While the battle elsewhere raged, Gua was still trading Taijutsu blows with the sword-wielding Shinobi.
It was not that Gua did not want to use Ninjutsu. His repertoire was simply too limited: Fire Release: Great Fireball and the most basic Three Body Technique.
Right, there was also Impure World Reincarnation, but he had yet to master it. Even if he had, it would be useless in a fight like this.
It was practically useless.
So,
that left Gua with the only thing he excelled at: Taijutsu.
The sword-wielding man facing him knew Ninjutsu,
but...
he had no intention of using it. He wanted to overpower Gua in Taijutsu.
From their very first clash, the sword-wielding Root operative had realized how terrifying Gua's strength was.
Even a lightweight weapon like a Kunai striking his blade delivered an incredibly frightening force. That first blow had nearly knocked his longsword out of his hand during a momentary lapse.
For someone who had risen to Special Jōnin through swordsmanship, it was nothing short of humiliation.
He could not stomach it.
He had to reclaim his pride through Taijutsu!
How could I possibly lose to some little brat?!
The Root operative's thoughts twisted with rage, and his blade grew ever fiercer. Every slash carried the resolve to kill.
His orders were to capture the boy, after all. Beating him half to death first would still count.
However,
Gua easily evaded every slash, then exploited each opening to deliver thrusts as precise as a scalpel.
Several times, the Kunai skimmed past his throat.
Just a little farther, and he would have died on the spot.
When the Kunai's edge swept past his face yet again, he swiftly retreated, putting distance between himself and Gua.
They stared at each other from several meters apart.
The paired tomoe