After some brief conversation, Fukai led Tamura Hao to one of Kumogakure's secluded training grounds. Though isolated, it was equipped with everything a shinobi needed—terrain, targets, and space.
For ninja, spoken words were always secondary. If you wanted to truly understand a shinobi's capabilities, there was only one path: battle.
"Attack me with your strongest technique."
Fukai unsheathed his ninja blade from his back and signaled Hao to come at him with full strength. His goal was simple—assess the boy's limit to tailor his future training accordingly.
Without delay, Tamura Hao activated the sealing formula inscribed into his arm guards. With a subtle poof, twin long swords materialized into his hands.
"This type of blade?"
Fukai raised an eyebrow at the sight of the weapons. The swords were striking—longer than standard ninja weapons, and not common even among the samurai of the Land of Iron.
The longer blade measured approximately 1.6 meters, while the shorter one was still over 1.2 meters. Their form resembled a cross between a standard ninjatō and a straightened katana, but the dimensions were more akin to the ancient Miao Dao swords once used in wartime formations.
In the shinobi world, most blades were compact—under a meter—for swift, close-quarters combat. These, however, were designed for power. The blades were straighter, with sharper tapering at the tips, ideal for thrusting as well as wide-arc slashes.
Attached to each handle's end was a reinforced chain, connecting back to his elbow armor. This let Hao channel full-arm momentum into each strike while reducing the torque strain on his wrists—an innovation that mimicked a two-handed grip even during dynamic movement.
Fukai instantly deduced several attack possibilities just from the swords' construction.
"Understood, Mr. Fukai. I'm coming!"
Hao gave no further warning. He silently activated his hidden advantage—his transmigrator's gift, the power to momentarily enhance his comprehension. His body entered a state of clarity—like a temporary form of Sage Mode—not because he drew in natural energy, but because he refined his perception, removed mental noise, and sharpened his instincts.
Power gathered in his legs as he applied the super-strength taijutsu technique he had refined over the past half month. With a sharp thrust, he burst forward.
"Monster Strength Slash!"
With his left hand, he swung the larger "Big Cat" horizontally, while the smaller "Little Cat" sword in his right hand braced against the spine of the larger blade to reinforce the strike. The strange power technique—Kumo's version of enhanced strength taijutsu—amplified both arms simultaneously.
"Fast!" Fukai muttered, genuinely surprised at the boy's speed. He stepped forward to meet the attack, blade raised.
Clang!
Their weapons collided, ringing with the force of compressed chakra and honed steel.
"Super Strength Combo!"
Tamura Hao didn't hesitate. Chakra was a precious resource for him—he couldn't afford drawn-out exchanges. He unleashed a flurry of continuous slashes and thrusts with both blades.
This dual-sword barrage was his personal creation. The inspiration came from a video game—Sword Art Online—where two-sword styles overwhelmed foes with a relentless offense, breaking through defense by sheer momentum and pressure.
For Hao, this wasn't just mimicry. Each strike was calculated. Every thrust aimed at weak points, every slash exploited narrow openings.
Over the past half month, while honing chakra control and physical strength, Hao had also refined this combat style—turning theoretical swordplay into instinctive motion.
Fukai's eyes narrowed. This combination would overwhelm a standard Chūnin if they weren't focused, especially if they specialized in ninjutsu rather than taijutsu.
More impressively, the twin swords were clearly forged from superior materials. Even his own blade—a high-quality Kumogakure-forged weapon—was showing minor edge notches.
Most kunai or standard ninja swords would've shattered already.
Still, Fukai was a jōnin. And not just any jōnin—he had honed Lightning Release chakra flow into his swordsmanship, much like Killer Bee would in the future. Though he had yet to employ Lightning Release in this fight, his reflexes and technique far surpassed ordinary shinobi.
He carefully parried each blow, analyzing Hao's form. Before long, he noticed something unusual.
"Different techniques in each hand?"
Indeed, Hao wasn't simply mirroring movements. Each hand used distinct sword forms. One focused on large arcs and slashes, while the other emphasized linear thrusts and quick flicks. Together, they compensated for each other's weaknesses, creating an unpredictable flow.
"He's dividing his focus…"
This was multitasking—a technique seen most famously in Sunagakure's puppet masters. Controlling multiple puppets required divided mental processes and split chakra threads. Elder Chiyo, the legendary puppeteer, could manipulate ten human-sized puppets at once—each capable of matching a jōnin.
Hao hadn't achieved that level, but to independently control two sword styles—while coordinating footwork and muscle-enhanced attacks—required immense concentration.
His strange strength technique was also remarkably refined. Fukai could tell it wasn't just brute force—Hao had precise control over his output, applying it during slashes, bursts, and recovery. His sword strikes were beginning to flow together, evolving from drills into real combat rhythm.
He's a practical fighter, Fukai thought. His growth in the past few minutes alone was palpable.
His chakra reserves might be low, but his sword control, body mechanics, and situational instincts more than made up for it.
"I wonder how long he can maintain this…"
Fukai had seen it before—young ninja entering a temporary explosive state, burning through chakra and stamina quickly. Hao clearly couldn't keep this up indefinitely.
Tamura Hao, meanwhile, was fully focused. The left-hand Big Cat emphasized slashing; the right-hand Little Cat used thrusts. Together, they created a high-pressure rhythm.
He had deliberately chosen Miao Dao-style blades for this reason.
Standard katana and ninjatō were curved, optimized for slicing. The deeper curve reinforced blade strength during cuts but reduced stabbing efficiency. Over-curved blades even risked bending or snapping on thrusts.
In contrast, the Miao Dao had only a slight curve. Its main body was nearly straight, with a narrow tip angle—ideal for piercing. Though it sacrificed some slicing stability, that could be mitigated through material design.
And Hao had spared no expense. These twin blades were forged from chakra-conductive alloy reinforced with high-tensile core structures. The base was nearly a centimeter thick, tapering to a needle-fine tip.
Despite the intense vibrations of his monster-strength strikes, the blades held true.
If he mastered Lightning Release chakra flow, as Bee would one day use in his Lariat and Acrobat techniques, these swords would become terrifying cutting tools.
Tamura Hao had crafted them for that future.
"I'm countering now."
Having seen enough, Fukai gave a soft warning. He stepped forward and swung his blade.
His movement was simple. No grand flourish. Just speed.
So fast that Hao barely saw the swing. Instinctively, he twisted, taking the hit on his shoulder armor, and brought up Little Cat to parry the follow-up strike.
At the same time, he used the recoil to leap back, swinging Big Cat in a reverse arc. He added power by kicking into the blade mid-swing—his hybrid technique of taijutsu and swordsmanship.
Clang!
Fukai blocked effortlessly and advanced again.
Now the gap in strength became evident.
Fukai hadn't yet used his Lightning Release Armor or flow techniques, but simply channeling chakra through his muscles and joints increased his speed and power far beyond what Hao could handle.
Every step Fukai took forward, Hao was forced to retreat.
Though trained, Hao lacked experience. Most of his sparring was against logs, stones, and simulations. Fukai's pressure disrupted his rhythm.
Step by step, he lost ground. His arms grew numb. Fatigue crept in. The vibration from the constant blocks began to dull his senses.
After ten exchanges, Hao could no longer raise his arms.
Fukai's next swing came like lightning—sharp, clean, and too fast for Hao to evade.
Without his swords, he had no way to block it.