"Are you a Taijutsu specialist Duy?"
"Yes! Taijutsu is youth! Unfortunately, I am unable to use Ninjutsu, an ailment my son has also inherited from me, but as a result we work 10 times as hard on our Taijutsu to become worthy Shinobi!"
Katsuro was even more impressed, the reason for how they were becoming even more clear. They had not let their limitations define them, they had not wallowed in their self pity. No, they had worked.
"I see, you are very impressive Duy, I can tell you've worked hard." Katsuro solemnly said everything with a small comforting smile on his face.
Duy looked at him shocked for a moment, speechless before he began bawling his eyes out.
"LOOK GUY! THIS IS YOUTH! MY EFFORTS HAVE BEEN RECOGNISED!"
Guy too started crying, "YES FATHER!!"
It truly was a special moment for Duy, he who had been mocked constantly finally gained approval from such a power source. And that fact his efforts had been recognised was priceless.
"KATSURO! PLEASE! AS MY FIRST SUPPORTER YOU MUST GRANT ME THE HONOUR OF TAIJUTSU SPAR! I WISH TO SHOW YOU MY CAPABILITIES AND TO NOT LET YOU DOWN!"
Katsuro laughed but still, he was interested. He agreed to truly assess Duy's hard work but deep down he did not actually believe Duy would be able to put up a serious fight against him even if it was just Taijutsu. His physique was abnormal even among a clan known for it on top of his natural reaction time, spatial awareness, skill and experience gap due to Duy being a Genin for so long. He did not know how wrong he was.
–
A short while later, the two shinobi arrived, at opposite ends of a massive clearing in the middle of a forest. Kakashi and Guy stood on the sidelines, both ready to watch the match unfold.
"So we make this purely a Taijutsu spar then?" Katsuro called out to Duy as frankly if he went all out he doubted Duy would even get a whiff of a chance.
Now grinning, ready for a soon to be fight with the man renowned as the Stormbreaker, Might Duy replied.
"YES! LET THE FIRE OF YOUTH BURN DURING OUR SPARI! I WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!" Duy shouted back, flashing a toothy grin and pulling a thumbs up.
Guy smiled in adoration and admiration at his father.
"Good luck, Papa! Remember to push yourself to the limits of your youth, and beyond!"
"Don't worry, my boy! I always strive to do so! But thank you for your uplifting words!" Duy called back to his son, once again flashing a thumbs up.
Kakshi rolled his eyes, sighing. Katsuro, looked at his Sensei's son, hoping for some words of encouragement for himself, but was also met with Kakashi rolling his eyes at him as well. Katsuro harrumphed.
"Kakashi, will you call the start of the spar?" Katsuro asked.
"Fine, but you have to help me more with training." Kakashi said, secretly eager to watch the spar play out, between his teacher and his "rival"'s father but outwardly showed his usual sombre expression.
The kid just wants to keep training. Hm, fair enough, not like I didn't when I was his age - with everything that's been happening to him recently, it makes sense.
Guy looked at Kakashi, his own spirit revving to challenge his rival once again, but held back releasing his father needed to concentrate.
"Okay, okay, I will. Just say when."
Katsuro and Duy looked at each other, putting themselves in a fighting stance like animals ready to pounce on their prey. After a few seconds of silence, other than the nature around them, the wind died down and Kakashi yelled out,
"GO!"
Immediately, the two raced towards each other, not wasting any time in simply darting around in a circle. As they grew much closer, going in for the first attack, Duy stepped in, closing the distance even more. Feigning a punch, Duy used the opportunity to duck even closer to the right, and threw a dangerously strong punch at Katsuro's side, who was quick to simply block the attack in order to assess his opponent's strength. Duy darted backwards, initially surprised at Katsuro's ability to easily defend the attack, but remembered he was famed as the hero of the Leaf, who took down a Bijuu alone and held his own against, and held the advantage over, Hanzo the Salamander- the Demigod. Not just that, rumours had been circulating of Katsuro making easy work of the Third Hokage in a duel.
I need to be careful, he is clearly no amateur, but I knew that from the start. He's strong, and smart, trying to figure out my own strength from a single punch. But I guess, that level of battle IQ is expected from a genius like Lord Senju. Regardless, I will not hold back.
Duy was now ready to have another go, but now Katsuro took the opportunity to dash forward. With a series of kicks and punches, Katsuro managed to knock Might Duy, skidding on his feet, backwards along the ground, however, he was still standing.
I'm only able to beat him so easily because I'm stronger and faster. But, when it comes down to overall technique, he has me beat. I can sense he still has much more fight left in him. He's nowhere near finished. I was right, there is nothing normal about this man, Katsuro thought.
Smiling and laughing now, Katsuro repositioned himself. While he was not at all injured, Duy began to realise that Katsuro's superior physicality gave him a huge advantage. Meanwhile his student and son, Guy, cried out in support at the sheer speed and destruction caused by the duel, in awe of and somewhat fearful for his father. However, this did not extinguish Duy's battle-longingness. If anything, it only made the fire inside him grow even more.
Lord Senju truly is how they describe him. He really is a God among Shinobi. But, I'm just getting started. The power of youth is being kindled within me! And, I still have so much to show him, after all, I said I wouldn't hold back… I might have to use that power…
Sighing, Duy walked forwards, quickly turning his steps into a run. Katsuro did the same, and approached him. Both of the shinobi, preparing for another attack or to launch their own, raced towards each other once again - although, this time, it was Katsuro's who once again got to strike Duy. Throwing a punch to Duy's arm, Katsuro dropped to one knee, crouching, spinning around, sweeping Duy to the floor, who fell backwards, able to quickly use the momentum of falling to fly rearwards, back to safety, by springing off his hands backwards. Duy had been caught off guard by the speed of the Senju Patriarch's attack, but being a master of Taijutsu and countless years of relentless training meant that he was swiftly able to deal with the sudden attack made by his opponent. Unlike Kakashi or even Guy, who were able to see everything going on, a normal person would just see blurs and the impacts of their clashes.
I still sense he has something up his sleeve, Katsuro thought.
From the sidelines, Guy cheered his father on, calling out things such as "Power of Youth!", "Springtime of Youth!", "Enjoy the Flame of Youth!" and much more. Meanwhile, Kakashi just told the two to get on with it, inwardly completely drawn by watching the fight.
Katsuro, not giving Duy any time to rest, pressed forward, striking him in the leg and then using his Senju physique to punch him, sending him flying into the grass. Fortunately, Duy was able to narrowly block the attack, by crossing his arms, absorbing most of the damage, but was significantly weakened.
I think…it's time. I need to use it.
Suddenly, Katsuro noticed Duy standing still, slightly squatting, closing his eyes, crossing his arms in an 'x' over his mouth and raising his voice with a visible tensed vein appearing on his forehead, before witnessing a large burst a chakra from Duy as he raised his voice and roared. His skin turned redder and the ground cracked around him.
"The Eight Inner Gates! First Gate: Gate of Opening! OPEN!"
AN: If you would like to view up to 20 chapters ahead, and would also like to support me, please visit my P@TR30N, at pa tr eon.com / GhidorahWriter (remove the spaces). Thanks for reading and make sure ADD to your COLLECTION and VOTE with POWER STONES! The next target is 500 POWER STONES for the next BONUS CHAPTER!