Qian struck too quickly, too suddenly.
Not only had Gari failed to react, even the teammates beside him had not reacted in time, so they failed to coordinate.
With no other choice, Qian had to finish the job himself.
However, just as he had predicted, before the Sharingan advanced into the Mangekyo, even with his "Genjutsu: Sharingan" already perfected, if he cast it instantly, he still could not trap a Jonin for long.
And if that Jonin was mentally prepared and exceptionally strong, it would be even less able to hold him.
As it happened, Gari was exactly that kind of Jonin.
So, after only an instant of blankness, he broke free of the genjutsu.
By then, Qian had only just reached him and thrust the Short Sword in his hand.
At the critical moment, Gari grabbed Qian's Short Sword.
Then Qian heard a boom as a powerful surge of Chakra erupted from Gari's palm, and his Short Sword shattered into countless fragments on the spot.
Holding the bare hilt, Qian looked completely dumbfounded.
To be honest, he had never encountered anything like this before. The fight had not even properly started, and his main weapon had already been destroyed.
Seeing Qian looking as if he were questioning his entire life, Gari did not hesitate at all. He immediately hurled the Short Sword fragments in his palm, sending them flying toward Qian's face.
Then he took one step forward and arrived right in front of Qian.
After that, he clenched his left hand into a fist, Explosion Release Chakra surging out and wrapping around it, then smashed it hard toward Qian's abdomen.
If that blow landed, Qian would at least end up severely injured.
Fortunately, though Qian had been stunned for an instant because his Short Sword had been destroyed,