With the combined bloodlines of the Yotsuki and Uchiha clans, Raizen's physical strength surpassed Asuma's.
The current Asuma was still a skinny teenager.....not the rugged, bearded man he would become later.
Even as an adult, Raizen doubted Asuma could match him in raw power.
The Yotsuki clan had survived in a brutal environment through natural selection.
Those with weak physical genes had long been eliminated from history. Only the strongest remained!
The pain in his hand quickly traveled through his nerves to Asuma's brain, snapping him out of shock.
They were still in combat.
Asuma gritted his teeth. With his other hand, he thrust his second chakra blade forward while using the free hand to form seals.
The pale blue edge of the blade glowed brighter, emitting a sharp whistle.
Raizen smiled faintly.
The future "Flying Swallow," huh?
"Flying Swallow" didn't refer to Asuma's knuckle blades themselves, but the Wind Release ninjutsu attached to them.
Like a swallow spreading its wings, the blades emitted two dazzling beams of light in close combat.
Though not yet mature, it already showed the beginnings of that technique.
"Then let me respond."
Raizen had his own "Flying Bird."
No flashy effects—just pure explosive power and chakra-enhanced speed.
In that instant, Raizen moved.
The fire-wreathed ninja sword seemed to vanish from Asuma's sight.
The oppressive heat disappeared just as suddenly.
Asuma's instincts screamed danger.
Here it comes!
He felt the rush of wind but had no time to react.
First came the sensation of impact—like striking solid rock.
Then Raizen suddenly seemed to pull away, growing farther and farther.
No—Asuma's pupils shrank.
It wasn't Raizen moving away—it was him!
Bang!
The chakra blade in Asuma's hand felt like a heavy lead ball, dragging his body backward.
Crack…
A large tree behind him caught his body. Rough bark split in a spiderweb pattern.
His right hand, still gripping the chakra blade, had embedded deeply into the trunk.
"Asuma…"
Yūhi Kurenai's eyes widened.
One held a blazing red sword, the other pale blue chakra blades.
In a single exchange, Raizen disarmed one of Asuma's blades, then his sword blurred. The next moment, Asuma was sent flying backward.
This was the foundation of a great clan?
Kurenai felt the difference between this and their childish sparring at the academy.
"You have comprehended the entry [Wind Release Seed (White)]."
[Entry: Wind Release Seed (White)]
[Requirement: Use Fire Release to counter Wind Release and defeat Sarutobi Asuma's "Flying Swallow."]
[Progress: (Completed).]
[Effect: Your chakra gains stronger affinity for Wind Release nature transformation, allowing you to refine Wind Release chakra.]
[Note: Can be upgraded later.]
"Acquired Wind Release affinity postnatally?"
Raizen was momentarily stunned.
This saved him years of training.
"Picked up a bargain."
Raizen thought to himself.
The panel recognized even the embryonic "Flying Swallow" as complete.
Now he could practice Wind Release ninjutsu.
Learning multiple natures gave a ninja an advantage in any environment.
In the future, Sarutobi Asuma would become an elite jōnin—one of Konoha's strongest Wind Release users.
One step further, and he could even fight a Kage.
Of course, that was theoretical.
Asuma would die in his thirties at the hands of Akatsuki, forever frozen at that strength.
If facing the mature "Flying Swallow" of that time, Raizen doubted it would be this easy.
"Cough, cough…"
Asuma struggled to breathe from the pain. After a while, he could finally speak.
"Raizen, your strength is insane… and how did you learn Chakra Flow?"
Asuma pulled his hand from the tree trunk.
If not for channeling Chakra Flow beforehand, his hand might have broken.
Even with medical ninjutsu, he'd be bedridden for a day or two.
But more than the pain, he was shocked that Raizen knew Chakra Flow too.
Wasn't this supposed to be his exclusive advantage?
How had Raizen caught up so quietly?
"Because I'm a genius."
Raizen touched his chin.
Geniuses were common in the Uchiha clan.
Of course, the entry panel had helped him along the way.
This answer left Asuma speechless. He silently stood up, retrieved the flung chakra blade, and stored it in his pouch.
"Raizen, I never saw you train this."
Kurenai walked over, pointing at the sword in Raizen's hand.
The flames had faded, leaving only lingering dark red heat.
"I trained after you left."
"Oh?"
Kurenai nodded.
When she was with Raizen, they always practiced genjutsu together.
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