Chapter 4 .3:
.....
Kiba didn't bring out his puppets. Not yet. He pulled a couple of explosive tags from his pocket and activated them with a quick gesture. One flew to the right side of the field, the other landed near Rasa. It was a distraction, not a real attack.
When the smoke rose, Kiba came in with a side strike. Rasa blocked it with a dust barrier that materialized just in time, like a second skin.
But it wasn't over.
Kiba, at a much higher speed than before, dropped low, spun on his axis, and attempted to sweep Rasa's legs with a kick….. something that almost caught Rasa by surprise due to the noticeable speed change.
Still, Rasa blocked again… or rather, his gold dust did… but he stepped back. His breathing was heavier now. The gold dust floated around him, moving more erratically. He was clearly surprised by the speed and strength of Kiba's attacks.
'He's using too much,' thought Kiba. 'Maybe he still doesn't fully control the expenditure...'
So he decided to press on.
A rapid, powerful sequence of his own taijutsu style.
Each movement was precise, fast, strong, economical…. designed to push Rasa into defending more and more. To force him into making mistakes.
And he made one.
A strand of gold dust veered off in the air and didn't return in time.
Kiba sensed it. He turned toward that blind spot and came in with a straight punch.
It was going to connect.
Until a new barrier rose right in front of his arm.
It stopped the blow mere millimeters away.
Silence.
Both were panting slightly now.
But still on guard.
Without wasting time, Rasa raised both hands, and a whirlwind of shimmering sand, thick as liquid gold, began to swirl around him. The gold dust reflected the light like a living jewel, sparkling in the air before launching in a gust toward Kiba.
Yep. Kiba decided it was time to use another tactic.
With a sharp whistle, Kiba pulled out two sealing scrolls and activated them, releasing his two puppets.
"One," a creature with retractable claws and spinning spikes, and "Piece," more compact in design, with arms that launched explosive tags in well-timed bursts. Both puppets shot forward, narrowly avoiding the golden tempest thanks to Kiba's precise control.
Of course, Kiba himself wasn't standing still. While manipulating the puppets, he slipped around the flank with a low spin.
Rasa fell back on pure instinct. Kiba was already on him, moving like a living shadow, pivoting on one foot before launching an upward kick that barely grazed Rasa's jaw. This was Kiba's unique puppet combat style—blending taijutsu with simultaneous puppet control.
Rasa's counterattack came instantly: the golden dust covered the ground and surged up like a wave, trying to swallow Kiba whole. Kiba rolled back and activated an explosive tag hidden in his sleeve, dispersing the golden mass momentarily.
The crowd gasped. Neither of them seemed willing to give an inch.
"Whoa… he's controlling two puppets and fighting hand-to-hand?" a student watching whispered.
"And not just fighting… that kid's like a whirlwind with legs!" another student said, fascinated by Kiba's pace.
For several minutes, the arena bore witness to a violent, elegant dance. One and Piece attacked from opposite flanks, unleashing blades, chains, and explosive tags. Rasa had to divide his attention constantly, using his Kekkei Genkai to block, counter, and defend against hidden traps. But every time Kiba seemed to gain an advantage, the golden dust responded with lethal precision..... snaring One's leg, tearing off one of Piece's arms, solidifying beneath Kiba's feet to hinder his movement.
Yeah, golden dust was a real pain.... it was incredibly malleable and could be used for both defense and offense in relentless fashion.
The battle reached a turning point when Rasa made a bold move: his golden dust engulfed both puppets, solidifying them into inert statues.
Kiba stepped back, a bit sweaty, panting as he watched his now-useless weapons.
"Damn… that hurt," he muttered with a crooked smile, cracking his neck. All he had left now was his body, his wits… and a couple of seals saved as a last resort. Oh, and some ninjutsu.... not that they'd do much against Rasa's golden dust. They'd be a waste of chakra. He needed something stronger to break through that defense, which not even his taijutsu had managed—although he'd come close… very close.
Rasa's tired and clearly nervous face was all the proof he needed.
Rasa's movements were slower now, his breathing heavier. But that damn golden dust still moved just the same.
Kiba had to give him credit.... the kid had fighting spirit. His eyes still burned with determination.
Kiba charged in again, launching a flurry of rapid, powerful close-combat attacks so unpredictable they looked like something out of a choreographed puppet show. Elbows, feints, wrist twists, and flying side kicks. Rasa blocked as best he could, countering with smaller golden dust barriers.... quicker to produce, but also weaker, barely holding up under Kiba's strikes.
Kiba was in the zone, completely immersed in the fight; he looked like a maniac, hitting over and over at full speed, searching for Rasa's mistake.... or trying to break through one of the golden dust barriers with sheer force to land the winning blow.
He was only able to maintain that relentless offensive pace thanks to his insane training regimen.... pushing his body to the limit every day, allowing him now to endure longer in battle. But soon, he'd run out of steam…
Then again, so would Rasa.
Kiba noticed it.... the gold dust barriers were getting smaller. Not just for speed.... they cost less chakra too. Rasa was conserving energy.
That's why Kiba kept up the pressure.... seeing who would break first.
Finally, when he saw an opening and held his last explosive tag in hand, Kiba leapt high.... fast enough to be face to face with Rasa in midair… and then stopped.
"…I could force a draw, maybe. But I'm nearly out of energy. My puppets are down… and you're running on fumes too. I think we've hit a deadlock, Rasa."
It was a lie. Kiba could've won right then..... better yet, he'd created that opportunity after forcing Rasa into a nonstop defensive flurry. Rasa, likely so focused on survival, hadn't even realized. So he still likely thinks he has a certain advantage due to the fact that he still had some chakra left and could find the opportunity to strike the final blow whith his gold dust.
But Kiba had. In his mind, he'd already won the match.
He could've taken the shot and come out victorious in front of everyone. But just as he was about to, his rational mind caught up with him and made him choose the smarter move.... not to do it.
He could live with knowing he'd won.
He didn't need everyone else to know it too.
"So… wanna keep going? Or are we calling it a day?" Kiba finally asked. Though it would all depend on how Rasa handled it, if the boy actually wanted to beat him here and now in front of everyone then he wouldn't let this opportunity pass by. Still, as the saying goes... you get to know someone better in a fight, and Kiba felt he had a good enough understanding of Rasa's attitude to know that the boy had no need to beat him here and now, so even if Rasa probably thought he would win if this went on, he probably wouldn't refuse to stop the fight now. Yes, surprise surprise, the current Rasa is actually still a good guy.
"No," Rasa said. He smiled.... not mockingly, but with respect. The gold dust slowly fell away, dropping like golden frost in the silence that followed.
"Draw," added the instructor from the edge of the circle.
Kiba nodded. He agreed.
He didn't win. But he didn't lose either.
And more importantly: he hadn't used his Magnet Release.
Not a single drop.
Rasa looked at him in silence for a moment… then, with a faint smile, nodded. He walked over and extended his hand.
"You're good, Kiba. That was a great fight. You're younger than me, but… you fight like a lunatic shinobi."
"You're good too. Just missing the lunatic part," Kiba joked.
They both laughed, and with the little strength they had left, performed the reconciliation seal.
Just a fist bump.... no words needed.
And the crowd around them began to murmur.
This time, it wasn't gossip.
It was recognition.
…
"Was it really necessary to throw me in against him?" Kiba said to Karura as she walked up.
"Me? Throw you in? I would never," she replied with an innocent little grin that fooled no one.
Kiba just sighed.
'Yeah… she definitely did it on purpose'
But the truth was… deep down, he wasn't mad.
Because he'd learned something new.
About Rasa. About his own limits. About how to keep pushing forward without relying on his greatest power.
And above all… it had been a damn good training session.
Kind of felt like Rock Lee vs. Gaara.
Except golden dust was heavier, more durable, and stronger than regular sand…
Of course, that also made it slower.