69novels Chapter 393 Reunion of Old Friends
Chapter 393 Reunion of Old Friends
Chapter 393 Reunion of Old Friends
The most bustling central street in Konoha.
Taiichi shook his head with a helpless smile, then casually took the steaming hot meatball skewers from the dumpling uncle: "Alright, alright, Captain Yangping is the most generous. But—"
He took a bite of the soft, chewy dough, his gaze sweeping over the team members behind Yangping, each with their own distinct expression. His tone carried a hint of sincere approval. "Chief Fugaku's judgment is truly remarkable."
Yangping was stuffing a string of meatballs into his mouth when he heard this, he paused for a moment, and then his smile became more serious.
He swallowed his food, patted his chest, and the badge on his brand-new garrison uniform gleamed in the sunlight.
"That's right! The clan leader said the police force is the front line in protecting Konoha's peace; just being good at fighting isn't enough. We need to make everyone feel that we're approachable, trustworthy, and reliable!"
As he spoke, he felt embarrassed and scratched the back of his head. He asked Taiyi with great curiosity, "That sounds really awkward. It doesn't sound like something a clan leader would say."
He spoke quite loudly, seemingly unconcerned that those nearby might hear him.
The stall owners all smiled and nodded in agreement.
"Captain Yangping is right!"
"With you here, we all feel at ease on this street!"
"The police department is indeed much better now than before."
3
The two Uchiha members who had been covering their faces finally lowered their hands. Their expressions were still somewhat complicated, a mixture of helplessness and embarrassment.
But looking at the sincere smiles and trusting eyes of the vendors around him, the deep-rooted "Uchiha-style" aloofness and alienation in his eyes seemed to be quietly melted away by the warmth of the marketplace.
One of them sighed softly and whispered to his companion, "Although—but—it seems—it does have some effect?"
His companion didn't speak, but just nodded silently. His gaze swept over his captain, who was being enthusiastically surrounded by the vendors, then looked at Taiichi, who was smiling and eating dumplings next to him, and finally landed on the Inu-ya member who was warily scanning the edge of the crowd with the black dog.
The headbands from different families shone with the same luster in the sunlight.
Taiichi put the last dumpling into his mouth, the sweet and sticky taste melting on his tongue. He was about to say something more to Yangping when a youthful shout interrupted him.
"Yangping, I'm back again! My passionate youth makes me determined to fight you three hundred rounds this time!"
With such youthful talk, Taiyi knew who it was without even turning around. But how could Kai know Yangping? They shouldn't have any connection.
"Kai, you bastard, can't you see I'm on duty?"
Yang Ping retorted without hesitation, clearly indicating that the two were already very familiar with each other.
A robust young man with thick eyebrows and a watermelon-shaped haircut, dressed in a green bodysuit, stopped in front of Taiyi with his foot braked at a 45-degree angle to the ground.
Seeing his hands pointing diagonally to the sky, his thick eyebrows raised, and his big white teeth flashing as he showed off, Taiyi covered his eyes, which was uncharacteristically difficult to bear.
"Ah, Taiichi, I didn't expect to see you here. Are you going to join the duel between me and Yohei?"
Only then did Kai realize who was standing next to Yangping. He quickly stopped what he was doing and stepped forward to put his arm around Taiyi's shoulder in a familiar manner.
Taiyi glanced left at Kai, who was arm in arm with him, and right at Yangping, who was standing to the side with great interest, and nodded knowingly.
These two people have surprisingly compatible personalities, and it's understandable that they would become good friends given the opportunity to spend time together.
"Kai, what's going on between you and Yangping?"
"Haha!" Kai gave a thumbs up, his teeth gleaming in the bright sunlight. "We're best friends who inspire each other. Youth brought us together on the training field, and two people full of passion for life sparked a fierce flame!"
Although what they said was nonsensical, Taiichi still understood. The two guys met during training, took a liking to each other, and then became good friends.
Yang Ping nodded with satisfaction, looking at him with a smug, "You're a promising student" expression.
"Taiyi, you have no idea how reckless this guy's training is. I was shocked the first time I saw it; I couldn't believe someone could actually endure such intense training!"
At this point, Yangping also expressed his sincere admiration.
"Haha, why bring this up? The passion of youth is constantly urging me on, and I can't afford to slack off in the slightest."
With tears streaming down his face, Kai excitedly embraced Yangping, "My efforts haven't been enough; I need to persevere much more. But today, Yangping, let's have our 32nd duel!"
Kai continued to challenge Yang Ping, his previously tearful eyes immediately replaced by fighting spirit.
"Okay, no problem. I will definitely not refuse a duel." Yangping also ignited his inner power.
"It's you again, Yangping. Unlike Kakashi, who always makes excuses." Kai's enthusiasm had reached its peak, and he couldn't wait to start the match right now.
Taiyi, watching from the sidelines speechlessly, pointed at the team members behind Yangping and said, "Aren't you supposed to be patrolling? Is it okay to abandon your post like this?"
"Haha!" Yang Ping laughed, patting the shoulder of the Uchiha clansman behind him, seemingly unconcerned by their disdainful expressions. "Don't worry, I'm just looking around on patrol, it's no trouble. Taiyi, let's go!"
Tai looked at the three team members behind him, who were obviously used to this, so he didn't say anything more and readily agreed.
On the edge of Konoha Village, near the outer edge of the Forest of Death, lies the 8th Training Ground.
Compared to the well-equipped and bustling training grounds in the village center, this place appears particularly desolate.
Tall trees surround the area, forming a natural barrier. The ground is compacted soil, with occasional tenacious blades of grass sprouting from the gaps.
This is the ideal place for high-intensity, undisturbed physical sparring.
Uchiha Yohei, Might Guy, and Matsushita Taichi were standing in the center of this somewhat empty space.
Yang Ping crossed his arms and chest, his whole body relaxed, looking completely unguarded, but in fact, he was silently gathering strength in his feet;
Kai was standing there gently warming up, his thick eyebrows and big eyes burning with fighting spirit under his watermelon-shaped haircut.
Taiyi stood quietly between the two, acting as the referee. His expression was calm, with a hint of gentle smile that was hard to detect, as he looked at the two energetic people in front of him.
"Yoshi! Yohei-senpai! Let's begin today's youthful duel!" Kai clenched his fist, assuming the standard starting stance, his eyes gleaming with a pure and fiery light. "A pure taijutsu contest, the 32nd time! My burning blood is itching for this!"
Yangping laughed heartily, adopting the same stance, his eyes sharp: "Come on, Kai! Let me see how much your 'youth' has improved! It's a deal, no Sharingan, and you're not allowed to open that dangerous door!"
"Of course! Pure physical skills are the romance of a real man!" Kai responded loudly.
Upon seeing this, Taiyi abruptly brought his raised right hand down, shouting, "Begin!"
Before the words were even finished, the person had already retreated like an arrow released from a bow.
The battle erupted instantly.
Leaf Whirlwind!
Kai's signature move is swift and sharp, his right leg sweeping across Yangping's lower body with a whooshing sound.
Yang Ping reacted extremely quickly, dodging the attack with a clean and neat backflip. The moment he landed, he used his feet to propel himself forward like a cheetah, delivering a precise straight punch straight to Kai's face.
Kai neither dodged nor evaded, but instead lowered his waist and stood up, throwing out a punch in return!
boom!
The fists collided, producing a dull thud of flesh hitting flesh.
The two of them swayed at the same time, and shallow pits were created in the soil beneath their feet.
In terms of strength, Yangping seemed to have a slight advantage due to his age and physical strength, but Kai's foundation was surprisingly solid, his lower body was as stable as a rock, and he managed to withstand the punch.
"Great power, senior! But the speed of youth is the key to victory!"
With a loud shout, Kai used the recoil to spin around, bracing himself with his hands on the ground, his legs transforming into a green phantom as he unleashed a storm of kicks at Yohei Konoha's Power Whirlwind.
Yangping's pupils contracted slightly. Although his Sharingan was not activated, his dynamic vision, honed through years of combat, remained excellent.
He retreated swiftly, his hands moving like a blur, precisely blocking or deflecting Kaina's tricky kicks.
For a moment, the only sounds on the training field were the dense "bang bang bang" of blocking, the heavy breathing of the two men, and the low roars when they exerted their strength.
Kai's attacks were like surging waves, one after another. His taijutsu was fierce and direct, full of explosive power, and each strike carried an indomitable momentum, showcasing the essence of Konoha's fluid techniques to the fullest.
Yangping's style is more agile and skillful. He makes full use of the space, his steps are elusive, and his movements are elegant and refined, reflecting the essence of the Uchiha clan.
The two exchanged blows, their fists and feet flying, their figures moving, colliding, separating, and colliding again at high speed in the empty training field.
Sweat quickly soaked their clothes, which glistened in the sunlight.
Time slipped away quietly amidst the intense confrontation. Half an hour passed, and both of them began to breathe heavily, their movements starting to become slightly distorted.
During a close-quarters fight, Yang Ping seized a tiny opening in Kai's defenses and delivered a swift chop to Kai's neck.
Kai reacted with lightning speed, suddenly ducking his head while simultaneously thrusting his right knee upwards, aiming for Yangping's abdomen!
Yangping's hand chops grazed Kai's hair, while Kai's knee strike landed squarely on Yangping's forearm as he hurriedly blocked.
boom!
A tremendous force came, and Yang Ping groaned, his feet involuntarily staggering back several steps before he could barely regain his balance. A tingling and numb sensation came from his forearm.
Although the block was timely, Kai's attack was perfectly timed and powerful.
By the time he regained his balance, Kai's fist was already stopped in front of him.
"Halt! Kai has won this battle!"
Taiyi immediately made the announcement from the side.
Kai stopped his stance, his chest heaving violently, sweat streaming down his face, but his eyes shone with an astonishing light, filled with the joy of victory and pure satisfaction.
He suddenly raised his right fist, pointed it to the sky, and tears instantly filled his eyes: "Victory! Senior Yangping! This is my ninth victory against you! Waaaaah—this is the power of passionate youth!"
His voice was loud and clear, choked with emotion, echoing across the training field.
Yang Ping rubbed his numb forearm, looked at the watermelon-headed boy in front of him who was excitedly moved to tears, and smiled helplessly yet sincerely: "Impressive, Kai! Your physical skills have improved amazingly. That knee strike just now was impeccable in both timing and power. I lost!"
"You're amazing, senior! You're so powerful even without using the Sharingan!" Kai wiped away his tears and said sincerely.
"A wonderful duel." Taiichi's voice rang out at the right time. He stepped forward with an approving smile on his face. "To reach this level in pure physical combat, you two are both remarkable. Yangping's experience, skills, and control of rhythm, and Kai's explosiveness, speed, and never-give-up will were all displayed to the fullest.
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the two men: "However, that concludes the warm-up. How about I become your opponent later? Both of you, come at me together, it'll be a physical combat match."
Yangping and Kai exchanged a glance, both seeing a gleam of eager anticipation in each other's eyes. Even if they were utterly crushed, sparring with a powerhouse like Taiyi would be invaluable experience.
"Taiyi, please enlighten us!" The two said in unison, not even bothering to rest, instantly adjusting their state, one on the left and one on the right, subtly forming an encirclement.
"Begin!" Taiyi said without further ado.
Without the slightest hesitation, Yang Ping and Kai, like two arrows released from a bow, carrying the residual heat of the previous battle, simultaneously pounced on Taiyi from two tricky angles!
Yangping attacked from three directions, sweeping his legs like whips; Kai leaped into the air, delivering a powerful downward kick straight for Taiyi's head! The two coordinated perfectly, sealing off most of Taiyi's dodge space.
However, facing the two's fierce combined attack, Taiyi only slightly turned his body, the movement so small that it was almost imperceptible.
His movements didn't seem fast, but he precisely avoided Yangping's sweeping leg, while simultaneously raising his left hand and casually meeting Kaina's powerful downward kick.
boom!
A soft sound. The expected scene of Taiyi being cleaved away did not occur.
Kai felt as if his leg strength, powerful enough to split rocks, had vanished into thin air, held aloft by a gentle yet overwhelming force, and the momentum of his downward strike was instantly neutralized.
Just as Kai was stunned, Taiyi's right hand reached out like a ghost and gently touched Yangping's wrist the instant Yangping changed his move to attack his ribs.
A sudden, skillful force struck Yang Ping, causing him to feel his concentrated power instantly deflected, and his body involuntarily stagger forward.
Taiyi's physical abilities, honed through countless stat boosts, training, and Sage Mode refinement, have long surpassed those of ordinary ninjas.
His strength, speed, reaction, nerve reflexes, and musculoskeletal strength have all reached an unbelievable level.
At this moment, he could gain an overwhelming advantage simply by relying on his physical body, without even needing to mobilize chakra for amplification.
The ensuing battle was less of a friendly sparring match and more of a teaching demonstration by Taiyi.
Yangping and Kai used all their skills. Kai's powerful punch, Leaf Whirlwind, and Lotus Kick combo, Yangping's Uchiha Fluid Technique,
Joint locks and grappling techniques rained down on Taiyi like a storm.
But these were like children playing in front of Taiyi, easily resolved by him, and he even used their power to make them interfere with each other and lose their balance.
In less than five minutes, Yangping and Kai were panting heavily and drenched in sweat.
They felt like they were fighting an unshakeable mountain. Every attack felt like hitting cotton, and was bounced back by an invisible force. Their physical strength was greatly depleted, and their minds were under immense pressure.
"Stop!" Taiyi shouted softly, his figure instantly retreating several meters.
Yangping and Kai felt as if they had been granted a pardon. They immediately stopped, put their hands on their knees, and gasped for breath. Their eyes were filled with shock and admiration as they looked at Taiyi.
They knew Taiyi was very strong, but personally experiencing this pure, unreasonable physical crushing was still beyond their imagination.
"Thanks for your hard work."
Taiyi looked at the two of them and began to comment in a calm tone, "Your teamwork is quite good. It's rare to have such tacit understanding on your first time working together."
Yangping, your idea of trying to control the rhythm during close combat is good, but against an explosive opponent like Kai, and given my speed, your attempt to "control" is too obvious and makes you easier for me to exploit. Your movements could be smoother and more subtle, reducing any trace of anticipation.
Yangping nodded seriously, carefully savoring the feeling he had just experienced.
"Kai," Tai turned to the still-breathing, thick-browed boy, "your strength and speed are advantages, but your attacks are too direct, and your intentions are too easy to see through. Just now you had at least three opportunities to change your moves and feint to disrupt my rhythm, but you chose the most direct route."
Remember, martial arts are not just about strength and speed, but also about strategy. Infuse your youthful passion with a few tactical variations, and the power will be multiplied.
Kai's eyes lit up, and he clenched his fist tightly: "Yes, Taiichi, I'll remember."
Taiyi smiled and continued to summarize: "Overall, your foundations are very solid. Yangping's skills and experience, and Kai's explosiveness and willpower are all top-notch."
But if Yangping wants to go further, he needs to make his movements more flexible, reduce fixed routines, and increase improvisation and deception.
Kai needs to learn to incorporate softness into his "hardness," achieving a balance of strength and gentleness, controlling his power freely, and making his attack routes more varied and unpredictable.
The pinnacle of martial arts is the perfect fusion of strength, speed, skill, timing, intelligence, and even willpower.
His comments were incisive, affirming their strengths while accurately pointing out their weaknesses and areas for improvement. Yangping and Kai listened with complete conviction, nodding repeatedly, and firmly remembering every word Taiyi said.
"Alright, that's the end of the sparring." Taiyi clapped his hands. "Come on, you guys look exhausted."
Yangping and Kai sat down next to Taiyi to rest. Yangping looked at Kai, who was tired but still excited, and suddenly remembered something. He turned to Taiyi and spoke with concern.
"Taiyi, Kai always trains incredibly hard, I'm worried he might have some hidden injuries. Your medical skills are so excellent, could you examine him?"