"It's time already? I need to reach the village gate."
…
"Hey there, Genma! Ready to leave?"
Reko greeted a shinobi leisurely leaning on the wall of the gate.
"You're late."
Genma stood straight as glanced at Reko. He threw a scroll he had prepared for the mission to Reko. Except for pointing out that Reko was late, he said nothing, back to his laid-back attitude.
'A sealing scroll?'
Reko examined the scroll before putting it into his shinobi bag. It was an advanced version of sealing scroll, capable of storing numerous big items.
He also had a few sealing scrolls but the space inside was limited, enough for a few tools only.
Seeing Reko put the sealing scroll in his bag, Genma walked out of the gate. Reko followed him, excited to visit the secret lab.
'Would I win against him? He is not actually a Jonin but his battle strength is close to low tier Jonin.'
Reko took a good look at Genma from behind as he wondered, causing the latter to feel uncomfortable.
'If I do not use Rasengan against him then I would have to resort to hand to hand combat. I have not trained in any offensive ninjutsu.
The battle would be strategic and draining but I have Earth release for defense and Mystic palm for healing. I would win.'
In the end, Reko concluded that he would easily win with the Rasengan but without it he would have to strategize and adapt.
However, the results would more or less end up the same. He would win without any serious injury.
"Why are you looking at me like that??"
Finally, breaking the silence, Genma glanced back and asked. He was feeling weird, his senses tingling as if feeling danger.
"I was wondering… if I would defeat you with ease or it would take more effort."
Reko honestly answered, explaining his thoughts to Genma.
"Then I realised that I lack offensive ninjutsu. My primary form of offense is taijutsu only. It would be a long battle if you manage to endure."
The final words landed a decisive blow at Genma's ego. He seemed slightly frustrated from being looked down upon but he was aware that this was Reko's way of talking.
In the whole span of two months training, Genma had been tagging along with Tsunade as her guard. So, he was aware that Reko was very confident in his abilities and pretended to be a very knowledgeable guy.
That is to say, Reko was indeed talented and Genma understood this.
"I assure you that I would not go down so easily. I am a special Jonin but my strength is combat. If you don't instantly use your healing jutsu, I will win."
Facing the road ahead, Genma continued his run as he said with emotion. He was an experienced shinobi, a special Jonin from the time of Minato.
He appeared nonchalant but inside his head he was wondering if Reko was accurate with his guess.
'Level 74. He must have lots of experience considering his age. He is the highest level I have seen except for Tsunade.'
Reko saw Genma's level, it was 74, highest among the shinobis he had seen except for Tsunade. As for Jiraya? Reko did not have this ability to check strength at that time.
"That's a lot of holding back for someone who got beaten black and blue for two months straight. How could I not use something I have learned with such difficulty?"
Reko laughed off, snickering. He had worked really hard to learn healing jutsu and he was going to use it in every possible scenario.
He even planned to learn Tsunade's Yin seal to possess the ability to instantly heal. Not happy, but Reko was satisfied with the latter's response.
At least Genma admitted that he would loose.
The look on Genma's stoic face had changed to one of annoyance this time.
"You are right. You have worked.. really hard to learn advanced skills."
Genma smiled or at least tried to as he made the comment. He could guess why Tsunade always felt like beating this guy even though he learned so fast.
If he wanted to, then could Reko even get the chance to retreat and heal his injuries? It was just plain idiocy at this point.
"What type of fighter are you? You are Hokage's personal guard. So, you must be really experienced."
Seeing Genma go silent, Reko asked once again. He was aware of Genma's fighting style and identity already though.
'You know I have that much experience but you still claim that you can beat me?'
Genma clicked his tongue as he heard Reko's next question.
"I use this, the senbons."
Genma took out the thin toothpick like thing from between his teeth and showed Reko for an instant before putting it back.
"That's it? Hmmm."
Reko sounded disappointed after hearing the answer. Honestly, skillful fighting with a senbon was interesting and cool even, but nothing he would want to learn.
He was honestly kind of disappointed tha there was no mention of special techniques.
"I also have the Flying Raijin technique that you keep mentioning."
Fed up with the nonsense and being looked down upon by the youngster, Genma said how he knew that space time technique.
He was aware that Reko was entranced by the jutsu. Given the chance, Reko would surely ask Tsunade for that Jutsu.
He had learned it together with his squad with the help of Minato. The technique was not actually a jutsu but a formation which needed a combination of three people to activate.
"You?"
Hearing the confession, Reko appeared really surprised. He did not think that Genma would actually confess to him. A secret technique was very personal, Reko was just annoying him for fun.
Instantly, he hardened the soil in his hand into small stone and aimed it at Genma's back, hitting him.
"Why didn't you dodge then?"
Reko asked in a condescending manner. His face had an evil condescending laugh yet looked thoughtful as if he had found a liar.
"Could you teleport to that place then?"
Before Genma could respond, Reko had thrown another small stone at Genma's back, but this time the latter dodged it with ease.
"That…"
Genma appeared embarrassed, flustered, unable to explain. He could not just say that he did not know it, could he?
"Woah, so low of you to lie to a younger shinobi."
Reko laughed, causing Genma to feel even more ashamed. It would have been better if he had kept his mouth shut.
...
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