Another bout with Uchiha Yungang

Speechless, Qingyun slapped Tsunade's soft hand away and glared at her, then walked over to Iruka Umino and reached for a number token.

He grabbed one at random and opened his hand to look. He was even more speechless. Number one.

Qingyun looked helpless. Was his luck really that bad?

There were three of them, and only number three was a bye. He had failed to draw it even with a one-in-three chance.

Once Qingyun had finished drawing, Uchiha Yungang and Minato Namikaze each took a token. In the end, Minato was the one who advanced straight to the next round again.

Resigned, Qingyun stepped onto the platform and exchanged the Opposition Seal with Uchiha Yungang. Then he took his stance and gestured for Yungang to attack.

A flicker of fear crossed Uchiha Yungang's eyes as he looked at Qingyun. Then something occurred to him, and his confidence returned. He reached into his ninja tool pouch, grabbed several kunai, and hurled them at Qingyun.

Seeing Uchiha Yungang throw kunai from a distance, Qingyun remained perfectly calm. He took some kunai from his own pouch and casually tossed them out.

The kunai clashed in midair. Though Qingyun's throws had seemed casual, his kunai collided with one another and ended up precisely in the paths of Uchiha Yungang's attacks.

Everyone was stunned. Qingyun had always kept a low profile, yet today he had suddenly displayed strength far beyond theirs.

While they were still marveling at Qingyun's strength, Uchiha Yungang began forming hand seals. Taking advantage of Qingyun blocking his kunai, he actually started the seals for a C-rank ninjutsu—the Great Fireball Technique.

Seeing Uchiha Yungang form hand seals, Qingyun was about to rush forward and stop him. Then he remembered something and slowly halted his advance. Internal force gathered in his hands, and a Tai Chi Yin-Yang Diagram gradually appeared.

Qingyun wanted to test whether Tai Chi Fist could reflect Ninjutsu.

He had always assumed Tai Chi Fist could only turn an opponent's strength against them, using their physical force to strike back. But today, it had actually reflected the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist. What about Ninjutsu?

Unless he cleared this up, Qingyun would not have an accurate grasp of his own strength, which would affect his performance in the future.

Uchiha Yungang was only a beginner at ninjutsu, after all. If Qingyun had not wanted to test his technique, he would have had hundreds of ways to interrupt him.

It took Uchiha Yungang nearly a minute to complete the dozen or so hand seals for the Great Fireball Technique.

Uchiha Yungang shouted, "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

He spat a basketball-sized fireball toward Qingyun.

The fireball hurtled toward Qingyun.

Just as Qingyun was losing patience, Uchiha Yungang finally finished his preparations. Seeing the fireball shoot toward him, Qingyun gathered a large amount of internal force and formed a Tai Chi Yin-Yang Diagram.

As the fireball drew closer, a sense of danger rose in Qingyun's heart. He frowned. His instincts told him he would be injured if he took this fireball head-on.

After a moment's thought, Qingyun decided not to risk it. He dispersed the Internal Force in his hands and darted aside.

Sizzle!

Although Qingyun dodged the fireball, it still grazed him.

Looking at his scorched arm, Qingyun showed no expression. He extended a hand toward Uchiha Yungang and said, "Can you use that Great Fireball Technique again? Give me another one."

As he spoke, Qingyun began forming another Tai Chi Yin-Yang Diagram.

Realizing Qingyun was using him to test a technique, Uchiha Yungang flew into a rage. He gathered chakra again and began forming hand seals.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Uchiha Yungang launched another fireball.

Qingyun watched closely as the fireball approached. This time, he gritted his teeth and decided to take it head-on. This was only a spar, and Tsunade was right there. His life was not in danger.

If he did not find out how well Tai Chi Fist resisted Ninjutsu, wouldn't he be at a serious disadvantage when he faced an enemy later?

As the fireball drew closer, cold sweat appeared on Qingyun's forehead. He increased his output of Internal Force, making the Tai Chi Yin-Yang Diagram ever more solid.

Sizzle!

Once the fireball touched the Tai Chi Yin-Yang Diagram, it kept burning through Qingyun's Internal Force. Wisps of white smoke rose where the two met.

Soon, the smell of scorched skin drifted across the arena. Tsunade was just about to rush into the white haze to rescue Qingyun when he stumbled out of the smoke, looking bedraggled. This time, he gave Uchiha Yungang no chance and charged straight at him.

The kunai he had already readied shot toward Uchiha Yungang at tremendous speed.

Taking advantage of Uchiha Yungang's stunned daze, Qingyun grabbed a shuriken and followed close behind the kunai.

Whoosh!

Uchiha Yungang was still overwhelmed by the sight of Qingyun taking a ninjutsu head-on. He did not react at all, and the kunai struck him directly.

Fortunately, none of the kunai had sharpened edges. Otherwise, Uchiha Yungang would have been severely injured, if not killed.

But even blunt kunai hurt when they hit. The sharp pain snapped Uchiha Yungang out of his daze, but it was already too late. Qingyun had followed the kunai right up to him. Standing behind Uchiha Yungang, he held a shuriken against his neck.

"You lost."

Qingyun spoke calmly, then made the Reconciliation Seal toward Uchiha Yungang.

"Brat, do you have a death wish? Taking Ninjutsu head-on can kill you, even if it's only C-rank! Do you understand?"

Tsunade glared at Qingyun as she spoke, fuming.

Looking bewildered, Qingyun said, "I just wanted to know whether this taijutsu of mine could work against Ninjutsu. This is only a spar, so my life isn't in danger. Besides, when you treated Hyuga Jun earlier, big sister, your hands glowed green. That must have been the Mystical Palm Technique!"

"And since Teacher Iruka called you Lady Tsunade earlier, I know you're Konoha's greatest medical Ninja. You wouldn't just stand by and let something happen to me."

"In that case, why shouldn't I take this chance to find out this taijutsu's strengths and weaknesses?

"Getting hurt now is better than not understanding my own strength and losing my life when I face an enemy later!"

"You little brat. So young, and already full of excuses. What an annoying kid."

Tsunade knew Qingyun was right. With so many people present, and with her there as a medical Ninja, he had room to make mistakes. So she merely glared at him before asking, "Do you want me to heal you?"

Qingyun shook his head. "If I were on a battlefield with more than one enemy, would I still have a chance to receive treatment? Minato, come up!"

Minato Namikaze looked worriedly at Qingyun's blackened left arm, which was still oozing traces of blood. "Big brother, are you really okay like this?"

"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. Come on!"

Qingyun assumed the opening stance of Tai Chi Fist and crooked a finger at Minato Namikaze, beckoning him to attack.

Seeing this, Minato Namikaze could only suppress his worries and tentatively throw a few kunai.

Qingyun frowned and shouted, "Minato, are you looking down on me? Show me your full strength!"

The feeling of being watched had never faded. With Tsunade's sudden appearance as well, Qingyun knew that old man Sarutobi was not the only one watching this time. Jiraiya had to be among them too.

This was a tremendous opportunity for Minato Namikaze. He had been unable to learn Basic Swordsmanship, and Qingyun did not know whether he would be able to learn things like lightness skills later either.

If he could not, Minato Namikaze would most likely still have to follow the path of Ninjutsu. Qingyun did not want his presence to cause a Butterfly Effect that cost Minato his greatest opportunity.

After all, without Jiraiya, obtaining Flying Thunder God would be difficult. Given Qingyun's status, the Ninjutsu in the Scroll of Seals was beyond his reach no matter what.

Unless he waited until he was strong enough to steal it outright or seize it by force. But then Minato Namikaze would certainly refuse to learn it, leaving them at an impasse.

That was why Qingyun was reprimanding Minato Namikaze so harshly now.