https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-448-When-Did-You-Get-the-Illusion-That-You-re-Immune-to-Genjutsu-/12558599/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-450-Dreaming-of-Being-a-Dragon-Before-Even-Slaying-One/12558607/
Chapter 449: Earning a Title
Chapter 449: Earning a Title
From an outsider's perspective, the Kirigakure jonin suddenly paused, as if lost in thought. Seizing the opportunity, Miyashita Yuki, who had been held captive by him, freed herself from his grasp.
In the next moment, the sound of shuriken cutting through the air rang out.
Shwish! !
Several shuriken, imbued with flames, enveloped and pierced the Kirigakure jonin's body.
With that, all three Kirigakure jonin were defeated.
The remaining Kirigakure ninjas were left stunned and terrified, their will to fight completely shattered.
Before the battle, not a single Kirigakure ninja had anticipated that the outcome would be like this.
With three jonin and nine genin and chunin, they had considered themselves an elite squad.
Yet, their opponents were merely a regular Konoha squad, augmented by a single genius ninja.
By all accounts, they should have been the ones victorious, but they had lost, and lost decisively, with all three jonin perishing.
In fact, not only the Kirigakure ninjas but even Tobirama's teammates were shocked by the turn of events.
"This is what a true genius looks like..." Takaki Nobuna breathed a sigh of relief, a smile of admiration spreading across his face.
He had been prepared to make sacrifices, but Tobirama had kept a trick up his sleeve, and his true strength exceeded Takaki's imagination.
"If even Tobirama is this strong, then how formidable must Might Guy, said to be even more powerful than him, be?"
Takaki surmised that all the Kirigakure ninjas present might not be a match for Might Guy alone.
"You were truly amazing today." Uesugi Toru was utterly impressed by Tobirama.
Given Tobirama's current performance, he realized that when they had sparred before, Tobirama had held back immensely; otherwise, he would have been instantly defeated.
"Quick thinking and formidable strength—you're too perfect!" Miyashita Yuki exclaimed, still shaken by the recent events.
Just moments ago, she had thought her life was about to end, but Tobirama had managed to save her.
If this had been a romantic tale, the heroine might have already fantasized about their future children.
However, Miyashita Yuki wasn't thinking along those lines at the moment. She simply felt that Tobirama's strength was awe-inspiring, and her sense of security as a teammate was now fully satisfied.
Kobayashi Kenji, who had sustained more severe injuries, finally let go of the anxiety that had plagued him. The goddess of victory had finally smiled upon their squad.
After defeating the last Kirigakure jonin, Tobirama didn't rest. He deactivated his Blaze Release Chakra Mode and turned his attention to the Kirigakure chunin who was fighting Kobayashi Kenji, casting a genjutsu on him.
Seizing the opportunity created by Tobirama, Kobayashi Kenji turned the tables and inflicted serious injuries on the Kirigakure chunin.
Realizing that the battle was lost, the remaining Kirigakure ninjas attempted to flee, each using their unique abilities. Takaki and his teammates managed to kill one fleeing Kirigakure ninja and injure two others before deciding not to pursue them further, as Tobirama didn't join the chase.
"Let's retreat. I'm not in the best condition right now," Tobirama said bluntly, not wasting any time.
The Blaze Release Chakra Mode was indeed powerful, but it also consumed a lot of chakra. On top of that, he had been continuously using his Sharingan, pushing his body to its limit.
If he weren't physically spent, Tobirama wouldn't have resorted to using his Sharingan for support; he would have finished the job himself.
Takaki nodded and carried Tobirama as they swiftly evacuated with their disciples.
The shadow clone of Mu Yue, who had been quietly observing, also followed and left the area.
It wasn't a typhoon by the sea, so how could a natural wind disperse the Mist Jutsu cast by a jonin? It was Mu Yue who had used Wind Release to dissipate the thick fog.
The Mist Jutsu was indeed a useful technique, capable of countering the Sharingan to some extent.
If Mu Yue hadn't intervened, even with Tobirama's Blaze Release Chakra Mode, achieving the same outcome as before would have been impossible.
Upon returning to their camp, Takaki immediately reported their encounter and victory to Orochimaru.
Orochimaru, on the one hand, inquired about the situation of the other squads, while on the other hand, he publicized the achievements of Takaki's squad as a model for others to emulate.
Although it couldn't compare to Mu Yue's battle against Mizuho, where she had single-handedly slain him, Takaki's squad had achieved a rare feat of defeating a stronger opponent.
It was unlikely for regular squads to repeatedly encounter good fortune like running into a powerful helper like Mu Yue. Thus, Takaki's squad exemplified the spirit of self-improvement.
Furthermore, due to Tobirama's own accomplishments and his connection to Mu Yue, Orochimaru promoted and publicized him even more vigorously.
Adding to this, the surviving Kirigakure ninjas spread word of Tobirama's prowess to their comrades, and the name "Uchiha Tobirama" began to echo across the Eastern Front.
To avoid punishment, the Kirigakure ninjas not only extolled Tobirama's strengths but also exaggerated some of his feats.
Thus, Tobirama, who had gained recognition from both allies and enemies, acquired a title.
Initially, the title was varied, with some calling him the "Flame Demon" and others the "Illusion Eye."
Eventually, due to Tobirama's masterful use of the Body Flicker Technique, moving like a ghost, he became known as—'Body Flicker Tobirama'.
...
...
Konoha Village, Konoha Hospital.
Having made a full recovery, Might Guy finished the discharge procedures and looked up at the sky.
Gazing at the cloudless azure sky, he raised his arms and exclaimed, "What a perfect day for a battle!"
"I'm sure my dear friend can't wait to spar with me. Let our youth burn brightly!" Might Guy thought of what Obito had told him before and set off toward Kakashi's house with long strides.
Since Kakashi wanted to experience his Eight Gates and Stone Release Chakra Mode, Might Guy was eager to showcase his friend's expectations as soon as possible.
Just as Might Guy was about to reach Kakashi's front door, it opened, and Kakashi walked out.
"Hey, Kakashi. What a coincidence!" Might Guy greeted Kakashi with an enthusiastic laugh.
Kakashi looked at him with a deadpan expression, "You call it a coincidence that we met in front of my house?"
"Let's not dwell on such trivial matters. Come, let's engage in a thrilling and youthful battle!" Might Guy gave Kakashi a thumbs-up, inviting him with a hearty laugh.
He couldn't wait to share the power of his Stone Release Chakra Mode with Kakashi.
"Compared to what I'm about to do, sparring is a trivial matter," Kakashi flatly refused.
In his current state, Might Guy had no chance of winning, and Kakashi didn't want to indulge in a one-sided fight.
Might Guy's expression turned solemn. More important than sparring... Could it be...
"Kakashi, if you've contracted an incurable disease, don't give up. Let's go find Tsunade-sama together," Might Guy encouraged him.
Kakashi couldn't hold back his exasperation. He was just about to go grocery shopping, and now he was being told he had an incurable disease.
"Guy, spend less time with Obito from now on. Your comprehension skills have drifted far from the realm of normalcy," Kakashi advised him.
Might Guy scratched his head in confusion, failing to understand the connection between the two things Kakashi mentioned.
"If you have nothing else to do, go back. I'm off to buy groceries."
Kakashi paused, his expression indifferent as he nodded. Indeed, grocery shopping was far more important than indulging in masochistic tendencies.
"How could grocery shopping possibly be more important than battle?" Might Guy protested, his passion burning brightly.
"It depends on the situation," Kakashi replied calmly. "Right now, grocery shopping takes precedence."
If it had been Might Guy before he mastered the Rock Chakra Mode, Kakashi might have shown some interest.
After all, pressure could be a motivator, and sparring with a stronger opponent could stimulate one's growth to a certain extent.
But having witnessed the combined effects of Might Guy's Rock Chakra Mode and the Eight Inner Gates, Kakashi was well aware of the vast gap between them. A sparring match at this point would be meaningless.
"But my dear friend, weren't you eagerly anticipating a battle with me after I've unlocked the Rock Chakra Mode?" Might Guy asked, perplexed.
This turn of events was the complete opposite of what he had imagined.
In Might Guy's fantasy, he would challenge Kakashi, who would enthusiastically accept, and they would engage in a thrilling battle of three hundred moves. Ultimately, Might Guy would emerge victorious, and Kakashi would also gain valuable insights from the fight.
"I'm not looking forward to it at the moment," Kakashi replied mercilessly. Who would relish the thought of being pummeled?
"Could it be that I misremembered what Obito told me?" Might Guy scratched his head, a thoughtful expression on his face.
Kakashi's eyes narrowed, his gaze sharpening as he honed in on the keyword—Obito.
"What did Obito say to you?" Kakashi inquired, his tone neutral.
"Well, don't you remember when we all gathered to give you your Jonin promotion gift? Obito mentioned to me before that gift-giving occasion that you were very much looking forward to battling me when I was in my prime condition," Might Guy explained, recalling the events.
Kakashi now understood the situation—someone had been stirring the pot behind the scenes.
"Perhaps you misheard, Akai. I never said those words, and Obito might have been expressing his own desire to fight you," Kakashi mused.
"Is that so?" Might Guy looked unconvinced.
It wasn't as if he had sustained a head injury; how could he possibly misremember something so simple?
"Of course, would I ever forget my own words?" Kakashi countered.
"You do make a valid point, my dear friend," Might Guy conceded, his confidence wavering.
"If you're unsure, why don't you go ask Obito directly?" Kakashi suggested, pointing him in the right direction.
Might Guy's expression cleared, and he bade Kakashi farewell as he set off toward Obito's house, while Kakashi proceeded with his original plan to buy groceries.
Obito, upon hearing Might Guy's question, inwardly cursed Kakashi for his cunning and his impeccable ability to shift blame.
However, Obito had no intention of taking on that blame. He, too, had no desire to be on the receiving end of Might Guy's fervor. After all, during their previous encounter, Might Guy had shattered his decapitation greatsword with a single move and nearly taken out Biwa Juuzo as well.
If not for the intervention of the other Ninjas of the Seven Swordsmen, Juuzo would have perished.
"Maybe I misremembered. My apologies, Akai," Obito offered a sheepish smile.
Passing the buck back to Obito was out of the question; if Might Guy were to pin the blame on him, he'd be in deep trouble.
Might Guy could only return home disappointed, but he didn't let the beautiful day go to waste. He engaged in an intense training session, something he hadn't done in a long while.
The following day, Might Guy participated in the Jonin examination.
Unlike Kakashi's exam, there were only two candidates this time—Might Guy and one other ninja.
However, the practical examiners remained the same—Hyuuga Hizashi and Inoichi Yamanaka.
After all, Konoha didn't have many Jonin available, and those with the requisite experience to conduct the examination were even fewer.
"He's a capable warrior who fought four of the Ninjas of the Seven Swordsmen," thought Hyuuga Hizashi, recalling Might Guy's impressive record.
Although he hadn't taken any lives, holding off four of the Seven Swordsmen was no easy feat. It showcased exceptional strength, even if it was purely a battle of attrition.
Hyuuga Hizashi knew that if he were to face Might Guy alone, he wouldn't be confident in achieving the same outcome as Might Guy had against the Swordsmen. He would need to reduce their numbers to three before he could be certain of victory.
"Hizashi, it looks like you're in for a challenging time," Inoichi commented wryly.
Might Guy had invested all his skill points into Taijutsu, so Sarutobi Hiruzen naturally wouldn't assign someone more adept at Ninjutsu, like Inoichi, to examine him.
With only two examiners available, it had to be Hyuuga Hizashi.
"I will fulfill my duties as an examiner to the best of my ability," Hyuuga Hizashi declared, steeling himself for the task ahead.
During Kakashi's examination, Hyuuga Hizashi hadn't realized the extent of Kakashi's prowess in Taijutsu, which was why he hadn't activated his Byakugan.
Might Guy, on the other hand, was renowned for his expertise in Taijutsu, with no recorded use of Ninjutsu in any of his battles.
"Might Guy, prepare for battle," the referee announced, calling out Might Guy's name. Both he and Hyuuga Hizashi stepped into the combat arena, ready to face each other.
"The Byakugan, it's been a while," Might Guy remarked, gazing at Hyuuga Hizashi's pure white eyes. It reminded him of a particular opponent he had faced back in his ninja school days.
That opponent was also worthy of respect, and during their fourth year, Might Guy had even undertaken special training to prepare for their eventual clash.
"His name was Hyuuga Daimon, if I recall correctly," Might Guy reminisced, trying to remember his name.
"Begin!" the referee shouted, signaling the start of the match.
At the referee's call, Might Guy snapped into focus, his breathing steadying as an intense aura surged from his body.
"Eight Inner Gates, First Gate: Open! ... Fifth Gate: Du Gate, Open!"
The rules of the examination had been explained clearly beforehand—the candidates were expected to demonstrate their full strength in this simulated battle. Thus, Might Guy wasted no time and immediately concentrated his breathing to open the first five gates of the Eight Inner Gates.
Without entering the Rock Chakra Mode, this was Might Guy's maximum power.
Whoosh! !
As the fifth gate opened, an immense amount of chakra surged within Might Guy's body, generating a formidable aura that stirred the air around him, sweeping away the fallen leaves nearby.
Hyuuga Hizashi wasted no time and immediately activated his Byakugan, allowing him to clearly perceive the violent and powerful chakra raging within Might Guy's body.
"No wonder he chose to specialize in Taijutsu," Hyuuga Hizashi mused, realizing the downside of the Eight Inner Gates. "In this state, it would be impossible for him to use Ninjutsu, and even some Taijutsu that requires precise chakra control would be difficult to execute."
Despite this insight, Hyuuga Hizashi didn't underestimate Might Guy. Such a powerful surge of chakra, even when used in the simplest and most brute-force manner to enhance one's physical strength, could still pack a devastating punch.
Technique had its uses, but sheer power could also overwhelm an opponent.
(End of Chapter)
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