Speed, power, and hardness.
If Taijutsu were categorized strictly into "Strong Fist" and "Gentle Fist," Kamishiro Ui would undoubtedly belong to the former. Unlike the Gentle Fist, which is defined by resilience and flowing movements, the Strong Fist is pure, violent efficiency. Its goal is simple: to crush the target.
Fast, accurate, and ruthless—that was the most precise description of Ui's opening gambit.
However, Ui was not naturally a power-type shinobi. He hadn't subjected his body to the grueling, limit-breaking physical conditioning of someone like Might Guy. If he attempted to use Guy's style through raw muscle alone, his Taijutsu would be insufficient.
So why was his attack so devastating?
In short, Ui uses Nintaijutsu (Ninja-Taijutsu). By fusing Lightning Release with physical strikes, he activates his body's cells and amplifies his striking power, granting him explosive instantaneous force. Where his physical strength lacks, his Lightning chakra compensates.
The Face-Off
Dressed in pitch-black, moving with high-speed precision, Ui's silhouette sliced through the rain like an ink line drawn on paper. He stood low, his boots leaving only shallow prints in the mud and a faint, lingering hum of electricity. The sheer speed of his movement had thrown back his hood, exposing his silver-white hair to the downpour.
The hum of the Chidori Nagashi faded slightly as Ui stood motionless.
There were three enemies in total. One was already down. The remaining two stood on the thick branch of a nearby tree, looking down at him. Both wore traditional bamboo hats that obscured their faces, but one was clearly a high-level combatant.
He knew this because the man had dodged his second strike.
Immediately after incapacitating the first enemy, Ui had lunged for the leader, hoping to end the fight in one breath. To his surprise, the man had evaded with ease and repositioned himself, showing no immediate desire to engage in a close-quarters brawl.
"Konoha shinobi... not bad. You managed to instant-kill one of my subordinates," the man spoke. His voice was unique—it sounded as if two rolls of sandpaper were being rubbed together inside his throat, audible even over the distant rumble of thunder.
His words held a note of genuine praise, devoid of anger, as if the comrade Ui had just killed was a total stranger. This was typical of certain veterans of this era; they had seen so much death that the concept of "comrade" had been eroded. The more cold-blooded you were, the more likely you were to survive.
From his frame, he appeared to be a man in his thirties. His companion, who was not masked, looked much younger. It was clear: the masked man was the elite, the one killed was trash, and the third was somewhere in between.
Asuma, Kurenai, and Aoba quickly regrouped behind Ui. Asuma leaned in and whispered:
"They're from the Fuma Clan."
Ui frowned behind his mask. He had assumed they were Amegakure ninjas. He trusted Asuma's judgment on this; for a son of the Hokage, knowledge of the various clans and their identifiers was second nature.
"Fuma shinobi... why attack us?" Ui said, buying time. "Konoha isn't at war with your clan."
He knew it was a hollow question. Once blood is spilled, the conversation usually ends with one side dead. Ui's "Talk-no-Jutsu" level was non-existent, so he wasn't trying to persuade anyone. He was simply using the dialogue as a cover to issue hand signals behind his back to his team.
His plan was simple: Asuma, Kurenai, and Aoba would handle the younger, weaker-looking ninja, while he took on the masked leader.
"Heh... does a ninja need a reason to kill another?" the masked man rasped.
"Mercenaries?" Ui countered. "A clan without a village... I suppose that's the only reason you'd interfere in this war."
The Fuma clan had lost their home in previous conflicts and were never fully integrated into the major villages. If they were here, working for the Rain, it was likely for one thing: bounties.
"Mercenaries... you can think of it that way," the masked man replied. "But actually, I just enjoy the slaughter."
The younger subordinate suddenly leaned over and whispered into the leader's ear, his eyes fixed on Ui.
"Oho... it seems there's a celebrity among you brats."
"The White Yaksha of Konoha?"
Ui: "..."
Seriously?
Since when was he that famous? He was wearing a mask and a hood. He hadn't revealed his face. Surely they didn't identify him just by his hair color?
Actually, it was the no-seal Lightning Release. Ui hadn't realized how distinct that trait was. A young Konoha ninja with silver-white hair and the ability to manifest high-level lightning instantly without hand signs? In the bingo books of the underground, that was a very specific signature.