As Shinji gave the order, Shizune cast aside her distracting thoughts and adjusted her breathing.
"Eh?"
Hinata let out a confused sound, looking at Shizune in the arena.
"What's wrong, Hinata?" Naruto, standing beside her, turned his head and asked curiously.
"Loser, don't ask yet. Let Hinata watch carefully."
Sasuke slowly activated his Sharingan, his eyes fixed on Shizune.
"What the—!" Naruto pouted but said no more.
Hinata shook her head, explaining, "It's nothing, Naruto, it's just that Shizune-senpai's Breathing Method seems a little different from ours."
With her Byakugan, she could see that as Shizune adjusted her breathing, the flow of Chakra also changed.
"Different?"
Ino blinked, she couldn't see any difference at all.
Hinata nodded, her gaze unmoving as she observed Shizune. "Yes, it's strange. Although it's different, it's also quite similar to what sensei taught."
"But her flow pattern feels even more suited to her."
...
Karin, in the arena, grew a little more serious, her expression stern as she watched Shizune.
Although her perception hadn't reached the standard of her adult self, it wasn't bad.
"She's gotten stronger, and her Chakra also seems much more profound."
Swoosh—
Without further hesitation, Karin acted first. After all, her chances of winning were lesser at the moment, given that her opponent was a senior several years her elder.
Shizune calmly met her advance. Both used the same move at the same time, their fists colliding, letting each know the other's state.
"Oh?"
Karin also noticed something was off.
The Breathing Method sensei taught her wasn't like this, was it?
Shinji smiled.
Shizune's medical knowledge allowed her to make her own modifications during her training. From the perspective of a Medical Ninja, she had corrected Eternal Fist.
She then adjusted it to a Breathing Method and Chakra modulation that was more suitable for herself, which is why the effects produced were also different.
Shoulder Strike!
Shizune advanced instead of retreating, moving towards Karin, her hands' Chakra rotating like a whirlpool current.
Karin, who had just recovered, could only grit her teeth and receive the blow.
The next moment, she was spun backward by Shizune's Chakra flow, retreating several meters.
"Does a Shoulder Strike with that amount of Chakra have such power?" Naruto scratched his head.
According to his understanding, the Chakra Shizune had just emitted shouldn't have had such great power.
Hinata observed carefully, finally letting out a breath after a long while. "It's different. Shizune-senpai used different whirlpool currents in each hand, so the impact created is much greater than ours."
Sasuke only understood then, but the next moment, he couldn't sit still.
"How is that possible? She's only been training for such a short time."
He had only seen this move used by Neji and sensei.
"Sasuke-kun, it's different." Hinata slowly closed her Byakugan and shook her head at her companions.
"Shizune-senpai's method is completely unique to her."
"That's right, Hinata." Shinji clapped and said to Hinata, then looked at his disciple.
"Neji can use different currents purely because of his understanding of combining Eternal Fist with Gentle Fist."
"As for Shizune, it's most likely because her Chakra is clearly insufficient, plus her understanding of the human body surpasses yours."
"So she used the Breathing Method to adjust her Chakra output and flow."
Upon hearing this, Sasuke finally gave up. This method wasn't suitable for him, so there was no need to dwell on it.
Naruto scratched his head. Instead of agonizing over such things, it was better to simply use Chakra that was greater than anyone else's.
After all, sensei had said that one force breaks all methods.
As long as his Chakra volume was greater than everyone else's, no matter how many flashy techniques there were, he could break them.
"Hoo..."
Karin also clearly realized that Shizune's modifications allowed her to achieve this.
If that's the case, then she would overwhelm her with Chakra.
Thinking this, Karin unleashed a massive amount of Chakra throughout her body, and powerful Chakra fluctuations burst forth around her.
Sasuke's lips twitched at this sight. Such a familiar feeling.
"Haha, that's it! Well done, Karin!" Naruto's expression was excited.
Karin had actually chosen the same approach as him.
Shinji let out a helpless wry smile.
As expected of an Uzumaki, such a dominant physique. Karin, at this age, displayed Chakra that was almost on par with Shizune's.
Shizune, facing Karin, was even more aware of how terrifying this young girl was.
Tsunade-sama! Shinji-sama's disciples are so abnormal!
Without further thought, Shizune's expression grew serious as she adjusted her breathing again.
She couldn't lose, no matter what, or Tsunade-sama would surely tease her to death when she returned.
Boom—
Two currents moved in unison.
Karin and Shizune chose to attack head-on. The two Chakra fluctuations collided, and then the ground began to crack open, unable to withstand the force.
Sasuke deactivated his Sharingan. The victor was decided, there was no need to observe further.
As the dust settled, Karin was seen slumped on the ground, an expression of helplessness on her face. "Damn it! Just by that much!"
Shizune, beside her, twitched her lips. She felt as if her right hand might have a slight fracture.
'This little girl, at such a young age, is already this formidable?' Shizune looked at Karin before her, sighing inwardly.
No wonder Tsunade was so concerned that Karin hadn't become her disciple.
"Alright, the victor has been decided." Shinji slowly walked over and announced the result.
Hearing this, Shizune quickly walked to Karin's side and extended her hand, saying with genuine sincerity, "Karin, you're amazing."
At least, she herself couldn't have achieved this level at Karin's age.
"Hehe, not really. Shizune-senpai, you're the amazing one."
Hearing Shizune say this, Karin's face was filled with embarrassment.
She had started learning Eternal Fist even earlier than Shizune. It was a pity that she had still lost.
"Sasuke, I feel like we might have another competitor in the future." Naruto draped an arm over Sasuke's shoulder and said.
Sasuke didn't respond. He knew clearly that if Karin continued, she could become the next Naruto.
It wasn't that Shikamaru and the others weren't capable, but their individual development paths were different.
But looking at Karin, almost like Naruto and himself, she would likely serve as a primary attacker in the future squad.
"Loser, get ready." Sasuke recovered, his gaze at Naruto filled with fighting spirit.
In their recent spars, they had hardly used their full strength, as they were all still improving. It was better to save it for the end, to truly see who was stronger.
(End of Chapter)
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