children from the Ninja Academy began arriving.
When they saw Takizawa Dan, the children looked at him mockingly and pointed at him.
A burly, middle-aged ninja entered the field and barked, "Takizawa Dan! Clear out of here! Stop hogging the space and getting in everyone's way!"
His name was Saito Ryuichi, a teacher at the Ninja Academy.
Takizawa Dan couldn't help sneering. The training field was enormous, and he was only using one corner. He wasn't getting in anyone's way.
Saito Ryuichi was clearly picking on him!
"Teacher Saito, I'm a member of Konoha too, and I'm working hard to become a ninja. Why shouldn't I be allowed to use the field to train?"
Takizawa Dan turned and challenged him.
"You want to become a ninja? Hahahaha! Don't make me laugh!" Saito Ryuichi doubled over, roaring with laughter. "How about this? If you can beat Niuda, I won't care how you use the field from now on!"
A tall youth stepped out from behind Saito. Clad in heavy armor, he fixed Takizawa Dan with a cold stare.
"You've got some nerve, brat! I've finally found you. I'm Niuer's big brother, Hyuga Niuda! You hurt my little brother, and today you're going to answer for it!"
Takizawa Dan had heard of Hyuga Niuda. Although he hadn't taken the Chunin Ninja Exams, his strength had already reached the level of a Chunin!
Takizawa Dan shrugged. "There's nothing to discuss. Your little brother ran his mouth too much, so I taught him a lesson for you."
"Damn you! You useless piece of trash, how dare you act so arrogant! I'll break your legs and avenge my little brother!"
Furious, Hyuga Niuda charged at Takizawa Dan in the blink of an eye and swung a punch at him!
The punch whipped up a fierce gust of wind, tearing through the air!
Takizawa Dan's expression changed. He twisted his body with all his might and barely dodged the punch.
BOOM!!!
Hyuga Niuda's fist smashed into the ground, leaving a crater half a meter deep! Countless web-like cracks spread wildly in every direction!
Saito Ryuichi stood to the side with his arms crossed, looking on as if he were enjoying a show.
Takizawa Dan jumped aside, cursing inwardly. The guy had no shame at all! He was just standing by and watching a prospective Chunin attack him with all his strength, even though Takizawa Dan wasn't a ninja!
"Ha! Hyuga Niuda, take this!"
Takizawa Dan wasn't one to sit around and take a beating. With a shout, he charged in and swept a kick toward Niuda's legs!
CLANG!!!
It felt like he'd kicked a steel pipe. A sharp pain shot through his leg from the recoil, and the attack had no effect at all!
"Haha, brat! You learned a few Taijutsu moves from that loser Rock Lee and thought you could walk all over everyone?" Hyuga Niuda mocked. "Think about why I'm wearing heavy armor today. It's to guard against your Taijutsu!"
"Did you think I was stupid? Why would I try to overpower your armor when I know I can't break through it?" At that very moment, Takizawa Dan wore a smug, triumphant smile.
While Hyuga Niuda was busy taunting him, Takizawa Dan had already pressed his palm against Niuda's chest!
A powerful sense of foreboding welled up inside Hyuga Niuda. He immediately tried to pull away!
Unfortunately, it was too late.
"Gentle Fist! Hah—!"
With a loud shout, Takizawa Dan sent all his internal force surging into Niuda's body, where it exploded!
BAM!!!
After a dull crash, Hyuga Niuda's tall, sturdy body was sent flying more than ten meters!
His feet gouged two deep furrows through the muddy ground!
"!!!"
Everyone was stunned by what they'd just seen.
Takizawa Dan, Konoha's infamous number-one failure, a boy who wasn't even a ninja, had actually repelled a prospective Chunin from the Hyuga Clan head-on!
The children present were all ashamed, regretting how they'd looked down on him earlier. If Takizawa Dan was a failure, then weren't they even worse than failures?
Hyuga Niuda opened his mouth as if to say something, but instead he spat out a large mouthful of blood and dropped to one knee.
He tried several times to stand, but failed each time. His breathing grew weaker and weaker.
"Enough. Don't get up. You've suffered serious internal injuries. If you want to stay alive, just wait here for a doctor," Takizawa Dan said, waving a hand.
Before you continue