Pov: Takumi Uchiha.
"What did you just do? Why did your heart stop? How is your chakra system functioning" The genin quickly pokes for answers.
He seems to have honed his rage back again- seeing that I am a threat.
"I did what was required to eliminate my newfound weakness" I answer and scan him.
He frowns heavily and rushes me once more, I dodge his attacks instead of blocking them- weaving closely to his body but not close enough to get hit by one of his chakra disrupting attacks.
"Just sit still you worthless brat!" Yū yells at me and I smirk.
The best way to figure out a counter would be to feel how his taijutsu works- I jump backwards away from his attack and assume the same stance he took, before attempting to mimic him.
Pov: Hiruzen Sarutobi.
*Whack!*
Another collision finally occurs when Takumi switches stances and deflects two blows.
Takumi jumps back and evades again for another few moments, where I can see that he has reopened his chakra system again- before repeating that same thing.
Repeatedly being pushed back I notice him trying to mimic the gentle fist.
"Why is he trying to mimic another taijutsu mid fight?" I ask under my breath.
"He isn't mimicking Yū Hyuga" Fugaku speaks up.
"Looks like it to me" Chozu squints.
"You can't see it without the sharingan- I am focusing on every move he is making and it is not copying the opponent" Fugaku states confidently.
"How so? He looks like it" Shikaku asks with curiosity.
"He matched the image that Yū produced but his sight can't keep up with Yū's every move so he is doing something else instead. He is reverse engineering the entire taijutsu based on how it looks- he corrects himself if it looks wrong to himself and then adjusts himself" Fugaku tries to explain as his sharingan watches closely.
"How so?" Inoichi asks out of interest.
"The first few strikes were weak versions of his taijutsu style- sending impacts internally, he is using his own taijutsu to fill gaps in knowledge before slowly transforming those strikes into actual gentle fist strikes- that last one there, that was his third attempt at sending disrupting chakra towards his enemy and it was close. With every strike he cuts down a large portion of error in his taijutsu and refines it. This is his talent. Taijutsu is his element- he is recreating an entire taijutsu based on one fight and he is already done enough to label him a genuis without compare- let alone anything done with a sharingan involved" Fugaku clenches his fist.
And this is the reason why I focused so heavily on Takumi.
He improved the Academy taijutsu without ever actually paying attention in class and participating within sparring lessons.
He made his own technique without guidance and made it so hard to learn that it takes dedicated taijutsu users to actually obtain- this technique in question has also been stored away as a B-rank technique.
It was then upgraded to A-rank after just one mission he participated in.
He has taught Saburo Mori a technique of his own making within 100 hours and that same Saburo Mori who never saw past a C-rank mission outside Konoha is now part of a team taking on B-rank missions and sometimes A-rank missions.
Notably Saburo stated that he himself has not seen a level of mastery over this taijutsu quite like Takumi showed within the final hour of their training.
Meaning Takumi created and became a the best practitioner of a C-rank taijutsu within 100 hours while actively training someone else.
All that within the knowledge of his laziness can only answer why I don't let him remain a citizen.
Minato is right- in almost every way but one.
Takumi accepted our deal, he has this fire that wants to burn inside of him and yet it just doesn't.
Takumi is a shinobi- he has a duty, but he can only act on that duty within the aspects of being a lazy shinobi rather than an active one.
I should always try to better our deal- I am glad Minato reminded me of this fact today before I destroyed the deal.
I would have lost this talent had I not been reminded of just who Takumi is.
A limitless Taijutsu genius.
*Wham!* *Whack!*
Takumi uses his reconstructed Gentle fist to deflect again, he twists his weight and just as I expect him to jump back again I watch as he tilts his body and begins striking back. Swiftly.
*Wha!* *Slam!* *Pow!* *Wham!*
These strikes start heavier sounding than the gentle fist but after only three attacks do the attacks sound exactly the same as Yū's technique.
Yū deflects the first few blows and holds his ground, not budging or stepping back he and Takumi stand still near the edge of the arena where Takumi has retreated to.
"Impressive. Just who is this kid?" Inoichi watches closely.
"I've changed my mind on him- I think we need to go about him another way, especially after that conversation with Minato and Kushina" Shikaku holds his chin in thought.
"How are you doing that!?" Yū yells put in rage.
"I can't actively strike your chakra gates, I don't even know if that is the correct term for them- but I can rebuild your disruptive pokes to analyse for further detail in order to counter them. Currently I am matching each strike you make and sending the exact amount of Chakra into every attack that you are making, causing both strikes to cancel each other out- even if my strikes wouldn't be able to disrupt your chakra gate like yours can to mine" Takumi takes his time to explain in-between blows.
I see- he just needs to know where the opponent attacks to create this stalemate, he cannot truly use the gentle fist without the Byakugan.
This means that no matter how hard he trains, Takumi will forever be unable to use the gentle fist correctly.
*BANG!*
Suddenly- Takumi strikes with the back of his fist, the weight and impact create a loud noise contrasting the quieter battle from earlier.
Hitting Yū in the shoulder he pushes forward- taking a defining step that forces Yū back a step.
"What is your taijutsu called?" Takumi asks.
"You don't know the Hyuga clans gentle fist? Don't mess with me! Clearly you researched it before!" Yū yells as he shakes his shoulder of the pain and deflects multiple strikes.
"Gentle fist? Hn. I needed its name in order to properly name my counter technique. And I don't research my enemies before fighting them unless it necessary- you are not that strong" Takumi insults as he closes his eyes for a few seconds.
Yū takes the chance to push again but Takumi stands as strongly as before, creating that stalemate which infuriates the young Hyuga.
*BAM!*
Takumi suddenly punches forward- his fist boldly pushing past Yū's hand and striking his sternum with an intense blow.
Yū takes another step back and Takumi takes one step forward.
"I see- [Gentle Counter: Weighted Fist]? Is that a good name?" Takumi thinks aloud as he opens his eyes.
*WHAM!*
Another heavy strike pushes Yū back- who seems unable to properly defend against the blow.
"No- [Takumi Style: Weighted fist]?" Takumi scrunched his face as he moves forward.
*BAM!*
"[Takumi Style: Gentle Counter]" Takumi suddenly states confidently before punching again.
*WHACK!*
Step by step, Takumi slowly controls the battle and moves the genin back.
"This technique harnesses two core details- the first one is my Sleep-Standing jutsu which is why I named it Takumi style- you need to be capable of redirecting impacts. The second thing is the use of more weighted attacks that disrupt the quick and combo heavy gentle fist technique" Takumi begins to explain.
*BANG!* *BAM!*
"The gentle fist- or rather the versions you use is practiced as an aggressive technique in your hands, focusing on attacking the opponent. That isn't wrong to do considering that your greatest defence can come from shutting the opponent down with one technique. But because you practice such a technique this particular way- I am capable of creating a technique that exposes that weakness" Takumi keeps talking.
*THWACK!* *POW!*
"Firstly- my fists would be shut down no matter the weight behind them due to your ability to cut off my chakra, I noticed you needed your chakra to do that. Meaning if I absorb half my own impact and then redirect it back out my hand exactly where it came from- I create a layer of kinetic energy that gets in the way of your chakra, allowing me to strike normally. This does however create a loud noise and short delay between impacts- an unintended side effect that can confuse you. The important part is that now knowing this you will apply more chakra and get through the kinetic wall I set up rather easily" Takumi exposes the weakness of his own technique and the effect is immediately shown.
*BAM!*
Takumi is forced to block again- for a moment Takumi nearly retreats back a step but holds his ground in the centre of this arena.
"And now I need to create heavier impacts for simple chakra surges to not be capable of breaking. Something strong enough to break through a quick pulse of chakra- because you cannot spend time to gather chakra and respond to every punch, you have a limit to your reflexes and luckily that limit is shown in how much chakra you can deliver in your disruptive attacks" Takumi taunts by making an opening on his left side.
*Tap!*
Yū doesn't see the taunt in his anger and strikes his waist- Takumi takes a step back but smiles.
"So I to solve this issue I need to store your own attacks to apply to mine- watch my chakra" He states and I frown.
*THWACK!* *BAM!*
Takumi takes two steps forward as he sends two strikes simultaneously at Yū- the strikes slam into his shoulder and waist as Yū is forced back yet again.
"I store your own impact and use it to buff my own strike. It's not as if the kinetic energy is a thick wall, its just fast enough and hits hard enough that your chakra can't puncture it in the second that it affects you. Like a man trying to push through a hurricane, the wind stops him yet he will find a way to move forward. Probably" Takumi sums up.
He can store an impact now? For how long? Does it weaken over time? Will it hurt him? I have so many questions... not enough time to even read the answers if he writes them down.
"And the second core aspect is the heavy strikes- your technique is all bout poking the right spots and getting through or around an enemy in order to do so- gentle movements with big impacts behind them" Takumi tells Yū who steps back again.
*BAM!* *BAM!* *BANG!*
"So to counter that I need a stance that is wide and stable, large steps that must be calculated every time in order to maintain balance and defensive positioning against your rush of blows- I also need to keep my torso moving at all times in case you do strike me, allowing me to duck and swish out of precise strikes, this also makes me an open target for you to strike and enables the use of my impact storage if I lean into your blows instead of away- finally my own attacks are consistent and heavy, fists like hammers they need to throw you off balance or else you will ignore them and continue forward" Takumi explains every detail as he takes more and more ground.
"Heavy strikes that throw you off balance allow me to move forward and push you back- creating a nice feedback loop of keeping you off balance. I will need to adjust this if anyone else practices this technique, especially if in a more defensive manner, but another few notes and additions will never bother me" Takumi smiles as Yū starts to get cornered, unable to find an opening or escape.
Yū does something out of panic- he doesn't strike, not allowing Takumi to store an attack.
"And this is the problem with you. Your weakness is lacking a defensive option when all other options run dry. What will you do with your back to the wall? What can you do but surrender? If you bite back like an animal you will only fuel another strike. If you run I will have an opportunity to strike a critical injury. If you stay defensive I will have all the time in the world to land just one good hit while you are forced to sit still at the wall. So what do you do?" Takumi asks.
Yū seems short of breath and stunned- unable to create a solution.
"I will give you some time- as I was granted some time to escape your grasp as well- so listen close Yū Hyuga" Takumi's eyes stop drooping lazily and flare up as his body language drastically changes.
His prior body language communicated that he didn't care and was tired- now it communicated that everyone is beneath him and that none can dare even look him in the eyes.
"Your taijutsu is good. But poorly implemented, too aggressive for its purposes and is definitely restricted by its lack of special techniques- I don't care why you know little else besides the basics of this technique but I can certainly tell you that rebuilding it left a lot of room for growth in every aspect. Defensive wise, ranged wise- I would even dare say that you are merely a beginner when using this technique, a tourist for the gentle fist and not an actual practitioner. You also lack critical thinking skills, you would rather have the answer to every question than be forced to think on the spot. Is that bad? No. Is that an obstacle to becoming strong enough to fight in A-rank battles and onwards? Certainly, the ability to think on your feet is crucial to fights against enemies with trump cards and it gets worse with stronger enemies. Based entirely on what I just said- you are a genin in my rankings, a nothing warrior who has more talent than skill and it shows" Takumi sighs.
"But- you have those weird eyes, does anyone else have them or is it your jutsu?" Takumi asks as he evaluates.
"That is the Hyuga clans Dojutsu. The Byakugan" Fugaku speaks clearly.
"I see, if this was a jutsu you cultivated I would have elevated you to a high genin ranking or perhaps low chunin- but considering this was something you were born with? And rely on? Your entire technique crumbles without your fancy eyeballs. It's an embarrassment- if I relied on such a thing to get stronger in the world I would have carved out my eyes until I actually deserved them- you are akin to a swordsman with a dangerous blade that can cleave forests in two, but lack the skill to beat a trainee swordsman with a wooden sword. I recommend training some other fundamentals before perfecting this taijutsu and perhaps learn a variant of the gentle fist that doesn't need the Byakugan to work. While doing so I would also emphasise mourning and grieving alongside reading up on leadership roles and responsibilities, you have the heart of a caring and strong leader but not the brains. If it were up to me I would make you wait a year before testing the things I pointed out and doing so again if you fail to meet standards- once you become chunin I would recommend going for assault and assassination type missions that lead a team against a single target or a small group of them. Stay away from big groups and I encourage anger management studies if you are to combat Stone ninja. Or me- you have anger issues with me specifically and I would not recommend willingly bringing any disadvantage into a fight against me" Takumi continues on with compact information.
"He has quite the mouth" Inoichi winces.
"I haven't heard him speak more than a sentence or two at a time- this is new. And a lot, such an amount spoken in such a quick way..." Fugaku sighs in exasperation.
"Yes. He is quite... fluent in communicating weakness and rankings to his enemies, certainly a terrible thing to hear before death" I nod in agreement.
The length is also of something to note- I think our argument before was shorter than that tangent he went on.
"Are you done?" Yū grits his teeth tightly.
"No. To summarise, you are angry, untalented, unskilled and in need of a few books. Your future will be bright if you follow my words but if you don't you will remain a genin to me for eternity. Speaking of- you are just an average genin" Takumi sums up.
"You little shi-" Yū gets cut off.
*BAM!*
A fist slams into his face and knocks him out as his head shunts into the wall behind him.
*Flop*
His body falls to the floor and Takumi wipes one of his eyes and the blood that drips down into it.
I had almost forgot... he did all that with one eye closed.
He steps towards us and bows.
"I gained too many insights today and learnt a lot- I insist you do not rub salt in the wound and promote me" Takumi raises his head and moves up to the railings with the others.
"I want to promote him in spite of those words" Shikaku grumbles.
"But he also failed basic genjutsu detection" Inoichi reminds him.
"Haaa- what a drag" Shikaku sighs as his teammates chuckle.
I turn to Fugaku who shuts down his sharingan and closes his eyes.
"How do I deal with this? I can't let him be lazy- but he refuses to listen. Even force and threat of branding was ignored in favour of thinking about an entire counter technique. What am I doing wrong?" Fugaku asks himself.
"I don't think we have a solution yet, but I can at least wait to find one with our deal. You will probably be forced to confront him very soon" I acknowledge.
Fugaku thinks to himself and I turn to the arena again.
Yū- poor child, he needs medical attention and rest.
I think he needed to rest for a while now, hopefully this short break from work will let him wind down... or perhaps the environment of the Hyuga clan will do the exact opposite.
If I recall correctly a third of his class has already died in the war- the only friend he has left is hospitalized and is only conscious for moments at a time.
I need to help him.
But I also need to help Konoha.
I can't help, I don't have the time.
Why can't I? Why am I doing this job? Being so thinly stretched I am unable to handle the problems?
I could have solved Takumi's issue by now if I had time... I could have helped Yū somehow if I had time.
I have to do something for them.
I can't just... haaa- Shikaku is right, this is a drag.
A very bothersome thing, war.
Thanks for reading! :)