Ling Yue vs. Sasuke

Ling Yue panted, wiping the sweat from her forehead. Sasuke's sudden appearance caught her a little off guard. "Huh? I'm doing okay. Kakashi-sensei has been training me pretty hard."

She had no intention of explaining her breakthrough in [Paper Arts] in detail, so she brushed it off casually.

Sasuke did not press the matter. He merely walked to the edge of the field, picked up a practice kunai, and weighed it in his hand, his gaze still fixed on Ling Yue. "That footwork of yours, and those evasive techniques, are well suited for close combat."

Ling Yue looked at him blankly. "So?"

"So," Sasuke said, turning to face her. His eyes sharpened with a hint of challenge. "Fight me."

"Huh?" Ling Yue froze. "Now? Here?"

"Right here." Sasuke assumed the opening stance of Uchiha Style Taijutsu. "Only taijutsu and basic ninja tools. No Sharingan, and none of your Lightning Release."

He paused, then added, "I want to test how practical Chidori's preparatory movements are at close range."

Ling Yue understood. He was using her as a free sparring partner.

Still... she glanced at Sasuke's serious expression, and her own fighting spirit began to stir.

Sparring in taijutsu and evasion with an Uchiha genius? Perfect for testing the results of mastering [Paper Arts]!

"Sure." Ling Yue grew interested as well and took her stance. "But don't blame me if I hit too hard."

"Hmph. If you can manage it, go ahead and try." Sasuke snorted. The next second, his figure vanished!

So fast! He was much faster than he had been in the Forest of Death!

Ling Yue's [Paper Arts] activated instinctively, and her body drifted lightly like a sheet of paper caught in the wind!

Sasuke's kunai sliced past the hem of her clothes!

When his strike missed, Sasuke did not pause. His attacks surged forward like a raging storm!

Fists, kicks, elbows, knees, kunai... Uchiha-style taijutsu was elegant yet fierce. Combined with his incredible speed, it carried immense pressure!

Ling Yue pushed [Paper Arts] to its limit. Her entire body seemed weightless as she weaved and swayed through Sasuke's dense barrage, always avoiding his attacks by a hair's breadth. Occasionally, she deflected with clever force or borrowed his momentum against him, appearing completely at ease.

Her evasions no longer relied solely on sensing the airflow. They now carried a sense of prediction, as though she could detect Sasuke's intentions and points of exertion a fraction of a second in advance!

This was the improvement brought by mastering [Paper Arts]! It was not merely reaction—it was reading ahead!

The longer Sasuke fought, the more alarmed he became. His attacks were already fast and tricky, yet his opponent was like a slippery loach he could not touch at all!

Moreover, her evasive style carried a strange rhythm that left him with the stifling feeling of being unable to put his strength to use.

He even began instinctively using the Sharingan to predict Ling Yue's evasion path, but when he remembered their agreement, he forcibly held himself back.

"What's wrong? Is that all you've got?" Ling Yue even had time to tease him. Her [Flash Step] shifted slightly beneath her feet, easily avoiding a sweeping kick as she slashed a hand toward Sasuke's wrist.

Sasuke's face darkened, and his assault became even fiercer. Chakra faintly flowed into his limbs, increasing his speed and strength once more!

The two raced across the training ground, their figures crossing and clashing as the ringing of metal and the thuds of fists and kicks came one after another.

Though neither used lethal ninjutsu, the battle was no less dangerous.

Naruto and Sakura rushed over upon hearing the commotion. When they saw the two fighting in the middle of the field, both were stunned.

"Whoa! Sasuke and Yue are fighting?" Naruto said excitedly.

"They're... so amazing..." Sakura murmured in shock. She could not see either of their movements clearly at all.

At some point, Kakashi had also leaned against a distant tree. As he watched the battle, a trace of surprise flashed through his lone eye.

Sasuke's improvement was within his expectations, but Ling Yue's strange and highly efficient evasive footwork seemed to have improved considerably again. Just how much was this girl still hiding?

In the field, Sasuke had failed to gain the upper hand for so long that the pride in his heart was thoroughly provoked.

Spotting an opportunity, he deliberately exposed an opening, leaving his chest completely unguarded!

Ling Yue took the bait, as expected, and jabbed a finger toward his chest!

Just as her fingertip was about to strike, a triumphant smile curled at Sasuke's lips. His body twisted, and his kunai stabbed backward at Ling Yue's ribs from an extremely tricky angle! This was a killing move from Uchiha Style Taijutsu!

He was about to succeed!

Yet Ling Yue seemed to have anticipated it all along! That finger aimed at his chest had been a feint!

The predictive ability granted by mastering [Paper Arts] had allowed her to notice that subtle trap!

Her body instantly rolled in the direction of the incoming kunai. Not only did she evade the fatal strike, she closed in on Sasuke instead, driving her elbow viciously toward his jaw!

Sasuke's expression changed drastically. He had never expected her to see through it and react like this!

In his haste, he could only throw his head back and retreat!

Her elbow still grazed his chin, leaving it burning with pain!

The two crossed past each other and separated, coming to a stop as they both breathed lightly.

Sasuke touched his aching chin and looked at Ling Yue with a complicated expression. There was shock, unwillingness, and a trace of admiration that was difficult to detect.

He had to admit that in pure taijutsu and evasion, he truly could not gain any advantage over her. He had even nearly suffered a loss.

Ling Yue also breathed a sigh of relief. That exchange had been truly dangerous—mastering [Paper Arts] was incredibly useful!

"Whoa! It's a draw?" Naruto cried out.

"So... so amazing..." Sakura muttered.

Kakashi walked over and clapped his hands. "A good match. Sasuke, your Chidori opening movements still do not change quickly enough at close range. They are easy to see through. Yue, your evasions are excellent, but you lack effective counterattacks. Against an opponent who truly overwhelms you in speed and strength, you'll be at a severe disadvantage."

Both of them nodded thoughtfully.

"All right, take a break and continue with your own training." After saying that, Kakashi wandered off again.

Sasuke glanced at Ling Yue without saying anything, then turned and walked to the side. He began considering Kakashi's words and repeatedly practiced variations of Chidori's opening movements.

Ling Yue also moved aside, feeling delighted.

Not only had she verified the power of mastering [Paper Arts], she had also gotten Kakashi's guidance for free.

She recalled that [Designated Skill Enhancement Opportunity].

Which one should she enhance?

[Flash Step]? It would improve speed and explosive power, allowing her to evade and close in more effectively alongside [Paper Arts].

[Thunder Breathing]? It would enhance chakra activity and explosive power, improving her combat ability across the board.

[Basic Taijutsu]? It would make up for her offensive shortcomings. Kakashi had just pointed out that very issue.

After thinking it over again and again, she decided on [Basic Taijutsu].

[Paper Arts] focused on evasion, [Flash Step] on movement, and [Thunder Breathing] on enhancement. She truly lacked effective offensive methods.

[Basic Taijutsu Enhancement] would perfectly fill that gap, and it could also combine with the explosive power of [Thunder Breathing]!

"System, use the Designated Skill Enhancement Opportunity to enhance [Basic Taijutsu]!"

[Designated Skill Enhancement in progress... [Basic Taijutsu] has been enhanced into [Lightning Flash Body Technique] (Beginner).]

[Lightning Flash Body Technique (Beginner): A close-combat taijutsu that combines the explosive traits of [Thunder Breathing] with the force-generation techniques of [Flash Step]. Greatly enhances attack speed, explosive power, and physical strength. Attacks carry a slight lightning paralysis effect.]

A completely new set of more violent and refined taijutsu knowledge and force-generation techniques flooded Ling Yue's mind!

How to instantly channel Lightning-nature chakra into her limbs for explosive strikes, how to incorporate the instant force-generation techniques of [Flash Step] into her fists and kicks...

She felt as though every limb and bone in her body had been tempered, filled with a sense of power!

What a huge gain! This enhancement was practically tailor-made for me!

She could not wait to test its effects.

Ling Yue glanced at Sasuke, who was still training hard nearby, and the corner of her lips rose.

"Hey, Sasuke." Sasuke stopped moving and looked at her. "We didn't decide a winner just now." Ling Yue rolled her wrist, her joints cracking softly as faint arcs of electricity flickered over them. "Want another round? This time... we can get a little more serious."

Sasuke looked at the fighting spirit in her eyes and the faintly dangerous aura around her. One brow lifted, and his Sharingan unconsciously opened slightly.

"Just what I wanted."