"Of course!" Yūgao snapped back to reality. "Our battle continues... next!"
With a flick of her wrist, Yūgao launched several shuriken. Kaoru, unfazed, countered with his own.
The dozens of shuriken collided fiercely, Kaoru knocking down every one Yūgao threw.
Taking advantage, Yūgao leaped, flipping behind Kaoru, and picked up her katana.
"Prepare for this move," Yūgao said, holding her katana before her.
"Bring it on," Kaoru said, eyes fixed on her.
Yūgao's eyes narrowed, like a cheetah stalking prey. She charged.
Kaoru squinted, unmoved. Another direct attack? It couldn't be that simple.
Just as Kaoru braced himself, Yūgao reached him.
"Here it comes! Konoha-ryu, Dance of the Sun!" Yūgao raised her katana. Kaoru noticed her chakra bar drop.
"She's using ninjutsu!" Just as Kaoru thought this, Yūgao's katana erupted in blinding light!
The light was like the sun. The intense glare stung Kaoru's eyes, forcing him to shield them. The training ground was bathed in light!
Blinding the enemy, then striking!
Hina also closed their eyes.
"Yūgao-neechan's Dance of the Sun is even stronger!" Hina exclaimed, eyes closed. "Even a genius like Kaoru can't win!"
"Swish!" The light faded. Yūgao's katana hovered silently above Kaoru's head, ready to strike.
The battle seemed decided.
"Kid, you're still not strong enough," Yūgao said, smiling. "One inch lower, and your head would be split open."
"Yūgao-neechan is impressive," Kaoru replied, smiling without a trace of defeat. "But one inch forward, and my kunai would..."
"What?" Yūgao frowned, confused. She followed Kaoru's right hand and saw a kunai pressed against her chest. Any closer, and it would draw blood.
"You!" Yūgao's face flushed. A weapon at her chest! She quickly sheathed her katana and turned away.
"How did Kaoru do that?" Hina wondered. Yūgao's Dance of the Sun seemed unbeatable.
"Not just a kid, but a pervert!" Yūgao said angrily.
"You wound me," Kaoru said, retracting the kunai. "I had no choice. Otherwise, I'd be dead."
Yūgao didn't reply, taking deep breaths to calm herself.
"How did you do it? You shouldn't have been able to see anything in that light," Yūgao asked.
"How did you do it? You shouldn't have been able to see anything in that light," Yūgao asked.
"Concentrating chakra in the blade to create blinding light, then assassinating the enemy... it's a great move," Kaoru said, smiling. "But you forgot something."
"Forgot something?" Yūgao asked.
"Yes," Kaoru nodded, pointing to the ground. "The weakness is here."
Yūgao frowned, then looked down. On the grass, her shadow intertwined with Kaoru's.
"The shadow?" Yūgao asked.
"Exactly," Kaoru said. "By watching your shadow, I could track your movements. Yūgao-neechan, that's the flaw in your Dance of the Sun!"
"Heh," Yūgao chuckled. It wasn't really a flaw. She hadn't mastered the technique enough to control the light's direction, and no normal ninja could track movements by shadows. Kaoru was just too talented.
"Okay, test passed!" Yūgao said, clapping her hands.
"Test? What test?" Kaoru asked, confused. Hina was equally puzzled.
"The Yūgao family test!" Yūgao said, smiling. "It's a secret for now. Depends on your future performance."
"Mysterious," Kaoru frowned. What was she planning?
"Alright, back to lunch," Yūgao said, inexplicably dragging Kaoru to the training ground and now sending him back.
Kaoru turned towards the dining room, and Hinata followed.
"Kaoru-kun, are you okay?" Hinata asked, worried by the fight.
"I'm fine," Kaoru said. "Thanks for your concern."
"Okay," Hinata nodded, walking beside him. A walk with Kaoru, though small, was important to her. She didn't want to break the beautiful silence.
Hina didn't follow Kaoru. She ran to Yūgao.
"Yūgao-neechan, what's this Yūgao family test?" Hina asked, never having heard of it.
"Well..." Yūgao pondered. "Since you asked, I'll tell you. Your parents, always traveling, asked me to test any potential suitor's heart and skill.
Only those who passed could marry into the Yūgao family. That Kaoru kid has saved you many times, so his heart is fine. His skill is impressive, too.
He meets your parents' expectations. Now, we just have to see if he can keep it up."
"Why do Mom and Dad always arrange these things?"
Hina said, blushing. "And I don't like that rascal. He teases me and argues with me..."
"Okay, okay," Yūgao waved. "Stop joking and being shy. I'm asking seriously. Do you like Kaoru?"
"Huh?" Hina stammered, unsure how to answer.
____________________
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