Chakra Abundance Means Firepower Coverage

On the field, Hatake Sakumo and Chishima Chiba stood facing each other.

Chishima Chiba sized up Hatake Sakumo from head to toe, while Sakumo did the same to Chiba.

Looking at the White Fang strapped to Sakumo's back, with only its hilt exposed, Chiba lowered his gaze to his own empty hands and immediately felt uneasy.

But he could not lose in terms of presence.

Likewise, Hatake Sakumo stared intently at Chishima Chiba's hands. Having watched his earlier match, he knew Chiba had some skill in Sealing Jutsu, so he remained fully alert.

"Form the Confrontation Seal!"

Takezawa Masahiro shouted, then stepped back, leaving the field entirely to the two of them.

"Hatake Sakumo, please instruct me."

"Chishima Chiba, please instruct me."

The instant they completed the Confrontation Seal, both moved at once. One retreated sharply, while the other gave chase.

Naturally, Chishima Chiba was the one retreating. Close combat was currently his weakness. Only by widening the distance from Hatake Sakumo could he better make use of his advantages.

However, Chishima Chiba's retreating posture was somewhat awkward. He had both hands behind his back, making him look slightly ridiculous.

Hatake Sakumo was naturally puzzled, but he did not pay it much mind. He knew his own strengths better than anyone: close-quarters fighting, entangling his opponent, and stealthy assassination. As long as he could get close to Chishima Chiba, no matter what tricks Chiba used, Sakumo could defeat him.

"This is the advantage possessed by ninjas like Sakumo, those who specialize in a single field."

Senju Tobirama offered his assessment. "In terms of attack speed alone, very few ninjas of the same level can surpass him."

"I can see that." Kagami Uchiha chimed in this time. "Speed is Sakumo's key to victory. Once Chiba gets dragged into Sakumo's fighting rhythm, defeat is inevitable."

Sarutobi Hiruzen spoke up then. "What I do not understand is why Chiba is retreating with his hands behind his back. If he were not doing that, he could stall for a little longer. But now... Sakumo will catch him in the next second."

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, Hatake Sakumo had already caught up with Chishima Chiba. The White Fang in his hand, only slightly longer than a dagger, slashed fiercely toward Chiba's chest.

In truth, the most effective target would have been the neck, but Hatake Sakumo still held back.

Chishima Chiba felt no reaction to that. They were in the middle of a fight; whatever else there was to say could wait until it was over.

"Water Release: Severing Wave!"

Chishima Chiba shouted, and not only Hatake Sakumo, who was in the middle of attacking, but even Senju Tobirama and the others in the stands stared at one another in shock.

They had seen clearly that Chishima Chiba's Hand Seals were plainly for the Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique. They had nothing whatsoever to do with Senju Tobirama's signature Water Release: Severing Wave.

After exchanging glances, several of them twitched at the corners of their mouths. Their assessment of Chishima Chiba... had become rather strange.

But Hatake Sakumo, who could not see Chishima Chiba's Hand Seals, did not know that. When he saw Chiba purse his lips and aim at him, panic rose in his heart.

Hatake Sakumo had naturally heard of the famed Water Release: Severing Wave. Though he wondered how Chishima Chiba could use a Ninjutsu of that level, he had no choice but to guard against it!

With a twist of his wrist, the White Fang he had thrust out was abruptly withdrawn. As he shifted from offense to defense, Hatake Sakumo sharply sidestepped.

The next second, a string of small fireballs shot from Chishima Chiba's mouth before Hatake Sakumo's astonished eyes, sealing off every path he could take to continue advancing.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Chishima Chiba retreated again, opening up a considerably safe distance from Hatake Sakumo.

"Chiba has quite a few ideas..." Sarutobi Hiruzen's mouth twitched. "He is just... well... a little too slippery."

"Do not hold it in. Say what you want to say." Kagami Uchiha blinked, amusement barely contained in his eyes.

"Deceitful moves can only be used once. Petty cleverness cannot win a real battle." Senju Tobirama gave an expressionless assessment, but the gleam deep in his eyes gave him away.

That kid Chishima Chiba suited his tastes!

Back when he had grievously wounded Uchiha Izuna with a single slash and ultimately killed him...

As long as a little trick could kill an enemy, word of it would never spread. Used on someone else, it could work again, and it would be absolutely unstoppable!

Severing those thoughts, Senju Tobirama refocused on the battle between the two.

"Chishima Chiba! You... shameless bastard!"

Hatake Sakumo was generally even-tempered toward ninjas from the same village, but Chishima Chiba's actions had broken through his composure, and he could not help cursing out loud.

There were simply too many people present, so he did not dare use profanity...

Chishima Chiba ignored him. As he retreated to a safe distance, he pulled out a smoke bomb and slammed it hard at his feet.

Pfft.

The smoke bomb burst open, concealing Chishima Chiba's movements and making it impossible to see what he was doing inside the smoke.

"Chiba has one trick after another..." Sarutobi Hiruzen gave a bitter smile. "When I was his age, I did not have nearly so many thoughts."

Kagami Uchiha had already activated his Sharingan. There was something strange in his eyes, along with a trace of dullness. "Teacher, how many Chakra natures does Chiba possess?"

"Four." Senju Tobirama concealed two of them and did not reveal everything.

"Tch, only one short of possessing all five natures. What terrifying talent..." Kagami Uchiha clicked his tongue. "But even so, mastering so many C-rank Ninjutsu across four natures at once is too excessive. And Chiba's Chakra..."

"It is... mm... more than ten times Sakumo's."

"That much more?" Even Shimura Danzō could not remain calm. He hurriedly asked Kagami Uchiha, "Did you see what Chishima Chiba is doing in the smoke?"

"I saw it." Kagami Uchiha gave a bitter smile. "Chiba is preparing... Here it comes!"

Before Kagami Uchiha could finish, he suddenly shouted and pointed toward the smoke, drawing Shimura Danzō's and everyone else's attention in that direction.

Earth Release: Underground Projection Fish!

Under the cover of the smoke, Chishima Chiba created four Shadow Clones. Using Earth Release: Underground Projection Fish, the clones burrowed underground and swam through the earth like divers, reaching three positions around Hatake Sakumo. Together with Chishima Chiba's original body, they surrounded Sakumo.

When the agreed moment arrived, the four Shadow Clones burst from underground. Together with Chishima Chiba's original body, they unleashed four different C-rank Ninjutsu of four different natures at Hatake Sakumo from four directions.

Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!

Earth Release: Earth Spikes!

Lightning Release: Ground Flash!

Water Release: Waterfall Basin Technique!

For a moment, Hatake Sakumo was dumbfounded...

Four C-rank Ninjutsu of different natures?

Was this not too outrageous? Was Chakra free?

Although four Ninjutsu of different natures gathered together would have their power reduced due to their conflicting natures, the problem was...

Hatake Sakumo would not even last until the four Ninjutsu converged. Even if he did, he would already have lost.

The only thing he could do now was break out before the Ninjutsu arrived, or leap into the air to evade them.

But Hatake Sakumo immediately rejected the first response, because Earth Release: Earth Spikes, Water Release: Waterfall Basin Technique, and Lightning Release: Ground Flash all covered a wide area.

The only remaining technique, Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique, was a narrow, linear attack. But Chishima Chiba had prepared for that long ago, deliberately placing an extra Shadow Clone in that direction to use Earth Release: Earth Spikes and fill the gap.

He clearly could have used Earth Release: Earth Spikes from all four directions...

You are truly something else!

Hatake Sakumo had a headache. Abandoning the first and second options, he chose the third.

He could use Ninjutsu too!

But if he used Ninjutsu to meet it head-on, he would consume at least a third of his Chakra reserves, greatly reducing his chances of victory.

Lightning Release: Hatake Sword Style: Lightning Fang Flash!

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