“What are you standing there for? Support !”
Asuma had already sprinted forward but noticed that this kid was still frozen in place, so he hurriedly called out from a distance.
Might Guy finally snapped out of it.
Kyoichi placed his hand on the ground, sensing the terrain. His gaze sharpened as chakra flowed from his palm into the earth, extending outward and hardening the entire riverbed into jagged stone spears.
This was a technique he had developed himself.
Not the most practical, but perfect for the situation—he had just sensed that the enemy was trying to escape through the riverbed.
Splash!
A burst of water shot up.
Kyoichi quickly ford another seal, and a dark rain fell over the area.
“Fire Release!, Wind Release!.”
“Yes!”
Shisui instantly teleported into position. From atop a wall, he had already finished forming seals.
The next mont…
A massive fireball erupted from his mouth.
Asuma couldn’t make it in ti, but Hayama Shirakumo arrived just then, forming seals before exhaling a powerful wind blast.
Raging flas, fierce winds, and black oil.
The top of the earthen walls beca engulfed in a sea of fire, so intense that even water couldn’t suppress it.
The river evaporated, filling the air with thick steam.
Is this brat trying to dry up the entire river?!
What kind of monster is this?!
Hozuki Chikage cursed inwardly.
He hurriedly activated a Water Release technique.
However, as the water level rose, so did the surrounding earth walls, trapping him within a burning inferno—black oil and fire floated atop the water, turning it into a boiling cauldron.
This wasn’t going to work!
Seeing no other choice, he finally abandoned his cover and leaped toward an unoccupied direction, his body still burning with searing flas—so of the black oil had stuck to him, making it impossible to extinguish, even with his Hydrification Technique.
Body Flicker Technique!
His speed was astonishing.
“No wonder you dared to stay behind,” Kyoichi sneered.
Fast?
I’m faster.
First Gate—Open!
The next instant, he drew his sword, turning into a streak of light.
Secret Sword—Moon Shadow!
At the sa ti, he combined it with Iaijutsu—
Draw, flash-step, strike—
All in one seamless motion!
Too fast!
There was no way to dodge!
Hozuki Chikage’s mind went blank.
How can this brat move so fast?!
His only option was the Hydrification Technique—but just as his body started to turn into water, Kyoichi’s blade struck his arm.
The next second…
Lightning surged from the blade, instantly paralyzing him. His body, halfway through liquefying, froze in an awkward, distorted shape.
anwhile…
From the distant ocean, massive waves surged toward the river mouth.
But this wasn’t just any wave—
Exploding Water Collision!
If Chikage made it into that water, even if the Five Kage ca, they wouldn’t be able to catch him.
Kyoichi said nothing. His sword remained pressed against Chikage’s body, preventing him from fully transforming. Then, grabbing him with one hand, he dashed toward dry land—
All the while, he continuously drained Chikage’s chakra.
“Damn it! Hurry up and save —he’s absorbing my chakra!”
Chikage panicked.
Though the Hydrification Technique consud very little chakra, it wasn’t free. If Kyoichi drained him to the bare minimum, he’d be completely helpless.
“You idiot! I told you to leave, but you just had to stay behind!”
A figure stepped onto the waves.
Light green hair, a long hook in hand.
Hayama Shirakumo and Shisui imdiately rushed forward to intercept him, but—
Just as they reached him…
The man extended his hand, and a Water Mirror appeared in front of him.
Water Mirror Technique…
Kyoichi instantly recognized him.
Yagura Karatachi!
“Avoid that mirror—it might be dangerous!”
He quickly warned.
But it was too late!
Four identical figures erged from the mirror, perfectly mirroring their movents as they launched attacks.
Yagura took advantage of this mont to break through their defenses.
The enemy clearly specialized in Wind Release, so instead of wasting chakra on the Hiding in Mist Technique, he simply ford seals and unleashed a massive torrent of water.
A Great Water Prison engulfed the approaching Konoha ninjas, trapping them instantly.
Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!
However…
By the ti Yagura finished his technique, he realized Kyoichi had already dealt with Chikage.
Chikage still had chakra, but his body was now covered in sealing scrolls, each one glowing with intricate black sigils—a high-level sealing technique.
And not just that…
Beside him, a giant slug had appeared, wrapping its body around the sealed Chikage.
“…What the hell.”
Sealing techniques, summoning techniques—this kid has everything!
With this many precautions, how the hell am I supposed to rescue him?!
Yagura cursed internally, imdiately abandoning the rescue plan.
A prolonged fight would be pointless.
And now, with the Exploding Water Colliding wave approaching, he used Water Release to retreat—rather than wasting ti here, gathering intel was far more important.
Especially about that young ninja.
anwhile…
Hayama swung his sword.
Wind Release Sword Technique—Void Slash!
A vacuum arc cut through the Great Water Prison, instantly creating an air pocket.
A mont later…
Five Leaf ninjas broke free.
Yagura didn’t dare linger any longer. morizing Kyoichi’s appearance, he fled at full speed. By the ti Hayama Shirakumo and the others managed to stabilize themselves, he had already vanished into the water currents.
The Water Prison dispersed.
By the ti Hayama and the others could react, even Yagura’s chakra signature had disappeared.
“Don’t chase him…”
Kyoichi stopped them.
Yagura wasn’t a Jinchūriki yet, but his Water Release techniques were still incredibly powerful. If he was dead set on escaping, they had no chance of stopping him.
Besides…
Who knew how many more Kirigakure shinobi were lurking in the ocean?
If sothing went wrong, they could lose their captive, which would be a far greater loss.
“Yes, sir!”
Genma and Kurenai regrouped with Kyoichi.
Kurenai stared at the slug, eyes filled with admiration.
The sa summon as Tsunade!
And Also...
So gentle!
Kurenai was completely captivated.
She wanted one so badly.
"Stop staring," Kyoichi said, ruffling her hair. "This guy is from the Hozuki Clan. Whether it's their mories or their unique physiology, they're worth studying. Protecting him is our top priority."
"Oh!"
Kurenai responded, though her eyes remained glued to the slug.
Noticing her interest, Katsuyu split off a small portion of itself and crawled onto her shoulder, playfully interacting with her.
Now that the situation was safe, Kurenai and Genma, who had been on high alert around Kyoichi, finally relaxed.
The other four, however…
"Hayama-senpai is a Jōnin. Even if he ran into trouble, he could handle himself. What exactly were you all planning to do by chasing after them? Aside from getting in the way?"
Kyoichi swept his gaze over them.
"Finished one Chūnin Exam and suddenly think you're invincible?"
Among the six, Might Guy was the only one who had never been his student, but since Kyoichi was close to Might Duy, he had the authority of an elder figure in Guy’s life. Teaching him a lesson was perfectly justified.
And so…
Shisui and the others lowered their heads, not daring to talk back.
Thinking it over, they realized he was right.
If Hayama Shirakumo hadn’t stayed behind to protect them, he would have caught up to Yagura long ago.
"Let it go, Kyoichi," Hayama said, stepping in for the kids. "This was their first ti participating in a battle of this scale. It’s natural for them to be a bit unaccustod."
Then, his expression turned serious as he looked at the captured Hozuki Chikage.
"I didn't expect even the Hozuki Clan to be involved. It seems the Kirigakure still refuses to back down."
"That ninja from earlier—his status is probably quite high," Kyoichi nodded.
Yagura Karatachi…
As the future Fourth Mizukage, his rank at this point was undoubtedly high. He might even be leading this intelligence-gathering operation.
"Good thing you caught him," Hayama said, sincerely impressed.
As an ANBU, he understood better than anyone how troubleso the Hozuki Clan could be.
Unless hit by Lightning Release before fully liquefying, their bodies were practically immune to most attacks.
But Kyoichi had outmaneuvered that ability completely—
Using Earth Release to cut off escape routes, then fire and oil to force Chikage into human form.
And, of course…
That sword.
The Sword of the Thunder God.
The Third Hokage really values him.
Then again…
If he were the Hokage, he'd also put his trust in Kyoichi.
There weren’t many shinobi left in the village strong enough to shoulder its future.
"You all arrived first. Have you confird a location for intelligence exchange?"
"For now, we’re using Mount Nagano."
"Alright, let’s move."
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