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But when two sides are at war, there's rarely a special circumstance where they'd just exchange blows from 100 meters away without reason.
In other words, how many types of ninjutsu can actually decapitate an opponent from that far?
In most shinobi confrontations, combat takes place within a range of ten meters or less. That's why, in real battle, the terror of the "Shave" technique becomes apparent. Like a flash, it's so fast that those without motion-predicting vision—like the Sharingan or Byakugan—can't even perceive it.
Of course, this technique also has its flaws—it can only move in straight lines or diagonals. It doesn't allow for curves or directional shifts. As long as an enemy sees the pattern, they can adapt and counter it.
As for Rob Lucci's "Razor", it's a far more advanced variation that incorporates elements of Moonwalk, and Ye Dou hasn't been able to master it yet.
Still, he didn't slack off in training with the Gravity Fruit. Aside from techniques that consumed too much chakra to use effectively, he had gained flexible control over the rest of its powers.
"Even though I can't pinpoint the ambush location exactly, I've set enough traps. The entire area spans nearly a mile—nothing is getting through unnoticed."
"Everything's ready now. Just waiting for the Crane Clam to step in."
His eyes grew cold, and a fierce excitement surged in his blood. After four months of planning and preparation, Ye Dou was eager.
"Ye Dou! The fish is ready—come eat!"
A sudden cheerful call came from behind. He turned around to see Hyuga Hanabi standing by a grill, waving at him with a bright smile.
Hanabi didn't know Ye Dou had chosen this spot for rigorous training. She just thought he'd dragged her here for a picnic, and she'd been enthusiastic about it all day.
"..."
[My youth surpasses his.]
At noon in Nanhe River, few humans were around. Only birds, beasts, and the sound of flowing water filled the air.
By the riverside near the waterfall, three people were gathered around a grill, their laughter echoing from time to time.
They were Ye Dou, Hyuga Hanabi, and Might Guy, who had recently returned from a mission.
Ye Dou ate grilled fish slowly, silently, while the other two were immersed in lively conversation.
Guy was immediately taken with Hanabi. Despite being only around seven, she was well-mannered and had a pleasant voice. She would grow into a beautiful lady with time.
Most importantly, unlike his own student—whom he often called a disrespectful brat—Hanabi was polite, curious, and genuinely enjoyed listening to his stories. A perfect audience to stroke his ego!
It was a shame she belonged to a noble clan and practiced Gentle Fist, an art aligned with the Byakugan kekkei genkai. Otherwise, he might have introduced her to Ye Dou as a potential little sister figure.
On the surface, Hanabi smiled, but inwardly, she was a little troubled. She feared that Ye Dou might end up becoming like Might Guy one day.
The very idea was terrifying. From his exaggerated poses to his outrageous sense of fashion—it was all too much.
"No wonder Ye Dou trains here. He must be hiding from Guy-sensei..."
Feeling like she'd uncovered a major truth, she glanced sympathetically at Ye Dou. It must be hard to have such a teacher...
While Ye Dou and Hanabi had their own thoughts, Guy and the girl chatted cheerfully, their laughter almost as bright as the sun.
"Xiao Hanabi, do you know Kakashi?"
"Kakashi-sensei? Of course! My father often talks about him. He graduated from the academy at five, became a Chūnin at six, and a Jōnin by twelve! He's a record-breaking prodigy!"
"Exactly! Kakashi is a genius. But did you know… he's lost to one person more than 50 times?"
"Really? Who?!"
"Konoha's Blue Beast—Might Guy!"
As his story reached its climax, Guy leapt into the air, striking a ridiculously dramatic pose like he'd walked out of a foreign superhero film.
"Wow, you're amazing, Guy-sensei!"
Hanabi clapped enthusiastically. Looking at Guy's self-satisfied grin, she thought he was just too easy to please.
"Hahaha! That's right!"
Guy laughed loudly, joy radiating from his whole body.
But then Hanabi tilted her head and asked curiously, "So, Guy-sensei, did you and Kakashi-sensei start competing from a young age?"
"Of course!" Guy exclaimed passionately. "We became rivals the moment we entered the Academy! From Konoha's East Gate to the South Gate, from the village square to the training grounds, we've clashed countless times—fueled by eternal youth!"
"You're amazing, Guy-sensei!" Hanabi's eyes sparkled like gold stars. Then her tone shifted slightly: "By the way… how old were you when you graduated?"
Guy froze mid-pose. His face stiffened. After a long pause, he coughed awkwardly. "W-well… due to some, uh, curriculum issues… I stayed in the Academy a bit longer."
"Oh… I see." Hanabi nodded seriously, then pressed further. "So, you and Kakashi-sensei have battled fifty times over the years?"
Guy looked like he'd taken a direct hit to the chest. After several seconds of internal struggle, he finally blurted, "It's more like… five hundred times!"
"Ehh?!"
Hanabi blinked in shock. That's ten times more than what he just said! Wasn't that a little shameless?
Guy, now visibly flustered, shouted, "The reason I lost so much before was because I didn't have enough training space at home!"
His fists clenched. His aura flared like a supernova.
"But it's different now! Watch, Hanabi! Starting today, I won't lose to Kakashi even once! My youth is above his!!"
With a roar, he launched himself toward Konoha like a cannonball, clearly off to challenge Kakashi again.
Hanabi stood still for a moment, then burst into giggles. "Guy-sensei is adorable!"
"Don't underestimate him," Ye Dou said suddenly, eyes serious. "He's strong—stronger than Kakashi."
His sudden comment made Hanabi pause. Before she could reply, he turned and dove into the waterfall once more.
"He… talked to me first..."
Hanabi's eyes widened in surprise. A strange glint sparkled in them, and her smile outshone the blossoms around her.
"I don't believe that. Kakashi-sensei is the strongest Jōnin in the village. He's even Captain of the Anbu. Guy-sensei is… well, too silly. How could he possibly win?"
Still smiling, she crept toward the waterfall, cupped her hands around her mouth, and whispered to Ye Dou—her voice tinged with girlish curiosity and innocent boldness.
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