Chapter 657 - Don’t Stop

The three Masters readied themselves for the lesson. The fastest to act was Sadamasa. His fist crashed into Hanwu’s chest with crushing force. The sharp crack of breaking bone echoed, but the attack didn’t end there.

Kumori completed his hand seals, and his cheeks swelled. He then shot a huge fireball at Hanwu. “Fire Style, Grand Fireball!”

The fireball engulfed Hanwu. Already crippled by shattered bones, he took the flames head-on. Fire swallowed him whole, and when it faded his body stood blackened and smoking. In the next instant, Undying activated. His charred skin peeled away and recovered, while his broken bones fused and aligned. Within seconds, Hanwu stood whole again.

Hanwu rolled his shoulders and chuckled. “Teachers, use a bit more force. I can endure it.”

He couldn’t suppress his grin. After two hits, the Duel meter reached 100%, granting him an upgrade point. With it, he upgraded his Seal level to five, increasing the speed at which he formed hand seals.

If enduring attacks filled the meter so quickly, how much would striking back yield? He started forming hand seals for a counterattack.

He had just completed them when a sudden stab of pain pierced his chest, snapping his focus into clarity.

Natsutsuyu had somehow appeared before him without his noticing. A bloodied kunai rested in her hand. She had used her Genjutsu so subtly that he never sensed it.

In the next instant, Undying activated again, healing his wound. At the same time, his completed hand seals triggered his Swap Jutsu. He exchanged places with a pebble behind Natsutsuyu and tried to punch at her. In his haste, he relied on raw strength rather than Taijutsu.

As a Master, Natsutsuyu reacted instinctively. She dodged without even turning. Still, she was one step too slow. Hanwu’s fist slid past her smooth skin. Even though he caused no injury, he still made contact, so the Duel meter rose to 50%. The increase exceeded what he gained from enduring attacks.

So attacking fills it faster.

Hanwu barely had time to savor the discovery before Natsutsuyu angrily spun and kicked him away.

He flew backward, yet even then he found the breath to taunt her. “You are wearing pink!”

Sadamasa and Kumori stopped mid-motion and pretended that they had heard nothing.

A flush crept across Natsutsuyu’s pale face. She regretted her choice of dress. Also, her anger flared hotter at Hanwu’s shameless remark. Even after catching a glimpse, he had the nerve to announce it aloud. She would teach him a lesson he wouldn’t forget.

Her fingers fluttered like butterflies as she swiftly completed her seals. In the next instant, Hanwu found himself in hell. Numerous demons swung their blades and stabbed him. He knew these were illusions, but the pain felt real all the same.

At the same time, the meter was slowly progressing. Every blow from a demon increased it by 1%. Hundreds of demons were attacking him simultaneously.

“Don’t stop... Don’t... Don’t stop...” Hanwu muttered with pleasure and joy as he was stuck in the Genjutsu.

Natsutsuyu still simmered with irritation. Despite her provocative appearance, she was actually a pure-hearted maiden. She dressed seductively only because it made it easier to drag her opponents into her Genjutsu. To her, it was more of a work uniform.

Still, Hanwu wasn’t an enemy, so she meant to punish him a little. After three seconds, she released the Genjutsu. She was certain that even such a brief torment would have traumatized Hanwu.

Unexpectedly, Hanwu staggered upright and said, “Teacher, can you use that Genjutsu again? I’ll pay you extra.”

Natsutsuyu’s anger evaporated at once. She now suspected he had lost his sanity. Meanwhile, Sadamasa and Kumori examined him from head to toe. They had never encountered a ninja quite like Hanwu.

Hanwu’s excitement only grew. He had gained four upgrade points in that short time. If the battle continued, he was confident that he could raise all his parameters to ten and become the strongest ninja within seven days!

“Teachers, please continue,” he urged. “I can’t wait.”

The trio looked at each other and agreed that such a peculiar case required the Shadow’s attention. Fearing that Hanwu would flee, Sadamasa and Kumori stayed behind to continue attacking him, while Natsutsuyu left to report.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Hanwu endured their combined attacks and slowly improved his parameters. At first, he couldn’t hit them at all. As the session wore on, he could land occasional blows. Three hours later, his blows connected consistently.

Sadamasa and Kumori panted with exhaustion, while Hanwu remained vigorous and demanded more. He warned them that if they stopped attacking, he would attack them instead.

Hanwu was about to use a jutsu when Natsutsuyu returned with the Giant Wood Village’s Shadow. The latter used Wood Prison to trap Hanwu and turned to the three Masters. “Gather all the available information on him.”

“Yes!” they answered in unison.

Before they could move, Hanwu used Swap and switched places with a pebble, slipping free of the prison. “There’s no need to do something so troublesome. I am Kokkai Hanwu.”

He used the Black Water Bullet, the Kokkai family’s unique Hijutsu, and struck the wooden prison. The jutsu corroded one of the wooden beams, and it snapped in half. The jutsu left no doubt about his lineage.

The Shadow frowned. He kept close watch over every major development in the village. Just yesterday, a report had crossed his desk stating that Hanwu had completed his coming-of-age ceremony and earned an Excellent evaluation from his family.

Yet only now, seeing him in action, did he grasp the boy’s true strength. Since the Kokkai family was one of the village’s most prominent families, the Shadow chose to trust him.

In that case, Hanwu must receive proper guidance and correct resources,

the Shadow thought.

He instructed, “Bring him back with me. Also, summon the patriarch of the Kokkai family. I want to talk to him.”