Red Smoke Escape Combined with Assassination Techniques

"This was an assassination technique I learned about during my time in the ANBU."

Gale's voice was low, and a trace of reminiscence flashed through his eyes.

"It is called the 'Breathless Blade,' an advanced assassination technique that combines chakra control, sensory training, and mental cultivation."

Su Bai held his breath and listened, his eyes filled with intense interest.

Gale continued, "The strength of this assassination technique lies in its ability to let the user completely conceal their presence, even fooling sensory-type ninja. In absolute silence, the user can precisely sense the target's every move and deliver a fatal strike at the most opportune moment."

"Then why are so few people willing to learn such a powerful skill?"

Su Bai asked in confusion.

Gale gave a bitter smile. "Because its difficulty and risks are both extremely high. First, the training process is incredibly painful. You need to remain in darkness and silence for long periods, and sensory deprivation can lead to mental collapse. Finally, even if you master it successfully, using it places an enormous burden on both the body and mind."

"How difficult is it?"

Su Bai pressed.

Gale pondered for a moment. "As far as I know, fewer than five people have successfully mastered this technique in the past ten years. Some trained for years without even getting started, and ultimately had no choice but to give up."

Hearing this, Su Bai's gaze became even more resolute. "I want to learn it. No matter how difficult it is, I am willing to try."

Gale carefully studied his nephew. Seeing the determination in his eyes, he finally nodded.

"Fine. Since you have that resolve, I'll teach you. But remember, this process will be grueling. You must prepare yourself mentally."

Su Bai nodded solemnly. "I understand. Please guide me, Uncle."

Gale took a deep breath. "Then let's begin today."

And so, over the following days, Gale began personally guiding Su Bai through this special training.

The first step of the training was to blindfold him and set up all kinds of obstacles in the courtyard.

Su Bai had to rely solely on his hearing and sense of touch to perceive his surroundings and avoid the obstacles while completely unable to see.

At first, Su Bai was constantly tripping or running into things, but he never complained. Every time he fell, he immediately got back up and continued training.

As time passed, the training gradually intensified.

With Su Bai blindfolded, Gale would throw corks at him and require him to catch or dodge them accurately.

Gradually, the corks were replaced with blunted kunai, and their speed grew faster and faster.

Through days and nights of training, Su Bai's other senses and reaction speed improved significantly.

He began to accurately determine an object's position and trajectory solely from the flow of air and the faintest sounds.

Su Bai's rate of progress far surpassed that of ordinary people, leaving Gale both astonished and proud.

Next came the second step—the true content of the training.

First Trial: Cliff Face

Su Bai stood at the edge of a bottomless cliff as the biting mountain wind howled past, as though it would blow him into the abyss.

The rocks beneath his feet were loose and could collapse at any moment.

"I'm giving you twelve hours," Gale said in an icy voice. "Stand here without moving. Become one with heaven and earth. Forget yourself. The slightest lapse in concentration, and you will be smashed to pieces."

Su Bai took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

In an instant, a dizzying sensation swept over him, and his body began to sway uncontrollably.

"Steady yourself!"

Gale shouted sharply.

Su Bai clenched his teeth and forced himself to calm down.

Time passed second by second. The sun rose higher and higher, then slowly sank westward.

Scorching heat, hunger, thirst, and fatigue came one after another. Every second was an ultimate test of his will.

At last, twelve hours passed.

Su Bai opened his eyes, his entire body drenched in cold sweat.

He looked at Gale, who gave an almost imperceptible nod.

Second Trial: Poison Labyrinth

Within the dim cavern, strange purple poisonous mist churned without end.

A single breath of it was enough to make someone wish they were dead.

"Blindfold yourself." Gale tossed Su Bai a strip of black cloth. "Use your senses to find a way out. Remember, the poison gas here changes in concentration and direction over time."

Su Bai took a deep breath, covered his eyes, and cautiously took his first step.

In an instant, pungent poison gas rushed at him, and his throat felt as though it were on fire.

He endured the agonizing pain and did his utmost to sense the changes in the airflow around him.

The poison gas was thicker on the left... On the right, there seemed to be a trace of fresh air... Su Bai struggled through the poisonous mist, every step potentially fatal.

Suddenly, a violent coughing fit sounded behind him.

It was Gale! He had followed him inside and was now being eroded by the poison gas.

Su Bai's heart jolted, but he immediately realized that this was part of the test.

He forced himself to remain calm and continued focusing on finding the exit.

After a long trek, Su Bai finally touched the rock wall at the cave entrance.

He removed his blindfold and gasped for air.

When he looked back, Gale was standing at the entrance, watching him expressionlessly.

"You passed," Gale said flatly. "But if this had been a real situation, you would have died more than a dozen times already."

Su Bai nodded silently. He knew he still had a long way to go.

Third Trial: Thousand-Blade Forest

Su Bai stood before a strange forest. Above his head, countless silver needles hung densely upside down, each as sharp as a blade and gleaming with cold light in the faint illumination.

"Cross this Forest of Death." Gale's voice came from afar.

"Use your skin to feel the killing intent of every needle. Remember, touch even one of them, and you fail."

Su Bai took a deep breath and slowly took his first step.

In an instant, he felt a faint current of air above his head—it was the nearest silver needle lightly brushing past his hair.

He held his breath and leaned back slightly, barely avoiding the fatal strike.

Sweat slid down his cheeks, but he did not dare lift a hand to wipe it away, afraid of touching the silver needles around him.

As he went deeper, the density of the needles increased.

Su Bai had no choice but to twist his body into all kinds of unimaginable positions just to barely make it through.

His clothes had already been sliced with countless tiny cuts, and his skin was covered in faint scratches, but he gritted his teeth and continued forward.

Suddenly, a light breeze passed through, and all the silver needles began to sway slightly.

Su Bai froze in place at once, not even daring to breathe.

He could feel countless sharp points aimed at every part of his body. One misstep, and he would be cut into a thousand pieces.

At that critical moment, Su Bai closed his eyes and completely emptied his mind.

It was as though he could sense the position and movement of every silver needle.

Just as the rain of needles was about to fall, his body flowed like water, passing through the deadly zone in an unbelievable posture.

When he opened his eyes, he found that he was already standing at the other end of the forest.

Looking back, the densely packed silver needles glimmered with chilling light beneath the sun, like a silver sea of death.

At some point, Gale had appeared beside him. A trace of surprise flashed through his eyes. "Not bad. Both your body control and sensory abilities have improved significantly. But..."

With a light sweep of his hand, Su Bai's clothes instantly shredded into strips, revealing the tiny wounds scattered across his body.

"If this were real combat, those tiny wounds might have been inflicted by poisoned concealed weapons. Remember, in a ninja's world, a small mistake can lead to fatal consequences."

Su Bai nodded silently and engraved the lesson deep in his heart.

Time passed quickly.

In the blink of an eye, a month was nearly over.

At the very end.

Gale decided to conduct a real combat test.

He required Su Bai to fight him while blindfolded.

Gale decided to go all out.

This was an enormous challenge for Su Bai.

However, to Gale's surprise, Su Bai was not only able to accurately predict his attacks, but also skillfully counterattack.

Su Bai's performance had far exceeded Gale's expectations.

"Your progress is truly astonishing," Gale praised sincerely. "I believe that after this tempering, you will definitely shine in the upcoming Palace Exam."

Su Bai removed his blindfold, a rare smile appearing on his face. "Thank you for your guidance, Uncle. I won't let you down."

Seeing the confidence in his nephew's eyes, Gale's heart filled with anticipation.

Assassination techniques combined with Red Smoke Escape made for an excellent combination.

Zabuza had already demonstrated it for Su Bai.

If he had not been unlucky enough to encounter Kakashi, who had ninja hounds, he would not have lost.

But Su Bai's Red Smoke Escape was different from Zabuza's Hidden Mist Technique.

The red smoke produced by Red Smoke Escape was not poisonous, but it had an intensely pungent smell.

Even Kakashi's ninja hounds would be unable to find him within Red Smoke Escape.

Su Bai thought of his opponent in the Palace Exam, Hyuga Neji.

Anticipation rose in his heart.

"I really want to know what this master of ocular techniques will do when facing Red Smoke Escape combined with assassination techniques."