After the two finished speaking, Orochimaru suddenly looked somewhat nervous towards Mifune. Compared to the surname Namikaze, which seemed to be casually adopted in the face of turmoil, the surname Sakamoto existed long before the appearance of ninjas.
For a member of the Senju clan to adopt a random surname after leaving the Senju Clan was nothing unusual, but there was no reason for them to adopt a surname with such deep roots. However, Mifune remained calm.
"Let's begin."
Mifune waved his hand, his eyes becoming serious. Unlike the half-grown Chosuke, Mifune could easily discern the differences between Tatsuma and Minato. Tatsuma seemed especially similar to what he knew of the Senju Clan.
Not only did he resemble a member of the Senju Clan in appearance and temperament, but most crucially, in chakra levels and the voracious appetite displayed at last night's banquet. Despite his small stature, he had consumed food comparable to Tsunade, the Enhanced Strength woman, during the lengthy banquet.
Mifune was eagerly anticipating what surprises Tatsuma would bring him. As for his surname, he had inquired about it yesterday. Although the Land of Iron was somewhat closed off, it was still possible to gather information about the shinobi world.
This Sakamoto Tatsuma, indeed, was not the name mentioned yesterday as Ryuma, but aren't those who act as ninjas assigned a name and even an identity for each mission?
Ninja names are unreliable, even less reliable than their nicknames. And this young lad before us has already made a name for himself at such a young age.
Talkative Tobirama! Konoha's Dragon! Jewel Crusher! Although I don't quite understand the meaning of the last one, the first two carry significant weight. Moreover, Tatsuma's surname Sakamoto has many plausible reasons.
For instance, his mother might be from the Senju clan, or perhaps his father married into another clan, thus the child took his mother's surname.
Surnames, or rather, these spoken things, can deceive people, but the body's performance cannot be deceived. This "Ryuma" is undoubtedly from the Senju clan! Mifune said it! Even if he denies being Senju Tobirama decendant, it's of no use!
As the two opponents faced each other, the moment Mifune shouted "begin," they also moved. Chosuke drew his sword horizontally across his neck, making it convenient for him to defend against any shuriken Tatsuma might throw at his head, throat, or chest.
And Tatsuma? He drew his sword and thrust it straight towards Chosuke's abdomen.
"Szzt~"
Chosuke hadn't expected Tatsuma to draw his sword. Tatsuma was a ninja! Why draw a sword?! His reaction was a beat slow, and despite his utmost backward step, the gap between his armored abdomen and groin was still penetrated by Tatsuma's blade.
The sharp edge of the blade tore through Chosuke's close-fitting clothes. His not-yet-fully-developed body and the height not yet typical of an adult spared him a direct hit to his vital parts.
But a blood line appeared on his lower abdomen. Chosuke retreated repeatedly, hastily creating distance. The spectators couldn't help but be shocked, and gasps echoed in the quiet dojo.
Even Mifune was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected Tatsuma to make such a choice. However, he quickly thought of a reasonable explanation. Senju Tobirama was also skilled with a blade; legend has it that he once severely wounded Uchiha Madara's brother with a single strike on the battlefield.
On Tatsuma's face, there was an imperceptible smile. Back outside the stone platform, Minato Namikaze couldn't hide his surprise and slight satisfaction.
During their whispered conversation just now, Minato and Tatsuma exchanged words:
"I employed my best skills, that is, the way of the ninja in combat. I never used my katana throughout, and there were even instances where my own katana hindered me. Chosuke must have noticed this. With the caution he demonstrated, he would definitely anticipate ninja tactics different from those of swordsmen at the beginning. Seize the opportunity and attack him in an unexpected way."
Under Minato's guidance and advice, Tatsuma successfully executed his plan. He tossed aside the long sword in his hand directly; he wouldn't use this long sword. The shorter blade, easier to handle, hadn't even been mastered by him yet.
As the long sword hit the ground, Tatsuma had already caught up to Chosuke. Chosuke was now clutching his lower abdomen with his left hand. However, the armor hindered him from staunching the bleeding effectively, yet he didn't dare to release it easily.
As Tatsuma swung down his short sword with his right hand, Chosuke, acting hastily due to his injuries and unwilling to exert full force, was instead pushed back by Tatsuma's kunai in his left hand.
Mifune, who was watching the battle, saw the sudden burst of tremendous power from Tatsuma's left hand, and his eyes lit up. This Enhanced Strength— who wouldn't believe it's from the Senju clan?!
Not only Mifune, even Tsunade straightened her posture instantly, her eyes widening. Tatsuma's chakra levels and explosive power had actually increased together before, but Tatsuma hadn't demonstrated his explosive power because Minato couldn't handle it.
The demonstration of this explosive power at this moment made Tsunade see something very familiar. Suddenly, she felt more fond of her disciple. Previously, she thought there wasn't much she could teach Tatsuma, but now it seemed there was still something she could impart.
Chosuke, whose right hand had been pushed aside, was now almost in a vulnerable position. Tatsuma naturally wouldn't let this opportunity slip by. Putting force into his feet, he created a dent in the stone platform with each step, and almost instantly, he was right on top of Chosuke.
With one hand grabbing Chosuke's right wrist and the other seizing his right upper arm, Tatsuma instantly completed a turn and was about to move in closer. Chosuke quickly released his own left hand and blocked it against his right chest.
"Bang!"
The resounding echo of their collision reverberated in the rather spacious dojo. Chosuke's face turned pale suddenly, but he was also relieved that he had used his hand to block; otherwise, being hit in the chest by Tatsuma's shoulder wouldn't be a trivial matter.
Seeing Chosuke neutralize his charge, Tatsuma immediately shifted tactics. He twisted his hands to try to disarm Chosuke of the long sword he held. However, Chosuke finally regained his senses from the shock of the attack and Tatsuma's speed and strength.
Before Tatsuma exerted force, Chosuke gently shited his long sword aside, changing the direction of his grip. If Tatsuma dared to exert force with both hands, he would definitely be struck by the blade from bottom to top.
Tatsuma reluctantly released Chosuke's hands. Ignoring his appearance, Chosuke rolled away from Tatsuma, putting some distance between them.
"Drip, drip."
As Chosuke rose to his feet, holding the blade in both hands, he warily watched Tatsuma. The wound on his lower abdomen had stained his groin area a dark red, and some fresh blood dripped onto the ground.
"Even if he didn't hit there, it looks like he did. He truly lives up to his reputation," Jiraiya quipped at this moment. He understood very well that Tatsuma's current gains were beyond expectations. Trying to defeat Chosuke with a bit of cleverness and bravado alone was almost impossible.
Now that Tatsuma had gained such an advantage, it could be said that the first phase of the battle plan was a great success. Moreover, the injured Chosuke should be more anxious, especially since his blood loss couldn't be easily resolved.
Tatsuma now had the initiative. As long as he dragged the fight out until Chosuke weakened due to excessive blood loss, it wouldn't be too late to determine the outcome then.
As expected by Jiraiya, Chosuke's face now showed a hint of anxiety. Sweat beaded on his balding forehead. He practiced Iaido, which required intense mental and physical concentration to unleash the strongest strike.
But now, with his injuries causing both his mental and physical state to continuously decline, Chosuke realized that dragging the fight out would only make him weaker. With this thought in mind, Chosuke suddenly sheathed his sword.
"Secret Technique! Chaotic Wind Slash!"
Taking advantage of his current state before it deteriorated further, Chosuke swiftly swung his blade. Although it wasn't his most proficient preemptive strike technique, this kind of attack should still be effective against someone like Tatsuma, a mere child, right?
Seeing Chosuke's slash, Tatsuma reacted simultaneously. He formed two specific hand seals and swiftly performed a Ninjutsu.
"Water Release! Water Wall!"
The moment the water wall appeared, there were even some ice chips within the flowing water. This surprised even Tatsuma himself, but his enhanced thought speed allowed him to quickly realize that it was a special effect because of the location, formed by utilizing the natural environment.
However, unlike actively condensed ice chips, Tatsuma's ice chips appeared passively. Nevertheless, these ice chips were advantageous for Tatsuma, providing more effective resistance against Chosuke's Chakra slash.
Unfortunately, this simplified Water Wall, Tatsuma's mastery of it was still lacking. Despite practicing diligently in recent days, it was still pierced by Chosuke's slash.
"Ssshh~"
Tatsuma's figure darted out from the side, avoiding the remaining attacks of the slash, then immediately charging towards Chosuke. He engaged in close combat with Chosuke to prevent him from adjusting and using Chakra sword techniques.
The spectators watched with great interest, regretting the departure of those who had left early. This battle was even more thrilling than the recent final match; this kid was much more spirited than Daito.
However, Mifune, along with Tsunade and the others, fell silent at this moment. They dared not disturb because with their abilities, they had all noticed something amiss—the remnants of Tatsuma's Chakra on the stone platform.
"Bang!"
Finally, seizing an opportunity, Chosuke, with both hands holding the blade, forced Tatsuma back several steps. He also retreated simultaneously, creating some distance, and returned the blade to its sheath once again, evidently preparing to use Chakra sword techniques once more.
But just at this moment, Tatsuma suddenly revealed a smile. Finally, he had waited for Chosuke to sheath his blade.
"Earth Release! Double Suicide Decapitation Jutsu!"
At the spot where Chosuke stood, two hands emerged from the solid stone platform, seizing Chosuke's legs and pulling him towards the underside of the stone platform. Chosuke attempted to resist, but with his blade sheathed, he couldn't immediately attack Tatsuma beneath the ground.
In just an instant, he was dragged underground, and the ground solidified once more, completely immobilizing Chosuke. Meanwhile, Tatsuma, who had battled Chosuke for over a dozen rounds, suddenly vanished into thin air, becoming a puff of smoke.
"Bang!"
Another figure emerged from not far away, precisely Tatsuma. Such a tactic surprised some warriors who had never fought against ninjas before. Even the young Chosuke encountered this for the first time.
Realizing his defeat was inevitable, Chosuke, feeling somewhat dejected, lowered his head. Tatsuma picked up the long sword he had initially discarded, holding it against Chosuke's neck, and smiled, saying:
"It seems my conviction is stronger."
Upon hearing this statement, Mifune's heart was suddenly touched. He had originally thought of finding an excuse to delay, to not fulfill his promise. But now, his brows furrowed, and he began to contemplate deeply.
"You win, but..."
Chosuke lifted his head. With his resignation, he felt a sense of relief. At the same time, curiosity arose within him. He asked, "Can you tell me, when did you hide underground? I thought I never let my guard down."
"When you attacked me, giving me reason to defend myself," Tatsuma replied. Then, he tossed the long sword aside once again, formed a hand seal, and placed his right hand on the ground. He then grabbed Chosuke's shoulder and lifted him up, allowing Chosuke to leave the stone platform.
"Let me heal you a bit."
As Chosuke prepared to stand up, Tatsuma placed one hand on his shoulder. Seeing Chosuke no longer moving, he released his grip and placed both hands above Chosuke's abdominal wound.
A blue-green light emerged, and the continuously bleeding wound gradually reduced its flow of blood until it ceased altogether. Chosuke also felt the pain diminishing bit by bit, wearing an expression of shock.
In the Land of Iron, there were no such medical techniques. He had been prepared to recuperate for ten days or even a month due to today's injuries.
Mifune, among the spectators, also had his eyes light up. He looked at Tsunade and asked, "What kind of Ninjutsu is this?!"
"It's the Mystical Palm Jutsu, a Medical Ninjutsu that only a few medical ninjas can master," Tsunade replied proudly. After all, Tatsuma's Mystical Palm Jutsu was one of the few Ninjutsu she had taught him!
Mifune pursed his lips and said, "I will uphold my promise, but I cannot mobilize troops right away. However, I will do my best to persuade the Daimyo to deploy them as soon as possible. Also, Konoha needs to support us with such ninjas to reduce casualties during wartime. Furthermore, you need to persuade those other countries to cede territory to the Land of Iron."
Upon hearing Mifune's straightforward compliance with the promise, Tsunade and the others showed expressions of pleasant surprise. Without further ado, they quickly nodded in agreement to solidify the matter.
Glancing at Tatsuma on the field, Jiraiya then turned to Orochimaru beside him and remarked, "I didn't expect this. I thought we were taking them out to see the world, but it turns out they're the ones helping us accomplish the mission."
At this moment, Tatsuma also smiled and looked towards Mifune. Mifune nodded back at him, his eyes showing some approval.
"Ding~ [Strength+5], [Stamina+5], [Ninjutsu+5], [Wisdom+5]. Would you like to claim?"
"I'll claim them."
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