Baki's fist grazed Kawaki Aoba's shoulder and slammed into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust. Watching Kawaki Aoba dodge in such a bedraggled state, he curled his lips into a mocking smile. "What? Is that all Konoha's brat can do—run? I thought you had some real skill, but you're nothing more than a worthless coward who knows how to flee."
Kawaki Aoba steadied himself and wiped the dust from the corner of his mouth. His gaze remained resolute, while his tone carried a trace of calmness. "Senior Baki, the meaning of battle isn't to show off one's ferocity. It's to protect what one wants to protect. I won't lose my composure just because of your taunts."
"Protect what you want to protect?"
As if he had heard the funniest joke in the world, Baki burst into laughter, his voice brimming with disdain. "With your meager strength? You can't even protect yourself, yet you talk about protecting anything else? Konoha's ninja truly are all nothing but big talkers."
"Whether I'm all talk or not, you'll find out once you try, Senior."
Kawaki Aoba took a deep breath and rapidly formed hand seals once more, a faint Chakra glow appearing at his fingertips. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" A massive fireball burst from Kawaki Aoba's mouth and hurtled toward Baki with scorching heat.
Baki's eyes narrowed slightly, but he showed no sign of panic. He spoke coolly, "You dare use Fire Release in front of me with flames this weak? Sand Release: Sand Wall!"
The moment he finished speaking, the sand beneath Baki's feet surged upward, forming a thick sand wall before him.
The fireball crashed into the sand wall with a sizzling hiss, sending thick smoke billowing into the air. The wall blackened somewhat from the heat, yet it