Chapter 17: Fight Of Fire And Water
A flurry of kunai knives shot out from Nawaki's sleeve. With a flying kick, he launched himself towards Aizen!
Clang!!
Aizen countered swiftly, meeting Nawaki head-on with a kunai in each hand. A rapid series of clangs echoed through the training ground as the two figures blurred in a whirlwind of movement.
The intensity of their taijutsu clash surprised the onlookers.
"Wow, I can't believe this unknown kid can hold his own against Senju Nawaki in a physical fight!"
"Don't get ahead of yourselves. This is just the beginning. Nawaki hasn't even unleashed his full power yet!"
"Exactly! Taijutsu is all well and good, but this is a ninja duel! The next step – ninjutsu – is where the real difference will show. A nobody like him, probably from a civilian family, what kind of decent jutsu could he possibly have? He'll be lucky if he's even heard of ninjutsu by now. Nawaki will wipe the floor with him!"
"Agreed. A commoner with some talent can't compete with the legacy of the Senju clan!"
The crowd, expecting a one-sided beatdown, buzzed with surprise. Here was this mystery kid, going toe-to-toe with a Senju prodigy! This wasn't how it was supposed to go!
Of course, some privileged ninja kids scoffed at the notion. A commoner challenging a Senju heir? Preposterous!
"Fugaku, what do you think?" Namikaze Minato asked, watching the intense duel unfold. A hint of a smile played on his lips.
Uchiha Fugaku started with a nod of agreement. But as he analyzed Aizen further, his eyes widened in realization. He darted a surprised glance at Namikaze Minato.
"Indeed," Minato chuckled, confirming Fugaku's unspoken thoughts.
"Yikes!" Uchiha Fugaku gulped, a long moment of stunned silence following. He stared at Aizen with a mix of shock and awe. "I thought you were one of a kind, Minato. But apparently, there's another one!"
The battle escalated abruptly.
With a flash, Aizen's kunai grazed Nawaki's neck in a surprise attack. Fortunately, Senju Nawaki reacted just in time, the blade only tearing through his collar.
"Earth Style: Earth Collapse!"
Nawaki slammed his palm on the ground, causing a network of cracks to erupt, sending dirt crumbling towards Aizen.
Forced to retreat due to the collapsing ground, Aizen barely managed to maintain his footing.
Seizing the opportunity, Nawaki leaped backward. A bead of sweat trickled down Nawaki's cheek, landing with a soft plop. His face contorted with a mixture of fear and frustration.
"That was close! If I hadn't used Earth Collapse to push him back, his second attack would've landed on me!" Nawaki glared at Aizen, his composure shaken.
Aizen's fighting style was a revelation. His reflexes and awareness were phenomenal, putting Nawaki on the defensive from the very beginning.
The constant strain of reacting to Aizen's unpredictable movements and attacks had nearly exhausted Nawaki. If not for his superior physical strength, the fight might have ended moments ago.
"This level of control, this unmatched reaction time... it's just like fighting Minato back then," Nawaki thought, disbelief clouding his mind.
"Could you be another Namikaze Minato?" Senju Nawaki demanded, his voice trembling slightly. As the grandson of the First Hokage and a direct descendant of the Senju clan, Senju Nawaki bore the weight of his bloodline.
Driven by the Senju clan's legacy and the weight of his grandfather's, the First Hokage's legacy, Senju Nawaki dedicated himself to relentless training. He strived for excellence in everything he did, pushing himself to the limit without complaint.
His loss to Namikaze Minato six months ago stung deeply. He locked himself away for weeks, vowing to improve. Today, he planned to crush his younger brother's tormentor and then challenge Minato himself. But this unknown academy student, with talent rivaling Minato's, had thrown a wrench in his plans.
A spark of excitement ignited in Nawaki. "It doesn't matter who you are," he roared silently, "even if Minato himself stood before me, I'd defeat him today!"
With a battle cry, Nawaki unleashed a powerful jutsu:
Fire Style: Extinguishing Flame!
Forming a tiger hand sign, he blasted a torrent of fire from his mouth. This B-rank jutsu, coveted by many, was Nawaki's trump card.
The flames engulfed the training ground, forcing the students to scramble for safety. Even Uchiha Fugaku, watching from the sidelines, expressed concern.
"Looks like Nawaki's getting serious," Minato observed, a flicker of worry crossing his face as he glanced at Aizen. "He didn't use this against me last time. Aizen might be in trouble now."
Unfazed by the inferno around him, Aizen remained calm. With a series of rapid hand signs, he met the flames head-on.
"Water Style: Water Barrier!"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone