Chapter 81: Shouting Out Move Names? Fine! I'll Shout Them for You!

Compared to Pakura's teaching, Chen's instruction is incredibly engaging. He weaves effortlessly among the students, demonstrating his powerful Taijutsu while using the stick in his hand to point out their shortcomings time and time again.

Taijutsu, one of the three fundamental ninja skills, is often overlooked. However, with Chen's involvement, this art has seen a resurgence.

Might Guy, in particular, would occasionally let out a spirited exclamation, which Chen interpreted as youthful enthusiasm. In response, Guy would launch surprise attacks on Chen—always futile—only to be met with a well-aimed strike from Chen's stick.

"So, boy, what do you think after watching for so long?" Chen, having defeated all the students, turned his attention to Kazuyama.

"Impressive, Chen-sensei. You haven't lost your touch."

"Hmph, brat. You must be Kazuyama Gekkō. I heard from Sakumo Hatake that you've learned his One Thousand Years of Death."

One Thousand Years of Death… The mention of the technique made Kazuyama's face pale as unpleasant memories resurfaced.

"Are you interested in sparring with an old man like me?" Chen asked, his voice laced with a challenge. "Let me see what makes you the young man he praised as worthy to take over his position."

Chen tossed aside the stick and relaxed his stance, his hands hanging naturally and his feet spread apart. To an untrained eye, he looked defenseless, but those who knew him understood this was his signal to strike.

Among Taijutsu practitioners, the simpler the stance, the more explosive the attack.

Kazuyama frowned, mulling over Chen's words.

Take over his position? What did Sakumo mean by that? Was he suggesting Kazuyama would become the next ANBU Commander?

That idea was ridiculous—ANBU focused on assassination, which was entirely out of sync with his style.

"Kid, stop overthinking it. If you want answers, ask him yourself," Chen said. "For now, spar with me."

Chen let out a breath before strengthening his stance. Suddenly, he lunged at Kazuyama like a cheetah.

"Damn it, old man! Sneaking up on a junior like me? Aren't you supposed to follow some kind of martial arts code?" Kazuyama shouted, leaping backward to avoid Chen's sweeping kicks. "And seriously, this is the Konoha Leaf Whirlwind! Why didn't you even call out the move's name?"

"How old do you think I am? Do I look like a twenty-year-old shouting out attack names?" Chen replied dismissively. "Fine, I'll tell you now—I'm using the Leaf Dragon God!"

Chen laughed as he launched a dual punch, reminiscent of a sea dragon technique.

"Damn it! What are you even talking about!" Kazuyama groaned, raising his arms to block the attack. The force behind Chen's punches was overwhelming, forcing him to stagger back several steps.

He couldn't help but reflect—his current abilities far exceeded what he had possessed in the Land of Grass, yet this old man's power was still beyond his expectations.

[Kazuyama]

[Age: 15]

[Konohagakure, Gekkō Clan Jōnin, Jinchūriki (Seven-Tails)]

Kekkei Genkai:

Transparent Escape (Perfectly Mastered)

Second Kekkei Genkai (not activated, activation progress: 15%)

Ninjutsu: Multiple Shadow Clone Technique

Eight Inner Gates

Flying Thunder God Technique

Fire Release Ninjutsu: Fireball, Phoenix Fire

Earth Release Ninjutsu: Earth-Style Wall, Double Suicide Decapitation Technique

Wind Release Ninjutsu: Body Protection, Great Breakthrough, Wind Slash

Hidden Shadow Snake Hands

One Thousand Years of Death

Tailed Beast:

Chōmei

Affinity: 100%

Tailed Beast Transformation Progress: 90%

(Note: At 100%, Tailed Beast Ball can be used directly.)

Attributes:

Strength: 65

Speed: 70

Chakra: 70

Stamina: 82

Ninjutsu: 81

Taijutsu: 50

Genjutsu: 56

Hand Seals: 58

(Reminder: The panel reference from the Book of Combatants suggests a 1:10 ratio for settings.)

The boost in strength and physical fitness allowed Kazuyama to truly feel the power coursing through his body.

But even so, facing Chen Sensei's fists left him stunned—his arms went numb from the sheer force of the impact.

"Oh? You managed to block that? Your physical condition is better than I expected," Chen remarked, a hint of surprise in his voice.

"You look weak, but you're… interesting."

Who was Chen? Widely regarded as Konoha's foremost expert in Taijutsu, his strength wasn't just about flashy techniques like the Leaf Dragon God. Over half of Konoha's Taijutsu moves had been created by him—signature techniques like the Leaf Whirlwind and Leaf Gust were all his inventions.

"Again!"

Suddenly intrigued by the boy standing before him, Chen shifted into a stance that resembled a stalking cheetah and launched himself at Kazuyama.

Having already felt the force of Chen's attacks, Kazuyama no longer dared to face him head-on. He immediately switched to dodging instead.

The sound of their sparring quickly drew the attention of two nearby classes, including Pakura and Sakumo.

"Heh, this kid," Sakumo said with a knowing grin. "Chen isn't someone you trifle with, yet he's holding his ground."

His gaze sharpened as he added, "I didn't expect his physique to be this strong—he took a direct hit from Chen and came out unscathed."

Sakumo, who had fought alongside Chen on the battlefield, knew exactly how devastating Chen's strength could be. Watching Kazuyama hold his own made him reassess the boy's potential.

Pakura, meanwhile, looked on with a mixture of surprise and curiosity. Kazuyama's speed and reflexes were far sharper than she had anticipated. She had assumed his strength relied solely on his Kekkei Genkai and secret techniques, but now she realized her judgment had been off.

There was something deeper about this boy—something enigmatic that drew people in. No matter how closely one tried to gauge his potential, he remained an enigma, like an unfathomable abyss.

"Kid, dodging isn't going to save you." Chen's voice was sharp, dripping with dissatisfaction. "On the battlefield, if you don't take your enemy down, they'll take you down instead!"

Chen's irritation was obvious—Kazuyama's constant evasiveness grated on him. With speed, strength, and a solid build like his, why was he holding back? Just like Sakumo had said—he was acting like a timid brat.

Kazuyama's response came swift and fiery. "Old man, you're the one who said it. If I fight back and end up embarrassing you, don't blame me!" He didn't enjoy fighting, but that didn't mean he was defenseless.

Chen smirked, undeterred. "Hmph. If I asked to spar with you, I'm ready for whatever you've got. If you can land a hit on me, it just means you've got skill. Now stop stalling and show me."

Kazuyama's lips curled into a bright, confident smile. That smile sent a flicker of unease through Pakura. Her instincts flared, and her stomach twisted.

"Principal Hatake," Pakura said, her voice edged with concern, "I think we should stop this match. I have a bad feeling about this."

Sakumo brushed her worries aside with a casual wave of his hand. "There's no need for concern. Chen's strength is unmatched. Even if Kazuyama counters, Chen won't lose."

But Sakumo had underestimated Kazuyama's unconventional approach. To Kazuyama, defeating someone wasn't always about brute force—it was about outsmarting them.

(100 Chapters Ahead)

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