"Since you're so eager to taste failure, I'll be glad to serve it to you!"
Raizen fixed his gaze on Hyuga Tennin, his mind calculating. Small prodigy, big mouth, and a Hyuga by the looks of it… time to teach this kid a lesson.
"Everyone, fall back!"
Hyuga Tennin waved his hand, and the surrounding ninjas obeyed, forming a clearing around the boy and Raizen. But just as Raizen stepped forward, he stopped, pointing at Amamiya Jane.
"Wait—let her leave first."
Tennin scowled, confusion flashing across his face. "What? You're trying to back out?"
"I've got a way out," Jane said coldly. "You go first. I've mastered a space–time ninjutsu. A quick exit won't take long, but if I stick around, I'll just be a liability."
Raizen's brow twitched. Space–time ninjutsu? Then he remembered his patriarch's words—Jane had been trained in a form of teleportation, rare even among the Amamiya.
"Fine," he murmured, nodding slightly. Jane gave a single cold snort, but didn't argue further.
Hyuga Tennin's eyes narrowed. Raizen knew that, despite the three elite Jōnin guarding this boy, he was the one deciding the battle's pace. Ueshi Tokatsu and the silent Hyuga Jōnin behind him were nothing more than his backup—powerful, yes, but not decisive. This child… this genius could single-handedly dictate the terms.
Perfect. Just what I needed: a little brat with enough chakra to crush a small army. Could've been easier to fight a Madara clone.
"Good!" Tennin said, stepping forward. No hesitation, no overthinking—he was already moving, a living arrow of intent. He shot toward Raizen, arms spreading flat like blades.
Boom!
Raizen staggered back, chest pressed by the raw, bone-crushing force. The boy's strength alone could rival full-grown Jōnin, and he hadn't even really started. Raizen's jaw tingled, muscles screaming as he absorbed the impact.
Not bad… worthy of the legends—Madara, Zhige…
Tennin didn't pause. His hands blurred into afterimages, fingers pointing at precise spots along Raizen's body. Each strike threatened to disrupt chakra flow.
"The Gentle Fist… acupuncture strikes!"
Raizen's mind raced. One wrong hit, and his chakra network would be paralyzed—an instant death sentence in close combat. This technique was notorious across the ninja world; once blocked, no ordinary ninja could recover easily.
Time to get serious. Raizen jumped back, fists crossing over his chest, feet spreading wide in a firm horse stance. Chakra surged, spinning through his body, igniting the latent power buried deep within him.
"Eight Inner Gates… Open the Gate! OPEN!"
His muscles tensed, veins burning with chakra, eyes blazing as he faced Hyuga Tennin.
"Hyuga Tennin… let's see if you can handle this next strike!"