Wendy's brows furrowed. "But I'm not as strong as you." Naruto tapped his temple. "It's not about strength. It's about placement. Efficiency." He shifted into a stance, feet light, fingers slightly curled—loose, controlled, precise. "You? You're gonna learn how to hit where it actually matters. Not just swinging wildly, but striking with intent. A well-placed hit is way deadlier than a strong one." He then turned to Carla, his stance shifting. His body swayed slightly, light on his feet, his movements fluid. "And you, Carla—you rely too much on speed without direction. You move fast, but you don't move smart. You burn energy when you should be controlling the fight." Carla's tail flicked behind her as she narrowed her eyes. "Hmph. And what, you're gonna make me fight like you?" Naruto smirked. "Nope. I'm gonna make you fight like you, just better." He suddenly burst forward, too fast to track. Carla tensed, raising her arms—only for Naruto to sidestep at the last second, twisting around her like a ghost. Before she could react, his knuckle lightly tapped the back of her knee, and she staggered forward. She barely caught herself before hitting the ground, glaring at him. "What the hell was that?" Naruto grinned. "That? That was movement with a purpose. You don't just dodge—you counter, you redirect, you flow. You've got cat-like reflexes, right? Then move like a damn cat. Not just fast, but unpredictable. Use your surroundings, your agility. Be somewhere they don't expect you to be." Carla's glare softened, a thoughtful look replacing it. Wendy swallowed, staring at her own hands. "And me?" Naruto stepped up to her, raising a single finger. "For you, it's all about control." Without warning, he lightly tapped a spot on her shoulder. A strange sensation rippled through her body, locking her limbs for a brief second before she regained control. She gasped. "What—what was that?" Naruto stepped back, folding his arms. "That? That was what happens when you hit the right place with the right amount of force. No wasted energy, no wild swings. Just precision." His gaze flicked between the two. "Carla, you're gonna master movement. Wendy, you're gonna master impact. Once you do? You'll be fighting on a whole different level." Carla cracked her knuckles. "Alright, then. Show us." Wendy nodded, determination replacing her earlier doubt. Naruto's grin widened. "That's the spirit." And with that, their training truly began. Wendy learned to strike with surgical accuracy, weaving her Sky Dragon Slayer magic into her newfound precision. Carla refined her movement, transforming her speed into something untouchable, a blur of relentless counters and unpredictable strikes. By the time the sun dipped below the trees, they weren't just learning a new way to fight. They were becoming so much more. Back to the Present Wendy steadied her breath, Hoteye's looming form standing before her. Her exhaustion was real, but so was her resolve. Hoteye, still catching his breath, narrowed his eyes. "Her stance, her form… she's different from the cat?" She exhaled, shifting her stance, her fingers curling into a refined, precise form—Gentle Fist. Wendy's sapphire eyes burned with determination. "I'm going to use all that I've learned." Hoteye scowled but smirked a little. "You think a change in stance will save you? You're running on fumes, little girl." He stomped the ground, and another wave of Lacrima-imbued tremors erupted toward Wendy. The earth beneath her cracked and surged as Hoteye's magic distorted the terrain. Rotation. Sky Dragon's Dome! Wendy pivoted on her heel, her arms spreading out as she channeled the force of the wind around her. A whirlwind barrier spiraled into existence, her body becoming a blur as she spun. The moment the earthen shockwaves collided with her defense, the energy dissipated—deflected effortlessly. Hoteye's eyes widened. "What?!" Wendy slid to a stop, her feet digging into the fractured ground. "You're too reliant on your magic—" she said. "Your attacks have power, but they're reckless. You're exhausting yourself more than I am." Hoteye clenched his fists. "Hmph… then I'll just end this in one go!" He raised both hands, and the entire battlefield trembled as dozens of massive underground spikes erupted from below, shooting toward Wendy with incredible force. Wendy's hands moved instinctively—her fingers tracing intricate arcs in the air. With her insane amount of precision guided her every movement. Sky Dragon's Dome! She spun again, faster this time. The wind screamed around her as her Sky Dragon's Dome formed, a perfect dome of compressed air that shattered every incoming spike before they could reach her. Dust and debris exploded outward from the force. Hoteye shielded his eyes, his disbelief growing. "Impossible…! You were supposed to be a support fighter! How can you block everything?!" The whirlwind ceased, and Wendy stood firm. Her arms ached, her magic reserves were dangerously low, but her mind was sharp. "I trained for this. I won't lose!" Hoteye growled. He launched another barrage of seismic waves, the ground bubbling and twisting in chaotic upheavals. Wendy, instead of spinning this time, dashed forward, dodging and weaving between the ruptures with fluid grace. Every step was measured, every movement precise. She closed the distance. Gentle Fist - Sky Dragon's Twin Talons! Her hands shot forward, striking Hoteye's abdomen with pinpoint accuracy. A pulse of both air pressure and internal disruption magic surged into his body. "Gah—!" Hoteye stumbled back, his muscles locking up. His magic stuttered—his body refusing to obey him. "You... what did you do?!" Wendy exhaled. "Gentle Fist doesn't just hit the body—it disrupts the flow of energy inside. Your magic won't work as easily now." Hoteye snarled. "You brat…!" He forced his muscles to move, summoning a final, desperate surge of power. "Then I'll finish this with everything I have!" The ground beneath them shattered entirely. Hoteye's magic reached its peak—a tidal wave of earth and stone rushed forward, aiming to bury Wendy in an instant. Wendy planted her feet. The battle had taken everything from her, but she had one last move left. Naruto's voice echoed in her mind: "A true wizard doesn't just endure. They adapt, they grow, and when the moment comes… they strike!"
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