Bab 281: Chapter 281: Mutsuki's Power
When Obito shouted "Start," neither Chen-sensei nor Mutsuki moved immediately, but instead stood still, watching each other. Mutsuki assessed Chen-sensei, and a panel displaying Chen-sensei's information appeared in his mind.
[Name: Chen]
[Chakra: 48000]
[Skills: Konoha Style Taijutsu (Mastery: 7000/15000), Konoha Dragon God (Mastery), Fire Element Chakra Nature Transformation (Proficient: 2800/3000)...]
Chen-sensei had various Taijutsu skills at high proficiency levels, which Mutsuki had anticipated. However, he was a bit surprised to see that Chen-sensei had two Nature Transformations nearing Mastery level. This indicated that Chen-sensei's Ninjutsu was not inferior to that of a typical Jonin. Mutsuki even noticed Genjutsu listed among his skills.
"Although the skill set is quite comprehensive, when facing a true strong opponent, it's still necessary to rely on Taijutsu," Mutsuki thought.
Since Chen-sensei had the title of the strongest in Konoha Taijutsu, he definitely shouldn't be compared to an ordinary Jonin.
"It truly is a Jonin-level match; the momentum from both sides is so intense," Genma remarked upon seeing the scene.
In an Academy practical exam, the usual approach would be to attack immediately to seize the initiative.
"Since they don't know each other's information, they should be considering how to probe and gather more intel," Ebisu speculated, adjusting his sunglasses with his middle finger.
Obito scratched his head and complained, "They've only been standing still for half a minute. How can you see so much from that?"
He thought that both sides might be hoping the other would make the first move, which is why they were in this situation.
Obito was correct; Chen-sensei did indeed want Mutsuki to make the first move, given that he was an elder.
Seeing that Mutsuki also remained unmoved, Chen-sensei felt Mutsuki might have a special tactic, so he decided to take action himself.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
Chen-sensei rapidly formed hand seals, concentrating Chakra in his throat to perform a Fire Release Chakra Nature Transformation, releasing a straight line of flame.
Dragon Fire Jutsu is a rather unique Ninjutsu within Fire Release. Most Fire Release techniques create a wide area of flames to attack enemies, while Dragon Fire Jutsu is a straight-line flame the width of an arm.
This Ninjutsu can also be used in a line to assist in hitting the enemy more accurately. However, since the battle had just begun, this condition was clearly not met, and Chen-sensei's main goal was to probe Mutsuki's abilities.
"Ah, it's actually a Fire Release Ninjutsu. Isn't he supposed to be the strongest in Taijutsu?" Obito was stunned to see Chen-sensei launch the first attack with Ninjutsu.
He thought Chen-sensei should have used Body Flicker Jutsu to deliver a terrifying attack capable of toppling a large tree.
"Although Chen-sensei's Taijutsu is strong, it doesn't mean his Ninjutsu is weak. Our Konoha Jonin typically have no weaknesses in Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, or Genjutsu; one aspect might just be stronger than the others. In this situation, where we lack intel, it's clearly more reliable to use long-range Ninjutsu attacks," Ebisu analyzed.
Ebisu's well-reasoned and meticulous analysis convinced Obito, who couldn't help but exclaim:
"So Ebisu, you have such insight into combat. Why does it feel like I rarely encounter you in the grade's practical exams?"
Ebisu: …
Because he generally gets eliminated in the first round. With sixteen people and only two exams per semester, it's not easy to run into him.
"Haha, that's the way it is. You talk a big game, but you're no good in actual combat," Genma laughed as he patted Ebisu on the shoulder.
"Isn't it possible that it's not that I'm bad at practical combat, but that you're all too strong?" Ebisu said, locking Genma's neck with his arm and speaking somberly.
His presence in the grade's practical exams already indicated that he was among the top in the grade, after all, only two students from each class could participate, so being in the grade's practical exams meant he was at least in the top two of his class.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
Seeing Chen-sensei use Ninjutsu, Mutsuki immediately formed the same hand seals and used the same Ninjutsu, releasing a straight line of flame.
Mutsuki's Dragon Fire Jutsu proficiency level was not high, only having practiced it once in class. However, with the enhancement of Perfect-level Fire Element Chakra Nature Transformation, Mutsuki's flame was twice as thick as Chen-sensei's.
The two flames collided, and without a doubt, Mutsuki's thicker flame was superior, pushing back Chen-sensei's flame and continuously pressing towards Chen-sensei.
Chen-sensei swiftly ceased supplying Chakra to Dragon Fire Jutsu and, without hesitation, used a burst of Chakra in his feet to swiftly evade.
Boom!!
The thick flame created a black crater where Chen-sensei had been standing.
Chen-sensei was not too surprised; after all, it was normal for a Ninja who could perform well in a Jinchuriki battle to have such skills.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!"
Chen-sensei leaped onto a tree and, from a high vantage point, used Vacuum Sphere, firing a stream of transparent air blasts at Mutsuki like a machine gun.
Coincidentally, Mutsuki not only knew Vacuum Sphere, but it was also an advanced Wind Release technique he could use openly.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!"
Mutsuki performed the exact same hand seals as Chen-sensei, concentrating a large amount of Chakra in his mouth and then releasing a series of transparent air blasts.
Mutsuki's Vacuum Sphere proficiency level was also average, but he had recently achieved a Mastery-level Wind Release Nature Transformation, giving a significant boost to his Wind Release abilities.
Their transparent air blasts did not all collide with each other due to the sheer volume, but wherever there was a collision, Mutsuki's side prevailed.
Boom boom!!
The ground next to Mutsuki was pitted with small craters from the transparent air blasts, while Chen-sensei's side was even worse. Many trees were blown apart by the air blasts, and the ground was cracked. Due to the large amount of wood debris and dust from the attacks, Chen-sensei was inevitably becoming quite disheveled.
"Yumi-sensei's strength is truly unexpected. Using the same Ninjutsu twice, Yumi-sensei's Ninjutsu is stronger both times," Genma remarked, eyes fixed on the battlefield.
Using the same Ninjutsu in a clash is the best way to judge the level of both sides. The stronger one is the winner.
Obito kept quiet, not wanting to comment. He wanted to tell Genma that this wasn't a big deal, as Mutsuki's Ninjutsu used on missions was far superior to this. But since Mutsuki had instructed him not to mention it, Obito forced himself to stay silent.
"It's true that Yumi-sensei is superior in Ninjutsu, but we'll need to see Chen-sensei use Taijutsu to judge who has the greater chance of winning," Ebisu said after some thought.
He wasn't sure what Mutsuki was best at, but there was no doubt that Chen-sensei excelled in Taijutsu.
"What strong Wind Release. It turns out that Fire Release and Wind Release are exactly the same, and my Ninjutsu has been thoroughly outmatched." After two failed probing attacks, Chen-sensei decided to start fighting with his strongest skill: Taijutsu.
After all, it wouldn't look good to keep losing in front of his students.
"Your Ninjutsu is impressive, but be careful from now on; I'll be using my full strength," Chen-sensei called out to Mutsuki.
Having witnessed Mutsuki's two Ninjutsu techniques and recalling his experience from the Konoha reports, Chen-sensei judged that Mutsuki's overall strength far exceeded that of a typical Jonin.
"Don't worry, sir. While my Taijutsu may not be as Proficient as yours, I know a bit about it," Mutsuki said with a smile.
This time, he wasn't being modest. Without using Mark or Eight Inner Gates, his Taijutsu would only be considered somewhat knowledgeable in comparison to Chen-sensei.
As for using them, Mutsuki could only say that overwhelming strength could crush techniques.
Chen-sensei let out a breath, and his gaze became extremely sharp.
Mutsuki silently adjusted his breathing rhythm, shifting from a normal Constant breath to a highly focused breath to enhance his physical abilities.
Chen-sensei gathered Chakra in his lower body and charged towards Mutsuki at high speed, moving so fast that Ebisu felt Chen-sensei appeared in front of Mutsuki in the blink of an eye.
Mutsuki, not to be outdone, used Soru's multiple bursts to charge forward.
Seeing that the two were finally about to engage in Taijutsu, Guy displayed an extremely serious expression as he began watching the fight.
"Konoha Great Whirlwind!"
Mutsuki infused his leg with power and kicked out a Whirlwind Kick at Chen-sensei.
Facing Mutsuki's rapid kicking technique, Chen-sensei wore a confident expression as he effortlessly blocked it with his fists and responded with a series of three rapid spinning kicks.
"Konoha Gust!"
Chen-sensei's spinning kicks, filled with powerful leg strength, flew towards Mutsuki at high speed.
Mutsuki managed to dodge the first two kicks with extreme effort, but the final kick was unavoidable. Mutsuki could only block it with both arms, taking the hit directly. The force of the kick caused him to stumble backward for a full seven meters.
"Taijutsu is also impressive. Have I not paid attention to the village's affairs for so long that I didn't know such a strong young Ninja had appeared?" Chen-sensei thought after repelling Mutsuki.
Although not as good as Ninjutsu, Mutsuki's Taijutsu was also quite decent in his eyes, with both speed and power, and he was decisive in his actions.
"Indeed, once Taijutsu was used, the situation changed drastically," Ebisu thought upon seeing Chen-sensei repel Mutsuki.
After all, Chen-sensei was known as the strongest Taijutsu Ninja in Konoha.
"Even though he looks like a disheveled old man, Chen-sensei's Taijutsu is indeed formidable," Genma realized the lesson not to judge by appearances.
Both he and Ebisu believed that the balance of victory had tilted towards Chen-sensei.
Guy and Obito's trust in Mutsuki remained unchanged. Especially for Guy, who practiced both Eight Inner Gates and Stone Breathing, he knew just how terrifying Mutsuki's Taijutsu could be.
Being at a disadvantage in Taijutsu was expected by Mutsuki. His Taijutsu proficiency level was not as high as Chen-sensei's, and his combat experience was far less. He just wanted to see how strong Taijutsu with such a high proficiency level could be.
Realizing how strong Chen-sensei's Taijutsu techniques were, Mutsuki silently adjusted his breathing again, entering the Stone Breathing Mark state.
In his view, Chen-sensei's strength was even above Might Duy with the Six Gates. If he were to rely only on Breathing Techniques, he would have to enter the Mark State.
Once in the Mark state, Mutsuki's Chakra began to deplete rapidly, combining with the extremely focused breathing to enhance his body in all aspects. Mutsuki could feel his power continuously surging forth.
Such a significant enhancement to his body was bound to cause a change. Mutsuki's aura gradually rose, becoming more and more powerful. His sheer presence was enough to make the surrounding grass move without wind.
"Sir, your Taijutsu is indeed exquisite, but I also have some formidable Taijutsu techniques. Please be careful from now on," Mutsuki warned.
"Is this Eight Inner Gates? No, the aura is not wild but rather heavy."
Having seen Guy use the Eight Inner Gates, Chen-sensei had some understanding of it. Seeing Mutsuki's suddenly strengthened aura, he first thought of the Eight Inner Gates, but quickly dismissed that idea.
Chen-sensei calmed his mind. Regardless of the ability used, it was Mutsuki's own skill, and he only needed to bring out his own strength.
After activating the Mark, Mutsuki also activated Transparent World, achieving the ultimate control over his body. With Transparent World's enhancement, Mutsuki could see through Chen-sensei's body.
Although Mutsuki's aura was very formidable, it only fueled Chen-sensei's desire to fight. It had been a long time since he had fought someone as strong as Mutsuki.
Whoosh!
Chen-sensei swiftly moved forward and kicked out a high-speed leg towards Mutsuki.
Chen-sensei, extremely focused, moved so fast that he almost instantly appeared in front of Mutsuki.
However, Mutsuki had activated Transparent World by then. As soon as Chen-sensei's muscles began to move, Mutsuki saw through his actions and anticipated Chen-sensei's next attack.
At the moment Chen-sensei moved, Mutsuki stepped backward, perfectly evading Chen-sensei's attack.
"Hm? Is it a coincidence or did he predict my movements?" Chen-sensei noticed something was off and used Konoha Gust again.
Mutsuki's form flickered, each time perfectly avoiding Chen-sensei's spinning kicks, and all three kicks missed.
One miss might be a coincidence, but avoiding so many attacks could only be due to skill.
Chen-sensei was deeply surprised. It was the first time he encountered such a situation, as if Mutsuki had seen through his inner thoughts and predicted all his attacks.
After evading the last spinning kick, Mutsuki moved again, lifting his hand and lightly swinging it towards Chen-sensei. It appeared he was using very little force.
Chen-sensei erupted with Chakra and threw a punch to meet the attack. When his fist met Mutsuki's seemingly light hand strike, Chen-sensei's expression changed drastically. The power behind the seemingly light strike shocked him.
Boom!!
Under the tremendous force, Chen-sensei was sent flying at high speed and collided with three large trees before finally stopping.
"What kind of technique is this? It feels like there's no power, yet it has such terrifying strength." Chen-sensei's expression became unprecedentedly serious. In his view, this was a high-level Taijutsu technique he did not understand.
The sudden turn of events on the field left Genma and Ebisu very surprised.
"Chen-sensei was actually sent flying? He was just..." Genma found it difficult to understand the battle of such a high-level Ninja.
Both were engaging in close-range Taijutsu, but the results were starkly different. One time Chen-sensei had the advantage, and another time Mutsuki had the advantage.
"Yumi-sensei's Taijutsu is actually so powerful." Seeing Chen-sensei at a disadvantage, Ebisu showed a shocked expression. This was Chen-sensei, who held the title of the strongest Taijutsu in Konoha.
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