Chapitre 7: Chapter 7
"Juan, now that you've got a grasp on ninjutsu, I'll gradually teach you new techniques. Starting today, we're going to begin practicing real combat.
As a ninja, ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu are all just means of combat. We learn these ultimately to defeat opponents.
So, learning to fight is the most important thing."
After inspecting Juan's Body Replacement jutsu, Tsuchigumo took him to the training grounds of the Fire Temple.
Originally, Tsuchigumo didn't include combat training in Juan's curriculum. If the noble prince were to get injured, it would cause quite a hassle for the Fire Temple.
Teaching fancy ninjutsu to please the prince was the safest bet.
However, his mindset had changed now, and combat training naturally couldn't be overlooked.
At this moment, the ninja monks of the Fire Temple were conducting their daily taijutsu training on the training grounds. With the enhancement of Chakra, their performance level was quite impressive.
Chakra could vitalize cells and enhance physical functions, especially the lightning attribute Chakra, which had particularly noticeable effects.
The Fire Temple's Chakra enhancement also gave them certain advantages in this regard, so most of the Fire Temple's ninja monks focused on taijutsu combat.
Of course, part of the reason was that the Fire Temple didn't have as many ninjutsu for the ninja monks to learn compared to Konoha.
"Chuan, have you learned basic combat skills before?"
Tsuchigumo asked Juan as they reached a corner of the training ground.
Although most nobles didn't learn ninjutsu, they often learned some simple combat techniques from a young age, with swordsmanship and knife skills being the most common.
Before engaging in actual combat, Tsuchigumo wanted to understand Juan's level to plan his training accordingly.
"Master, I've learned some and often practice at home."
Juan smiled faintly. Although his words were humble, there was a hint of confidence in his tone, which Tsuchigumo noticed.
"Kuukai, come here for a moment!"
After a moment's thought, Tsuchigumo called over a young monk who appeared to be about seventeen or eighteen.
"This is Kuukai, with the strength of a genin. Have a spar with him."
Afterward, he reminded Kuukai, "Kuukai, don't use ninjutsu or Chakra, and be mindful of your limits."
He just wanted to roughly assess Juan's combat skills.
At what level is he at, Tsuchigumo feared that if Kuukai used Chakra and ninjutsu, Juan wouldn't be able to handle even a single move, which would greatly damage his confidence.
Kuukai bowed to Tsuchigumo, "Understood, Master."
After all, the opponent was the prince of the Fire Country. Even if he had the guts, he wouldn't dare to truly injure him.
However, being able to beat a noble prince was something to boast about in the future.
The identity of Juan, the prince of the Fire Country, was known to the ninja monks in the temple. However, due to Juan's noble status and his usual seclusion in the training room for cultivation, they hardly ever exchanged a few words with him.
However, deep down, just like Tsuchigumo initially thought, they also believed that this prince was just here to have some fun.
The older ninja monks were fine, but the younger ones like Kuukai couldn't help feeling a bit jealous.
The abbot personally guiding the practice was a privilege only a few had enjoyed in the Fire Temple before.
Seeing Kuukai about to spar with Juan, all the ninja monks who had been paying attention here stopped their training and gathered around with somewhat gloating expressions.
Tsuchigumo didn't say anything, just asked everyone to clear the center for Juan and Kuukai.
Although he reminded Kuukai not to use excessive force, it was still a good thing for Juan to recognize his shortcomings and be motivated to continue working hard.
This was how disciples were guided in their practice - not overly suppressed, but not without any pressure either. The balance had to be struck just right.
"Senior Brother Kuukai, please instruct me."
Standing in the center of the training ground, Juan's face showed a rare hint of excitement.
He also wanted to see what kind of strength a genin-level ninja like Kuukai possessed and where his skills as a master stood in this world.
"Junior Brother Juan, please," Kuukai replied courteously. "I'm about to make my move."
After this reminder, Kuukai made an attacking gesture and swiftly charged toward Juan's position, his fist already aimed at Juan's abdomen.
Facing the rapidly approaching Kuukai and his fist already targeting his abdomen, Juan furrowed his brow slightly, then relaxed.
"Well, after all, this isn't Konoha. How could the strength of a genin compare to Sasuke or Naruto, especially without using Chakra enhancement?"
Indeed, in his eyes, this young ninja monk named Kuukai was truly just a newbie.
His every move was full of flaws, and his speed in both movement and punching was much slower than he had anticipated.
Of course, to outsiders, Juan seemed more like he was dumbfounded, but only Tsuchigumo seemed to notice something from Juan's expression.
"I apologize, Junior Brother!"
Seeing Juan standing still, Kuukai didn't stop his attack; his fist continued straight towards Juan's abdomen, just with a slight reduction in force.
However, the scene of Juan being hit and clutching his stomach while kneeling down as expected did not occur. Instead, Juan's figure disappeared before his eyes.
"Substitution jutsu?"
Kuukai's first reaction was that Juan had used the Substitution jutsu to dodge the attack, a common ninjutsu technique in combat.
But soon he realized something was off because there was no object left behind for the substitution, instead, he heard Juan's faint voice behind him.
"Senior Brother Kuukai, you can use ninjutsu and chakra; otherwise, you won't be my match."
As it turned out, just as Kuukai lunged at Juan with a punch, Juan sidestepped and stepped forward, his toes lightly tapping the ground like a swallow skimming over water, already moving behind Kuukai.
At this point, if he were to counterattack, Kuukai would already be on the ground.
"Impossible!"
Hearing Juan's voice, Kuukai's pupils contracted, and he immediately spun around, delivering a roundhouse kick.
Unfortunately, once again, Juan easily dodged it.
Entering the temple at the age of nine, training hard for seven years to become a genin, he couldn't believe that his combat skills were inferior to those of a pampered prince.
Throwing punches, kicking, Kuukai didn't use chakra, continuing to launch a relentless barrage of attacks towards Juan.
Meanwhile, in the eyes of the spectators, Juan seemed to transform into a swallow, light and agile, easily evading attacks from all angles, no matter how Kuukai attacked.
With continuous relentless attacks, Kuukai began to pant, while Juan remained calm and composed, as if taking a leisurely stroll.
"Kuukai, give it your all!"
Tsuchigumo, who had been observing from the sidelines, now had eyes shining with excitement. He had never imagined that Juan would have such superior combat skills.
Was Kuukai weak?
At least among the genin of the Fire Temple, he wasn't considered weak. Yet now, in battle, he couldn't even touch the hem of Juan's clothes, their combat abilities were simply not on the same level.
Indeed, Kuukai didn't use chakra or ninjutsu, but Juan didn't either.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone