The night sky was clear, bathed in a soft moonlight that cast long shadows across the training ground. Minato took a few steps back, stretching his arms.
"All right, Ryou, show me what you've got. Let's start with simple Taijutsu," Minato said.
Ryou nodded with a slightly serious expression. A spar with someone of Minato's caliber would require every ounce of skill and strength he had.
Taking a deep breath, he entered Total Concentration Breathing, then exhaled, releasing a misty, white breath. Facing Minato, he didn't plan to hold back his strength.
Seeing Ryou's state, Minato's eyes narrowed with curiosity. He could sense a shift in Ryou's aura that seemed quite intense and dangerous.
In an instant, Ryou charged forward, his movements fast, powerful, and precise with a flurry of punches and kicks. He was testing Minato's reaction, speed, and physical strength.
But Minato's really good, his movements were flawless. He evaded each strike with ease and a calm demeanor, showing no sign of being pressured.
Ryou had to admit, Minato's reflexes were sharper than even the Upper Moon demons of the the Demon Slayer world. His movements, reaction, and skill came from his experience of fighting countless Ninjas.
"Good strength," Minato praised, sidestepping another punch. Then his expression turned serious. "Now it's my turn!"
The next moment, Minato vanished, appearing with a flash right behind Ryou, his kunai aiming for Ryou's back. Despite the speed, Ryou's Observation Haki, though only at a basic level, kicked in, alerting him of Minato's attack.
Facing the attack, Ryou spun around, his kunai meeting Minato's in a fierce clash.
'Clang!' The sound of metal against metal rang out with a flash of sparks.
Taking advantage of the brief clash, Ryou braced himself and pushed with all his strength, causing Minato to take a step back. He then followed up with a powerful kick, which Minato skillfully parried with his kunai, but the force behind the attack was enough to make Minato slide back a few feet.
Minato smiled as he said. "Impressive, Ryou. With just Taijutsu alone, your strength is on par with that of the Elite Jonin. Now, let's go all out. Don't hold back." He reached into his pouch and pulled out a few special kunais marked with seals.
Ryou recognized the kunai, the Flying Thunder God Kunai. It seems Minato's going to use his iconic Flying Thunder God jutsu and it's what he wants.
Ryou tightened his grip on his own kunai, hardening his gaze. This was his chance to test the limits of his abilities, and he wouldn't let it slip by.
Minato wasted no time, tossing several kunai marked with seals across the training ground. Each kunai embedded itself in the ground surrounding Ryou in all directions.
A few landed close to Ryou, causing him to concentrate on the ones close to him, as he knew all kunai was a possible teleportation destination for Minato.
The moment the kunai were in place, Minato disappeared in a blur, reappearing behind Ryou in an instant. His kunai aimed for Ryou's side, but Ryou, thanks to his Observation Haki, sensed the attack beforehand.
He parried Minato's kunai with his own, the metallic clang echoing in the quiet night.
Minato vanished again, only to reappear in a different spot before disappearing again. The battle turned into a high-speed exchange with Minato teleporting between the kunai scattered around the battlefield, while Ryou relied on his Observation Haki, speed, and reaction to predict and respond to the sudden attacks.
For a few minutes, the two clashed, their movements almost too fast for the eye to follow. Sparks flew as kunai collided, and the ground beneath them bore the marks of their fierce battle. Despite his unparalleled speed, Minato couldn't land a single hit on Ryou or touch him.
Stopping briefly, Minato gave Ryou an impressed look. "You're remarkable, Ryou. I'm not boasting myself but no one has ever reacted to my Flying Thunder God Jutsu like this before. Your reaction and fighting sense are extraordinary."
Then, Minato's expression turned serious as he spoke again. "Next, I'll use my strongest technique. Be prepared."
He tossed a kunai directly at Ryou and dashed forward, with Rasengan forming in his hand. Ryou's eyes narrowed as he knew what Minato was going to do.
Smiling a little, Ryou focused his chakra, forming a similar Rasengan in his palm. A glowing blue sphere glowed intensely as he prepared for the clash.
Minato closed in fast, his Rasengan aimed straight at Ryou. At the last moment, Ryou dodged the incoming kunai, raising his Rasengan to meet Minato's. The two orbs of spiraling chakra inched closer, ready to meet.
But just as they were about to collide, Minato vanished. The kunai he had thrown earlier suddenly became his teleportation spot. In an instant, he reappeared behind Ryou, his Rasengan aimed at his unguarded back.
'He's worthy of the title Konoha's Yellow Flash.' Ryou thought.
Anticipating such an attack, Ryou reacted with lightning speed. Twisting his body in swift speed, he turned to face Minato.
Minato's eyes widened in surprise at Ryou's incredible reaction. Without any hesitation, Minato pushed his Rasengan forward as Ryou.
The two Rasengans collided in mid-air, their combined power generating a vacuum-like shockwave. The chakra energy surged outward, flinging both Ryou and Minato backward with tremendous force.
'Boom!'
The ground beneath their clash exploded, leaving a massive crater in the center of the training field. Dust and debris filled the air as both Ryou and Minato landed at opposite sides, unharmed.
Minato stood momentarily stunned, unable to hide the shock on his face. He hadn't expected Ryou to react so quickly to his strongest technique, Flying Thunder God Technique - Level Two. He couldn't figure out how Ryou did it.
Coming back to his senses, Minato asked in slight disbelief. "How did you do it, Ryou?"
Ryou replied calmly with a smile, "It's nothing exceptional, Minato-san. When you mentioned I was going to use my strongest technique, I figured it would involve something extraordinary, so after you threw your special kunai, I reacted.
If it were anyone else, they wouldn't have been able to react to your jutsu. Even I won't say for sure that I will be able to react the second time."
Minato couldn't help but smile. "You continue to amaze me, Ryou. Let's end our fight here!"
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Author Note: Sorry, everyone. I'm going through a rough patch and won't be able to upload for a few more days. I'll resume updates from February 15 or 16. Just give me a little time. Thanks for understanding.