Uchiha Wind's eyes widened. He stared blankly and muttered, "H-how did he do that? He doesn't look like he can fight at all. How could he react so fast?"
Kawaki Aoba ignored their shock. His gaze remained on the stunned Sunagakure leader as he said calmly, "I told you. Your technique leaves too many openings.
"When you swing with all your strength, you shift all your weight forward. Your footing is exposed, and your left ribs are wide open. Once someone spots that weakness, countering you is easy."
"Nonsense!"
The Sunagakure leader flushed with anger, unable to accept that a kid had seen through his technique so easily. He turned his wrist and swept his long blade toward Kawaki Aoba's waist, yellow sand swirling around it. The strike came from a vicious angle. "Let's see how long you can keep talking!"
Kawaki Aoba stepped lightly and slid half an inch backward. With that tiny movement, he evaded the sweeping blade. His eyes flicked over his opponent as he continued his calm assessment. "Your sweeping strike spreads its force too thin, and you recover too slowly. Once someone gets close, you have no chance to swing again."
As the words left his mouth, Kawaki Aoba moved in, closing the distance and slipping into the dead zone of the leader's attack.
"Coming in close? You're asking to die!"
A savage gleam flashed in the Sunagakure leader's eyes. Close combat was his specialty. He abandoned the broad swings of his long blade and drove his left fist, heavy with Chakra, toward Kawaki Aoba's chest.
Kawaki Aoba turned his body and tilted his head, easily avoiding the punch. At the same time, his right hand shot up. His finger moved too fast to follow and tapped its target.
Thud! His fingertip struck an acupuncture