However, it must be said that Yamashiro Runya and Kato Megumi's aptitude was not bad.
In just one day, the two learned the Shadow Clone Technique.
After that, they would assign their Shadow Clones to do missions after taking them on, while the two themselves began tree climbing and water walking, truly training diligently and hard.
As for Natsuki, he was called aside by Yamashiro Aoba.
"Natsuki, I'm going to test your strength now. Show me all your abilities, whether it's the Six Styles you developed yourself, the Eight Gates, or Hatake Swordmanship. Attack me with all your might. I want to see what level you've reached!"
He was truly very curious about this student of his.
To be recognized by both Kai and Kakashi, his abilities must be extraordinary.
Natsuki naturally wouldn't miss this opportunity to test his own strength. He might not use a move of the level of Vortex Boiling Bullet, but the intensity of Eight Gates + Hatake Swordmanship was worth testing.
Furthermore, whether the Six Styles could contend with a Jonin's Taijutsu also needed to be properly tested.
"Alright then, Aoba-sensei, be careful. I'm afraid I won't be able to hold back my strength, so don't get beaten to death by me!" Natsuki assumed a stance.
"Heh! Is that confidence or arrogance? Just attack without worry!"
As Yamashiro Aoba finished speaking, Natsuki's figure disappeared.
Using Body Flicker Technique, he flashed behind Yamashiro Aoba, sweeping a whip kick that sliced through the air.
However, Yamashiro Aoba's taijutsu was excellent, and he naturally saw through it early.
He dodged with a sidestep, then launched into a set of punches.
Natsuki immediately used Iron Skin to harden his fists and exchanged a few blows with Yamashiro Aoba, leaving Yamashiro Aoba's hands numb.
"Your Iron Skin fist technique is really troublesome, I can't directly clash with you!"
Yamashiro Aoba jumped back, attempting to create distance from Natsuki.
However, Natsuki raised his foot and unleashed a Wind Release: Gale Palm slash, forcing Yamashiro Aoba to dodge again.
Meanwhile, Natsuki had already pursued him again using Body Flicker Technique.
"Finger Gun!"
Puff! Puff! Puff!
His sharp fingers seemed to pierce the air.
Yamashiro Aoba did not dare to be careless and decisively took out his Kunai to block.
He heard a series of clangs, the Finger Gun as dangerous as steel nails.
Fortunately, Yamashiro Aoba's taijutsu was indeed powerful.
Not only did he block all of Natsuki's Finger Gun attacks, but he could also find Natsuki's openings to counterattack, forcing Natsuki to use Paper Drawing to evade.
"Six Styles are truly extraordinary!
Currently, just five styles are already proficient in both offense and defense.
I heard there's another style, Moon Walk, that allows you to run in the air.
I'd really like to see it with my own eyes."
As Yamashiro Aoba thought this, he suddenly ducked down and performed a sweeping leg kick.
Natsuki decisively leaped up, but found Yamashiro Aoba attacking rapidly again.
Helpless, he had no choice but to evade in the air using Moon Walk.
Yamashiro Aoba pushed up his sunglasses, a smile on his lips: "So this is Moon Walk, indeed you can walk and run freely in the air.
It seems I'll have to shamelessly learn this technique from my student, after all, it's really quite practical."
Half an hour later, Natsuki's Six Styles had been polished, but he still hadn't gained an advantage against Yamashiro Aoba's taijutsu.
Thus, he took a deep breath: "Eight Gates, Third Gate, The Gate of Life, Open!"
Boom!
A surge of air rose from his body, his hair stood on end, and he could feel the intense Chakra fluctuations from him.
However, he only opened up to the Third Gate; for a spar, there was no need to open the later gates and harm his body.
Whoosh!
He disappeared again, much faster than before with Body Flicker Technique.
Yamashiro Aoba did not dare to be careless and quickly raised his arms to block, but was swept back by a massive force.
He retreated several steps before barely stopping, but Natsuki's figure kept flickering around him.
His speed was truly astonishing.
If it weren't for his exceptional eyesight and extensive experience, he would have been defeated by that kick just now.
"Heh heh, Natsuki, you really keep surprising me more and more!"
Yamashiro Aoba smiled brightly, focusing his full attention on the fight.
Natsuki was also not polite, relying on the strength and speed of the Eight Gates, he continuously launched fierce attacks in conjunction with Six Styles.
For a moment, he actually held a slight advantage.
However, the Eight Gates couldn't be kept open for long, even just opening the Third Gate consumed a significant amount of Chakra.
If the fight continued, Yamashiro Aoba might still win in the end.
Yamashiro Aoba proactively said: "Your Six Styles are already familiar to me.
Even with the speed and strength of the Eight Gates added, defeating me is impossible.
Show me your real skills, where is your Hatake Swordmanship?"
Clang!
A short sword was drawn.
Lightning flickered on the blade, and the next second it was in front of Yamashiro Aoba's face.
Yamashiro Aoba was startled and quickly used his Kunai to block.
He heard a 'zzz' sound, the Kunai was cut in half on the spot, and a bloody gash was sliced across his shoulder.
"So fast!
As expected of Sakumo Hatake-senpai's swordmanship!"
In Yamashiro Aoba's view, even if Natsuki had only learned ten percent of the Hatake Swordmanship, he already possessed Jonin level strength.
If he hadn't blocked and dodged in time just now, Natsuki might really not have been able to stop his sword and would have cut off his teacher's neck.
Wouldn't Natsuki then become a rogue Ninja?
He didn't dare to be careless and immediately formed hand seals quickly, summoning crows to fight: "Ninja Art: Art of Scattered Crows!"
Immediately, a dense swarm of crows enveloped Natsuki.
Natsuki moved quickly, relying on the speed of the Eight Gates to weave through the swarm of crows.
The short sword in his hand continuously unleashed lightning, killing crows wherever it passed, but it was very difficult to get close to Yamashiro Aoba.
Yamashiro Aoba was wary of the lightning and kept moving around the outside of the crow swarm, refusing to let Natsuki get close.
Furthermore, he also saw Natsuki's weakness, which was that his Hatake Swordmanship wasn't pure enough, otherwise he wouldn't be relying on the speed of the Eight Gates.
In reality, Yamashiro Aoba's observation was indeed sharp.
Natsuki had been learning Hatake Swordmanship for less than a year.
Although he understood the essence of the sword technique, mastering it was very difficult.
He had only learned to make the sword faster, but his own speed couldn't keep up, so he could only rely on the Eight Gates to increase his speed, but this didn't match the sword technique, preventing him from unleashing his strongest power.
Natsuki also speculated that White Fang's speed was Lightning Flash, which was why he was so fast.
However, Lightning Flash was also difficult to learn, and he was still figuring it out.
After learning it, he still needed to coordinate it with the sword technique to make the lightning blade faster than Lightning Flash, which was even more difficult.
Currently, he could only reach a level where he was roughly evenly matched with Yamashiro Aoba.
Of course, if he were to open the Eight Gates to the Fifth Gate, or use powerful techniques like Vortex Boiling Bullet or Soaring Sky Spin, he would have a chance to win, but there was no need.
A few hours later, Natsuki collapsed on the ground, exhausted.
Yamashiro Aoba also looked disheveled, clearly Natsuki had caused him quite a bit of trouble.
However, he smiled: "To be able to fight me to this extent, your strength is in the Elite Chunin to Special Jonin range.
Among Genin, you should be the strongest.
However, your weakness is also obvious; your combat experience is severely lacking, and you still need to continue learning in the future."
Natsuki decisively seized the opportunity: "Then I'll trouble Aoba-sensei to be my sparring partner from now on!
Thank you, sensei!"
Yamashiro Aoba was speechless.
This little guy thanked him directly, how could he refuse?