"After all, the opponent is Shisui, to be honest, it's really hard for Asuma to win," Yuhi Kurenai explained frankly.
When Kurenai first met Shisui, he had just started first grade. Back then, Shisui was participating in special training as an outstanding first-year student, while Kurenai was participating as a graduate ninja.
But even as a first-grader, Shisui left a deep impression on Kurenai; back then, Shisui was truly invincible.
Whether it was graduates like Asuma or Kurenai, or talented upperclassmen like Obito or Might Guy, none could shake Shisui from his number one place.
Even though there was a period without much contact with Shisui, he gained the title of Shisui of the Body Flicker and was promoted to Jonin, undoubtedly growing even more fearsome.
"Indeed," Namiashi Raido nodded in agreement.
Although Asuma is his good friend and teammate, the fact is he can't beat Shisui, and they have to speak the truth and reason.
"The battle begins!"
"Breath of Wind, Full Concentration!"
Asuma instantly concentrated his Breath of Wind, enhancing the Wind Attribute Chakra Nature Changes, gathering a large amount of Chakra in his throat for Nature Transformation.
"Vacuum Orb!"
Asuma took a huge gulp of air, then several vacuum light waves shot towards Shisui.
He knew Shisui possessed the Sharingan, with very strong insight capabilities, so he used the continuously attacking Vacuum Orb.
Even if it didn't necessarily hit, it was harder to dodge than ordinary Wind Release.
Bang! Bang!!
The light waves Asuma spat out left crater after crater on the ground but didn't damage even a corner of Shisui's clothing.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
While dodging, Shisui rapidly formed hand seals and spat out a huge fireball crashing towards Asuma.
Even to this former defeated opponent, Shisui did not underestimate him, intending to first probe Asuma's full strength before going all out.
"Fire Release: Flame Bomb!"
Asuma spat out a large amount of flames attempting to counter Shisui's attack with fire against fire.
In theory of Nature Transformation, there was nothing wrong with Asuma's approach, as attacks of the same Nature Transformation can cancel each other one-to-one.
But precisely because they cancel one-to-one, the precondition of using the same nature Ninjutsu to block is that the level can't be inferior to the opponent's.
Apparently, Asuma somewhat underestimated Shisui's Fire Release; the Great Fireball engulfed Asuma's Flame Bomb and continued to crash towards Asuma.
Whizzing!!
Shisui didn't think a mere Great Fireball could hit the enemy, so he supplemented with a few flaming shuriken to pin down Asuma's position.
"True to Shisui's nature, he's really cautious."
Seeing Shisui wasn't taking the bait, Asuma could only aim his wind attribute Chakra-enhanced finger at some of the shuriken, releasing Wind Blades to deflect the flaming shuriken.
Asuma's original plan was to use the failed Fire Release as bait to lure Shisui closer, then use Wind Blades, which require no hand seals, as a sneak attack.
After all, now that he mainly trains in Wind Release, it would be silly to think his Fire Release could rival Shisui's.
However, evidently, Shisui also realized this point and didn't act rashly.
"Fire Release: Great Fire Continuous Balls!"
Shisui concentrated his Chakra and spat out three slightly smaller Great Fireballs successively.
Asuma had no desire to contend with Shisui in a Fire Release battle, using Wind Attribute Chakra Nature Changes to accelerate and escape the Great Fireball's attack range.
Boom!!
The three Great Fireballs exploded together, the intense firelight blooming, momentarily robbing Asuma of the sight of Shisui.
When the explosion's firelight and smoke cleared, Asuma saw two Shisuis.
"Used Shadow Clone Jutsu, huh," Asuma thought.
With more advanced tangible clones available, no one would use ordinary Clone Jutsu unless it's for a special battle strategy.
"Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bomb!"
One of the Shisuis quickly formed hand seals and spat out a large sea of flames, which rapidly spread and divided into four flames pouring towards Asuma.
"So Shisui hadn't been going all out earlier," seeing Shisui use such an exaggerated Fire Release, Asuma wasn't too surprised.
Compared to Obito who goes for a massive attack right at the start to instantly defeat the opponent, Shisui is much more low-key, typically using ordinary Fire Release, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu to handle enemies.
Although he felt it difficult to win, Asuma did not give up, dodging with all his might while secretly gathering Chakra, preparing to use Wind Blade.
"Why does Shisui look a little strange?" Asuma felt the Shisui using Fire Release seemed to be holding back a laugh.
But Asuma didn't ponder too much, as another Shadow Clone was interfering with his dodging.
Seeing a flame about to hit him, Asuma could care less and released a Wind Blade at the Shadow Clone; he didn't have the ability to physically withstand a Fire Release.
However, something unexpected happened; a layer of black substance appeared on the Shadow Clone Shisui blocking the Wind Blade he released.
The surging flames hit, and Asuma instinctively protected his face with one hand and his crotch with the other.
Yet more surprising to Asuma, the flames hitting him caused no pain and didn't ignite his hair or clothes.
"Could I be immune to fire?" Asuma thought, "No no no, I must have fallen into Genjutsu?"
Asuma's mind was still somewhat clear; if he were immune to fire, he wouldn't have consistently lost to Shisui and Obito.
Along with the flames came Shisui's Kunai; Shisui seized Asuma's daze and used Instant Body to appear beside him, holding a Kunai to Asuma's neck.
At the same time, the Shisui in Asuma's eyes transformed into a gray-black fox with its head held high and tail raised.
"Uchiha Shisui wins!"
Upon hearing the referee announce the result, Shisui drew back his Kunai.
Taking advantage of the firelight, he had used a Summoning Technique, not Shadow Clone Jutsu.
If he just wanted to win, Shisui could have achieved victory using only Genjutsu, but he wanted to train Zorua through a battle he had under control.
PS: This chapter is 5k, a bit short for a post-leave chapter, but considering the next few days' state, I'll try to write more and wrap up the Martial Arts Tournament storyline soon.