Um??
Shira opened the book in her hand. Inside were hand-drawn human anatomy diagrams. The lines were simple and even a little childish, but the key parts were clearly marked.
Next to it are densely packed tiny characters explaining what "meridians" and "acupoints" are, which are "vital points" and which are "pivot points," and what effects pressing different acupoints will have, such as numbness, pain relief, hemostasis, and even blocking the flow of Chakra.
Shira's gaze lingered on the words "block the flow of Chakra ".
At first, he just thought it was a bit interesting, maybe for medical or health purposes? But the description of "blocking Chakra " made a corner of his heart skip a beat, as if a grizzly rat had gently brushed its tail across the cracks of his memory, itchy, but he couldn't quite grasp what it was.
He frowned, staring at the line of text, his mind subconsciously searching for the words.
Intercepting Chakra, Taijutsu... countering techniques that require Chakra flow...
A very blurry fragment of image suddenly flashed.
"Wait..." Shira blinked, the pages in his hand seeming to become a little hot. He tried hard to grasp that vague impression, but it was like trying to catch a fish in the sand, slippery and impossible to hold.
"No, no, think again... In the original story, when I fought Rock Lee, besides Taijutsu and the Seven Heavens Breathing Method, what else did I use?"
He stood there, as if he had become a human statue, with only his eyes moving rapidly, and it seemed as if a little person was frantically rummaging through his mind.
A clash of Taijutsu, the Seven Heavens Breathing Method... and then what? Rock Lee didn't seem to open the Eight Gates Released Formation at first, so what happened next?!
What did I do? What was one of the key actions again?!
"Yes, yes, yes, acupressure! It's acupressure!!!"
A voice almost screamed in his mind, but not through his ears. Instead, it was as if a dusty drawer of memories was suddenly flung open, its contents scattering everywhere. One of the fragments, labeled "Acupoint Striking," hit him squarely on the forehead, making him see stars.
"Holy crap! The character in the original story knew pressure point techniques!!"
Shira almost jumped up on the spot, but fortunately her strong self-control prevented her from shaking her shoulders almost imperceptibly, but the shock in her heart was like a sandstorm.
"How could I forget that?! You blockhead! Think about it! Back then, it seems that it was by precisely targeting acupoints that the flow of Chakra in Li Kai's Eight Gates was temporarily blocked! Yes! That's right! It should be the principle described in this book!"
In an instant, all the vague impressions from before came together and became crystal clear. That " Shira " was not only skilled in Taijutsu, but also had high battle intelligence. She knew how to use pressure point techniques to counter Rock Lee's tactics of relying on the rampage of his internal Chakra!
This is a combat technique! It's an extension of Taijutsu! It's another form of precision strike!
He had been so focused on figuring out how to make his punches faster and heavier, how to imitate the " Morning Peacock " pose, how to practice leg techniques, and how to guide his "intention"...
They didn't even consider the possibility of "attacking the body's internal systems"!
This is like sitting by a gold mine and practicing with a shovel Tenten, but forgetting how to actually dig the gold mine!
A profound sense of absurdity intertwined with a belated excitement, causing his expression to contort for a moment. He wanted to laugh but felt foolish, ultimately transforming into a complex mix of "I'm such a genius" and "I'm such an idiot."
Taijutsu is not just about fists and legs clashing head-on! Attacks can cause more than just physical injuries!
If we could precisely strike pressure points, like the author described in the book, and do what the original "I" did, to disrupt or even block the opponent's Chakra flow, wouldn't we be able to disable their Ninjutsu at crucial moments, or interrupt forbidden techniques like the " Eight Gates Released Formation " that require a violent surge of Chakra?
It might even be surprisingly effective against secret techniques that rely on specific Chakra pathways!
This is practically a tailor-made support technique for Taijutsu ninja like him who focuses on precision, speed, and keen body awareness!
No, it's not just a support skill; it could be the game-changer!
Shira suppressed the excitement that was about to burst forth and the self-mockery of her "slow reaction time," and quickly flipped through the following content.
The book doesn't record many acupoints; they are mainly common key points located on the surface of the limbs and torso. The annotations are also relatively basic, far less sophisticated than the secret teachings of Medical Ninjutsu. But that's enough!
This gave him a direction, a theoretical basis, and a key! As for how deep the door he can open and how much he can learn, that depends on his own efforts and understanding!
"Hey boss, how much is this book?"
Shira walked to the counter with the book in her hand, her voice a beat faster than usual.
The dozing old man opened his eyes, glanced at the tattered book in his hand, then at Shira's face—though she tried to remain calm, a strange excitement lingered in the corners of her eyes and brows—and at the ninja tool pouch and Forehead Protector at her waist.
He said slowly, "Oh, this... It's quite old. I don't know which down-on-his-luck itinerant doctor left it behind. It's not worth much. If you want it, thirty taels will do."
Thirty taels was roughly the price of a decent bowl of ramen. Without hesitation, Shira paid the bill, carefully tucking the book into her bosom as if she were carrying not a tattered book, but a fragment of some peerless secret manual.
Stepping out of the bookstore, the afternoon sun was a bit too bright. But Shira's mood was completely different from when she had left.
The slight disappointment of not being able to find anyone had long been replaced by a huge sense of joy, like "after passing through many mountains and rivers, a new village appears amidst the willows and flowers," and a faint sense of shame about how stupid I had been.
It seems that in Taijutsu, I now need to not only practice my fists and feet, breathing, and willpower, and study the environment, but also delve into the invisible "circuits" and "switches" inside this flesh and blood body.
Shira is now eager to go home and study this unexpectedly acquired "treasure book" that may change his fighting style. He also wants to combine it with his understanding of the human body and begin to explore the ancient and practical fighting art of "pressure point striking".
This may not immediately form a powerful fighting force, but it is definitely one of the potential "trump cards" worth investing a lot of time to explore, which could potentially turn the tide at crucial moments.
He quickened his pace, heading towards home, his hand unconsciously pressed against his chest, where the rough texture of the old books could be felt through his clothes.
This time, he felt he was carrying not just a book, but a secret manual that could play a significant role in crucial moments in the future.