37 Chapter 37: Why Are You Targeting Me?
Tatsuma refrained from unleashing the full power of his hair, aware of its taxing nature. A swift motion of his head caused hundreds of Chakra-infused strands to straighten abruptly before snapping forward, hurtling toward Kushina with formidable force.
Confronted by the densely packed hair Senbons, Kushina hesitated to directly block them. Despite her agile hands, limited to only two, she couldn't possibly intercept the multitude of strands. Opting for a decisive maneuver, she rolled to the side with determination, skillfully evading the impending onslaught.
However, this outcome aligned perfectly with Tatsuma's intentions. As Kushina rolled and regained her balance, her gaze shifted towards Tatsuma, only to realize he had closed the distance with remarkable speed. What caught her attention even more were the seals in his hands, their complexity eluding her understanding.
As Tatsuma dropped the final Tiger Seal and drew a deep breath, an ominous sensation washed over Kushina. It was undeniably the precursor to the activation of Fire Release Ninjutsu!
"I absolutely cannot allow this Ninjutsu to be unleashed!"
The determination flashed through Kushina's mind, prompting her to swiftly bend forward and advance, lowering her body to evade the flames yet to be released. Simultaneously, her right hand tightened into a fist, aiming for Tatsuma's abdomen.
"Boom!"
The moment Kushina's fist connected with Tatsuma's abdomen, a billow of smoke erupted, prompting a swift change in her expression. It was unmistakably another Clone Jutsu, but not just any clone – a fundamental Clone Jutsu, a non-physical Shadow Clone adept at releasing Ninjutsu.
Maintaining her forward posture, she cautiously stepped out of the dissipating smoke. However, what materialized before her was yet another Tatsuma, this one having completed the intricate seals.
"Illusion·Hell Viewing Jutsu!"
As the Genjutsu unfolded, Kushina, initially revealing a mix of embarrassment and panic at falling for the Clone Jutsu, suddenly stiffened. The illusion robbed her of control over her forward momentum, causing her to tumble to the ground.
Observing Kushina sprawled on the ground, Tatsuma refrained from impulsive actions. Instead, he took two measured steps backward, swiftly conjuring seals once again with both hands.
"Ninja Art! Needle Jizo!"
As the seals seamlessly came together, a strand of hair rapidly sprouted from Tatsuma's head. Guided by the precise transformation of Chakra, it elongated and thrust towards the fallen Kushina.
"Sizzle~"
The hair penetrated the ground, but Kushina's original position had already shifted. Unperturbed, Tatsuma calmly retracted his hair. His brows furrowed instantly, sensing something amiss. With swift reflexes, he turned and deftly blocked with his bent arm.
"Boom!"
A subdued impact resonated through the air. The Kushina, supposedly ensnared in the Genjutsu, had materialized at Tatsuma's side. Swiftly, she delivered a side kick that connected with Tatsuma's arms.
"What a formidable power."
Creating a rapid distance between them, Tatsuma had to shake his hand, alleviating the impact.
Although Kushina had successfully liberated herself from the Genjutsu's grasp, her Chakra now exhibited signs of disorder. It was apparent that breaking free from the illusion had taken a toll.
Had it not been for the tumultuous state of Kushina's Chakra, Tatsuma might have struggled to withstand the force of that recent kick.
Both of them entered a brief moment of respite. Not far away, Sarutobi Atoma, observing the unfolding battle, wore an unusually serious expression. He hadn't anticipated that the clash between the two students would challenge his ability to keep pace with their movements.
In the seemingly brief exchanges just now, there was a multitude of intricacies at play. Initially, Tatsuma utilized hair Senbon to divert Kushina's attention, cleverly creating an opening to deploy the Clone Jutsu.
Subsequently, deftly maneuvering the Clone and confusing Kushina with deceptive seals, Tatsuma exploited the blind spot in her field of vision, cleverly crafted by the Clone in front of her. The authentic Tatsuma then executed a well-timed Genjutsu, catching Kushina off guard.
Not to mention the way Kushina used her fall to use Genjutsu Release and counter with a kick! were elements even Sarutobi Atoma, a Chunin with extensive experience as a ninja school instructor, found somewhat perplexing.
Moreover, the Taijutsu prowess and strength displayed by these two individuals caused him to sense a subtle discomfort within his own body.
Beside him, Orochimaru maintained a constant smile. The recent performance of these two greatly pleased him, particularly Tatsuma's adept application of Jiraiya's Ninjutsu, creating the impression of an enhanced version of Jiraiya in terms of strategic intelligence.
Certainly, Orochimaru understood that his teammate wasn't lacking in intelligence. It's just that, in this situation, considering Jiraiya's personality, he would undeniably unleash his mastery of advanced Ninjutsu at full power, even if it meant depleting all of his Chakra.
Tatsuma's strategic and calculated fighting style differed from Jiraiya's usual approach, but while Jiraiya might not favor it, Orochimaru did.
Orochimaru glanced down at Minato, who displayed no signs of surprise. Growing even more intrigued, he pondered whether these two top students truly embodied, as Sakumo Senpai had mentioned, a fusion of his and Jiraiya's strengths.
Now, after a brief respite, Tatsuma and Kushina synchronized their breath and Chakra, their expressions unusually serious.
For Tatsuma, Kushina's mastery over her strength had evolved significantly since she first arrived in Konoha a year and a half ago. Furthermore, Kushina hadn't employed any Ninjutsu or Sealing Jutsu thus far, prompting Tatsuma to sense a looming crisis.
On the flip side, Kushina harbored intense frustration. Despite pouring nearly all her time into training over the past year, she still found herself unable to best Tatsuma, a source of considerable annoyance.
"Your Chakra must be running low by now, right? I won't be deceived by your flashy Ninjutsu any longer," Kushina declared, voicing her frustration even as she grappled with the absence of a breakthrough.
Despite the irritation and the lack of a clear strategy, Kushina maintained her confidence. Tatsuma nodded in acknowledgment and casually remarked, "Yeah, it's challenging to pull off Clone Jutsu at this point."
With those words hanging in the air, both combatants drew Kunai. Since Ninjutsu seemed to have limited efficacy, they opted for communication through the language of Taijutsu.
Both bent forward and charged. Kushina, embodying the philosophy of seizing the initiative, thrust her Kunai directly at Tatsuma's heart. Without a moment's hesitation, Tatsuma sidestepped and a Kunai emerged from below Kushina's arm, aiming straight for her throat.
"Hmph!"
Kushina extended her right hand, pressing and swinging it to divert Tatsuma's left hand outward. Her left hand clenched into a fist, attempting to strike Tatsuma's midsection, but Tatsuma's right hand remained resolute.
In a direct counter, Tatsuma's elbow met Kushina's fist, His elbow tips colliding with Kushina's knuckles. Despite Kushina possessing greater strength, she winced in pain and promptly withdrew her hand.
However, Tatsuma appeared unwilling to afford Kushina an opportunity. The right hand that countered the elbow strike promptly seized hold of Kushina's left wrist. Subsequently, a left kick landed squarely on Kushina's abdomen.
Despite Kushina's efforts to press Tatsuma's leg with her right hand, all she managed to achieve was shifting the impact point from the ribcage to just above her abdomen.
"Boom!"
This kick undeniably carried immense force. Kushina's face, initially flushed from the movement, now displayed a tendency to turn purple-black. Moreover, Tatsuma maintained a firm grip on Kushina's left hand, thwarting her attempts to break free.
Without hesitation, Tatsuma deftly shifted his footing and rooted himself, applying a technique learned from a Judo class he took in a previous life. This maneuver sent Kushina tumbling to the ground.
In one fluid motion, Tatsuma twisted Kushina's wrist, compelling her to roll over and lie on the ground. Kneeling down, he pressed Kushina's left hand onto her own back. Only then did Tatsuma position the Kunai horizontally at the back of Kushina's neck.
With his other hand, he extended it, forming the Seal of Reconciliation, and placed it on Kushina's hand. With a smile, he declared, "I win."
"Ding~ [Strength+3] [Stamina+3] [Spirit+3]; [Seal (Kushina Uzumaki Limited Edition) +10%]"
"Not bad. Now, let's commence the second round. Tatsuma, you're up against Minato."
Just as Tatsuma reveled in the joy of his victory, Orochimaru's sinister voice echoed once again. Tatsuma's expression abruptly froze. His Chakra was dwindling! His stamina proved insufficient! And, significantly, the areas where Kushina had struck him still throbbed with pain!
Today's objective was to prevent Kushina from graduating, correct? why does it I'm your target now damn it!
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