u/Fit-Communication709

So I own Connections on PS5 and got Storm 4 Evolution on PC and I'm trying to understand the mechanics

I found out about the differences between the 2 games, mainly Connections being more friendly and simple

So far, I learned chakra dash between combos, stop the dash with guard to bait, how the items works and what my main character (Kurama Link Mode Naruto) has with techs, and how to manage subs (though I'm still struggling to understand how ppl instantly dash on me after a sub, is it a timing thing like I have to chakra dash after every hit and hope that the guy will sub or do I just have the reflexes of a grandpa ?)

What I REALLY don't understand though are infinite combos

All the videos I've watched told me to watch out for the "character stumble or fall to their knees" as the indicator for the infinite, and I've tried that with 3 characters

Shout out to Poisoned Okami for the Ino guide, that one was easy to pull off, IC4 and jump, restart the combo

Then I tried with War Arc Sakura and it confuses me because even when I active "guard when damaged" in training, it feels like her infinite is simpler, like it's also IC4 but for her I don't need to jump, I can just stop mashing and... Start again ? I feel like I'm dumb af

And for the guy I tried to main, Kurama Link Mode Naruto, that's a whole different story. I just don't find any opening with him. It seems to be IC3 + Hollow step (also learned that but struggles with it too) but I've got a problem. When I combo and the characters are pushed to the left, I can pull the hollow step somewhat reliably, but when they're pushed to the right, they can guard and I don't understand why

So, does it feels like there's so many inconsistencies for infinite combos ?

Iruka didn't know what to say, nor if he could trust his eyes. Next to him, Mizuki looked absolutely appalled, much like the entire class that observed the spars.

Naruto has always been somewhat more physically enduring than his peers, able to fight multiple times per day despite all the blows he took from his more skilled adversaries.

Evidently, that particular quirk was theorized to be an advantage conferred by the demon lying dormant inside him. But today ? It was completely different, almost frightening.

There was no finesse nor self-preservation in his style, just a ten-year-old boy rushing straight ahead into fists and kicks, akin to a madman ignorant of pain. More impressive however, was how dominant he was in every of his fights.

Only an hour had passed, and as usual, Naruto didn't seem tired, yet contrasting with any other day, all of his spars had ended in flawless victories, even against Uchiha Sasuke.

Needless to say, he left an impression on all his classmates and the teachers, all wondering how the dead last who had only for himself his stamina, now rivalled the class prodigy in speed, and outmatched him in raw strength.

Iruka should have noticed that something was different when the blonde had remained silent against all the taunts and mockeries he was thrown at, instead of shouting like usual. But piqued by his curiosity, he had let it happen, and witnessed for the first time in history, Uzumaki Naruto fighting with reflexes and strength that only a fulfilled Genin would have.

Pushed by this inexplicable change, he obviously came to the Nine-Tails' container for questions as soon as the battles were done.

"Naruto, if I may ask... What was that ?" His widened eyes analyzed the child before him, who tilted his head aside.

"What do you mean, Iruka-sensei ?" Naruto inquired in a tone that left no doubt about his innocence, staring at his teacher like a confused puppy.

Clearing his throat, Iruka straightened his back, adopting his professional attitude. "Well, you won against the most competent fighters in the class with disconcerting facility. Not that I'm not proud of you for that, I'm actually very happy to see your progress, but compared to yesterday, you were like a different boy."

For the first time, he saw Naruto adorning a genuine smile. Not one to feign that he was fine, not a toothy grin used as a defense mechanism for all the hate he was receiving. Genuine joy painted across his cheeks. "Ahah, so you noticed how awesome I was ! Well I discovered the secret to be super strong, I don't know why you didn't tell us that in your lessons, but now I understand why the Sasuke bastard is gloomy all the time !"

"The secret ? What secret ?" Iruka's brows lifted of their own, his head overflowing with more questions.

"Come on, no need to play dumb now, I know I just need to get angry to become stronger !" The boy giggled under Iruka's nose, whose confusion manifested through another question, asking him to develop his point. "Found out about that yesterday when a dumb merchant threw a heavy mask at my face. Was super painful, my forehead was even bleeding. And when I punched a tree, it nearly broke, so I tried to be angry again today and as you saw, it worked !"

Iruka stopped for a moment, carefully thinking of what Naruto just said. There was no way his performances could be boosted by rage; there were no records about such side effects. Yet, true to his words, the results spoke for themselves, Naruto had indeed overwhelmed all his sparring partners.

Inspecting the young Jinchuriki's face once more, the teacher gasped out loud. Only then, did he realize that the whiskers on the boy's cheeks were slightly more pronounced, and his pupils were strangely slitted, granting him the stare of a feral animal... Or more precisely, an uncanny resemblance to the beast he held, without the crimson irises.