Chapter 8
"Since that's the case, I won't hold back!"
Having failed to land a hit on Leo, Kuuhai was on the verge of frustration. Upon hearing Chiriku lift his restrictions, he immediately channeled chakra throughout his body and launched another attack with his best taijutsu techniques.
"This is getting interesting!"
Noticing Kuuhai's significant speed boost, Leo's lips curled into a smile. Instead of dodging, he shifted his stance from the Swallow form to the Tiger form, ready to meet Kuuhai head-on.
In his previous life, Leo's primary focus was on Xingyiquan, mastering the Five Element Fists: Pi Quan (Splitting Fist), Zuan Quan (Drilling Fist), Beng Quan (Crushing Fist), Pao Quan (Cannon Fist), and Heng Quan (Crossing Fist). Additionally, he was skilled in the Twelve Animal Forms: Dragon, Tiger, Monkey, Horse, Alligator, Rooster, Swallow, Sparrow Hawk, Snake, Taiji, Eagle, and Bear.
During his years of life-and-death combat, he encountered many masters and studied other styles, including Bagua, Taiji, Wing Chun, Shaolin, and Mantis.
He had used the Swallow form to evade Kuuhai's attacks earlier, and now, he was using the Tiger form to confront Kuuhai's taijutsu directly.
"He's overpowering Kuuhai without using any chakra!"
The observing monks, who initially watched with a sense of schadenfreude, now stared in unified astonishment.
They could clearly sense that Leo wasn't using any chakra. He was merely relying on his powerful physical strength and superb combat techniques to suppress Kuuhai, who was already enhanced by chakra.
"Ferocious Tiger Descends the Mountain!"
Leo ducked to avoid a punch aimed at his face, then pushed towards Kuuhai's abdomen with his hands shaped like tiger claws.
"It's over."
Even though Kuuhai's speed and strength surpassed Leo's once enhanced by chakra, Leo, as a master of dark strength martial arts, had combat techniques far superior to Kuuhai's. Kuuhai had only sparred with fellow monks and had never faced true life-and-death combat.
This led to the current outcome.
"Eh!"
However, just as Leo's tiger claws were about to hit Kuuhai's abdomen, Kuuhai suddenly disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"A substitution technique."
Leo realized immediately, seeing a small stone on the ground where Kuuhai had been.
Despite having studied ninjutsu for a month, Leo still wasn't fully accustomed to incorporating it into combat, often forgetting about it in the heat of the moment.
"Fire Style—Fireball Jutsu!"
A surge of heat from behind made Leo's expression change. Kuuhai, sensing danger, had used the substitution technique to move six meters behind Leo and, panting heavily, launched a Fire Style ninjutsu.
The substitution technique is one of the three basic techniques, and it is highly practical. Unlike the clone technique, which creates non-attacking clones, or the transformation technique, which can be easily seen through by experienced ninja, the substitution technique can be used effectively even in battles between high-level ninja to escape or turn the tide of the battle.
However, it has its drawbacks: it cannot cover great distances, requires nearby objects for substitution, and there is a brief pause after use, making the user vulnerable if no cover is available.
Leo's unfamiliarity with ninjutsu battle tactics meant he didn't immediately search for Kuuhai after seeing the substitution technique.
"Junior brother, I have won."
As the fireball was about to hit Leo, Kuuhai smiled in satisfaction. Despite Leo's superior combat skills, ninjutsu is what makes ninjas the dominant military force.
"It's not over yet."
Leo smiled slightly as he activated his Sage Talent chakra, significantly boosting his physical abilities. With a powerful push from his legs, he executed a White Crane Spreads Its Wings move, jumping just in time to dodge the fireball.
"What!"
Kuuhai, having fought for a while, had forgotten that Leo wasn't using chakra.
"Ferocious Tiger Descends the Mountain!"
Leo landed and launched himself again, transforming into a ferocious tiger descending the mountain, closing the distance to Kuuhai in the blink of an eye.
Faced with Leo's rapidly approaching fist, Kuuhai, intimidated by Leo's aura, completely gave up resisting and tightly closed his eyes.
A moment later, instead of the expected pain, Kuuhai heard a calm voice by his ear.
"Thank you for the guidance, senior brother. I have learned a lot."
As a master of dark strength martial arts, Leo's control over his body was no joke. He stopped his punch precisely two centimeters from Kuuhai's face when he realized Kuuhai had given up.
Kuuhai looked at Leo's smiling face and felt a pang of guilt.
"Forgive my poor performance, junior brother."
"Kuuhai, you have improved compared to before. Continue your training. Chuan, come with me."
Chiriku's gaze at Leo now resembled someone looking at a priceless treasure, his joy evident even to the surrounding monks.
How could he not be pleased?
Leo's combat prowess, especially when using chakra, was already beyond that of a lower-ranked ninja and comparable to a mid-ranked ninja specializing in taijutsu.
With some guidance, Leo could effectively combine ninjutsu with combat, becoming a strong mid-ranked ninja.
If his chakra levels increased enough to learn secret techniques like the "Thousand Hand Kill" and "Wrathful Vajra," the Temple of Fire would soon have an elite ninja.
An elite ninja might not be much in the big ninja villages, but in the Temple of Fire, there was currently only one.
What started as accepting a disciple due to status and money turned into discovering an incredibly talented individual, something Chiriku saw as a blessing.
Unbeknownst to Chiriku, what he witnessed was just the tip of the iceberg of Leo's combat abilities.
A dark strength master has far more skills. In this sparring match, Leo withheld many lethal moves, reserving them for life-and-death battles.
"I need to stay calm. I can't let him become too arrogant."
Taking a deep breath, Chiriku calmed himself and led the way back to the training room.
"Yes, Master!"
Leo bowed to the monks and quickly followed Chiriku.