Chapter 84: Sparring

Bang bang bang.

In an instant, a series of fists and kicks echoed across the remote training ground.

Knowing Haku's formidable background, Shinji didn't hold anything back during their sparring session. Yet, despite his best efforts, he couldn't break through Haku's physical defense.

After a lengthy battle, the two ended their sparring session in a tie.

"Phew."

Shinji gasped, his breath coming in heavy bursts as he thought to himself.

Haku was already incredibly strong, and after acquiring several trophies, his strength had improved significantly. If Shinji didn't use the Mangekyō Sharingan, he knew he would definitely not stand a chance against Haku.

After a brief rest, Shinji turned to Karin, who was watching from the sidelines. "Come and spar with me!"

Karin's eyes widened in disbelief as she pointed to herself. "Me?"

Shinji waved impatiently. "Hurry up!"

Shinji had been contemplating how to reasonably include Karin in his small group, intending to monitor the recovery status of the half-damaged Mangekyō Sharingan in her eyes at all times.

That's why he seized the opportunity to have Karin stay.

You must understand, Karin was now his primary investment project, and he was even more concerned about her than about himself.

When Karin arrived on the field, she feigned casualness and asked, "How are your physical skills?"

"Very bad!" Karin shook her head quickly.

In reality, her physical skills were quite good compared to her peers, but next to Shinji, they were undeniably lacking.

Shinji's expression grew serious as he charged forward.

Karin dodged and parried in a state of panic.

After their fight, Shinji realized that Karin's reaction speed was not slow; rather, she hesitated when making moves and was somewhat clumsy.

This hesitation was a classic sign of a lack of confidence.

Shinji had made the same mistake when he first began sparring with Haku. It wasn't until he gained confidence that he gradually overcame this issue.

Deliberately, Shinji tried launching an attack from Karin's blind side but noticed her reaction was noticeably slower, so he ceased his move.

As anticipated, Karin's Sage Body alone wasn't sufficient to restore the half-damaged Mangekyō Sharingan. It could only nourish the Mangekyō and prevent it from further decay.

After stepping back, Shinji said, "Don't neglect taijutsu. It hones your fighting instincts and sharpens your courage."

Karin nodded, her expression blank.

At that moment, Sasuke, hands in pockets, strolled onto the practice field and addressed Shinji, "I knew you'd be here!"

Shinji replied, "Why are you looking for me?"

Sasuke glanced at Haku and Karin before turning back to Shinji. "With your strength, sparring with them won't help you grow at all! Shinji, spar with me from now on!"

Shinji couldn't help but laugh.

Given Haku's current strength, defeating Sasuke would be effortless. The weaker party also possessed a pair of Mangekyō Sharingan eyes.

Sasuke had no grounds to underestimate them both at present.

Seeing Shinji's amusement, Sasuke frowned. "Why are you laughing?"

Shinji didn't offer an explanation but casually remarked, "I'm currently studying medical ninjutsu. I'm afraid I don't have time to practice with you. You'll need to find someone else."

Sasuke's face showed irritation.

Haku, recalling Kirigakure's task, quickly offered, "Sasuke-kun, I can be your sparring partner."

Sasuke rolled his eyes. "Just you? Let's forget it!"

With that, he turned and left the practice field.

Shinji continued to train with Haku for a while longer. After he was exhausted and drenched in sweat, he bade farewell to Haku and Karin and left the training ground alone.

Once Shinji was gone, Karin let out a sigh of relief.

Haku remarked, "You'll find that Shinji-san is actually very easy to get along with if you spend more time with him."

Karin nodded. "I can sense it. The way he looks at me is different from others. He doesn't treat me like an outsider."

Haku felt the same way about Karin.

Just as Shinji found it relaxing to be with Haku, Haku felt at ease with Shinji.

Karin expressed a hint of regret. "It's a pity that we can't reveal our true identity to him!"

"Yes, sometimes I wish Shinji-san could become a member of our Akatsuki organization," Haku said, pausing before shaking his head. "But after some thought, I let it go. He has suffered enough."

Karin suppressed her emotions and asked curiously, "By the way, how is your loot absorption coming along?"

Haku didn't answer immediately but extended his palm toward Karin.

Without forming a seal, a water ball appeared in his hand. The water ball continuously changed shape before solidifying into an ice blade, radiating a chill.

"Wow!"

Karin exclaimed in awe.

Haku dispersed the ice blade and asked Karin, "What about you?"

Karin looked troubled. "The fusion of the changes in chakra properties of water and earth is too challenging. I'm at a loss right now."

Haku considered this for a moment before saying, "Then let me teach you about the changes in water-type chakra properties first."

Karin asked, "Is it difficult?"

Haku shook his head. "It's not difficult; it's actually quite simple!"

---

In the Apartment

Shinji sat on the bed and activated the 'Naobi.' After carefully sensing his surroundings for a while, he reluctantly deactivated the pupil technique.

Within his sensing range, he could only detect Haku and Karin.

This indicated that Deidara had either not succeeded yet or had not reached their agreed-upon town.

However, since it had only been one day since he issued the mission to Deidara, this delay was normal. Deidara and Scorpion were in the same group and might not always be in contact with Zetsu.

Suddenly, pain surged through his eyes, and he instinctively reached up to cover them.

"More often than before."

His expression darkened.

The power of his pupils was being gradually depleted, and the feeling of being able to only expel energy but not receive it was intensifying his anxiety.

Understanding that exacerbating this anxiety would be counterproductive, he tried to redirect his thoughts.

"The sensing range of 'Naobi' is still too limited. I wonder if I can expand it further in the future after fusing the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan. Unfortunately, I don't know what exactly 'Fukusu' is or what abilities it possesses."

Then, he thought about the Mangekyō in Karin's eyes.

That pair of Mangekyō was similar to his grandmother Uchiha Jiri's. It had also lost one of its pupil techniques, leaving the remaining ones relatively useless.

This was likely why the pupil power of the Mangekyō had been preserved relatively intact.

The remaining pupil technique of the pair was "Susanoo," which enhanced the power of "Susanoo."

For the original owner of the pair of Mangekyō sharingan, 'Susanoo' was too extravagant for someone with only one Mangekyō left. Thus, it was useless to him.

But for Shinji, the situation was different.

If he could fuse a pair of Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan and then control the Mangekyō containing 'Susanoo,' his own 'Susanoo' would reach an extraordinarily powerful level.

End of Chapter