Chapter 90. Sparring

Chapter 90 - 90. SparringThe reason Hanekawa suggested a sparring match for the next day wasn't just to avoid taking advantage of Might Guy; it was also to train together. After a sufficient rest, Might Duy began teaching taijutsu techniques. Hanekawa openly observed and picked up the moves, and Duy didn't mind. After all, both Might Duy and Might Guy had such open-hearted personalities. In the original story, even Kakashi Hatake, who had a good relationship with Guy, managed to learn the Eight Gates technique—although his body could only handle opening the first gate. This time, Duy was teaching the Leaf Strong Whirlwind, one of the moves from the Leaf Whirlwind series. Hanekawa had some experience in taijutsu, but it was limited to brute strength techniques. The Leaf Strong Whirlwind was a perfect way to make up for his shortcomings. "Simply put, the Leaf Strong Whirlwind is a reverse roundhouse kick," Duy explained as he stood before Guy and Hanekawa. "Let me demonstrate." Taking a deep breath, Duy turned his upper body to the right, pushed off with his right foot, swung his right leg backward in a kick, and then landed gracefully. "Now, you two give it a try," he said, looking at both students. "Alright." Hanekawa glanced at Might Guy, who was also looking at him. Stepping forward, he mimicked Duy's movements: turning, pushing off, spinning, and kicking. "Hanekawa, as expected of the academy's top student!" Duy exclaimed in admiration. "You've almost mastered it in just one try!" "Thank you, Uncle Duy," Hanekawa replied earnestly. Basic taijutsu wasn't particularly difficult; it mainly required good control over one's body, as well as precise management of power and speed. Thanks to his consistent physical training—especially the enhancements from Lightning Release: Chakra Activation—Hanekawa had already met the conditions to learn taijutsu. "My turn!" Might Guy was visibly excited. "A competition with Hanekawa—it's so exhilarating!" In the original story, he often challenged Kakashi in all sorts of odd contests. Learning taijutsu now actually seemed normal by comparison. Still, Hanekawa couldn't help but feel a little amused. Guy executed the Leaf Strong Whirlwind. His movements were more standard than Hanekawa's, but his control over power and speed wasn't as precise. "Guy!" Duy's body trembled with emotion. "..." Hanekawa had a bad feeling about what was coming and fell silent. "Your hard work has paid off!" Duy hugged Guy, tears streaming down his face. "You're just as good as Hanekawa!" Hanekawa sighed deeply. Once the father and son finished crying, the training resumed. Sёarᴄh the NôvelFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. By dusk, Hanekawa exhaled in relief. He had obtained a new skill entry: Leaf Strong Whirlwind. After executing the move perfectly once, the technique had automatically reached proficiency. Based on his previous experience, mastering three taijutsu techniques would qualify him as a Taijutsu Genin. Currently, he was just one move away since his brute strength technique counted as taijutsu. "How about this—I'll treat you both to Ichiraku Ramen today," Hanekawa suggested to the duo. Although he could have gotten a scroll for the Leaf Strong Whirlwind from Tsunade, having a teacher's guidance was far more effective than self-study. "Guy!" Duy immediately lit up with enthusiasm. "Let's run to Ichiraku Ramen!" "Yes, Father!" Guy responded energetically. Hanekawa couldn't help but marvel. While he already considered himself quite diligent, compared to these two, he felt like a slacker. It also made him realize how demanding the conditions for learning the Eight Gates technique were. On top of that, the technique's severe side effects made it a high-risk, high-reward skill. Otherwise, more people in Konoha would have mastered it, instead of just the Might family. Moreover, even among those who learned the Eight Gates, there were differences in proficiency. For example, Might Guy's performance far surpassed Might Duy's in the original story. Hanekawa wasn't aiming too high for now; he just wanted to earn the Taijutsu Chunin entry. The three of them soon arrived at Ichiraku Ramen. Since its opening, Ichiraku Ramen had been thriving. Being peak dining time, the place was already full. "Kakashi!" Might Guy suddenly spotted a familiar figure and shouted. "..." Kakashi Hatake felt an urge to turn and run but hesitated when he noticed Hanekawa was there. "Kakashi," Hanekawa greeted, walking over. Just then, a group of customers finished their meal and left, freeing up some seats. After all, eating a bowl of ramen didn't take too long. "Why are you here alone?" Hanekawa asked curiously. "Asuma and Shisui went home after training," Kakashi Hatake replied casually. "My father is away on a mission, so I came to Ichiraku Ramen." "I see," Hanekawa nodded slightly. "Why are you with them?" Kakashi glanced at Might Guy and asked. "I'm training with them," Hanekawa explained. "Impressive!" Kakashi couldn't help but give a thumbs-up. Considering the unique style of Might Guy and his father, anyone who could endure training with them was remarkable. Even Kakashi himself sometimes found it hard to keep up, so he genuinely admired Hanekawa for managing it. "..." Hanekawa was at a loss for words. The Might duo were undeniably kind-hearted and worth befriending, but their eccentricity was hard to overlook. Hanekawa suspected the reason Might Duy had remained a Genin for so long was that no one wanted to team up with him. After all, Genin couldn't take missions alone, and participating in the Chunin exams required a team and a certain number of missions completed. --- The Next Day Third Training Ground Hanekawa and Might Guy stood facing each other. Might Duy watched eagerly from the sidelines as the sparring match was about to begin. "Leaf Whirlwind!" Might Guy couldn't hold back—or rather, didn't even try to. After forming the Seal of Confrontation, he immediately charged at Hanekawa. It was the first time Hanekawa had seen someone shout the name of a technique while performing it. In the anime, characters shouted their moves for the audience's benefit, but in the real ninja world, who would yell out their technique during a fight? That would just alert the enemy. No wonder Might Guy was denied entry into the Anbu and Root divisions. Even Danzo Shimura would be at a loss dealing with such theatrics. The sound of rushing wind filled the air as Might Guy's kick created a strong gust, aiming straight for Hanekawa. Hanekawa didn't draw his ninja blade. Instead, he crossed his arms to block the kick. The tremendous force made his body sway slightly, but thanks to his skill boosts, he managed to hold his ground. Rather than being frustrated, Might Guy was thrilled. It was the first time he'd encountered a peer who could block his Leaf Whirlwind. Previously, during the practical exam, Hanekawa had used swordsmanship and ninjutsu. "Leaf Great Whirlwind!" Might Guy withdrew, supported himself with one hand on the ground, and launched a spinning kick with both legs. The incredible speed and power created a whirlwind. Hanekawa didn't retreat. Instead, he countered with his own move: Leaf Strong Whirlwind! Their legs collided in mid-air, producing a deep thud and sending shockwaves outward. The two held their ground for a moment before each stepped back. "This level of mastery?!" Might Duy exclaimed in astonishment. In just one day, Hanekawa had completely mastered the Leaf Strong Whirlwind, a feat that was truly remarkable. To become the top student at the Ninja Academy, Hanekawa was undoubtedly a genius among geniuses. "Leaf Rock Rising!" Might Guy, oblivious to Hanekawa's incredible mastery—or perhaps too immersed in the fight—jumped forward with astonishing speed, raising his right arm for a powerful elbow strike. Bang! Hanekawa blocked it with both arms. Leaf Strong Whirlwind! He steadied himself and countered with a spinning kick. "Leaf Strong Whirlwind!" Might Guy mirrored the move. Their legs clashed again, generating a visible shockwave. The force pushed them both backward. "Again!" Might Guy, brimming with excitement, charged forward with clenched fists. Hanekawa met him head-on, relying mostly on defensive maneuvers and the Leaf Strong Whirlwind for counterattacks. Thanks to his skill boosts, he managed to hold his own against Might Guy. "Impressive!" Might Duy observed keenly, noting that Hanekawa still had energy to spare. Moreover, as Tsunade's student, Hanekawa hadn't even used his monstrous strength yet. Might Duy pondered briefly. While the Eight Gates shouldn't typically be used on comrades, Might Guy could currently open only the first gate, which wouldn't cause significant harm. "Guy!" Might Duy called out, "I permit you to use that move!" "Yes, Father!" Might Guy stepped back strategically. "Eight Gates: First Gate, open!" A surge of energy rose around him, though it wasn't overly powerful. The first gate mainly removes the brain's mental limits, enhancing speed and reaction time without increasing physical strength. Primary Lotus! Might Guy kicked at Hanekawa while unraveling the bandages on his hands. Body Flicker Technique! Hanekawa recognized the Primary Lotus immediately and accelerated to dodge the fierce kick. As they passed each other, Hanekawa swung his fist. Monstrous Strength! The sheer power created a whirlwind, accompanied by a deafening noise as his fist connected. Might Guy was sent flying. "Don't move," Hanekawa approached and said, "This sparring match is over. Let me heal you." He had held back, so the damage from his monstrous strength wasn't severe. Healing Jutsu! Green chakra enveloped Hanekawa's hand as he treated Might Guy. Moments later, the treatment was complete. "You're incredible, Hanekawa!" Might Guy got up, energized, showing no sign of defeat. "The Eight Gates are very powerful. If you open more gates, I won't stand a chance," Hanekawa admitted with a shake of his head. "Wait until I fully master the Eight Gates! Then we'll settle this once and for all!" Might Guy said excitedly. That's not what I meant! Hanekawa thought, his mouth twitching. --- As the match concluded, Hanekawa achieved his goal: D-Rank Talent: Youth Without Regrets Trigger Condition: Defeat Young Might Guy. Effect: Increases taijutsu aptitude by 30%. Thanks to Might Guy's use of the Eight Gates, the reward was directly a D-rank entry, saving Hanekawa significant time. "This is youth!" Might Duy exclaimed emotionally. "Time for more training! Let's run an extra 100 laps today!" "Father, you forgot something," Might Guy reminded him. "Oh, right!" Duy smacked his forehead and pulled out a green jumpsuit. "Hanekawa, this is a gift for you!" "..." For the first time, Hanekawa wanted to refuse a gift. But seeing the expectant expressions on Might Duy and Might Guy's faces, he couldn't bring himself to say no. Fine, I'll consider it the price of learning taijutsu. Hanekawa accepted the green jumpsuit. "Guy! He's accepted us!" Might Duy's eyes sparkled. "Yes, Father!" Guy shouted. "Finally, someone else is wearing this outfit!" The two embraced and cried tears of joy. "..." Hanekawa felt like dying inside. The sacrifices I've made... --- Two months passed quickly. At first, Hanekawa felt embarrassed training with the Might duo, but over time, he became indifferent, like a knife dulled by years of use. His efforts bore fruit, as he successfully obtained two C-rank entries: Taijutsu Chunin and Lightning Release Chunin. Both provided a 50% boost, just like the previous Chunin-level entries. These new entries even combined into a higher-ranking one. [B-Rank Ninjutsu Entry: Lightning Release Body.] [Trigger Condition: Synthesized from the C-Rank Entries 'Taijutsu Chunin' and 'Lightning Release Chunin.'] [Effect: Enhances physical strength by 100%, including defense, attack, and speed.] It's worth mentioning that both 'Lightning Release Body' and 'Lightning Release Chakra Activation' are classified as ninjutsu entries. However, what puzzled Hanekawa was that this entry had no visible synthesis or upgrade path. After some thought, he understood why. It wasn't that the path didn't exist—it was that he hadn't unlocked it yet. Since it's a ninjutsu entry, its upgrade path would naturally involve mastering the Fourth Raikage's signature technique: Lightning Release Chakra Mode. Although Hanekawa couldn't learn it yet, he was already very satisfied with the effects of 'Lightning Release Body.' It was practically superhuman! --- "Hanekawa!" A voice from Kurenai snapped him back to reality. He instinctively looked up and saw her. "Look! Am I amazing or what?" Kurenai stood in front of a small pool of water. With her chakra control, she had created a humanoid figure out of water, one that resembled Hanekawa by about 50-60%. "Impressive!" Hanekawa sincerely praised her. Kurenai wasn't just fooling around. She was practicing chakra control and the water release transformation technique as instructed by Maruhoshi Kosuke. Water is formless, yet can take form. The fact that she could shape water into a sculpture resembling Hanekawa showed significant improvement in her control. Of course, she was still a beginner, as the figure didn't fully capture Hanekawa's features and expressions. "Let's stop here. We need to head to the academy. Today is registration day—we don't want to be late," Hanekawa said as he walked over. "Got it," Kurenai replied, dispersing the water figure. "Let's go! I haven't seen Rin and the others in ages!" - This is the ranking based on how good the novel is) Patreon.com/rashta Be a member so you can read: 1. 200 adv ch of Talent System In Naruto 2. 540 adv ch of Qian Renxue's Younger Brother 3. 270 adv ch of Uchiha Madara's Cousin 4. 163 adv ch of WDQK: Divorcing Ling Qingzhu (Complete)