I founded the "Bragging Cult" in Naruto.

Chapter 100 Stomping on Toes: A Move Kids Use in Fights

Sha Xing gritted his teeth and gasped for breath. With each breath, a burning pain shot through his respiratory tract and lungs, contorting his face in agony.

He felt a similar pain from the burned skin on his body. He opened his slightly sticky eyelids, his eyes filled with endless anger and murderous intent, staring at the equally bloodied boy in the distance.

Tatsuma pursed his lips, watching the sand flowing on Sand Star's body. He knew that this was the Sand Village's sand control ninjutsu, but Sand Star's level was far inferior to Masano'o.

However, even at this point, Sha Xing did not produce any more puppets. Chen Ma guessed that perhaps Sha Xing really had no other puppets, or perhaps he simply did not bring any with him.

Based on the timeline, it is speculated that Sha Xing left the village with his teacher, the Third Kazekage of Sunagakure. With the Third Kazekage around, Sha Xing did not need to bring too many puppets for combat and survival.

The Third Kazekage had clearly anticipated that Konoha would launch a surprise attack on Sunagakure's front-line base, so he set up an ambush and counterattacked. He succeeded, but in return, he received a declaration of war from Konoha.

In this situation, if the Third Kazekage did not want Hiruzen Sarutobi to join the war, then he had no choice but to retreat, which was actually the only feasible solution.

After all, the battle between the Shadows was far too significant, affecting not only the outcome of the battle but also the fate and future of the village. Therefore, he could not easily participate in the battle, and he readily withdrew.

However, Sha Xing did not return. Instead, he joined the Sand Ninja team on the spot. This was quite reasonable, since it would take Sha Xing at least four or five days to make a return trip. It wouldn't be worth it just to get a few puppets.

After all, Sha Xing hadn't expected to encounter an enemy like Tatsuma, or rather, he hadn't expected Tatsuma to be this powerful.

However, if nothing unexpected happens, something unexpected will happen, and in fact, something unexpected does happen.

After observing for a while, Chenma saw that Shaxing really had no other means to use. Without hesitation, he used the Body Flicker Technique, activating his legs with chakra, and rushed towards Shaxing at an extremely fast speed.

"Damn it! Sand Shield!"

Upon seeing Chenma arrive, Shaxing had no good way to deal with it and could only painfully manipulate the sand to condense into a shield in front of her.

As a ninja specializing in puppetry, Sha Xing is not particularly skilled in close combat and taijutsu, at least not among jonin; he is merely adequate.

He also preferred puppetry and spent a lot of time studying the craft of puppet making. As a result, he didn't master sand control ninjutsu very well, otherwise he wouldn't have suffered such a serious injury.

Given his current injuries, coupled with his lack of expertise in physical combat, he was somewhat at a loss as to how to deal with Tatsuma, an enemy who was clearly exceptionally skilled in close-quarters combat.

Faced with the sand shield, Tatsuma's choice was simple: go around it!

With a backhand strike, he brushed past the sand shield, then followed up with a backhand punch, delivering a devastating blow to the sand star's liver.

"Bang!"

With his vision obscured by the sand shield, Sand Star didn't even have time to react before he was thrown out. His burned skin scraped against the rough ground, and in that instant, Sand Star understood what it meant to be heartbroken.

As soon as Sha Xing got up, Chen Ma was already in front of him. Taking advantage of Sha Xing's unsteady footing, Chen Ma thrust his palm upwards, aiming straight for Sha Xing's throat.

Seeing this, Sha Xing had no choice but to block with both hands. Although he was not good at taijutsu, he was not completely ignorant of taijutsu, otherwise he would not have been able to become a Jonin.

But Chenma's thrusting palm was a feint. Shaxing's horizontal block left him wide open. Chenma immediately lowered his body and center of gravity, then turned and struck with his elbow.

Through the gap between his hands, Sha Xing saw Chen Ma's elbow heading straight for his family's shrine. He was so frightened that his lower body felt cold, but at the same time, he activated his potential and used his sand control ninjutsu to manipulate the sand to protect his family's shrine.

"Boom~"

Sand scattered and flew everywhere, but it managed to block Tatsuma's elbow strike. However, before Sha Xing could even catch her breath, Tatsuma's figure was already upon her.

Chenma is short, and in combat sports, height and reach are very important. This is arguably one of Chenma's biggest weaknesses. Therefore, he cannot allow Shaxing to create space; instead, he must keep the area within his own comfort zone.

Seeing Chenma catching up, Shaxing quickly launched a series of attacks with both hands, trying to force Chenma away. However, Chenma's hands moved left and right, neutralizing Shaxing's force.

Not satisfied with that, Tatsuma followed up with both hands, stroking Shashin's hands. Having witnessed Tatsuma use this method to deal with his subordinates, Shashin dared not let Tatsuma touch his hands and quickly leaned back to pull away.

Chenma was not annoyed at all. He instantly pushed out with both hands, pressing them against Shaxing's stomach and pushing him forward and upward, directly disrupting Shaxing's center of gravity.

As Sha Xing landed again and tried to regain her balance, Chen Ma rushed in once more, his palms slapping out like butterflies spreading their wings. Struck in the abdomen, Sha Xing not only failed to regain her balance but also bent over.

This is exactly what Chenma is looking for, because the sand star is too high for him, and he can't really hit the top. Now is the opportunity. Chenma's palms once again spread out like butterfly wings.

However, this time it's not a forward push, but an upward push. In Baguazhang, this move has another name: White Ape Offering Fruit.

"Pfft~"

He shoved Sha Xing's jaw with both palms, sending him flying. In mid-air, Sha Xing coughed up a mixture of saliva and blood, along with several broken teeth.

"Bang!"

Sha Xing, who had fallen to the ground, was unable to get up immediately. He felt dizzy and even forgot what he was doing.

Chenma had already arrived on horseback and aimed a kick at Shaxing's neck, but at the last second, Shaxing regained consciousness and the sand instantly enveloped him.

"Boom~"

The sand was kicked away, but the sand star rolled to the side, dodging the attack. But as he was getting up—no, before he could even get up, just as he was crouching and preparing to stand up—Chenma clung to him again.

Without saying a word, Chenma kicked out with his left leg, aiming straight for Shaxing's face. Shaxing quickly raised his hand to block, and used the force of the kick to get up and back away to create distance.

By the time Chenma caught up again, Shaxing had regained his senses and raised his hand to strike Chenma once more. However, his head was still fuzzy and his strength was completely scattered, posing no threat to Chenma at all.

Chenma directly moved Shaxing's front hand aside, blocked Shaxing's back hand, and at the same time raised his leg and stepped on the side of Shaxing's front knee. Shaxing tried to pull his leg back, and began to exert force with his hands as well.

Seeing that he couldn't force Sha Xing to kneel, Chen Ma didn't force it. Following the resistance of Sha Xing's front legs, he slid his foot down and stepped on Sha Xing's ankle.

At the same time, both hands made the next move: after moving and blocking, it was time to punch.

Tatsuma had two choices: either pull back his fist and throw another, but that wouldn't be enough to vent his anger. Looking at the ferocious-looking Sha Xing, Tatsuma chose the other option and suddenly exerted force with his feet.

"Click~"

The pain from his ankle shot straight to Sha Xing's head, and his body involuntarily stiffened. Chen Ma took the opportunity to turn around and twist his waist, gathering his strength, and then turned around and twisted his waist again, almost throwing his whole body off balance.

It wasn't a single-handed punch, but a two-handed punch. This was the Chen family's Banlan Chui, which strikes the cheek and stomach. However, since Chen Ma was a little shorter, he adapted his technique by shifting his position.

Slapping the cheek became slapping the heart, hitting the center of the chest; slapping the stomach became what Chen Ma preferred: demolishing the ancestral hall.

"Click-clack~"

Sha Xing's mouth was wide open, but he was speechless, or rather, his entire world was silent at that moment.

(End of this chapter)