NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20: 20. FPS Pt 2
The battlefield was a flurry of movement, punctuated by flashes of energy and the sound of fierce yet friendly clashes. Ryusei dodged another one of Naruto's attacks, then took a quick step back, signaling for a pause. Naruto skidded to a stop, breathing heavily but grinning from ear to ear.
"Not bad, Naruto," Ryusei said, nodding in approval. "But you're too predictable. You telegraph your moves with your stance—if I can read you, so can anyone else."
Naruto frowned, considering Ryusei's words, then adjusted his posture. "Like this?"
Ryusei shook his head, stepping closer to correct Naruto's stance. "No, think about it this way. Relax your shoulders, and don't lean in too much. You're strong enough to throw anyone off balance, but you need to keep yourself balanced first."
He tapped Naruto's arm lightly, and Naruto adjusted again, his stance now more grounded and fluid. Ryusei grinned. "Better. Now, keep your center of gravity low and don't let me see where your next attack is coming from."
Naruto nodded, his expression serious as he took in the advice. Then, without warning, he lunged again, this time moving with an unexpected grace. Ryusei blocked, but he could feel the difference—Naruto's movements were less telegraphed, more precise. Ryusei let out a laugh, blocking another strike with ease but impressed by the progress.
"There you go! Now you're getting it!" Ryusei encouraged, dodging as Naruto swung at him again, his attacks now sharper and less predictable.
Meanwhile, Sasuke and Anon were locked in their own intense clash, with Sakura waiting for the right moment to strike. Sasuke's Sharingan whirled as he followed Anon's movements, tracking the subtle shifts in his stance and the faint flickers of Void energy that accompanied each of his attacks.
Anon parried Sasuke's sword with a blade of Void energy, a smirk playing on his lips. "Not bad, Sasuke. Your Sharingan is impressive, but you rely too much on it. You need to learn to anticipate movements without it. Here—"
With a sudden burst of speed, Anon twisted away, his movements blurring as he ducked under Sasuke's guard and tapped him on the shoulder. Sasuke's eyes widened, caught off-guard by Anon's sudden maneuver.
"See? That's how you keep your opponent guessing," Anon said, stepping back with a grin. "Don't focus so much on what you see. Feel the energy around you. Even without the Void, there are tells. Everyone leaves a trail of intent before they strike."
Sasuke nodded, taking in the lesson. He deactivated his Sharingan, choosing instead to focus on Anon's presence, tuning in to the subtleties of his stance and energy. Anon attacked again, and this time, Sasuke dodged without relying on his eyes, moving instinctively to counter.
"Much better," Anon praised, his Void blade dissipating as he raised his hands in acknowledgment. "You've got potential, Sasuke. Just don't let your eyes do all the work."
Sakura stepped in, aiming a punch at Anon, but he spun away, his movements fluid and controlled. She smiled, accepting the challenge as Anon turned to face her.
"You're powerful, Sakura," Anon said, dodging another punch. "But you tend to commit too much to each attack. If you miss, you're wide open. Try to hold back slightly, keep your movements tighter. Like this—"
He demonstrated a series of quick jabs, each one precise and measured, flowing from one to the next without overextending. Sakura watched closely, then mimicked his movements, landing a punch that forced Anon to dodge for real this time.
"Nice! Keep that up, and you'll be even harder to counter," Anon said, a note of genuine respect in his voice.
Across the battlefield, Ryusei caught Naruto in a grapple, then released him just as quickly, demonstrating a new technique. "Here, try this," Ryusei said, guiding Naruto through the motion. "See how you can redirect their force and throw them off balance? It's about using their energy against them."
Naruto tried it, catching Ryusei off-guard as he flipped him over his shoulder. Ryusei landed smoothly, grinning as he got to his feet. "Exactly like that! Use what they give you, and turn it to your advantage."
Naruto laughed, the excitement of learning filling his voice. "Man, Ryusei, you're full of surprises! I didn't think I'd get the hang of that so fast."
"Well, you're catching on quick, but don't let it go to your head just yet," Ryusei teased, throwing a light punch that Naruto blocked with ease.
Sasuke and Sakura regrouped, standing beside Anon as they watched Ryusei and Naruto spar. Anon turned to them, his tone serious but friendly. "The key here is to remain adaptable. Every opponent is different, and in a battle like the one we're headed into, you'll need to change your approach on the fly. Use your strengths, but don't rely on them too heavily. Always be ready to learn, even in the middle of a fight."
Sakura nodded, exchanging a glance with Sasuke. "We're stronger together. We can cover each other's weaknesses and build on each other's strengths."
"Exactly," Ryusei said, pausing his spar with Naruto to address them all. "This battle royal is about more than just testing our strength. It's about learning to adapt, to anticipate, and to work as a unit even when we're fighting separately. What you pick up here could make the difference in the war we're about to face."
Naruto looked around at his friends, his grin widening as he felt the camaraderie and shared purpose. "Then let's keep going! We're gonna need every edge we can get, and this is the perfect place to find it."
Ryusei laughed, stepping back as he readied himself for another round. "Alright then, let's see what you've got! And don't hold back—this is a training ground, but it's also where we sharpen our skills to the limit."
The group launched back into their sparring, exchanging techniques and learning from each other with every move. Banter and laughter punctuated the intense clashes, as each of them pushed their limits and absorbed the lessons Ryusei and Anon shared. They were more than just fighters—they were a team, building trust and resilience.