Chapter 64: Chapter 64: The Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms!
Roar!
The scorching flames transformed into a massive fireball, carrying visible heat waves as it howled forward. Mikoto's Great Fireball Technique had a diameter exceeding two meters, even more powerful than the one Uchiha Homura used when fighting Minato a year ago.
Mikoto never thought she could defeat the Hyūga prodigy Hizashi with just her sword skills. That was merely a feint to prevent him from getting close while giving her time to weave hand seals.
"What a formidable young lady!" Nawaki Senju exclaimed in admiration. For someone Mikoto's age to unleash such a massive fireball was undoubtedly the work of a prodigy.
A battle between a Branch House Hyūga genius capable of the Rotation and a prodigious Uchiha kunoichi!
"But it's a pity. The Rotation was once called an absolute defense. The Great Fireball is only a C-rank technique, likely incapable of bothering Hizashi Hyūga," Nawaki added regretfully. Mikoto's strategy was excellent, but the Rotation's defense was extremely formidable indeed.
"True, but it won't be easy for Hizashi to handle this fireball either," said Minato, his blue eyes narrowed. As an Uchiha, Mikoto should know the Hyūga clan well, yet she still did this after seeing the Rotation, so she must have a reason.
The Rotation was powerful - even he would struggle to penetrate it now. However, everything in this world is relative. Beneath the Rotation's absolute defense lay immense chakra consumption. Rapidly rotating chakra to form a shield resulted in constant external chakra release. At Hizashi's level, he couldn't maintain it for long.
The speed of his previous rapid rotation was slowing down in Minato's eyes.But if Hizashi dropped the Rotation to avoid the fireball, it would be suicide!
Boom!
The massive fireball collided with the rapidly spinning chakra, and Hizashi's form was immediately engulfed in intense flames.
"Did it work?" This eye-catching battle drew everyone's attention, except for Sakumo Hatake standing alone opposite them, utterly unconcerned.
With his experience, he could predict the outcome without watching. After the fireball hit, Mikoto didn't let her guard down, grabbing more kunai in each hand.As the flames died down, Hizashi's rotating blue chakra appeared again before dissipating, his breathing heavy.
"As expected, he defended against it," Minato said unsurprised. Hizashi's current state was also within his expectations.Mikoto forced him to sustain the Rotation's release with a relentless assault too fast even for the Byakugan to evade.In Hizashi's condition now, even if Mikoto engaged him in close combat, his Gentle Fist would pale compared to before.
However, Mikoto still decided on one final test, flinging the kunai in her hands before rapidly weaving more hand seals.
"Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!"
Streams of small fireballs wrapped around the thrown kunai as they streaked towards Hizashi.
"She's really being meticulous." Several younger ninja marveled. Though only an Academy student, Mikoto's combat awareness surpassed theirs. In this wide arena, the Phoenix Flower had limited power.
Mikoto did this to probe Hizashi's current state. Earlier, he charged at her, so his Byakugan couldn't defend against her fast, tricky kunai. But now, using his Byakugan, Hizashi dodged Mikoto's fiery kunai with evasive movements. However, his agility was far below before, even getting nicked by the last kunai on his bandaged arm.
To win, Mikoto needed to disrupt one of the chakra points on Hizashi's body. So she had to engage him in close quarters.
But her objective of exhausting him was achieved. Even Hizashi's Gentle Fist would struggle against Mikoto's taijutsu in this drained state.
Cautious Mikoto threw a few more kunai before charging straight at him, her target clear - the seal on Hizashi's forehead. For body-based fighters like the Gentle Fist users, the chest was harder to strike than the forehead due to human anatomy.
"Did Mikoto win?" Nawaki asked. Hizashi looked in terrible shape, but Mikoto's consecutive C-rank jutsu expenditure paled compared to sustaining the Rotation.
Just as everyone thought Mikoto was sure to prevail, Hizashi adopted the Gentle Fist's starting stance. But strangely, an intricate pattern started forming under his feet.
"What is that?" Nawaki's pupils contracted.
Ignoring Mikoto's incoming kunai, Hizashi charged forward, his hands lashing out rapidly.
"Eight Trigrams Four Palms!" His hands precisely deflected two kunai barehanded.
"Eight Trigrams Eight Palms!" His hand speed only increased, batting away all the remaining kunai in an instant.
The speed was too great for the incoming Mikoto to react to, forcing her to clash with his taijutsu head-on. Then Hizashi's pace accelerated even further, seeming to strike over ten blows in a flash, overwhelming her defense.
"Sixteen Palms! Thirty-Two Palms!"
His strikes grew faster and faster, equaling the Rotation's previous speed in Minato's eyes.
Finally, Mikoto could no longer withstand his high-speed taijutsu. Her defense crumbled as Hizashi, in the next second, appeared to unleash dozens of strikes.
"Sixty-Four Palms!"
These blows struck Mikoto squarely across her upper body, disrupting the chakra point on her chest.
The reversal happened in mere seconds. When it ended, Mikoto collapsed, while Hizashi, having completed the Sixty-Four Palms, dropped to his knees, arms trembling.
"This kid actually combined his Byakugan with the Sixty-Four Palms to deflect Mikoto's kunai. And his brother Hiashi barely mastered the Empty Palm. Truly a pair of genius brothers," Sakumo mused, glancing at Mikoto.
"However, if that girl had awakened her Sharingan, she could have predicted Hizashi's moves. She didn't lose due to inferior skill, but the rules favoring body-based fighters like the Gentle Fist over disrupting chakra points."
In sheer ability, these two youngsters were about even, but Mikoto's combat awareness gave her a slight edge.
"Excellent seedlings," he sighed, wondering how many of these prodigies would survive in the future.
(End of Chapter)
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