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After the mission, with time to spare, Kurenai guided them back to Training Ground 8 for sparring sessions. Horyu, his anticipation barely concealed, was particularly focused. One of his current quests required him to use the Mist Servant Technique in a spar. As fate would have it, he was first matched against Shino, with Hinata and Kurenai observing from the sidelines.
The air was tense, filled with the unspoken excitement of the upcoming duel. Shino, known for his calm and collected demeanor, stood ready, his insect companions subtly buzzing around him. Horyu, his eyes glinting with a strategic spark, began with a faint smirk.
"Ready when you are, Shino," Horyu called out, his voice tinged with a challenge.
Shino nodded, his stance steady. "Let's see what you've got, Horyu-san."
Without further ado, Horyu initiated the Mist Servant Technique. Illusory duplicates materialized around him, their movements synchronized yet unpredictable. The air filled with the sound of footsteps and the rustle of clothing, each sound perfectly aligned with the visual deception.
Shino, momentarily taken aback, quickly regained his composure. His insects swarmed, ready to intercept any attack. Horyu, seizing the moment, layered a Genjutsu over the scene, aiming to make himself disappear from Shino's perception.
For a brief moment, it worked. Shino's eyes scanned the area, his expression betraying a hint of confusion. Horyu, hidden within his illusion, prepared to strike.
But Shino's insects, unaffected by the Genjutsu, swarmed towards Horyu's true position, breaking their user from the illusion. Shino's eyes refocused, locking onto Horyu's location.
"Nice try, Horyu. But my insects see the world differently," Shino remarked, a rare hint of smugness in his voice.
Horyu, realizing the complexity of the situation, attempted to cast a Genjutsu directly on the insects. But he quickly discovered a critical flaw in his approach. The insects' perception of the world was vastly different from humans', rendering his human-centric illusions ineffective.
"Fascinating," Horyu muttered to himself, a mixture of frustration and intrigue in his voice. "Their perception... it's not based on human senses. I need a different approach."
Kurenai, observing the match, called out, "Adapt, Horyu. Use this as a learning opportunity."
Horyu nodded, his mind racing. He canceled the Genjutsu, reassessing his strategy. "Time for a different tactic," he said, more to himself than to Shino.
He launched a physical attack, engaging Shino in close combat. The spar turned into a dance of evasion and strikes, with Horyu's agility pitted against Shino's strategic use of his insects.
As they sparred, Horyu's mind was working overtime. 'I need to study non-human perceptions. There's so much more to Genjutsu than I realized,' he thought, blocking a strike from Shino.
Eventually, Kurenai called an end to the spar. "Well done, both of you. Horyu, your adaptability is impressive. Shino, your use of insects is as strategic as ever."
Horyu, breathing heavily, nodded in acknowledgment. "Thanks, Sensei. It was a good lesson."
Shino, retrieving his insects, added, "You're full of surprises, Horyu. I didn't expect you to switch tactics so quickly."
Kurenai then paired Hinata with Horyu. "Let's see how you handle Hinata's gentle fist," she said, a challenging tone in her voice.
Horyu turned to face Hinata, his smirk fading into a more focused expression. "Ready when you are, Hinata."
Hinata, her confidence boosted by her recent training, nodded. "I won't hold back, Horyu."
As they began, Horyu found himself admiring Hinata's improved fluidity and precision. Her strikes, aimed at his chakra points, forced him to be even more agile and strategic.
During a brief pause, Horyu mused aloud, "Your gentle fist is no joke, Hinata. I need to be faster, more unpredictable."
Hinata, catching her breath, replied, "Your movements are hard to predict, Horyu. But I'm learning to anticipate them."
This time, Horyu understood the futility of employing Genjutsu against Hinata even before making an attempt. With her Byakugan, she could perceive the chakra network, a reality far different from the mere depiction in anime. So when he executed the Mist Servant Technique and it failed to affect her, he was not taken aback.
"Figured as much," Horyu muttered under his breath, watching Hinata's eyes track his every move. "The Byakugan sees more than just bodies. It sees the chakra forming my illusions."
Hinata, in her fighting stance, responded, "Your Genjutsu won't work on me, Horyu. I can see the chakra flow."
Horyu, smirking, replied, "Well, that just means I'll have to beat you the old-fashioned way." He lunged forward, initiating a series of rapid strikes.
Hinata parried, her eyes never leaving Horyu's. "You're fast, but I can see your chakra points. I won't let you land a hit easily."
The spar evolved into a dance of swift moves and counters. Horyu's agility and Hinata's precision made for an intense matchup. Horyu, despite his best efforts, found Hinata's defensive style challenging to penetrate.
After a particularly close exchange, Horyu leaped back, taking a moment to catch his breath. "You've improved."
As Horyu and Hinata faced each other in their sparring session, Horyu couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his first student. Though his time training her had been brief, her progress was remarkable. She attacked without hesitation and adapted tactics on the fly, a testament to her growing skills and confidence. But for Horyu, this was just a spar, not a life-or-death match. He was holding back, not fully utilizing the array of abilities he had cultivated through relentless training, including his sword skills and Ninjutsu.
"Your growth is impressive, Hinata," Horyu remarked, his tone carrying a hint of genuine admiration. "But remember, in a real battle, hesitation can be fatal."
Hinata nodded, her focus unwavering. "I understand, Horyu. I won't hold back."
The spar resumed with increased intensity. Hinata's strikes were sharper, her movements more fluid. But Horyu, ever the strategist, anticipated her attacks, countering with swift maneuvers.
As they paused for a moment, Horyu's eyes scanned the training ground, his mind racing with thoughts. 'I could end this with a single strike using my sword skills, or a well-placed Ninjutsu,' he thought. 'But that's not the point of this exercise. It's about honing our skills, not showcasing them.'
He turned his attention back to Hinata. "You're getting better at reading your opponent's movements. But don't forget to keep an eye on your surroundings. In a real fight, the environment can be just as important as your opponent."
Hinata took his advice to heart, her Byakugan scanning the area. "I'll remember that, Horyu."
Horyu charged forward with a greater speed, his movements a blur to the untrained eye. "Don't just remember. Learn!" he shouted at Hinata, his voice echoing with a mix of challenge and instruction. As he closed the distance, the ground beneath them suddenly shifted. With an unexpected agility, another Horyu emerged from a previously concealed hole, his fist aimed directly at Hinata.
Hinata, caught off guard, barely managed to react. But before the clone's attack connected, the real Horyu halted the assault, his hand stopping just inches from her. "There was a hole on the ground, I covered it, but you didn't notice. My clone was hiding in there," Horyu explained, his tone laced with a mix of reprimand and teaching.
Hinata, her eyes wide with surprise, took a step back, processing what had just happened. "I... I didn't see it," she admitted, her voice tinged with frustration.
Horyu's expression softened slightly, but his voice remained firm. "That's the point. In battle, what you don't see can be more lethal than what you do. Always be aware of your surroundings, not just your opponent."
Shino, observing from the side, interjected with his usual calm demeanor. "Your use of the environment is impressive, Horyu. But isn't it risky to rely on pre-set traps?"
Horyu turned to face Shino, his smirk returning. "Risky, yes. But unpredictability can be a shinobi's greatest weapon. It's not about the trap itself, but about creating a situation your enemy can't anticipate."
Kurenai, who had been quietly observing the session, stepped forward. "Horyu's right. A shinobi must use every advantage available, be it the environment or their own skills. But remember, over-reliance on one tactic can become a weakness."
Horyu nodded in agreement, then turned his attention back to Hinata. "Let's try again. This time, keep your Byakugan active and scan not just for me, but for any potential threats or changes in the environment."
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