Tamura Hao didn't know what transpired in the Raikage's office after he left. He returned home and slept well. The next day, he arrived at the entertainment district as promised—but instead of Karura, it was Ye Cang who greeted him.
Only Ye Cang had come. Neither Rasa nor Karura was present.
"Where are Ms. Karura and Rasa? Didn't they come with you?"
Tamura Hao accepted the scroll Ye Cang handed over and asked casually.
"They went shopping for goods to take back."
Ye Cang replied simply, but her sharp, amber eyes were studying the boy in front of her with care.
"Miss Ye Cang, is there something you'd like to ask me?"
Tamura Hao pocketed the scroll and noticed her gaze lingered.
"You held something back during our talk last night."
Ye Cang couldn't confirm it, but she sensed it. During the meeting, she had caught a glimpse of pity in the boy's eyes—pity directed at her.
That look left her unsettled.
"You could tell?"
Tamura Hao was surprised. He had indeed withheld information, but he hadn't expected to be seen through.
How could a kunoichi with such sharp instincts still fall for betrayal later?
"Seems like you're thinking something disrespectful again."
Ye Cang's eyes narrowed. The boy was definitely hiding something.
"I'll give you a piece of advice: Don't be too dazzling. Once you reach a certain level, you can't evaluate the world solely from a ninja's perspective."
Tamura Hao gave a cryptic warning, then turned to leave without waiting for her response.
What he said was foreshadowing. If the opportunity arose, he would tame her. She'd be a valuable asset.
But she had to be controlled first. Bind her, then wield her—just as Lord Danzō had taught. As his most devoted shadow, Tamura had inherited Danzō's way of controlling subordinates.
In the original timeline, didn't Ye Cang have a disciple? What was his name?
And Karura's younger brother, Yashamaru—they were both possible tools.
"Hey, kid. Spar with me."
Ye Cang suddenly called out. Though Rasa had advised her to avoid probing the boy, a taijutsu match would help gauge his true strength.
"You said last night that my taijutsu wasn't great. Yours must be decent. Let's test it."
She knew that most Hidden Cloud shinobi excelled at taijutsu and elemental-enhanced combat. Though the boy's ninjutsu talent seemed average, his physique hinted at rigorous physical training.
"If it's just taijutsu, sure."
Tamura Hao turned back and accepted the challenge. He was curious about Sunagakure's taijutsu methods.
Ye Cang was known as a powerful Scorch Release user, making her a ninjutsu specialist. Her taijutsu was likely supportive—meant to keep enemies from exploiting her mid-range casting.
She shouldn't be on the level of physical specialists like Fukai or the Yeyue clan.
Time for a match.
"Let's make this a taijutsu-only duel!"
Ye Cang's tone brimmed with confidence. Though taijutsu wasn't her forte, she had trained hard to avoid being helpless at close range.
"Follow me."
Tamura Hao led the way to the same remote training ground where he'd sparred with Fukai. It was secluded, rarely used, and perfect for a private match.
Ye Cang followed silently. The Anbu shadowing her kept pace, unseen but vigilant.
They arrived at the field. As expected, it was empty.
Tamura Hao retrieved a piece of his shoulder armor from a sealing tag embedded in his chest plate and fastened it in place.
"Only physical techniques. Kunai, shuriken, and standard ninja tools are okay. But no explosive tags."
He always wore light armor under his tunic, but the shoulder plate was too conspicuous to wear openly and was usually sealed.
"You're really shameless, kid."
Ye Cang eyed the light-reflecting alloy of his armor—clearly not standard issue.
And those twin Miao Dao... excessive for a 'taijutsu match.'
"If you lack strength, you rely on tools. And you're a jonin. Neither of us has a guaranteed advantage in pure taijutsu."
Tamura Hao didn't see it as cheating. He was fighting a full-fledged jonin.
"You're right. I am a jonin."
Ye Cang grinned suddenly and drew two kunai. With precise chakra control, she infused one with Wind Release, forming a faint, slicing edge, and the other with Fire Release, igniting it in a blaze.
This wasn't ninjutsu—just elemental chakra flow. A practical battlefield technique enhancing her weapons' range and lethality.
"A dual-element chakra swordswoman now, huh?"
Tamura Hao smirked and lunged in, leading with a rapid flurry of strikes from Big Cat and Little Cat. His opening move: an aggressive combo technique he'd honed in recent sessions with Fukai.
He wouldn't go easy—not against a jonin.
But real combat was nothing like animated choreography. Every movement was honed, efficient, and deadly.
Ye Cang moved like the wind—elusive and fast. Her reflexes allowed her to dodge most of his swings with minimal motion.
Meanwhile, the wind- and fire-enhanced kunai lashed out with fluid arcs. Each slash forced Hao to shift or block, breaking his rhythm repeatedly.
If not for his recent training with Fukai, Hao might've been overwhelmed.
Ye Cang was genuinely surprised. The boy's swordplay and burst strength exceeded expectations. He was supposed to be a fresh Genin, barely past academy age.
Even Ay—the Raikage's own son—said Hao's chakra aptitude was average. Yet here he was, fighting with the power of a mid-level Chūnin.
Of course, ninja rank reflected status and competence, not just strength. But there were minimum thresholds.
This boy had reached Chūnin-level combat strength through sheer effort and physical ability. A rare genius in his own way.
Still, he had glaring weaknesses. Among the three ninja disciplines—ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu—taijutsu was the most easily countered. Illusions or ranged elemental attacks could neutralize brute strength.
Without growth in other areas, he wouldn't pass a real Chūnin exam.
Ye Cang kept analyzing as she moved. She memorized Hao's movements, angles, and rhythm.
Kumogakure specialized in physical combat and chakra-infused swordsmanship. Learning from him could be vital if their villages clashed in the future.
Likewise, Tamura Hao observed her style. Sunagakure's taijutsu emphasized sharpness and speed—like wind. Ye Cang's female physique lent her a fluid, evasive agility very different from Fukai's explosive style. It gave Hao new inspiration.
After about two minutes of rapid exchanges, Hao's chakra reserves were nearing depletion. He prepared to disengage.
Chakra was a ninja's core. Without it, strength and speed fell drastically.
But just as he prepared to retreat, Ye Cang's smirk deepened.
She had no intention of letting it end in a draw.
She was a jonin. Losing was one thing—but drawing with a Genin would be humiliation.