Chapter 281: Intelligent Mugetsu
When Obito shouted "Begin", Teacher Chen and Mugetsu did not immediately move, but stood in place, observing each other.
Mugetsu assessed Teacher Chen, and Teacher Chen's panel appeared in his mind.
[Name: Chen]
[Chakra: 48000]
[Skills: Leaf Style Taijutsu (Proficient: 7000/15000), Leaf Dragon God (Proficient), Fire Release Chakra Nature Transformation (Skilled: 2800/3000)...]
Mugetsu had already expected Teacher Chen to possess various highly skilled taijutsu, but he was somewhat surprised to see two Nature Transformation skills on Teacher Chen's panel that were close to the proficient level.
This meant that Teacher Chen's Ninjutsu was not inferior to that of a regular Jonin. He even saw Genjutsu listed among his skills.
"Although the skill set is quite comprehensive, against a true powerhouse, it still comes down to taijutsu," Mugetsu thought to himself.
Since Teacher Chen had the title of Konoha's strongest taijutsu user, he certainly could not be compared to an ordinary Jonin.
"As expected of a Jonin showdown, both sides feel incredibly imposing," Genma said, observing the scene.
In a Ninja Academy practical exam, students would typically attack immediately to seize the initiative.
"Since neither knows the other's information, they must be thinking about how to probe and gather more intelligence," Ebisu speculated, pushing up his sunglasses with his middle finger.
Obito scratched his head and grumbled, "They've just been standing there for half a minute. How did you guys figure out so much?"
He thought it was probably because both sides wanted the other to make the first move, which was why they were like that.
Obito was right. Teacher Chen did indeed want Mugetsu to make the first move, as he was the senior.
Seeing that Mugetsu also remained still, he felt that Mugetsu might have a special tactic, so Teacher Chen decided to attack directly.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
Teacher Chen quickly formed hand signs, condensed chakra in his throat, performed Fire Release Chakra Nature Transformation, and spat out a straight stream of flames.
The Dragon Fire Technique was a relatively unique jutsu among Fire Release techniques.
Most Fire Release techniques created large scale flames to attack enemies, while the Dragon Fire Technique was a linear flame about the thickness of an arm.
This jutsu could also be assisted by wires for more precise targeting, but the battle had just begun, so such conditions were clearly not met, and Teacher Chen's main purpose was to test Mugetsu's depth.
"Ah, it is Fire Release! Isn't he supposed to be the strongest in taijutsu?" Obito was dumbfounded when he saw Teacher Chen's first attack was Ninjutsu.
He thought Teacher Chen would use Body Flicker to deliver a terrifying kick whose aftershock could knock down large trees.
"Although Teacher Chen's taijutsu is very strong, that doesn't mean his Ninjutsu is weak.
Our Jonin in Konoha generally do not have weaknesses in Ninjutsu, taijutsu, or Genjutsu. It is just that one aspect might be stronger.
In a situation where information is unknown, a long range Ninjutsu attack is clearly safer," Ebisu analyzed.
Ebisu's well reasoned and meticulous analysis convinced Obito, who could not help exclaiming,
"So, Ebisu, you have such insights into combat. Why do I feel like I rarely see you in the Yearly Grade Level Practical Exam?"
Ebisu: ...
Because he usually got eliminated in the first round, it was not easy to encounter him among sixteen people, and there were only two exams per semester.
"Haha, Ebisu is like that. He talks a good game, but he is useless in actual combat," Genma said with a loud laugh, patting Ebisu's shoulder.
"Is there a possibility that it is not that I am bad at actual combat, but that you guys are too strong?" Ebisu said faintly, wrapping his arm around Genma's neck in return.
His ability to enter the Yearly Grade Level Practical Exam already showed that his strength was excellent within the grade.
After all, each class could only send two participants, so being able to participate meant being at least top two in the class.
"Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!"
Seeing Teacher Chen use Ninjutsu, Mugetsu immediately formed hand signs and used the exact same jutsu, spitting out a straight stream of flames.
Mugetsu's proficiency in the Dragon Fire Technique was not high. He had only practiced it once in class.
However, with the boost from his perfect level Fire Release Chakra Nature Transformation, the stream of fire Mugetsu spat out was twice as thick as Teacher Chen's.
The two streams of fire collided, and without a doubt, Mugetsu's thicker stream prevailed, pushing back Teacher Chen's flames and continuously pressing toward him.
Teacher Chen immediately cut off chakra to his Dragon Fire Technique, then burst chakra from his feet and flashed away.
Bang.
The thick stream of fire shot into the spot where Teacher Chen had just stood, blasting out a blackened pit.
Teacher Chen was not too surprised. For a ninja who could play a role in a Jinchuriki battle, this level of strength was normal.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Bullet!"
Teacher Chen leaped onto a large tree and, from a high vantage point, used Vacuum Bullet like a machine gun, spitting out one transparent blast of air after another toward Mugetsu.
This was a coincidence, because not only did Mugetsu know Vacuum Bullet, it was also a high level Wind Release he could freely use in public.
"Wind Release: Vacuum Bullet."
Mugetsu and Teacher Chen formed the exact same hand signs, condensed a large amount of chakra in their mouths, and then spat out transparent blasts of air.
Mugetsu's proficiency in Vacuum Bullet was also average, but he had recently obtained a proficient level Wind Release Nature Transformation, which significantly boosted his Wind Release.
Not all of the transparent blasts collided, as there were too many, but in every clash, Mugetsu's Wind Release had the upper hand.
Boom, boom.
Small craters appeared on the ground next to Mugetsu from the blasts that slipped through, while Teacher Chen's side was even more chaotic. Many large trees were blown apart, and cracks split the earth.
Because of the huge amount of wood chips and dust thrown up by the attacks, Teacher Chen inevitably ended up looking rather disheveled.
"Teacher Mugetsu's strength is truly unexpected. In both uses of the same Ninjutsu, his jutsu was stronger," Genma exclaimed, eyes locked on the field.
Using the same Ninjutsu to clash was undoubtedly the best way to judge the level of both sides. Whoever was stronger in that moment won.
Obito closed his mouth and said nothing.
He wanted to tell Genma that this was nothing, that the Ninjutsu Mugetsu used during missions was far stronger than this, but Mugetsu had instructed him not to talk about it, so Obito forced himself to stay quiet.
"In terms of Ninjutsu, Teacher Mugetsu is indeed superior, but we still need to wait for Teacher Chen to use taijutsu before deciding who has a greater chance of winning," Ebisu said after thinking for a moment.
He was not sure what Mugetsu was best at, but Teacher Chen's forte was undoubtedly taijutsu.
"Such powerful Wind Release. And it happens to be Fire Release and Wind Release. My Ninjutsu is completely outmatched," Teacher Chen thought.
After two probing clashes were thwarted, he decided it was time to start using his most proficient taijutsu.
He was, after all, in front of his disciples. He could not let himself keep getting suppressed like this.
"Your Ninjutsu is very good, but you need to be careful now. I am going to use my full strength," Teacher Chen shouted to Mugetsu.
Having seen Mugetsu's Ninjutsu and knowing his battle report from the Leaf Newspaper, Teacher Chen judged that Mugetsu's overall strength far surpassed that of an ordinary Jonin.
"Do not worry, senior. Although my taijutsu is not as proficient as yours, I do know a thing or two," Mugetsu replied with a chuckle.
He was not being modest this time. If he did not use the Mark or Eight Gates, then compared to Teacher Chen, his taijutsu really could only be described as "knowing a thing or two."
As for using those, Mugetsu could only say that overwhelming power creates miracles. One force can break all techniques; absolute strength can crush skill.
Teacher Chen exhaled, his gaze becoming extremely sharp.
Mugetsu, meanwhile, silently altered his breathing rhythm, shifting from normal Constant State breathing to an extremely focused breathing state, further enhancing his physical abilities.
Teacher Chen gathered chakra in his lower body and burst forward toward Mugetsu at extreme speed, so fast that to Ebisu it looked like Teacher Chen appeared in front of Mugetsu in the blink of an eye.
Mugetsu, not to be outdone, also charged forward with several rapid Shave steps.
Seeing the two finally about to clash in taijutsu, Guy's expression became incredibly serious as he focused on their movements.
"Leaf Great Whirlwind."
Mugetsu channeled power into his legs and then swiftly delivered a spinning kick toward Teacher Chen.
Facing Mugetsu's extremely fast kick, Teacher Chen's expression stayed relaxed. He easily deflected it with both fists, then responded with a triple spinning kick.
"Leaf Gale."
The spinning kicks, carrying immense leg power, shot toward Mugetsu.
Mugetsu narrowly dodged the first two kicks, but the last one was unavoidable.
He could only cross his arms to block, taking the full force of the blow and being driven back a full seven meters by the impact.
"His taijutsu is also good. Have I been out of touch with village affairs for too long, to not know about such a capable young ninja?" Teacher Chen thought after forcing Mugetsu back.
Although it was not on par with his Ninjutsu, Mugetsu's taijutsu was, in his view, quite good. His speed and strength were both above average, and his reactions were decisive.
"Indeed, once he used taijutsu, the situation changed immediately," Ebisu thought as he saw Teacher Chen repel Mugetsu.
Teacher Chen was, after all, the ninja who held the title of Konoha's strongest taijutsu user.
"Although he looks like a run down old man, Teacher Chen's taijutsu is truly terrifying," Genma said, realizing that one really could not judge a person by appearance.
Both he and Ebisu felt that the scales of victory had already tilted toward Teacher Chen.
Guy and Obito's trust in Mugetsu, however, had not changed, especially Guy.
Only he, who trained in both Eight Gates and Rock Breathing, knew how terrifying Mugetsu's taijutsu could be.
Being at a disadvantage in a taijutsu clash was within Mugetsu's expectations.
His taijutsu proficiency was inferior to Teacher Chen's, and his combat experience was far less. He simply wanted to see how strong such highly polished taijutsu really was.
Now that he had a sense of the strength behind Teacher Chen's techniques, Mugetsu silently changed his breathing again, entering the Mark state of Rock Breathing.
In his opinion, Teacher Chen's strength was even above that of Six Gates Dai.
If he relied only on Breathing Techniques, then he could only respond by entering the Mark state.
Once the Mark activated, Mugetsu's chakra began to rapidly deplete, merging with his focused breathing to comprehensively enhance his body.
Mugetsu could feel power constantly surging up from within.
It was impossible for his body to undergo such an enhancement without a visible change.
His aura rose higher and higher, becoming more and more intense. Just from the pressure of it alone, the surrounding grass began to sway without wind.
"Senior, your taijutsu is truly exquisite, but I also have some fairly powerful taijutsu. Please be careful from here on," Mugetsu warned.
"Is this Eight Gates? No, the aura is not wild. It feels deep and refined instead."
Having seen Guy use Eight Gates, Teacher Chen now had a basic understanding of that forbidden jutsu.
Looking at Mugetsu, whose aura had suddenly grown stronger, he first thought of Eight Gates, but quickly dismissed the idea.
Teacher Chen steadied his heart.
Whatever ability Mugetsu used was his own skill. Teacher Chen simply needed to unleash his own strength.
After activating the Mark, Mugetsu also opened the Transparent World, gaining extreme control over his body.
With the Transparent World's enhancement, Teacher Chen's body was seen through by Mugetsu.
Although Mugetsu's aura was now extraordinary, this only lit an even greater fighting spirit in Teacher Chen.
It had been a long time since he had met such a powerful opponent.
Whoosh.
Teacher Chen flashed forward and sent an extremely fast kick toward Mugetsu.
The completely serious Teacher Chen was incredibly fast, appearing in front of Mugetsu almost instantly.
But Mugetsu had already activated the Transparent World.
Teacher Chen's movements were laid bare to him the moment his muscles twitched. Mugetsu knew exactly what kind of attack Teacher Chen was about to unleash.
The instant Teacher Chen moved, Mugetsu took a single step back and perfectly slipped past the kick.
"Hmm? Was that a coincidence, or did he predict my movement?"
Teacher Chen sensed something was wrong and used Leaf Gale again.
Mugetsu's figure flickered as he dodged every spinning kick. All three kicks cut through empty air.
Once might be a coincidence, but dodging so many attacks in a row could only be called skill.
Teacher Chen was extremely surprised. It was the first time he had encountered something like this. It felt as if his thoughts were being read and all his attacks were predicted.
After evading the last spinning kick, Mugetsu moved in. He raised his palm and chopped lightly toward Teacher Chen.
It looked as if he had not used much strength at all.
Teacher Chen burst chakra and met the attack with a punch.
The moment his fist clashed with the hand blade, Teacher Chen's expression changed drastically. The seemingly light hand strike contained a shocking amount of power.
Bang.
Under the terrifying impact, Teacher Chen flew backward at extreme speed, only coming to a stop after crashing into three large trees.
"What kind of technique is this? I could not feel any power from it, yet it had such terrifying destructive force." Teacher Chen's expression became more serious than ever.
In his eyes, this was a high level taijutsu technique he did not understand.
The sudden shift on the battlefield greatly surprised Genma and Ebisu.
"Teacher Chen was actually sent flying? He was just..." Genma realized that high level ninja battles were too difficult to understand.
Both times had been close range taijutsu clashes, yet the results were completely different. In one, Teacher Chen had gained the advantage, and in the other, Mugetsu had.
"Teacher Mugetsu's taijutsu is actually this powerful," Ebisu said in shock as he looked at Teacher Chen, who had been knocked back.
This was Teacher Chen, the man who held the title of Konoha's strongest taijutsu user.
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