ALL NOVEL Chapter 3: ch3
"Zachary Bennett, Tony Carter."
"Present!"
On the training field of West Valley High School, two boys stepped forward as their names were called by the teacher.
"You guys can start."
"Yes!"
The two students formed the 'Seal of Opposition' as a formality and immediately began their sparring.
This is a monthly practical class, and the rankings are determined by performance. Everyone wants to be at the top to stand out in front of their classmates and teachers.
Bang bang bang.
Neither of them used Ninjutsu, nor could they.
From the very beginning, they attacked each other with Taijutsu, which is common among most ninja apprentices.
Most of the students currently only master basic techniques, and they don't have much Chakra in their bodies.
The fight between the two was quick. Within a minute, Tony took advantage of his physical strength and kicked Zachary away, ending the match.
The teacher waved them off and called the next pair.
"John Smith, Ryan Lee."
"Present!"
John and a skinny boy stepped onto the stage.
"You guys start."
"Yes!"
The two greeted each other and immediately began to fight. The thin boy was very fast, rushing at John and aiming a knee at his chest.
John reacted quickly, forming hand seals with practiced efficiency.
"Substitution Technique!"
Bang!
A wooden stake, which had been prepared earlier, appeared in his place.
John appeared behind the thin boy, propped his left hand on the ground, swept his right leg to knock the opponent over, and then pressed his knee on the opponent's chest to subdue him.
His series of attacks were smooth and fluid, without any unnecessary movements, earning praise from other students.
"As expected of a top student, that Substitution Technique was executed perfectly."
"Yeah, everyone only started learning Chakra and the Three Basic Techniques two months ago. How did John learn it so quickly?"
"Hey, I haven't mastered any of the three basic techniques yet. I just started with Chakra. I guess I'll definitely end up working in a factory someday."
"You and I are similar. We've just mastered the Chakra refining method. If you find a good factory in the future, remember to call your buddy."
Many students not only envied John but also sighed, thinking they would most likely be ordinary people in the future.
"Good job, John."
"The next group of opponents..."
The teacher did not praise John directly but gave him a slight nod of encouragement. They had seen many geniuses over the years.
...
"You're quite agile," Ashley Thompson pouted after John returned to the student area, "How are you mastering the Three Basic Techniques?"
"Except for some flaws in the Transformation Technique, the Clone and Substitution Techniques are almost there." John sat down on the ground to restore his Chakra.
Although he had only used a basic Ninjutsu just now, he had only learned the Chakra refining method from school two months ago.
In such a short time and without any training resources, he had refined just enough Chakra for two or three basic techniques.
Hearing this, Ashley seemed to find an opportunity to boast and said cheerfully, "John, did you know? When I learned the Three Basic Techniques, it only took me a month to master them perfectly."
"Oh."
"Aren't you envious?"
"Not envious."
"You're impossible!"
Facing the superior girl, John's expression remained indifferent, which made Ashley feel as helpless as if she were punching air. She left in a huff.
"The next group of opponents is Ashley Thompson and Ethan Johnson."
Here we go!
When the students heard the teacher call out these two names, they all focused intently on the battle stage.
Ashley, with her perfect body proportions, walked up to Ethan with her head held high. The veins around her pure white pupils swelled instantly as she activated her Byakugan.
The Byakugan allows her to see through the human body and view the meridians and Chakra. In conjunction with her clan's taijutsu, she can block the flow of the opponent's Chakra, rendering them powerless.
Although Ethan had provoked Ashley earlier, he did not dare to be careless. After all, he had only mastered one Ninjutsu, which was more of a passive skill—the Granite Technique.
However, since this technique belongs to the Lava Style, a Bloodline Limit involving earth and fire, its power is several times greater than the five conventional elemental Ninjutsu: wind, fire, water, earth, and lightning.
This is the advantage of the Bloodline Limit. It is difficult to cultivate without being born with it.
"Begin the sparring!" Mr. Carter, the head teacher of the senior class, shouted crisply, putting away the casual demeanor he had during sparring among ordinary students and becoming serious.
Both students were from wealthy families, and he couldn't afford any accidents, or it would spell big trouble.
"Bring it on, big guy!"
"Acupuncture!"
Ashley moved swiftly, rushing at Ethan and aiming her fingers at the critical acupuncture points on his upper body.
Ethan understood her offensive strategy. The two had been rivals for the past six months, and his Chakra flowed immediately.
"Lava Style: Granite Technique!"
His skin instantly turned blue, appearing extremely hard.
Bang bang bang.
Ashley tapped her opponent's acupuncture points several times with both hands, but there was no real effect other than making some noise.
At that moment, Ethan's massive fist swung toward her petite head. Ashley immediately leapt back several meters to avoid it.
"Don't run!" Ethan pursued her, his strong body as formidable as a charging bull.
However, while much stronger than Ashley, he was too slow to catch her. In the past, Ashley would give up after running out of Chakra. Ethan thought it would be the same this time.
Two opponents of equal strength chased each other.
Occasionally, Ashley couldn't dodge the fierce attacks and was forced to counterattack once or twice.
The speed and strength displayed by the two were far superior to other students.
It was obvious they were on a different level.
Ethan chased her for about three minutes, and just when he thought Ashley's energy was about to run out, an unexpected turn occurred.
Ashley, who had been dodging, suddenly turned around, pointed her right hand at his chest, and shouted softly.
"Gentle Fist!"
Bang.
She gathered a large amount of Chakra in her hand and injected it into Ethan's body, disrupting his meridians.
"Ah! That hurts!"
Ethan collapsed, clutching his chest and yelling in pain.
"Stop!" Mr. Carter shouted immediately, running to assist Ethan and addressing the other students: "The practical class is over. Ashley Thompson is the top student in this month's competition."
After saying that, he picked up Ethan and rushed him to the infirmary, where the school's medical ninja was prepared to treat injuries.
"John, you were really right." Ryan Lee said admiringly beside John, "Sure enough, after Ashley mastered Gentle Fist, Ethan was no longer her match. She truly is a descendant of the Byakugan clan."
Ashley returned at this moment. Hearing this, she hummed proudly, looking down at John, who was sitting on the ground.
John's Chakra had almost recovered by now. After all, he could recover quickly because he used less of it. He stood up and dusted himself off.
"What's the point? Once Ethan masters one or two Ninjutsu, she won't be able to match him."
"You're talking nonsense!" Ashley immediately became angry upon hearing this. "No matter what Ninjutsu he masters, it will be useless against my Gentle Fist. He can't protect his internal meridians!"
"You are right," John smiled and said, "But what if you can't get close?"
"As far as I know, Lava Style has a move called Lava Style Chakra Mode, which forms Lava Style armor."
"Let's not even talk about the defense. How would you dare engage in close combat with ultra-high temperature lava all over your body? It would burn you."
"Lava Style Chakra Mode? Lava Style Armor?" Ashley was shocked after hearing this. "Is Lava Style really that powerful?"
"If you don't believe it, go back and ask the seniors in your clan. They should know."
John enjoyed teasing this arrogant girl and immediately continued with a mischievous smile: "Ashley, with all due respect, in my eyes, the Byakugan is really nothing compared to Lava Style, unless..."
"Unless what?!" Ashley was already startled. She knew John knew a lot and had never been wrong, so she subconsciously believed his words.
"Unless you can evolve your Byakugan to another level, then no one, not even the strongest, would be your opponent," John laughed, speaking half-truthfully.
After hearing this, Ashley thought he was teasing her and immediately shouted angrily.
"You're talking nonsense! What ability isn't powerful if developed to its extreme?"
"I don't want to listen to your nonsense, boy. I don't believe that Ethan can surpass others in the future!"
After the girl finished speaking, she ran towards the campus. John shook his head, smiled, and returned to school with the other students.