The Rules – No Chakra Allowed!
Satoru-sensei stretched his arms, scanning the three students in front of him. Each of them stood ready for battle, determination burning in their eyes.
He smirked casually.
"Alright, I'll give you all a little advantage."
Obito narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "An advantage? Are you going easy on us?"
Kakashi shot their sensei a doubtful look, equally wary.
Gai, on the other hand, was practically trembling with excitement, though he remained more cautious than before.
Satoru raised one finger, signaling his next words.
"I'm not going easy on you. Instead, I'm setting a rule."
A sly grin appeared on his face.
"No one is allowed to use chakra."
The three students froze.
"WHAT!?"
Obito's jaw dropped. "You've got to be kidding! What kind of ninja fight is this without chakra!?"
Kakashi furrowed his brows but didn't object.
Gai, however, only grew more fired up. "YOSH! That means this is a pure taijutsu battle! A true test of our instincts!"
Satoru chuckled to himself.
"If I let them use chakra, one of them might throw a fire jutsu at me. How the hell would I dodge that!?"
Feeling proud of his own brilliance, he nodded in satisfaction.
"Remember this: a ninja isn't just their chakra. A true shinobi fights with their body, their mind, and their instincts."
Kakashi gave a slow nod. "I see… that means we need a different approach."
Obito clenched his fists. "If it's just taijutsu, then this time, I'll definitely touch you!"
Satoru's smirk widened. "Then come at me."
Three Against One – Satoru's Sword Dances Through Battle
No one hesitated.
Obito charged first, his fist shooting toward Satoru like a bullet.
Kakashi didn't move immediately, instead staying back to observe, preparing to strike when the right moment presented itself.
Gai circled around to the right, seeking an opening for a decisive attack.
Satoru's wooden sword trembled slightly in his grip, swaying like a leaf drifting through the wind.
"Light, fluid… don't force it."
"The rhythm of battle must flow like water, so that I am the one leading the dance."
As Obito's punch neared, Satoru leaned ever so slightly to the side, slipping past the attack like a ghost.
Whoosh!
Obito's strike missed completely, and the momentum carried him too far forward.
Instantly, Gai lunged from the right, aiming a powerful kick!
But Satoru merely twisted his body, his wooden sword gently tapping Gai's ankle.
Thud!
Gai lost his balance and tumbled to the ground.
"Don't blame me—you're the one who charged in first!"
Kakashi finally made his move!
He leaped forward from behind, using his maximum speed to land a direct hit on Satoru's back.
But—
"Too slow."
Satoru's eyes sharpened as he pivoted, and—
Whoosh!
His wooden sword carved a perfect arc through the air, slicing right past Kakashi's nose.
For a brief moment, Kakashi felt the cool breeze from the sword's movement graze his face.
His body stiffened.
"What…? Why does it feel like… sensei's sword isn't just attacking, but dancing!?"
In that fleeting second, Kakashi saw Satoru in a different light.
Not as a mere instructor.
Not as a clueless newcomer.
But as a true master of combat.
Tap!
A gentle flick of the sword landed against Kakashi's forehead.
He stumbled back a few steps, pressing a hand to his forehead, still stunned.
Gai lay on the ground, panting.
Obito, still recovering, glared at Kakashi, frustrated.
Satoru-sensei lowered his wooden sword, smiling lightly.
"Three against one, and none of you have touched me yet. Looks like you all need more training."
Obito gritted his teeth. "No way! I refuse to lose this easily!"
Haki of Observation – "Sensei is Fighting with His Eyes Closed!?"
Satoru-sensei smirked, then suddenly tore a strip from his own shirt and wrapped it around his eyes.
The three students gawked in disbelief.
Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "Sensei… what are you doing?"
Satoru tightened the cloth around his eyes, smiling.
"This time, I'll fight without looking."
Obito's mouth dropped open. "WHAT!?"
Gai leaped to his feet, eyes practically glowing. "YOSH! This is the true strength of a swordsman!"
Kakashi frowned slightly, intrigued.
"Is it really possible to fight without sight?"
Satoru adjusted his grip on the wooden sword, feeling the flow of chakra within him.
[Observation Haki detected – Converting to Sensory Combat Jutsu.]
[New skill acquired: Sensory Combat Jutsu (Level 1) – Uses chakra to enhance neural responses and predict enemy movements.]
A new sensation washed over him.
The gentle rustling of leaves.
The subtle breathing of his students.
The rhythm of their hearts, the tension in their muscles, the way the air shifted around them.
He could feel it all.
A knowing smirk spread across Satoru's face.
"Now then… come at me."
The three students tensed, their determination reignited.
Gai clenched his fists, grinning. "YOSH! This time, we're getting you for sure, sensei!"
Obito's expression burned with resolve. "I will touch sensei, no matter what!"
And just like that—
A battle unlike any other was about to begin.
(To be continued in Chapter 17 – "Observation Haki, A Cunning Sensei, and Three Panicked Students!")