Chapter 97
"I’m here!" Shizune called out, rushing toward Saitama.
"Hey!" She thrust her palm forward, aiming for Saitama’s face. Though she had only recently been promoted to chūnin, as Tsunade-sama’s apprentice, she was solid in all areas—especially in close-quarters taijutsu.
Whoosh! The air was sliced by the force of her palm, but Saitama tilted his head slightly, effortlessly evading the strike.
"Why do you always greet people with a face slap?" he quipped, smirking at her serious expression.
"Ha!" Shizune, undeterred, pivoted on one foot and delivered a sweeping kick toward his waist, her movements sharp and fluid.
"Hmph!" Saitama stepped back lightly, dodging with ease.
Thud! Her kick drove her low to the ground, but she used the momentum to plant her palms into the dirt, launching herself upward with a twist. Her heel spun toward Saitama’s head like a whirling crescent.
"Heh, not bad," he said mid-motion, recognizing the clever improvisation. "Nice awareness."
Smack! He slapped her ankle aside, deflecting her kick, and swiftly caught her other leg mid-air.
"Got you."
He took two quick steps back while still holding her by the ankle. Shizune’s expression tensed as her free leg hit the ground awkwardly, forcing her to hop after him to regain balance.