After a few more exchanges, Rasa and Pakura fully realized: relying on taijutsu alone, they couldn't handle Hii Kōri.
Which was only natural.
Combat techniques only work when the strength gap is no more than threefold. "Four ounces deflect a thousand pounds" was ultimately exaggeration.
Though Hii Kōri's strength wasn't multiples higher than theirs, their taijutsu couldn't compare either.
The ultra-precise body control brought by Soul-flesh fusion, Uzumaki's naturally superior physical qualities, and Hii Kōri's years of accumulated combat experience as a Special Grade sorcerer—combined, these gave him absolute dominance in taijutsu.
Currently limited to peers (plus maybe five years older). But as he grew, this advantage would only widen.
Thudthudthudthudthud—
Fists and feet colliding, bone and flesh meeting—sounds like endless tides, stacked on the training ground.
Wind Release stirred dust had long settled. The chaotic battle became clearer.
No—hardly chaotic anymore. Rasa and Pakura now team up to attack Hii Kōri from both sides.
Yet even one-against-two, Hii Kōri showed no signs of fatigue. His smile grew more discernible.
"Ora ora ora ora—"
Parry, dodge, redirect, neutralize... Every attack seems to be predicted. Occasionally he even counterattacked.
Such unexpected scenes drew gasps from watching students. Even teacher Misawa was quite surprised.
Though he'd witnessed Hii Kōri's taijutsu, this level seemed exaggerated.
Professional teaching instincts kept him silent, but the exclamation lingered.
For Rasa and Pakura, enduring this pressure was even more miserable.
They knew taijutsu couldn't match him. Breaking the deadlock required Ninjutsu—but no opportunity!
This guy seemed to predict their movements. Whoever tried withdrawing got blocked. Forming hand seals? Forget it.
Neither mastered one-handed seals or seal-less jutsu. They weren't besieging him—they were trapped by him!
Supposedly besieging them, yet Hii Kōri felt like a tornado surrounding them. Step beyond the boundary, and he'd tear them to shreds.
Like now.
"So naive—sweet enough to rot my teeth!"
Seeing Rasa engage Hii Kōri on the opposite side, Pakura twisted and kicked toward his temple. But Rasa, whom she'd had high hopes, failed to occupy him long enough.
Spinning, Hii Kōri stomped Rasa's foot, elbowed his chin, dodged Pakura's kick, and clamped her ankle. With sudden force, he lifted her off ground.
"Huh?! Uwaa—"
Center of gravity abruptly reversed left Pakura disoriented. A short question escaped before interrupted by pained cry.
Whoosh. The girl, held upside-down, became a "weapon" swung full circle into Rasa.
Already dizzy from chin punch, Rasa couldn't resist. Didn't even breakfall properly before being sent flying with the "released" Pakura.
"Your backhand's weak, forehand's imprecise, footwork's loose, reactions are slow—not a single proper movement! And you want to compete with me? Dream on!"
"Guh!"
Despite feeling like vomiting breakfast, Rasa suppressed dizziness, using Pakura (crashed into him) as cover to rapidly form seals.
"Wind Release."
His already small pupils contracted further. Cheeks puffing, he expelled violent blast: "Violent Fan Wind!"
Pakura, less injured than Rasa and having taken impact on her durable back, was in better condition.
Feeling Rasa's movements behind her, she nearly simultaneously raised hands to form seals.
Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger. Fire Release—
"Fireball Technique!"
Chakra gathered in her throat ignited searing heat. The next moment, a huge fireball erupted from her mouth.
Though considered the Uchiha clan's representative technique, it was widespread—users numerous as carps crossing rivers.
Any ninja with Fire Release nature likely learned Fireball Technique first.
Reason? This Uchiha-created technique was simply too useful.
Impressive scale, powerful, yet easy to learn—perfect for ninja without clan heritage.
Risks?
We scatter and run—even if Uchiha deploy their entire clan, they might not kill us all.jpg
Thus Uchiha didn't stop its spread. In some ways, it spread their clan's reputation.
Now this famous technique revealed its ferocious flame-fangs before Hii Kōri's foreign soul.
Wind aided fire; fire borrowed wind's momentum.
The huge fireball, the last to arrive, rode the fan-shaped gale into rapid flame waves, vowing to engulf Hii Kōri.
Wind Release, normally weak to Fire, frequently combined in combination techniques. This scene demonstrated why.
So this is Wind and Fire Release. Chakra really is more convenient than cursed energy...
Firelight illuminated Hii Kōri's face, mingling with the gleam in his eyes.
"Then this counts as round two!"
Thoughts racing, he charged toward the roaring flames—not retreating, but advancing.
Displaying the brightest smile since arriving in this world.
A sincere, pure smile—indistinguishable from a child eyeing a coveted toy through a Shop window.