"Guh-"
Instantly broken.
In that moment, Juzo felt like he'd been hit by a train. A sharp pain exploded in his gut, his organs felt crushed together, and a metallic taste of blood rushed up his throat.
'This strong?'
As he was sent flying, a flicker of regret for his big mouth crossed Juzo's mind.
But it wasn't over.
After punching Juzo away, Sora casually waved his left hand.
'Bakudo #1!'
'Sai!"'
Reiatsu flared.
Instantly, a strange and powerful force wrenched Juzo's arms behind his back, binding them tightly. The Kubikiribocho clattered to the ground, freed from his grasp.
What followed was a devastating elbow strike.
Bang!
A solid impact rang.
Juzo, hands bound, took the full force of the blow on his back, slamming into the earth like a cannonball.
Boom!
The ground shuddered, cratering deeply under the impact, cracks spreading out like a spiderweb.
Sora then placed his foot on Juzo's head, grinding this wielder of the Kubikiribocho into the dirt.
"Had enough?"
Sora's gaze remained utterly calm, his voice devoid of any inflection.
"!??"
Pinned under Sora's foot in the crater, Juzo was a mixture of shock and utter confusion. The searing pain from his internal injuries was nothing compared to the sheer disbelief clouding his mind.
'How?'
'Me!'
'A proud member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, a pillar of Kirigakure... taken down in an instant by some Anbu kid!??'
The entire fight lasted less than three seconds!
It's a complete and utter defeat!
Juzo had no chance to retaliate!
Lying there, Juzo's mind raced, trying to process how the kid had dodged his blade, when he'd had time to use a binding technique...
He couldn't follow it!
It was just too fast!
"You... you..."
Juzo's face twisted. He tried to speak, but the pressure on his face intensified, making his skull creak alarmingly.
'Unbelievable!'
'I lost... to an Anbu brat who feels like he has no Chakra?'
'No!'
'This is an Anbu monster!!!'
Juzo wasn't stupid. He realized now that Sora had been hiding his true power all along. His combat ability was on a completely different level!
"Really bit off more than you could chew."
Mei sniffed dismissively.
'This Sora guy could trade blows with Konoha's Jiraiya. What made Biwa Juzo think he could challenge him?'
Fuguki and Yagura watched with faint, amused smiles. They hadn't intervened, partly hoping to use Juzo to gauge Sora's true strength.
It seemed Sora was even more formidable than they'd thought. Overpowering a Seven Swordsmen's member like Juzo instantly wasn't something any ordinary Elite Jonin could pull off.
'It seems Yuki Sora was telling the truth!'
Fuguki's eyes remained fixed on Sora, 'He genuinely possesses the power to stand against Jiraiya.'
Yagura quickly stepped forward, placing a hand on Sora's arm. "I think he's learned his lesson. We're all comrades here. No need for further hostility."
As he spoke, Yagura subtly delivered two sharp kicks to Juzo's backside, causing the prone swordsman to jerk and spasm in pain.
Sora knew when to stop. He stepped back, releasing the Bakudo binding on Juzo.
He had sensed no real killing intent in that initial slash. Otherwise, Juzo would have shared Hizashi's fate.
"Heh heh..."
"Juzo-senpai, I trust you now have a measure of Sora's capability?"
"Fancy another round?"
Yagura looked down at the disheveled Juzo struggling to his feet, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
"Another round?"
Juzo flinched. He glanced warily at Sora's impassive face, then, feigning composure, snatched his sword from the ground.
Without a word, he turned and began walking stiffly towards the tents, his expression a mask of pain and humiliation.
'Fight again?'
'No way!'
'I never wanted to face that Anbu monster again!'
'That wasn't a spar, it was a beating!!!'
"No need..."
"His strength... I acknowledged it!"
Juzo forced the words out through gritted teeth, his voice strained. Despite the agony, he tried to salvage some dignity by walking away with what he hoped was an air of mystery.
Watching Juzo's retreating back, the ever-helpful Mei called out, "Hey! You're going the wrong way! The camp exit is the other direction!"
"Ah!??"
"Wrong way?"
Juzo, his attempt at a dignified exit utterly ruined, froze mid-step in complete embarrassment.