"Damn it!"
Kurenai Yuhi muttered in frustration, "Are the ninjas of Iwagakure part-turtle or sothing?"
They had been carrying out their mission in the Land of Grass for over a month, but genuine battles were few and far between.
The reason? Iwagakure's strategy of avoiding direct confrontation.
Rin Nohara hesitated, as if wanting to say sothing.
Unlike Kurenai, Rin disliked seeing people get hurt and preferred avoiding combat altogether.
Tsunade glanced at Hanekawa, who sat with his eyes closed.
It seed Iwagakure's intentions matched the boy's earlier predictions—Konoha was not their primary target.
But could Kumogakure be convinced if things continued like this?
Tsunade fell into thought.
She had a feeling Iwagakure was planning sothing big, likely to completely lower Kumogakure's guard. She just didn't know what.
"Four Iwagakure ninjas spotted in the southeast direction, all Chūnin-level," Hanekawa said, opening his eyes.
"Southeast?"
Tsunade snapped out of her thoughts and, after a brief pause, said, "A ninja from the Abura clan scouted that area earlier. There's an Iwagakure outpost there."
The outpost was a large watch station with many personnel.
Combined with Earth Release techniques, which were well-suited for defense, Konoha hadn't launched a direct attack on it.
"They're probably out on a mission," Hanekawa speculated.
"Whatever their mission is, it's their bad luck to run into us!" Kurenai said, her spirits lifted.
"Capture them alive if possible," Tsunade decided after so thought. "Let's see if we can gather any valuable intel from their mission."
"Rin, use the Spirit Transformation Technique to control one of them," Hanekawa instructed as he stood up. "Kurenai and I will handle the other three."
"Understood!" Rin responded imdiately.
As for Tsunade, unless a jōnin-level enemy appeared, there was no need for her to intervene. She could stay behind to guard Rin's physical body while she used the Spirit Transformation Technique.
Hanekawa and Kurenai vanished from their spot in an instant.
Monts later, they spotted the four Iwagakure ninjas.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!
Hanekawa and Kurenai ford hand seals simultaneously.
With a roar, two water dragons surged forward, one after the other.
"Enemy attack!"
The leader of the ninja squad reacted quickly, slamming his hands onto the ground after forming seals.
The earth rose, creating a Mud Wall to block the attack.
But the two water dragons easily shattered the wall and crashed toward them.
"Scatter!" the squad leader shouted.
The four ninjas quickly dispersed in different directions.
"They're Konoha ninjas!"
One of the younger Iwagakure ninjas was the first to spot Kurenai and shouted, "Two o'clock direction!"
"I'll handle her!"
The lone female mber of the squad noticed that Kurenai, who was closest to her, was also a young girl. Underestimating her, she charged forward.
Body Flicker Technique!
Her figure beca a blur, appearing directly in front of Kurenai.
But just as she was about to attack, her body froze, unable to move.
An invisible wave of spiritual energy descended from above, invading her body.
"Well done, Rin!"
Kurenai had intentionally let herself be discovered, serving as bait for Rin to use her Spirit Transformation Technique.
anwhile, screams echoed from nearby.
Dance of the Crescent Moon!
Amidst a puff of smoke, three Hanekawa clones appeared.
In the blink of an eye, they surrounded the remaining three Iwagakure ninjas.
The flash of blades was followed by spurts of blood.
Against ordinary ninjas, Hanekawa was unstoppable, cutting through them with ease.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The three Iwagakure ninjas fell to the ground, unconscious.
Hanekawa dismissed his shadow clones and walked over, stabbing each of them in the heart to ensure they stayed down.
Suddenly, he paused in surprise.
---
[B-Rank Ninjutsu Trait: Special Jōnin in Swordsmanship]
[Trigger Condition: Mastery of Leaf-Style Kenjutsu]
[Effect: Leaf-Style Kenjutsu power increased by 100%. Non-Leaf-Style Kenjutsu power increased by 50%.]
[Note: Learn and master more sword techniques to evolve this trait to A-Rank: Jōnin in Swordsmanship.]
---
Hanekawa wasn't surprised by the acquisition of the "Special Jōnin in Swordsmanship" trait.
After all, he had completely mastered Leaf-Style Kenjutsu. He had learned everything there was to learn.
What surprised him were the trait's effects and its upgrade path.
He had expected it to function like the "Chūnin in Swordsmanship" trait, only boosting Leaf-Style Kenjutsu.
But to his astonishnt, it also enhanced other sword techniques by 50%.
This aligned with its evolution path.
According to the system, a jutsu's skill cap was "mastery."
In other words, no matter how much he practiced Leaf-Style Kenjutsu, he wouldn't make further progress since its potential was limited.
As for other sword techniques, Hanekawa couldn't think of any worth learning for the mont.
Should I study Shisui Uchiha's Uchiha-Style Kenjutsu?
Logically, such clan-specific techniques should be inaccessible to outsiders like him.
But if the Uchiha clan taught him willingly, that would be a different story.
If Tsunade beca Hokage, it might just be possible.
Hanekawa also recalled his B-Rank trait, "King of Blades." Its effects could stack with "Special Jōnin in Swordsmanship."
In other words, his Leaf-Style Kenjutsu now has a 200% power increase, and all other sword techniques have a 150% power boost.
Hanekawa stroked his chin.
His swordsmanship had unexpectedly beco one of his most powerful abilities, surpassing many others.
But this was a good thing.
Snapping out of his thoughts, Hanekawa noticed that Kurenai was interrogating the captured kunoichi.
Skilled genjutsu users often had so expertise in interrogation techniques.
Although not as advanced as the Yamanaka Clan's secret jutsu or the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan, it was still effective enough for extracting mission-related information.
Hanekawa sheathed his Thunderfire Blade and stood to the side, listening in.
Before long, the kunoichi revealed the details of their mission. It wasn't particularly complicated—they were assigned to patrol the area surrounding the outpost.
In addition to their squad, four other squads had been given the sa task.
Hanekawa found this peculiar.
Wasn't Iwagakure previously holed up in their base and outposts, avoiding action? Why had they suddenly started patrolling again?
"Let's head back and consult with the teacher," Hanekawa said, waving his hand and ending the kunoichi's life.
But it didn't end there.
He ford hand seals and used Fire Release to incinerate all four bodies, followed by Earth Release to bury their remains.
This would delay the ti it took for their absence to be noticed.
---
"What intel did you gather?" Tsunade asked when they returned.
"It's like this," Hanekawa explained, recounting the details of the enemy's patrol mission.
"The purpose of these patrols is likely to guard against Konoha's ninjas," Tsunade mused. "It seems there's so secret within that outpost."
"Should we head to the outpost?" Hanekawa asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Let's go!"
Tsunade stood up decisively. "I want to see what exactly Iwagakure is hiding!"
The four of them set off toward the southeast.
---
A few minutes later, the outpost ca into view.
Hanekawa observed the three-to-four-ter-high earthen walls surrounding it and couldn't help but remark, "Earth Release ninjas are perfectly suited for construction."
Forming hand seals, he closed his eyes and activated the Mind's Eye of the Kagura.
"There's a barrier that blocks sensory detection," Hanekawa said, shaking his head.
"It may block sensing, but it won't block souls," Tsunade replied. "Rin, use the Spirit Transformation Technique to infiltrate. If you encounter danger, withdraw imdiately."
The Spirit Transformation Technique was a rare soul-based ninjutsu in the shinobi world.
Most barriers couldn't detect souls. However, certain sensory techniques could, which made the task sowhat risky. Fortunately, there were very few ninjutsu that could actually attack a soul.
"Yes, Sensei," Rin replied, forming seals. Her body trembled, and her soul left her physical form, heading toward the Iwagakure outpost.
Unseen, she slipped right under the noses of the Iwagakure ninjas and infiltrated the outpost.
Looking around, Rin counted the number of enemy ninjas.
This outpost was heavily manned—nearly a hundred ninjas were present.
Just as she was preparing to leave, a mass of purple-red flas hurtled toward her.
Startled, Rin quickly reacted.
In her soul state, her speed and reflexes were greatly enhanced. She drifted backward, narrowly avoiding the flas.
In the next mont, a middle-aged ninja with red hair, a red beard, and dressed in purple appeared before her.
The surrounding temperature spiked as scorching heat waves radiated outward.
Rin felt an intense heat, and her shock grew.
Under normal circumstances, Fire Release ninjutsu shouldn't be able to affect a soul.
Boom!
The middle-aged ninja threw a punch, distorting the air as terrifying flas erupted skyward, lting the ground nearby.
Rin's expression changed drastically before quickly regaining her composure.
Moisture filled the air, and in the blink of an eye, water enveloped her, forming an impenetrable cylindrical wall.
Such a technique could only co from Hanekawa.
"Release the Spirit Transformation Technique!"
As Hanekawa's voice echoed, the water wall was shattered by the middle-aged ninja's punch.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
Hanekawa clapped his hands, raising another water wall.
Lava Release: Scorching River Rock Technique!
The middle-aged ninja clasped his hands together and spewed multiple massive lava balls from his mouth.
The lava balls easily broke through the water wall and charged toward Hanekawa.
At that mont, a white figure flashed between them.
Superhuman Strength!
Without flinching, Tsunade smashed the lava balls with her bare hands.
The unimaginable force caused a deafening explosion, accompanied by a violent gust of wind.
The middle-aged ninja instinctively stepped back a few paces.
Staring at Tsunade, he froze montarily.
"So, it's Princess Tsunade," he said, raising a hand to stop the Iwagakure ninjas around him from making any rash moves.
Though they hadn't yet started fighting, Hanekawa and Tsunade were now completely surrounded.
"You're using Lava Release, and your chakra is inhumanly vast," Tsunade said calmly. "You must be Roshi, the Four-Tails Jinchuriki."
"Correct," Roshi replied confidently with a grin. "I just arrived in the Land of Grass, and Princess Tsunade delivers herself to ? Looks like it's ti for to earn so glory!"
Boom!
An overwhelming aura exploded from Roshi, an unstoppable force radiating from his body.
Chakra so concentrated it beca tangible cloaked him entirely, and within monts, he transford into a being engulfed in molten lava.
Hanekawa's expression turned serious.
This was Roshi's unique Lava Release Chakra Mode, drastically boosting both his defense and offensive capabilities.
His molten lava could lt anything it touched, and when combined with his taijutsu, the effect was unparalleled.
Nearby Iwagakure ninjas quickly backed away, sweat beading on their foreheads from the intense heat.
Hanekawa recalled Roshi's appearance in the original story.
Without his tailed beast, he was rely an elite jonin. But with the near-limitless chakra of the Four-Tails, he beca a true force of destruction.
However, he wasn't invincible.
In the original story, Roshi had been defeated by Kisa Hoshigaki's Water Release.
Of course, Kisa's Water Release wasn't just Water Release—it was practically Ocean Release.
Still, Hanekawa believed he could pull it off.
"Prepare to die!"
Roshi wasted no ti, charging straight at Tsunade.
"What a pain," Tsunade muttered with a frown.
In his Lava Release Chakra Mode, she couldn't afford to make direct contact with him.
Superhuman Strength!
Wrapping her arms in chakra, Tsunade collided with Roshi's fist.
The impact sent shockwaves through the air, scattering flas and cracking the ground as dust billowed around them.
"Impressive as expected from Princess Tsunade!"
Roshi was forced back several ters, his body trembling slightly.
Tsunade grimaced.
Her superhuman strength didn't have as much of an effect as she had hoped. Fighting a jinchuriki was proving troubleso.
Thankfully, she had already sent Kurenai to inform Minato Namikaze. At full speed, he would likely arrive within ten minutes.
---
Water Release: Raging Waves!
Hanekawa clasped his hands together, summoning a torrent of water that spiraled upward like a whirlwind.
The water ford a massive river, surging downward like a waterfall, crashing toward Roshi.
"Water Release might counter Fire Release, but ordinary water techniques won't work on !"
Roshi snorted coldly and ford hand seals.
Lava Release: Scorching River Rock Technique!
Instead of a few lava balls like before, countless molten projectiles rained down like teorites, colliding with the river.
In just seconds, the entire river evaporated.
---
Water Release: Giant Exploding Water Wave!
Taking advantage of the ti bought by the first technique, Hanekawa rapidly ford new hand seals.
He channeled all his chakra, expelling it through his throat.
An imnse wave of water surged outward in layers, engulfing the entire outpost.
From the outside, the area now appeared as if encased in a massive elliptical water prison.
---
"Be careful!"
"What is this Water Release?"
"Everyone scatter!"
The Iwagakure ninjas watching from the sidelines were startled, scrambling to flee in every direction.
Even Tsunade was surprised by the sheer scale of the technique.
---
"What an annoying Water Release!"
Roshi found himself surrounded by a vacuum-like barrier, but the unending sea of water dulled the glow of his Lava Release Chakra Mode.
More importantly, he realized that in such a water-rich environnt, a Water Release ninja's power would be exponentially amplified.
---
Hanekawa took a deep breath, replenishing his chakra reserves with the Yin Seal, then drew his Thunderfire Sword.
Lightning Release: Thunder Summoning!
The sky darkened in an instant.
Fire Release: Dragon Fla Jutsu!
Hanekawa exhaled a fiery dragon into the sky.
"...?"
Roshi froze for a mont, confused. What was the point of this?
He soon realized.
Rain began to pour from the sky.
"Sensei, I'll take the lead!" Hanekawa said firmly, locking eyes with Roshi.
Under normal circumstances, he would've turned and fled from a jinchuriki.
But this was Roshi, whose Lava Release was countered by Water Release.
With the boosts from his "Rain God" and "Special Water Release Jonin" traits, Hanekawa's Water Release was 200% more powerful.
With the Yin Seal further enhancing his abilities, he could confidently claim to be one of the strongest Water Release ninjas in the current shinobi world.
Most importantly, Minato was already on his way.
Even if he couldn't defeat Roshi outright, holding out for ten or twenty minutes should be doable.
---
Hanekawa's sudden surge of confidence caught Tsunade off guard for a mont.
When had this kid grown strong enough to challenge a jinchuriki?
"A brat like you dares to run his mouth? Laughable!"
Roshi, enraged by Hanekawa's words, roared, "Let show you the power of a jinchuriki!"
His chakra flared even more intensely, and four tails erged behind him.
This was partial transformation into the Four-Tails.
_
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