Bab 210: 209-Blow for Blow
Renjiro stood before Might Duy, his stance firm but relaxed, eyes focused on the man before him. The air between them was thick with tension, the anticipation of the spar crackling like electricity.
Renjiro's smirk widened as he asked,
"Are you going to open a gate or two?"
Duy, standing across from him, shook his head, his expression calm but resolute.
"There will be no need for that," he said, his voice steady.
"This is merely an assessment."
Renjiro raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.
"So it's restricted to taijutsu?" he asked for clarification, he wanted to be absolutely sure of the rules.
Duy paused for a moment, his dark eyes scrutinizing the younger shinobi.
'He's a chunin from the force, so he should be powerful enough,' Duy thought to himself.
'But this is only an assessment, so limiting it to taijutsu should be fine.'
After a brief silence, he nodded. "Yes, only taijutsu. I want to see how far you've come with the first gate."
Renjiro's smirk turned into a confident grin.
"Perfect," he said, taking his stance once more.
His feet slid into position, one slightly forward, the other back, while his hands were raised defensively in front of his chest.
Duy mirrored his stance, his body low and prepared for combat. There was a moment of stillness between them, the world around them seeming to hold its breath.
Then, with a sudden burst of speed, Duy launched himself forward, his fist hurtling toward Renjiro like a bullet.
Renjiro barely had time to react. Duy's speed was staggering—far faster than anything Renjiro had anticipated. He was a blur of green and muscle, closing the distance between them in the blink of an eye.
Renjiro raised his arms in a desperate attempt to block, but the sheer power behind Duy's punch was overwhelming. The impact sent shockwaves through Renjiro's body, his muscles straining against the blow.
He was thrown backwards, skidding across the hard-packed ground, his heels digging furrows in the dirt as he fought to stay on his feet.
The force of the attack left his arms throbbing, and he could feel the sting of the blow deep in his bones.
'What is this guy made of?' Renjiro thought as he gritted his teeth, shaking out the ache in his arms.
'Iron? He's much stronger than I expected.'
Duy didn't give him a moment to recover. Before Renjiro could regain his footing, Duy was on him again, his movements swift and fluid.
He threw a series of rapid punches and kicks, each one landing with precise accuracy. Renjiro did his best to block and dodge, but Duy's sheer strength and speed overwhelmed him.
Duy's strikes were relentless, each one carrying the weight of years of training and discipline. Renjiro could feel the strength behind every punch and kick.
'He's on a completely different level.' Renjiro thought, his mind racing to keep up with the flurry of attacks.
Despite his best efforts, Renjiro was being steadily pushed back, his defences faltering under the onslaught. Yes, his Sharingan could register some of Duy's attacks, but what was the point of that if his body could not move fast enough to counter Duy's moves?
'But how is he so strong without even tapping into the gates?'
Renjiro wondered, frustration creeping into his mind as he barely dodged a kick aimed at his ribs.
'I can't keep up like this.'
Duy, on the other hand, was impressed by Renjiro's resilience. He had expected the young chunin to open the first gate as soon as the fight began, given how easily he was being overpowered. But Renjiro had yet to tap into that power.
'He is holding back,' Duy thought, his respect for Renjiro growing with each passing moment.
'He is probably trying to keep up without relying on the gates. That is commendable.'
"Thud!"
Renjiro felt the sting of Duy's fist once again, this time across his jaw, and he stumbled backwards, his vision blurring for a moment. He gritted his teeth in frustration.
'If I don't step it up, I'm going to lose.' Renjiro realized.
Taking a deep breath, Renjiro focused inward, tapping into the familiar power of the Eight Gates. He felt his chakra surge, his muscles tightening and his senses sharpening. In an instant, the Gate of Opening was released, and a wave of power coursed through his body.
But it wasn't just his physical strength that improved—the familiar sensation also strengthened his Sharingan also activated, heightening his senses even further.
'Finally...'
Duy noticed the change immediately. Renjiro's stance shifted subtly, and there was a newfound intensity in his eyes. The moment Duy launched his next attack, Renjiro reacted with newfound speed and precision.
He dodged Duy's punch by a fraction of an inch, moving with the fluidity of a leaf in the wind. His Sharingan had already predicted Duy's movements, allowing him to counter the attack before it even fully formed.
Duy's eyes widened in surprise.
'He also has the Sharingan,' Duy thought, 'So he's not just blessed by the power of youth.'
The sparring match grew more intense as the two fighters pushed each other to their limits. With the first gate open, Renjiro's power and speed had increased dramatically, allowing him to match Duy blow for blow.
They both moved in a blur of motion, their fists and feet clashing with the sound of thunderous impacts. Renjiro could feel the heat of the fight coursing through his veins, every punch, every kick sending shockwaves of energy through his body.
The fight reached a stalemate, with neither shinobi able to gain the upper hand. Renjiro's Sharingan gave him an edge in predicting Duy's attacks, while the first gate's power allowed him to keep pace with Duy's speed and strength. But Duy was a seasoned fighter, and despite Renjiro's newfound power, he couldn't land a decisive blow.
Renjiro's mind raced as he searched for an opening. 'He's fast, but I can now predict and counter his moves,' Renjiro thought.
'I just need to find the right moment.'
And then, he saw it—a brief hesitation in Duy's stance, a slight shift in his footing. Renjiro seized the opportunity. He lunged forward, his fist aimed directly at Duy's midsection.
Duy saw the attack coming and moved to counter it, but Renjiro was quicker. At the last second, Renjiro shifted his attack, his fist turning into a feint as he spun around and brought his leg up for a powerful roundhouse kick aimed at Duy's side.
'What...?'
Duy's eyes widened in surprise as the kick connected, sending him stumbling back. Renjiro pressed the advantage, launching a series of rapid strikes that forced Duy on the defensive. For the first time in the spar, Renjiro had the upper hand.
'Yes! Show me more!'
But Duy wasn't done yet. As Renjiro's fist came hurtling toward him, Duy's expression blissed. He focused inward, drawing on the power of the first gate. In an instant, he opened the Gate of Opening was released, and Duy's power skyrocketed.
With a burst of speed, Duy caught Renjiro's fist in mid-air, the force of the impact causing the ground beneath them to crack. Renjiro's eyes widened in shock as Duy's strength increased dramatically. With a swift motion, Duy twisted Renjiro's arm and spun him around, throwing him backwards with incredible force.
Renjiro managed to land on his feet, skidding across the ground as he regained his balance.
"You're strong," Duy said, his voice calm but filled with respect.
"But you still have much to learn."
Renjiro wiped the sweat from his brow, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "I'll take that as a compliment," he replied, his breathing heavy but steady.
"So a draw?" Renjiro asked.
Duy's face was a bit hard to read but he soon replied, "Renjiro, this was just an assessment."
'I made him open the first gate, so I guess that counts for something.' Renjiro sighed.
Duy relaxed his stance. He eyed Renjiro carefully, noticing something strange.
"Tell me," Duy said, tilting his head slightly.
"Do you have some sort of improved regeneration?"
Renjiro blinked in surprise at the question. He hadn't expected Duy to notice so quickly, but then again, Duy was far more perceptive than he had given him credit for.
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