Re: Akimichi

'This is the first time I fight with a summoned creature. His ranged attack is stronger than mine. I need to try and get close. Maybe there'll be a way...'

Chouji instantly adapted his plan and dove down onto his opponent. Four fireballs flew and exploded around Wuhai. Wuhai's shield was affected by the attack, meaning that the force behind the attack was significant enough to do damage onto the shield.

Wuhai counter-attacked with his golden spear. Chouji spun his body to narrowly dodge Wuhai's thrust as it scrapped his clothes slightly, cold sweat tricked on Chouji's forehead as he went full alert.

More exchanges took place between the two until slowly both of them went into a close-quarters fight with various techniques thrown by them.

Hum—

The red and golden sparks dance around the friction between Chouji's fire release and Wuhai's golden weapons.

*Bang* *Bang* *Bang*

Punches and kicks with huge bursts of flames landed on Wuhai's body. His shield was heavily weakened, and it already got dispersed for quite a few times before it was summoned again and again to protect him.

Even though close quarter combat was should be advantageous for Wuhai due to his beastly instinct, Chouji had a variety of skills and abilities that overwhelmed him.

The two men did not rest for a second, and the battlefield was soon moved away from the training ground all the way into the surrounding forest.

Even though Wuhai had an advantage in the natural energy field and fuinjutsu, Chouji's attacks were too diverse and unpredictable. Wuhai could not hold back the attacks as he got more and more frustrated.

'Damn, at this rate I can't hold back more than half of my power anymore...' Wuhai cursed Chouji in his mind as he utilized more force behind his every attack. 'Time to up the game.'

*Fwoosh*

Wuhai's golden spear flashed as it thrust toward Chouji amidst the flurry of attacks. Surprised with the change of Wuhai's battle rhythm, Chouji jumped back to dodge the spear thrust and swayed his body to the side while he's at it.

Although it seemed insignificant, the extra spear attack while continued to engage in close combat really made Chouji suffer in his attempt to gain an upper hand in battle.

"What's up, baby boy~ getting tired already?"

And Wuhai's continuous taunt didn't help him either to discern any gap in Wuhai's defense. On the contrary, Wuhai's jolly attitude made Chouji get more irritated as time passed.

As Chouji realized the deadlock that he was in, he intentionally left an opening and used his rock covered body part to take a direct hit from Wuhai. The light of the golden dimmed again, but Chouji gained the precious chance to throw a big attack. Chouji's body immediately covered in flames as he concentrated more on this attack.

He had decided to end this battle!

"[Katon: Seiken-Zuki]!" [1]

Flames converged on his fist, Chouji thrust his arms forward in a punching motion and in a solid stance to land a more powerful blow to Wuhai.

The flame exploded in a light like a burning sun, and Chouji whirled it in the air and thrust his fist forward.

*Kaboom*

The earth cracked, and the impact wave exploded onto the side. The earth showed another ferocious crack and the trees turned into cinders. "ONE MORE!!!" Chouji roared. He rushed a few steps forward, used another technique as his body shined, and he prepared to unleash another attack.

Flames burns on Chouji's body as it formed a ring of flames behind him, resembling the shape of the sun. The temperature in the surrounding was continued to rise as time ticking, and it keeps getting hotter every second passed.

"[Katon: Nichirin]!" [2]

Chouji crossed his arms in front of his c.h.e.s.t and lashed it outward as the ring of flame behind him flew toward the still whirling Wuhai.

The signal of danger was imminent and deadly—the ring of flames flew at a high speed!

"Nice!" Wuhai was happy instead of being afraid. He quickly stopped in mid-air and leaped forward, confusing everyone except Enma. Just then, Wuhai stuck his tongue out and revealed a kind of glowing mark, at the same time, at one spot on Chouji's body that Wuhai hit before was showing the same mark. "Haha, got you! [Hiraishin: Suitchi]." [3]

'Oh, shit...' Chouji's eyes bulged as he saw his own attack flew toward him as he stood on where Wuhai was. He hurriedly utilized as much chakra and natural energy as possible to cover his whole body.

*Bang*

Chouji's body flew away, and he fell to the ground on his back as his whole front side was covered with burnt marks. The technique he pulled, [Nichirin], used more than ninety percent of his remained energy reserve. Thus, leaving him less than the required amount to protect himself as he took the gamble to attack.

Wuhai approached him with a grin on his face, he then squatted beside Chouji as he gawking on Chouji's grievous state.

"You are strong. I knew you're strong and had good potential, but I did not think that you're THIS strong. I'm still stronger though. Kekeke~"

Chuoji tried to catch his breath. He tried to stand up again and took another two pills, which turned out to be a soldier pills.

"But choosing to fight me was your biggest opportunity! You made me unleash a bit more than half of my power -not my techniques, I barely used any of them- but I put my gut into that punches, I analyzed the techniques that you used, they're self-made, no?" Wuhai stopped talking and shook his head.

"They're good, but still way too rough. First, your flame body technique, you can use them to convert yourself as a whole into flames instead of just your superficial body. For example... like this." Wuhai leaped backward and did a somersault before he landed a bit far away from where Chouji laid.

He took a deep breath and growled a bit, just then, his whole fur set ablaze. No, they were turned into flames and Wuhai was covered with flames from head to toe. "You did it like this, you turned your body into flames. While instead, you should do it like this..."

Next, the flames that covered wuhai got brighter and his whole body turned into a flame. His body did not get engulfed by flames, Wuhai became the flame itself. "We, the royal tribe of the monkey kingdom had the innate ability to transform ourselves into something that we understand. My father is the best in the earthen mineral field knowledge, hence his adamantium transformation is so formidable. While I, Wuhai, am more inclined toward the fire element."

Wuhai showcased his ability as he flew near Chuoji whose now jaw agape with what Wuhai just showed him. "Think of it like you [Henge] technique, but we take it a few steps further."

Wuhai turned back into his original form, he once again squatted beside Chouji. "Although our kingdom doesn't have a sage among our rank ever since our ancestor the first monkey king -Sun Wu Kong- was gone. We still proudly stand as the main hegemon of the Shikkotsu forest."

"I in the name of myself -Sun Wu Hai- declare that you -Akimichi Chouji- are worthy to be my partner." Wuhai stretched his palm out and gazed deeply at Chouji's eyes, waiting for his response. "Let's form a contract between ourselves."

---

-Shikamaru POV-

Woah, their fight was so intense. All I could see was a bright flash of burning red and blinding gold here and there before they rocketed into the forest. The monkey king, Enma-sama, and Asuma-sensei were following them to watch their fight more closely.

Troublesome...

It's not that I was not curious about my buddy's fight, but it's not worth the hassle... Do you just asked me 'why'? Are you stupid?

Let me explain to you, you ox-head.

Their speed is not what the current me able to follow, all I could see were occasional blurs, clashing sounds, explosion, and the rising temperatures. What can I discern? only a few unuseful things. So, why bother?

Tsk...

See, by the time I arrived all I saw was my buddy Chouji laid on his back, and that monkey prince, Wuhai-sama, squatted beside him with a mocking face. Then he suddenly did backflip, set himself ablaze, then squatted beside Chouji again.

Perhaps he has a few screws loose on his head, that's highly probable. I threw a pitying glance toward Enma-sama, with a consoling tone, I tried to comfort him. "Enma-sama, it's okay. Your son might be a little special, but he's good in his own right."

"Yes?" Enma-sama was apparently baffled, maybe he didn't expect that I would comfort him. It must be hard to be a father...

*Sigh*

Troublesome inde- Huh? Just then, I felt a sudden chill.

*Growl*

...What was that?

---

[1] Star fist punch, referenced from Rekka Shinomiya of Fire Force anime.

[2] The sun, referenced from Benimaru Shimon of Fire Force anime

[3] kind of like Flying Thunder God Mutually Instantaneous Revolving Technique, but just need one person to active it.