Hakuda and Taijutsu

Soul Society, Seireitei, Stealth Force training grounds.

On the vast training grounds, all the Stealth Force members had formed an impenetrable circle. At its center, two people were exchanging blows.

One wore a pure white captain's haori emblazoned with a large "Two." It was Shihōin Shanqing.

His opponent was Yoruichi Shihōin, with her short purple hair, healthy wheat-colored skin, and tight-fitting Stealth Force combat uniform.

Calling it an exchange of blows seemed a little inappropriate, because from beginning to end, Shihōin Shanqing had completely suppressed Yoruichi Shihōin with just one hand.

It was not that Yoruichi Shihōin was weak. Her recently earned title of Flash God was no empty reputation. But in the end, she was still too young.

"Bang!!!"

With a side kick, Yoruichi Shihōin was sent flying. Yet she did not lose her balance, flipping through the air and sliding away.

Shadow, who had been watching the lopsided fight from the corner, shook his head. He flashed forward, caught Yoruichi Shihōin, and landed on the ground.

Shihōin Shanqing took two steps forward, his expression stern. "Your attack speed is too slow, and your strikes are too weak. What good is fast movement if you cannot hit your enemy? In a real battle, you'll be the one who dies. Yoruichi, continue!"

Yoruichi Shihōin gritted her teeth and pushed Shadow's hand away. Shadow let out an almost imperceptible sigh, then grabbed Yoruichi Shihōin just as she was about to charge forward.

"Shadow, what is it?" Yoruichi Shihōin froze.

"Hey! Lady Yoruichi, watch carefully!"

As Shadow spoke, he stomped on the ground and shot toward Shihōin Shanqing.

"Konoha Gale!"

His kick swept out, accompanied by a fierce gust of wind and a faint, deep whistle through the air, displaying the move's destructive power.

Shihōin Shanqing was startled and did not dare let his guard down. He flipped backward to evade the attack.

With a "Boom!", Shadow's kick struck a stone, instantly shattering it into fragments.

"So powerful!"

Everyone present could not help swallowing. Was that still Hakuda? That was way too exaggerated! If that hit a person... Thinking of that huge stone, they could not help feeling a lingering fear.

"Konoha Whirlwind!"

Shadow's attack did not stop. It was fierce and swift, a spinning kick moving so fast that it left only afterimages.

"Bang!"

Shihōin Shanqing's fist slammed heavily into Shadow's incoming leg. The tremendous force made him stagger back two steps, but he also retaliated with a vicious kick.

Shadow's expression remained unchanged as he threw a punch.

Crumbling Fist!!!

"Thud!"

Fist and foot collided, and a powerful force spread outward. Both men were pushed back several steps.

"Impressive Hakuda, Shadow!" Shihōin Shanqing's expression turned grave. "You didn't use these moves in our last fight. Why not?"

"Too much talk!"

Shadow's figure flickered. He did not use the Body Flicker Technique, but his speed was still astonishing.

"Konoha Great Whirlwind!"

"What?! You little brat!"

Shihōin Shanqing realized that he could not evade this attack at all and could not help cursing under his breath.

One black figure and one white figure crossed like whirlwinds. As fists and feet collided, dull impacts rang out again and again.

"Konoha Strong Whirlwind!"

"Konoha Rising Wind!"

A powerful upward kick.

"Bang!"

Shihōin Shanqing leaped away, but that was exactly what Shadow wanted. In an instant, Shadow's body flashed forward.

Leaf Shadow Dance!!!

"Not good!"

Shihōin Shanqing's pupils contracted. However, his body was already in midair, leaving him nowhere to brace himself, much less change direction.

The immense force struck Shihōin Shanqing's body like a storm.

"Bang!"

Shihōin Shanqing was kicked flying by the force. But he was still a veteran captain, and he stabilized himself instantly. Even so, he slid several meters away, panting heavily as he glared viciously at Shadow.

As for Shadow, his face was not flushed and his breathing was steady. He did not even furrow his brow under Shihōin Shanqing's stare. A faint layer of Reiatsu gathered around his right hand as he smashed it fiercely toward Shihōin Shanqing. Wherever his fist passed, the air trembled with a "Hum... hum..." sound.

"Monster Strength Fist!!!"

"Wait, Shadow!"

Shihōin Shanqing's expression immediately changed. He knew just how terrifying this move's destructive power was.

But before he could finish speaking, Shadow's fist had already come down. Shihōin Shanqing did not dare take it head-on and could only use Shunpo to retreat far away.

"Boom! Boom!"

The fist slammed violently into the ground. The air shook again as a sonic boom thundered out. A fierce blast of wind scattered in every direction, accompanied by clouds of dust.

When the dust settled, the place where Shadow stood had collapsed into a massive crater dozens of meters wide. Countless cracks spread outward in all directions.

Shihōin Shanqing's eyelid twitched. He had known this would happen.

The Punishment Force members, whose faces had been calm and expressionless before, now wore looks of shock. They knew Shadow was strong, but they had never expected a simple move to possess such power. Compared to him, they were practically playing house.

Ignoring Shihōin Shanqing's resentful expression and the stunned Punishment Force members, Shadow returned to Yoruichi Shihōin's side.

"Did Lady Yoruichi see it clearly?"

"I saw the first few moves somewhat clearly!" Yoruichi Shihōin said with some frustration. "But I couldn't make sense of the last one at all!"

"That's normal." Shadow nodded. "The earlier moves were merely ordinary taijutsu. The final Monster Strength Fist had Reiatsu added to it!"

"Reiatsu?" Yoruichi Shihōin frowned. "But even with Reiatsu added, it shouldn't have that much power. And wouldn't doing that consume a lot of Reiatsu?"

Covering one's hands and feet with Reiatsu to increase the power of Hakuda was something Soul Society had attempted before. However, it had never been used in battle, because it consumed too much Reiatsu. In battle, Reiatsu consumption represented defeat, and defeat represented death.

"Simply gathering Reiatsu around your hands and feet during battle requires you to constantly replenish it to maintain it, so of course it consumes a lot of Reiatsu," Shadow said gravely.

"The principle of the Monster Strength Fist is to gather Reiatsu in both fists, then reinforce it through a special method of circulation. Only then can it be used." Shadow looked at Yoruichi Shihōin. "And it can be completed without consuming too much Reiatsu. The most crucial point, however, is having extremely high Reiatsu control!"

"Reiatsu control!" Yoruichi Shihōin suddenly understood. "You mean precisely controlling Reiatsu?"

"That's right!" Shadow nodded. "Kido and Shunpo both require high Reiatsu control, but their requirements are still somewhat lower than those of the Monster Strength Fist. Still, Lady Yoruichi should be about ready."

"You mean I can learn it?" Yoruichi Shihōin asked.

"Yes, Lady Yoruichi." Shadow nodded.

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