Chapter 147: The Art of Battle

Ren remained still, observing Mori Mizuchi with sharp eyes. His mind was already at work, analyzing every detail.

The vibration he emits is similar to what I felt when training with Ganryu.

So, potentially, he's at the level of a Jonin.

Although… I don't feel the same pressure as Ganryu.

Ren's muscles tensed imperceptibly.

Shin is on the ground, out of combat. Shinji, though still standing, is too battered to help me.

Ren had no support.

He had to get Mori Mizuchi away.

He had to lure him to the right spot.

I placed seals. If I can drag him there, I can play by my rules.

The plan was clear.

But first—

He had to survive.

Mori Mizuchi moved first.

A flash.

A second later, he was already in front of Ren.

The first strike came from above—a kick aimed at his temple.

Ren lowered his body instantly, dodging by mere millimeters.

He had no time to think.

A punch grazed him from the side, then another.

Ren deflected the second blow with his palm, countering with a straight punch to the chest.

BAM!

Mori stepped back half a step.

He licked his lower lip.

"Not bad."

Then he attacked again.

He was fast.

But Ren was no less.

Weeks of training with Ganryu and Utakata had honed every fiber of his body.

Strike after strike, he read Mizuchi's movements, adapting to the rhythm of the fight.

Punches.

Kicks.

Dodges.

Counterattacks.

The air vibrated with every impact, the ground cracked beneath their movements.

Ren held his own against Mori Mizuchi.

But he knew.

He couldn't afford to keep this up for too long.

Eventually, he would lose.

He had to find an opening.

And he found it.

For an instant, he noticed a slight change in Mori's posture.

A signal.

Mori Mizuchi paused for a moment.

He cracked his knuckles,then, lightning chakra erupted around his hands, his fingers tensed, the air around him began to crackle.

"Let's see if you can still keep up."

He vanished.

Ren sensed the danger.

The first hit came directly to his side.

Ren managed to partially deflect it, but the electric surge coursed through his body, paralyzing his muscles for an instant.

Then, a punch to the chest sent him skidding back several meters.

Ren gritted his teeth.

Now he was really in trouble.

No enemy is unbeatable.

Itachi's words to Naruto when they were against Nagato's Edo-tensei, echoed in his mind.

Every technique has a weakness. I need to find it.

He could no longer win with brute force.

He had to use the environment.

As he dodged Mizuchi's attacks, his hand moved discreetly.

An explosive tag.

Then another.

And another.

Every step, every movement, every point where they fought—

Ren was setting his traps.

To complete his strategy, he needed to buy time.

He had to create space.

As Mori Mizuchi charged another attack, Ren quickly pulled out a series of explosive tags and tossed them to the ground.

BOOM!

A series of explosions shook the terrain, lifting a dense cloud of smoke and debris.

Ren dashed backward, letting the confusion mask his movements.

Meanwhile, his fingers worked quickly, placing more seals, preparing the field.

Mori Mizuchi halted in the smoke, scanning the darkness.

Then he smiled.

"Smart."

His gaze gleamed with amusement.

"But not enough."

Ren didn't reply.

Now he had the advantage.

He just had to wait for the right moment to strike.

- - -

Mori Mizuchi moved cautiously.

Every step, every motion, was calculated.

He had figured it out.

Ren was planting explosives.

His eyes darted rapidly, making sure he didn't step into one of his traps.

But Ren wasn't foolish.

The explosives were just a distraction.

The real trick was elsewhere.

Hidden.

A thin metal wire.

Almost invisible among the forest shadows.

Mori Mizuchi didn't see it.

Or rather—

He didn't notice it immediately.

He was too focused on the explosions.

And that was exactly what Ren wanted.

Mori Mizuchi scoffed in irritation.

"Enough." Then, Hh vanished.

This time, Ren couldn't fully follow his movement.

Too fast. Too sudden. Then—

BZZT!

A flash of lightning chakra tore through the forest.

The air crackled with electricity, the hairs on Ren's arms standing on end just an instant before the strike reached him.

It was too late to dodge completely.

But not too late to neutralize it.

The Mirror Technique

His hands moved swiftly.

"Small Mirror Technique."

A translucent surface appeared in front of him.

Perfect.

Unchanging.

The lightning countered by another Ligthining.

His attack was neutralized instantly.

The energy dissipated into nothingness, as if it had never existed.

For a moment, Mori Mizuchi didn't move.

Then, he burst into laughter.

"Interesting."

His gaze gleamed with newfound curiosity.

"I didn't think a mere student would know the Mizukage's technique."

Ren remained impassive.

His breath was steady, his body ready to react.

Mori Mizuchi relaxed slightly.

Then shook his head, as if already bored.

"But nothing changes."

His hands moved again.

"How long do you think you can keep using the Small Mirror Technique?"

Ren didn't respond.

Because he was no longer there.

Mori Mizuchi narrowed his eyes.

Ren. Shinji. Shin.

Gone.

"Tsk."

He had been deceived.

- - -

Ren had acted in an instant.

While neutralizing the lightning, his two clones had grabbed Shin and Shinji.

The confusion had masked their movement.

Now, they were already far away.

Shinji tried to protest.

"I don't want to run! I can still fight!"

Ren didn't stop.

"This is not the time."

His tone was cold, decisive.

Shinji clenched his teeth but didn't argue.

Ren knew what he was doing.

Ren halted.

He was done. The metal wires were set. The battlefield was ready.

The only thing missing…

Was Mori Mizuchi.

But—

He was already there.

A silver flash. A blade.

Aimed at Ren's heart.

CRACK!

But then—

Splash!

Where Ren had stood, now there was only water.

And the water moved.

"Water Release: Water Spikes!"

From the reflective surface, sharp spikes emerged, shooting toward Mori Mizuchi at deadly speed.

And this time, the attack landed.

Mori Mizuchi was struck.

But only grazed.

The Anbu froze.

He was no longer smiling.

No trace of amusement remained.

He lifted a hand to his shoulder, where a thin wound let a trickle of blood escape.

It wasn't a serious injury.

But it was unacceptable.

A Jonin hit by a student.

The illusion of superiority had been cracked.

The air grew even heavier.

Then—

Mori Mizuchi ended the transformation.

His form shifted.

And before Ren no longer stood the student he had known.

But the Anbu who had observed him that night.

His gaze was cold. Calculating.

But now, devoid of playfulness.

"Now we get serious."

His tone was flat, devoid of any amusement.

Ren tightened his grip on his tanto.

He knew things were about to change.

[Thanks everyone specially Jayroy_63 ,Sami_Alfoheday, BagusPardana, thefarmerboy007_7, Daoist9Qy0Nv, Darkosiris_Lopez, Alexx_Sejas, Werty_9247, RyuB201, shadowborn, Yasmin_Silva_3876, RyuB201, DaoistVVm1Vi,Saryman, DaoistDW5XU4, Acnol,DaoistSEsItM,bndr, RyuB201, VanHellsing6969, Daoist710883, WertyTribola,GuyWithSomeInteres, LevinCloth, Daoist0thxiB, bndr, AKIB19,LevinCloth, DaoistAZmi17,Alexx_Sejas, Morgoph, Strandarn, Gothrog, Ikaro_Rodrigues, Radical_Hamburger1, Misteriboi, AKIB19, Syndulyr, Wolfy1212,averious, Storm2010, Henrique_Aaa, SAGAR11, sip_Yo,Natan_Santana_1549, Zayah, Saryman, NathanBESH, Geisterlos, Daoist9Sa84q, Gothrog, shadowborn, DarkGambit, Miguel_024 and Meltis_Pach!

Sorry if i forgot someone ^.^