"You guys actually separated? You never learn. So let me teach you shinobi skills part one: Genjutsu!"
"Kokuangyo no Jutsu!"
In the blink of an eye, Riku's commanding voice echoed, resonating with the churning darkness that quickly enveloped Renjiro.
The world around him plunged into an abyss of absolute blackness, robbing him of any visual cues. The technique, known as Kokuangyo no Jutsu, lived up to its name – the "Bringer of Darkness."
Riku's voice echoed from the shadows, a disembodied presence in the pitch-black realm. "In darkness, your sight becomes useless, Renjiro. Let's see how you fare when the world itself conspires against you."
'What is this? I can't see anything.'
Renjiro strained his senses, attempting to pierce through the absolute absence of light. Every movement felt like wading through a sea of obsidian, and the oppressive silence heightened his vulnerability.
'This darkness is different... I can feel it as if it's not just an absence of light, but a tangible presence surrounding me.'
Without warning, strikes came from seemingly random directions. Riku, concealed within the stygian void, exploited the sensory deprivation to launch a barrage of attacks.
Renjiro, unable to pinpoint the source, resorted to instinctual evasion. His limbs moved defensively, desperately attempting to fend off the unseen onslaught.
Riku's voice, now a whisper mingling with the shadows, taunted Renjiro. "In this darkness, your perception betrays you. Every move, every strike, becomes a game of chance."
The onslaught continued, each blow infused with the disorienting dance of shadows.
'I can't continue like this. I need to find a way to dispel this. But wait! I could try that.'
Renjiro's Sharingan flickered, attempting to discern the patterns within the inky blackness. His heightened senses strained against the oppressive nature of the genjutsu.
Renjiro, amidst the shroud of darkness, focused his chakra with a newfound determination. His Sharingan glowed fiercely, its crimson hue cutting through the obsidian void. Drawing from the knowledge imparted by Miwa, he invoked the technique—Magen: Kyoten Chiten, the Demonic Illusion: Mirror Heaven and Earth Change.
As he weaved the intricate hand seals, the oppressive darkness seemed to waver. Within the illusory dance, a reflective surface emerged, mirroring the surroundings. Renjiro, now the orchestrator of a new genjutsu, sought to invert the technique Riku had cast upon him.
"Impressive. Attempting to unravel the threads of my genjutsu. This should be the genjutsu that Fugaku developed back then. It is such a nuisance. But let's see if he can succeed.'
Renjiro, undeterred, gazed into the mirrored expanse, willing the reversal of the darkness. The reflective surface began to ripple, distorting the boundaries between the genjutsu and reality. Yet, Riku's chakra influence lingered, a subtle resistance challenging Renjiro's grasp on the chakra threads.
'Why is it hard?'
The darkness recoiled, and for a fleeting moment, it seemed as if Renjiro had seized control. Yet, Riku's mastery over genjutsu proved formidable, a puzzle that defied simple unravelling.
Riku's laughter resonated, a melodic undercurrent in the churning currents of illusion. "You're close, Renjiro."
Frustration crept in, but Renjiro clung to the tenets of perseverance. In a surge of willpower, he poured more chakra into the weaving of the counter-genjutsu.
As the chakra intensified, a seismic shift occurred within the mirrored expanse. The darkness that once seemed far from Renjiro's influence now quivered under the might of his chakra.
Riku, observing the unexpected turn of events, raised an eyebrow in genuine surprise. "Well, well. Seems like you've managed it. Impressive, Renjiro."
Acknowledging Renjiro's breakthrough, Riku dispelled the Kokuangyo no Jutsu. The oppressive darkness lifted, and the training ground returned to its usual dimly lit state.
"But you still have to face me Renjiro," Riku said as he moved towards Renjiro not even giving him a breather.
Reacting to that, Renjiro used the shadow clone jutsu making ten shadow clones appear. Together, they all surged towards their opponent. Riku, maintaining a calm composure, met their advance with his precise taijutsu skill, instantly dismantling two of the clones with swift and calculated strikes.
However, Renjiro had devised a cunning strategy. The remaining clones, witnessing the swift elimination of their counterparts, adapted their tactics.
Instead of engaging in direct combat, they dispersed, each clone converging from a different angle, their movements coordinated with a silent precision.
Renjiro muttered to himself, "Let's see how you handle this, Riku-Sensei."
As the clones drew nearer, their forms pulsated with a volatile chakra. Riku, momentarily caught off guard by the clones' change in approach, realized the imminent danger too late.
In a synchronized detonation, the clones erupted in a cascade of explosive force, a technique Renjiro had recently acquired – the Shadow Clone Explosion.
The explosion sent shockwaves through the training ground, leaving a haze of smoke in its wake. Amidst the veil of debris, Riku emerged, unscathed but visibly impressed.
"Well played, Renjiro."
Renjiro's chest heaved with exertion. The explosive display not only showcased his adaptability but also hinted at the expanding repertoire of skills he had been cultivating.
Gathering himself, Riku analyzed the aftermath. It was in this moment of tense stillness that Renjiro observed Riku with anticipation, awaiting the next move.
Riku took a deep breath. The air around him seemed to respond as he exhaled, releasing great shockwaves of water. A torrential force surged outward, obliterating all the shadow clones left as not all of them had exploded.
The water, manipulated by Riku's chakra, cascaded in rhythmic waves, dismantling the remnants of Renjiro's strategy.
Elsewhere in training Ground 51, a trio of figures moved with purpose through the grounds. As they navigated the terrain, one of them couldn't help but voice his query.
"Are you sure this is where Riku is?"
Another figure replied confidently, "Yes. I can sense him. Riku just dispelled my shadow clones. The plan is still on track."
The minute Riku gave them time to strategize the first thing they did was to agree that they have to work as a team. They then devised a plan to create shadow clones on the training grounds.
It was quite obvious that Riku would take the initiative to attack them. Also, his stealth skills were in a league of their own as compared to theirs so instead of looking for him, they planned to use their shadow clones as bait to lure him.
And it worked perfectly, the only issue was that Riku had figured out while fighting Renjiro that it was nothing more than a shadow clone. So he was expecting them. However, they did not care about this as the main objective of the clones was to pinpoint Riku's position.
Riku turned to face them, a smirk playing on his lips. "Took you long enough. I was wondering when you'd show up."
Hiro, with a confident grin, added, "You weren't the only one with a plan, sensei."
Riku chuckled, appreciating their teamwork. "Alright then, let's see if your plan can handle the real deal."
Hiro immediately took the initiative and used the shuriken clone jutsu. As the jutsu unfolded with precision, a barrage of shurikens hurtled toward Riku. The jounin swiftly dodged and weaved between them, showcasing his impressive agility.
As Riku avoided the shurikens, the genins seized the opportunity, and with a flicker, they appeared in front of Riku. The swift transition caught Riku off guard, and the fight branched off into a rapid taijutsu assault.
Hiro's sabre clashed with Riku's swift taijutsu moves, and Renjiro, recognizing the need to go all out, activated his Sharingan. Aiko, on the other hand, attempted to use genjutsu, but it proved ineffective against Riku's experienced defences.
The intense fight reached a momentary stalemate when Riku, with a smirk, declared,
"Shinobi skills three - Ninjutsu." However, before he could unleash any jutsu, his observant gaze caught the flickering movements of his genins a distance away.
His eyes widened when his gaze moved into their hands. They were all holding the stones in their hands. Riku's gaze moved over to his pouch where he was sure the stones were only to find it empty.
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