Chapter 292: Gai vs. Sakura
The other Jonin observing the ceremony were somewhat surprised.
The voices began to stir.
"What's going on? They chose Might Gai as the proctor?"
"Gai is a pure taijutsu-type ninja, and Haruno Sakura is a ninjutsu-type. Is Lord Hokage trying to pit a taijutsu-type against a ninjutsu-type? This is going to be exciting!"
"The two of them might fight until the heavens and the earth crack... I think we should probably move back a bit!"
"Ninjutsu versus taijutsu, who is stronger? Haruno Sakura can instantly kill that level of master. She should be the one with the upper hand, right?"
"Not necessarily! This is an assessment, not a life-or-death battle. That kind of killing move can't be used. It's hard to say when they fight. Maybe Gai will have an easier time!"
"That's right, Gai's speed... especially after he opens the Eight Gates! I was lucky enough to be on a team with him before. I saw him open the fifth gate. He instantly killed an enemy Jonin with one punch. It was too amazing! Even the eyes can't keep up with his speed, let alone ordinary ninjutsu... It all depends on whether Haruno Sakura's ninjutsu can keep up with Gai's taijutsu!"
Hearing these discussions, Tsunade just smiled and said nothing.
Many of the Jonin in the village still had an impression of Haruno Sakura that was only based on hearsay.
Admittedly, the Jonin sitting here were all powerful and high-status elite Jonin. They had the right to view some of Haruno Sakura's low-level classified information, but apart from a few who were more curious, most of them didn't have the spare time to get to know a person in detail whom they had only heard of by name but had no interaction with.
So these speculations of theirs had many errors.
Even the Third Hokage was now a little curious about Sakura's strength. After all, the updating of information always lagged behind the actual situation.
This one-armed old man saw the faint smile on Tsunade's lips, thought for a moment, and then also smiled.
"It seems it's not necessarily ninjutsu versus taijutsu?" he muttered to himself.
On the field, Might Gai, in his green bodysuit, was already standing in front of Haruno Sakura.
"Gai-sensei, please take good care of me," the pink-haired girl, standing opposite him, said, bowing her head politely to him and smiling serenely.
"Haha! When it comes to guidance, I should actually be the one asking you for it!" Gai laughed heartily, directly stating the truth of this assessment match without any hypocrisy. If one ignored his thick eyebrows and bowl-cut hair, this Jonin, who specialized in taijutsu, had a straightforward and serious personality and was actually a ninja worth befriending. Admitting that he was not as good as others was not a matter of losing face for Gai.
On the contrary, such a fact would only further arouse his passion for training and improving himself, as well as a strong fighting spirit to challenge the masters!
"I've always regarded Kakashi as my lifelong rival, but I never thought that, without a sound, Kakashi's student has already surpassed both of us! Well done, Sakura!" Gai said, raising his left hand, giving Sakura a thumbs-up, and speaking seriously. "But as teachers, the hot blood of our youth hasn't cooled yet. We can't let you young people steal all the limelight! Right, Kakashi?"
"..." Kakashi, at the side of the field, covered his face with his hand. When you use terms like "hot blood of youth," can you not include me!
On the field, the two of them released the Seal of Confrontation, and the assessment officially began. Gai slowly assumed a taijutsu preparatory stance, a "White Crane Spreads its Wings" pose.
He grinned, revealing eight pearly-white, reflective teeth, and finally said, "Well then! Come on, let's have a good, hearty fight!"
The faint smile on Haruno Sakura's face suddenly stiffened a bit.
Apart from the exaggerated, eye-searing movements and appearance, Gai's words were quite passionate. The only problem was—
The reflection from his teeth could really blind a person!
She squinted. The moment her eyelids drooped, Gai disappeared from the spot.
"Such fast speed!" someone exclaimed in a low voice.
Gai's speed was so fast that the naked eye could barely keep up. In just an instant, he had appeared behind Sakura, and raised his leg in a side kick that was as fast as lightning!
Konoha Hurricane!
This swift and vicious heavy kick was firmly blocked by Haruno Sakura's arm!
After blocking this kick, her figure barely swayed. The girl stood lightly, her gaze just calmly looking back at Gai behind her.
Gai's speed was still far from reaching the level that Sakura Rush couldn't react to!
The moment their eyes met, Gai retracted his left leg. But Haruno Sakura turned and kicked, a mid-level side kick sweeping up from behind, fiercely kicking at Gai!
Nin-taijutsu: Wing Chun Hidden Leg!
Gai clasped his fists in front of his chest and was sent flying more than ten meters away by the kick. Although Haruno Sakura had held back, the huge power that had erupted from her Monstrous Strength Technique was still staggering. The initial clash of taijutsu had ended with the one with the greater strength winning.
Pat. The thick-eyebrowed ninja landed steadily on the ground. He shook his hand, and a gray footprint was clearly visible on his arm.
"Is this the power of the Monstrous Strength Technique..." His gaze gradually became serious.
What Gai had felt was an unstoppable, immense force. For a taijutsu ninja, this kind of power was extremely tricky. Even with his tempered body, taking such a kick head-on had made his arm a little numb!
And, from the feeling of her chakra, it was clear that Haruno Sakura had not yet fully unleashed her Monstrous Strength Technique.
"Also, her reaction speed is very fast..."
Gai had expected her strength, but what had surprised him was that Haruno Sakura had blocked his attack so calmly. This was not the reaction speed a normal ninjutsu-type ninja should have!
"Indeed! Sakura-kun, as expected of a ninja who can fight Kakuzu, Sasori of the Red Sand, and Deidara. Even your weaker taijutsu is not your shortcoming!" Gai said seriously.
"Gai-sensei, the probing should be over..." Haruno Sakura said, the faint smile on her lips disappearing as her expression turned serious. "Don't hesitate. Come at me with your full strength!"
"Alright... again!" Gai narrowed his eyes slightly, tensing his body.
And then, his figure disappeared again!
His speed was even faster than before... The ninja present didn't even have time to be surprised. It was just a blur, and the thick-eyebrowed ninja had already appeared in front of the girl, a powerful, heavy punch striking straight at Sakura's face!
The force of the punch was like splitting bamboo, its momentum like a tiger. The wind from the fist was majestic, whistling like thunder!
Is this the move of Konoha's strongest taijutsu ninja? Haruno Sakura was awestruck!
If she were to take this blow head-on, even a Jonin would probably lose their ability to fight on the spot!
Swish! In the nick of time, Haruno Sakura suddenly turned her head to the side to avoid this move. The punch grazed past her ear, and the wind from the fist pulled her long hair, making it fly wildly.
Gai's punch missed. His hand was by Sakura's ear.
She then backhanded, grabbed Gai's outstretched arm, and with a flying kick, swept at Gai's lower body, skillfully using her nin-taijutsu kicking technique. The force was fierce and ruthless!
Nin-taijutsu: Wing Chun Hidden Leg!
With just a whoosh, the girl's calf, having been straightened, cut through the air at high speed, emitting a whistling sound. This kick was both swift and vicious, and it swept towards Gai, but it hit empty air!
"Your movement is too obvious!" The moment she had kicked, Gai had already seen through her intention. His eyes narrowed, but he used the force from her hand to leap into the air, dodging this kick.
In mid-air, he used his waist, twisting his body and whipping out his leg. His thick, powerful long leg swept out in mid-air, cutting straight at Haruno Sakura's ribs!
Another Konoha Hurricane!
The girl, whose kick had missed, was just in the process of retracting her force and catching her breath. This kick from Gai, the timing was perfect, catching Sakura at her most awkward moment!
As expected of Konoha's strongest taijutsu ninja.
It was just... he had still underestimated Haruno Sakura's reaction! The moment he had leaped into the air, Sakura, whose strength was spent and whose move was finished, had already reacted. She grit her teeth, the muscles in her waist tightened, and she instantly regained her balance. By the time Gai had kicked, she had already, at the fastest speed, suddenly ducked her head and made a dodging motion!
The wind from his foot swept over her head. Sakura had just barely dodged this blow.
His sure-fire blow had missed. Gai's expression did not change. He supported himself on the ground with his hands, and as his left leg swept over Sakura's head, his right leg was already lifting.
Then, with an unbelievable exertion of force, he twisted his body and sent out another heavy kick!
Continuous Konoha Hurricane!
The two or three exchanges had been as fast as a rabbit's leap and a falcon's dive. It had taken a long time to describe, but in fact, it had all happened in less than a second.
In that instant, Gai's punch had missed. In the next, Sakura had kicked out a sharp leg. Then, Gai had used her force to leap into the air, and at the same time as he had dodged Sakura's attack, he had delivered a heavy kick.
The offense and defense had switched continuously. The instant Gai's heavy kick was dodged, his second heavy kick had already been sent out with a turn!
YAH!
Haruno Sakura did not dodge. The instant Gai had turned and kicked, her body had stabilized. She raised her head, let out an angry shout, and her right hand retracted to her waist. Then she threw a punch!
Star Cannon Hammer!
This punch, she hadn't even had time to fully bring out the power of her Monstrous Strength Technique before it had already met Gai's heavy leg.
But the force of the punch was still vigorous and heavy, as fierce as a tiger! It was hard to imagine that Haruno Sakura could still throw such a powerful punch at a time like this!
The two, one heavy kick and one heavy punch, both with great momentum and power, collided head-on. With the enhancement of chakra, the fists and feet of the two were as heavy as a thousand pounds, as tough as steel. The collision between them gave off a heavy, oppressive sound that made one's chest feel tight.
The continuous attacks had made the observing ninja subconsciously hold their breath. On the field, the two were going back and forth. Their movements were as fast as lightning, their attacks coming one after another, the climax rising and falling, a thrilling sight!
Hah! Hah! Angry shouts and cries.
Bang! Smack! The sound of fists connecting, the sound of bone and muscle colliding.
Swish! Swoosh! The sound of thick fist-wind, the sound of sharp leg-wind.
All intertwined!
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