Captain Hoshino made a gesture, and Chasing Fang immediately stepped forward. "One-on-one combat drill. Simple rules—the one who can no longer get up loses."
Neji took off his coat, revealing the black training uniform underneath. He slowly walked to the center of the training ground and assumed a standard Strong Fist opening stance. "Please guide me."
Chasing Fang was astonishingly fast. Almost the instant Neji finished speaking, he had rushed before him, striking at his throat with a hand chop. Neji sidestepped it and turned his right hand into a blade, precisely chopping toward Chasing Fang's wrist. Chasing Fang seemed to have anticipated it. He flipped his wrist and changed the move into a grab, trying to seize Neji's wrist.
"Not bad taijutsu," Captain Hoshino commented from the side.
On the training ground, the two figures crossed like phantoms. The black-haired youth's robes fluttered as the forceful wind from his Soaring Dragon Palm blasted the air into thunderous booms; the silver-haired youth's short blade carved silver arcs, each slash unleashing a piercing sonic blast.
The silver-haired youth suddenly leaped backward and formed hand seals. Seven Earth Rampart Spears shot from the ground. Yet Neji remained unhurried, making several consecutive jumps as he dodged and formed seals at the same time.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Barrage!"
Several blazing fireballs the size of human heads instantly appeared around Neji. They then spun toward the Earth Rampart Spears stabbing toward him. The moment the two ninjutsu collided, boom, boom, boom! Explosions rang out in rapid succession.
When the smoke cleared, both of them were kneeling on one knee and panting. Of course, Neji had noticed Chasing Fang's condition long ago and was merely pretending.
But he had no intention of losing. His hand reached for his ninja tool pouch, and three Ninja Talismans