22 Hatsu

Finally, the Hunter's exam is over and I can have my fight with Netero. He led me to a big open field where we could fight without worries. He has a very giddy expression on his face and that makes me smile.

"Are you ready, Netero? Show me what you have, alright?", I tell him.

"As you wish.", he says and gets into a position. He places his legs close to each other and spreads his arms, holding his palms facing the sky. His Nen flows around him in a white sheen.

[Picture]

Then Netero falls into motion. It looks as if he is in slow motion but I know that my perception is sped up a hundred times. Netero brings his palms down and then clasps his hands together in a fluid motion, as if in prayer. When his hands reach his chest, he gets into a horse stance. Golden light starts to shine between his hands. Taht light extends behind his back. Netero summons a multi-armed Nen construct behind himself which takes the form of a gigantic statue of Guanyin.

[Picture]

"100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva", Netero announces his technique.

"Heh, that guy.", I smile. I can already tell that this is a marvellous technique and the name seems ironic thinking that what he delivers with this Hatus is anything but mercy.

"First Hand.", Netero announces and then moves his right arm and performs a chopping motion, causing the bodhisattva to strike me with a chop as well. The golden palm impacts my body without me doing anything against it.

*BOOOOM*

[Picture]

The attack pushed me into the ground and created a deep fissure into the ground. I climb out of the crater and look at Netero with a smile. I didn't coat my body with Haki, in order to feel the attack. It was an impressive attack indeed.

"That was an amazing technique Netero. And to think that the Guanyin's palm is just as fast as your own ... indeed impressive. But I can tell taht there are some limitations right?", I ask him. From what I have gathered there are limitations to this technique, which is very sad in my opinion but normal and follows the way of the world.

"Did you already figure it out?", Netero asks surprised.

"You give and you get something in return. The more you give, the more you gain in return.", I say and he immediately knows that I understood.

"*Sigh* you are indeed impressive. As expected from the enlightened one."

"Enough honey, Netero. So if I'm correct then in order to make a Hatsu ability powerful, you can create limitations for it. The harsher the limitations are the more powerful your technique becomes. For example.

You never once moved from that spot. Granted, we just started, but your feet haven't moved a bit, while your upper body does indeed move, so I guess that you can't move while attacking. You have to make the move and the prayer motion every time before you attack. You have somewhat worked your way around this, thanks to your speed."

"Very good. That is exactly right. But why did you let me hit you? I can tell that you saw everything and could have dodged."

"I wanted to experience an attack. If my guess is correct, then you should be able to create limitless combinations of attacks. That is a very powerful Hatsu you have there. I am eager to see more of it.", I say and he smiles.

"Very well then. Let's continue."

"Third Hand.", Netero declares his next attack and two palms approach from the left and the right. They impact me from both sides but this time, I coat my body with Haki.

*CLAP*

[Picture]

A loud clapping sound is heard as the hands impact my body. I push the palms apart and prepare for the next attack.

"Fourth Hand.", Netero attacked and two palms came from the front this time. I threw my staff in the air, pulled both my arms back and then punched at the same time.

*BOOOM*

I managed to block the palms but felt more approach me from above and the side.

"17th Hand"

"Second Hand."

"31st Hand."

*BOOOM*

One attack after the other shot towards me and I used my Kenbunshoku Haki to either dodge or block them. It was a good technique but one that had a limited range. The further away I would back off, at one point, the palms wouldn't reach me anymore.

But that wasn't what this was about. I not only wanted to experience and see Netero's technique, but I also wanted to create my own. And Netero's Hatsu ability was an interesting start. A way for me to create my own as the fight dragged on.

More palms shot towards me and some even managed to hit my body. The amount of attacks Netero could create with his Hatsu is tremendous. But I can tell that he is somewhat limited in the amount of patterns he attacks with.

He is only human after all. He would need to calculate unimaginable numbers in his head or memorize them beforehand to truly get all out of his Hatsu.

I didn't use my staff for this. I wanted to create a Hatsu similar to this, but different at the same time. I wanted to implement my personality in this Hatsu. And as the fight went on, I began to feel it and understand what would become my own Hatsu. But unlike normal Hatsu abilities, I wasn't interested in creating limits for myself.

I would rise above that and make it stronger in the long run and not trade potential for instant progress. I closed my eyes as I dodged more and more of his attacks. Netero is fired up, I can tell. He attacks more and more and doesn't stop between each attack.

I start to figure out his pattern for these smaller numbers. He has numbered his attacks and up to this point has used 1 to 58. But it is not helping him in any way. He understands that and I can see him change his stance. Netero jumps into the air and just stands there.

He clasps his hands together and rests his right ankle on his left calf. Then Netero joins his thumbs and index fingers together, making a sign with his hands that looks like the number ninety-nine.

"Ninety-Ninth Hand."

[Picture]

The bodhisattva unleashes a barrage of palm strikes with all its arms, resulting in a massively powerful attack that starts to dig deep into the ground. I can't dodge all of these and get hit more and more. I feel the strength in each strike and notice that each of them is the exact same. But delivered this fast after the other, this can cause quite some damage. Not to me though. My strength is unrivalled in the Pirating world and humans are weaker in this world. But that doesn't count this Hatsu. The Guanyin packs quite the punch.

Netero does not need to "pray" in between blows and instead maintains the pose that started the technique. I only defend and don't attack. However, I noticed another flaw in this technique. He only attacks in the same way over and over again. There is no change in moves. Taht is a big flaw for him and something that would cost him dearly in a real fight.

As the attacks continue to rain on me, I finally decide to start creating my Hatsu ability. I won't make it definite but I will add whatever I want as the fight continues.

(3rd Person POV)

Sid suddenly begins to shine in a golden light, similar to the way the Guanyin shines. He has entered a meditative state, amidst the fight. Taht tells you how seriously he takes this.

Sid's body begins to float upwards and he gets into a lotus position. Netero sees this change and stops his attack. He watches with wide eyes as Sid seemingly transforms. But that's not the case. Behind him, similar to Netero's Hatsu a golden silhouette begins to form until ...

[Picture]

... the form of Sid, as the Buddha appears. Sid is still in the lotus position and sits on the palms of the construct. In the moment that this is formed, something fascinating happens. Netero, who observes this, suddenly drowns in an ocean of tranquillity which permeates the surroundings.

He loses his will ... to fight. Every thought about fighting is gone and he can't help but shed tears! For a moment he feels completely at peace with himself and the world. All the problems don't disappear, but they suddenly become manageable and he can see a path towards happiness.

This is the first part of Sid's Hatsu ability.

"Hanran Hiten: Radiant Serenity"

This Hatsu ability channels the serene and enlightening essence of Sid, who is Buddha and manifests as a construct of Sid himself and permeates an aura that brings tranquillity to the surroundings. When activated, the construct emits a gentle golden glow, reminiscent of Sid's enlightenment.

This aura has several effects, and Sid can decide on which should be used or if all of them should be used.

- Peaceful Influence: The aura instils a sense of calm and peace in those within its vicinity, soothing heated emotions and pacifying conflicts. It can quell aggression and promote understanding and empathy among individuals. No fighting is possible while Hanran Hiten is activated.

- Clarity Enhancement: Those within the aura find their minds clear and focused, free from distractions and negativity. It enhances concentration, meditation, and contemplation, allowing for profound insights and spiritual growth.

- Healing Presence: The aura possesses subtle healing properties, alleviating physical ailments and injuries to some extent. While it doesn't replace going to a doctor, it can accelerate the body's natural healing processes and promote overall well-being.

- Spiritual Guidance: Used by Sid should he ever choose to teach others, he can activate this effect. The aura acts as a beacon of enlightenment, offering solace and direction to those in need.

These are the effects of Hanran Hiten. But this is of course not the whole truth and all the capabilities of Sid's Hatsu ability. He can also choose to use his Hatsu offensively.

The aura around Sid changes suddenly and Netero is alerted to this change. He gets ready again and activates his Hatsu as well. Sid's construct doesn't change and he still looks the same but one of the hands of the construct is lifted up and brought up.

[Picture]

It looks like slow motion but in truth, it is insanely fast, what happens next? Behind the Buddha construct rows of palms start to appear one after the other. One after the other and after one half circle is finished, the row behind that appears. More and more start to appear with seemingly no limit.

[Picture]

It looks like Hashirama's Sage Art: Wood Release: True Several Thousand Hands. But it is more than that. There are no limits to the hands that get visible. However, the farther back the palms are the less visible they become.

Netero can't help but widen his eyes at this display.

"Samsara Shouryuu: Cycle of Enlightenment", the calm voice of Sid is heard as he activates and names this part of his Hatsu ability. He can feel that there is more to do but for now, this will do. He opens his eyes and looks at Netero.

Netero looks Sid in the eyes and for a moment nothing happens. But then ... both attack at the same time.

*BOOOM*

In an instant, hundreds of attacks are exchanged between the two. But Netero has one problem. He needs to form a prayer motion before he can attack. This is a big weakness against an opponent like Sid. But since this is only a very fresh technique, Netero is still holding on. Sid begins to understand more and more patterns that he can use and as the fight drags on, his attacks become faster and faster.

Netero activates his fastest attack again.

"Ninety-Ninth Hand."

For a moment, it seems that he is slightly pushing Sid's attacks back ... only for more and more palms to join the attack and Netero's Hatsu to be completely overwhelmed and even broken.

*BOOOOOOOOOOM*

To be continued

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