Tales of a Ninja Magician: Of What Defines Us

Exam Photo Finish

A smoking and rumbling blast erupted from the point of impact where the combination of ninjutsu and taijutsu in a projectile shape hit Armasar. Before she covered her face up, because it was more efficient and rational than augmenting her body and wasting chakra, Mana's skilled eyes did notice the ginger boy weaving a hand seal successfully. She hoped that he would have substituted out of the wave of projectiles in time but something made her doubt Armasar's success, he may not have had much time to properly and sufficiently focus and possible objects for a substitution.

Once the smoke, dust and the annoying aftereffects of crackling sparks of lightning that persisted in the air, electrifying the atmosphere, cleared, a sight of injured and bracing Armasar met the audience. Mana groaned to herself worryingly, the recklessness of this young man made her both relate and despise this young man. Areas of ruptured and lacerated flesh ran all over the boy's body, as the lightning projectiles appeared to have shattered into hundreds of smaller cutting lightning edges.

"My God", Mana exclaimed in horror.

"Wait a second... What's that"? Meiko pointed at Armasar's shaking frame, still static in the same pose of defensive block. The detail that interested the redhead so even forced her out of her comfortable relaxation and made Meiko take a few steps towards the arena just to get a closer view, not because she couldn't make out the detail but because it was so unbelievable.

The area under Armasar's flesh looked padded with a gooey liquid substance, instead of blood from under the lacerations all over his body only goops of water fell out before imploding into more liquid drops and wetting all over the ruptured ground beneath Armasar's feet. The boy grunted in pain after the persisting lightning in the air still shocked his body painfully, making him break his defensive stance and tumble forward.

"Hmph, so you used that to soften my blows", Gasco straightened out and cracked his neck and knuckles before stretching himself out, before beginning to plan and prepare for the next outbreak of fists flying and genin doing their best to knock each other out. "I wondered if you'd use it, given that I use Lightning Release ninjutsu enhancing my taijutsu", he added.

"Yeah... I encased myself in it while I was sealed, didn't waste any time", Armasar grinned cheerfully before scratching his itchy nose.

"What is that"? Kiyomi scratched her head in confusion.

"It looks like... Water under his skin", Meiko curiously and quite rudely pointed at Armasar. The rest of the teams were discussing this odd technique as well so, as usual, exchanges of blows and techniques were followed by genin discussing what they have just seen and exchanging information of possible weaknesses of such strategies. It was because of audience like this that it may have been wise to hide one's real combat abilities for as long as possible...

"He coated himself with layers of chakra infused water under his skin to pad blows. It's a similar strategy to using fat to protect oneself, he must've fine-tuned the substance to redistribute blunt force, making himself a perfect close distance brawler", Mana noted. "While he did take some damage from Thunderstorm Fist, it didn't come from inside his body, like it did for Neph-T, it came from underground, meaning the jutsu had lost most of its force. It still must've hurt like hell".

"Yeah, the guy definitely has pain tolerance to spare", Meiko laughed out before relaxing again as the room died out. The audience was waiting for what next the two young men had in mind.

"Your no guard, confirmed hit close range strategy added to your water armor may be effective against slightly worn me. That being said, you're still forgetting one thing – you'll never walk up close enough to utilize it", Gasco coldly stated the fact before he raised his hand up in the air and once again channeled lightning through his fist, preparing to punch the ground again and send another wave of lightning projectiles rumbling through the ground. A ruthless jutsu aimed to cut up and shock his opponent even more.