The best way to describe being hit by a gentle fist style user is that it's like receiving a love tap but suddenly you can feel your insides not being so lovingly tapped.
A short nap later I've played around with my new bonus and stat distribution.
Status Update
+5 to strength.
Bonuses: +10% experience gain, +5% taijutsu damage, +10% bukijutsu damage, -75% ninjutsu cast time, +5% chance to stun opponent with taijutsu and bukijutsu.
Rank 2 of taijutsu bonus is finally here with that last level up and it is amazing. A 5% chance to stun is not to be looked down upon, considering how many blows are exchanged in a single fight.
And this time before I leave, I make sure to apply settings and rid myself of that horrid quest log. I'm just in time for my next fight with Shino Aburame, another Team 8 member. And another one of my weaknesses... bugs.
The match begins and a bazillion bugs show up out of nowhere. First blood has got to be mine. I can't let him tire me out and drain my chakra with those nasty buggers.
Barraging him with a hail of shurikens, I close the distance in no time. Shino's bugs are too slow to react defensively to my assault. Getting up close and personal I deliver numerous attacks before he can retaliate. However Shino shrugs them off like it's nothing and responds with a huge wind up punch which I fail to dodge. I'm sent sprawling on my back.
-125HP
Urrkk- I should've distributed more into my strength stat, he barely registered my hits. The creepy crawlies are approaching fast about to end this fight in his favour. From there on out it was a game of endurance. I employ hit and run strategies, leading the bugs away and then attacking once I see an opportunity but my attacks are foiled simply due to my strength stat being insufficient to deal actual damage. Using kunai and shuriken is more effective but he simply dodges those with ease.
In a last ditch attempt, I make a water clone and rush Shino once more. I open with a Wild Water Wave pinning him and his bugs down with the attack. My clone launches a Syrup Trap which covers Aburame head to toe, sealing in his bugs with him in the syrup.
Knowing Shino treasures his bug companions, I target all the bugs remaining outside the sticky trap with a combined Wild Water Wave. Mowed down by water the little buggers are rendered useless and I hover my foot over the insects threateningly. I can hear the kids gasp because they too knew how important the bugs were to Shino. Aburame quickly surrenders before anymore of his bugs are hurt. I help him out of the syrupy mess of a jutsu and he glances at me with hostility, as if warning me against threatening his bugs again. I don't blame him, that was a pretty low move for me.
Darn people probably hate my hits now. I should look over my shoulders more often now.
I may have used a slightly underhanded method (targeting his precious bugs) to beat him but this is a competition after all and I'm a very competitive person.
Status Update
+440 exp. Levelled up to 4. 619 exp till next level. +5 stat points. +1 bonus. -25% reputation.
Oh oh what is that new reputation thing... I don't feel good about this.
From this match up, I figure that I'm not very adept at taijutsu and I need to up my strength stat more if I want a chance to beat other stronger opponents. Either that or I go down a different route which utilises more ninjutsu and bukijutsu. My rank 2 taijutsu bonus did not see any use at all that round, hopefully it'll assist me somewhat more in the next.
Because it's the finals next, I pay extra attention to who moves on to fight with me. With a thud, Kiba and Akamaru collapse simultaneously and Sasuke is the victor of the semifinals. Ah just great, now I get to fight the edgy avenger.
"15 minutes break!" the proctor announces.
