The rain poured downward through the branches and heavy sky. The battlefield slickened with spiders' blood and the blood of the village alike. The stars darkened, clouds passing over the bright moon.
Nōtō leapt over the edge of the wall. His body ignited with the flames of energy. Drawing in a deep breath, he focused his power. Heavenly Maiden Entry. Brown chakra rose around his body. Unimpeded by the spiders, he stolidly walked forward. His hands blurred outward, slamming into multiple pressure points as he focused his energy.
The spiders flew backward, sent spiraling away by the force of the fists.
With all this, I shouldn't feel like this, but I do. Nōtō's brow creased. How should I put it? My heart is pounding with a great deal of force. It's as though I can feel myself going to die. A premonition, something I haven't felt in ages. Something I haven't felt once in so many years.
Kōju followed along behind Nōtō, her eyes wide with awe. Wow. Now that I think about it, he really was taking it easy on us back when we were doing the graduation exam. As we were, we couldn't do a thing about him.
Nōtō came to a stop near the center of the fallen spiders. His glasses glinted. "Come on out."
The golden spider emerged from the undergrowth. A single crimson patch of chitin marked the top of the creature's head, an arrow-like formation. "Heh. I guess you're the strongest warrior here, aren't you?"
Nōtō raised his palms. "Before we begin, there's a question I'd like to ask you. To me, it seems that very few of you spiders can use ninjutsu, as we shinobi can." He pointed toward the spider's forehead. It would seem all of them have some kind of chakra system. If it weren't for that, Susano'o Mikoto would be thoroughly ineffective. "Is it simply you, or do others possess that capacity?"
"What kind of idiot would reveal a strategic secret like that?" the golden spider hissed, a laugh echoing from its lips. "There is one thing I'll tell you, though. My name. Warriors should keep their names with them when they die. Jōren!"
Nōtō tensed, his hands rising rapidly.
"To be truthful, that style I formerly used is distasteful to me. A warrior should use their fists!" Jōren's six legs rose rapidly through the air.
"Is that so? That's a good attitude to have." Nōtō's palms blurred forward. His breath accelerated. "ORARARARARARARARARA!" His palms drove rapidly into the chitin.
Jōren took a step backward, the legs clattering backward.
All right! Nōtō got him! With this, the battle just ended! Kōju threw her fist in the air.
"I've struck your most destructive pressure points. You have precisely three seconds to live." Nōtō lifted his fingers. "I'll count them off for you."
Jōren's eyes narrowed.
"Three."
The surrounding spiders backed off, their eyes wide.
"Two." Nōtō's face grew stern. "Reflect upon your sins."
Jōren's eyes narrowed.
"One."
Kōju gasped in shock.
"Is that all?" Jōren demanded. His body remained unharmed. A hint of anger entered the voice. The legs gathered together.
Nōtō's eyes widened in shock.
"Seems you didn't account for the differences between a human's anatomy and a spider's body!" Chitin plating rose from Jōren's back. Energy seeped out from the plates. "I'll release the pressure like this, preventing me from blowing up."
The webbing spun upward, spinning out at a rapid pace.
Nōtō dodged sideways, stepping to the side of the webbing. His eyes narrowed. Clearly Susano'o Mikoto isn't going to serve until I can determine his vulnerable point. If Sasuke-san were present, of course, I could use a combination attack. It's not that I have no familiarity with other techniques. But... I'm definitely worse at them. Is there a better method to deal with this problem? He reached upward, biting his thumb. Blood trailed down from the finger. Nōtō slammed his hand into the ground. "Summoning Technique!"
A large black bear formed in a puff of smoke. The seal spun outward.
For now, I need to figure out his strengths and weaknesses. I'm certain he can't defeat Susano'o Mikoto entirely. There's some vulnerability, something of which I'm not presently aware. I can work it out given time. Nōtō jumped backward, slamming his palm into the ground. "Earth Style: Rising Earth Wall!"
A massive wall formed around Nōtō's hand. The earth twisted upward, forming multiple statues of smiling men with their legs crossed.
Jōren's eyes narrowed. "You call yourself a warrior, running from your destiny like this? Don't disgrace our competition like this!"
Webbing blasted into the wall.
Nōtō's eyes narrowed. Earth Style: Earth Clone. His fingers clapped together.
Kōju's eyes widened. He's trying to vanish into the earth for now? I see. But isn't that a bit risky? If it goes badly and Jōren realizes, he's probably going to come after you and hurt you.
"Heh. Let me guess. You're trying to use that Shadow Clone Technique, aren't you?" Jōren remarked, pointing toward the wall.
Kōju gasped in shock.
Nōtō's eyes widened.
"That won't work at all. Before we finish this, I probably ought to ask your name."
"Mura Nōtō." Nōtō bowed his head. "I guess you got me."
"Golden Spider Style: Emperor's Fist!" Jōren's fist slammed into the ground.
Shards of rock blasted up around Nōtō's body. Nōtō gasped in shock. What the hell? Wait! He projected that force through the ground—
The rock drove through Nōtō's heart.
Nōtō gasped in agony. His body shook.
Jōren smirked. "I got you. That ends our competition."
"Sensei!" Kōju shouted, her eyes filling with tears. "Please don't die!"
"I don't know very much about human anatomy, but a strike through the heart should kill anybody!" Jōren bellowed.
A wave of earth shot upward through the ground.
Jōren's compound scarlet eyes widened.
"Got you." Nōtō smirked. "Guess your warriors aren't very good at deceptions, huh?" He tightened his grip on Jōren's leg.