Chapter 75: Returning to the Land of Rain

Chapter 75: Returning to the Land of Rain

Facing Ishiro's Pressurized Water Line Technique, Jun didn't dare to be careless. Before Ishiro even began to attack, she quickly formed hand seals and summoned an Earth Flow Wall, successfully blocking the incoming attack by hiding behind it.

Ishiro's eyes narrowed slightly. Although Jun had learned Earth Flow Wall under his guidance, he was surprised that in just one month, she could apply it so effectively in actual combat. Due to the cover provided by the trees, he couldn't see exactly how many hand seals Jun had used, but judging by her speed, she likely used around ten seals. Achieving such a simplified version of the jutsu in just a month demonstrated Jun's exceptional talent.

However, Ishiro currently had no easy way to attack Jun, as she clearly understood the penetrating power of his Pressurized Water Line Technique through the Earth Flow Wall. Sneak attacks wouldn't work against her.

"I still lack enough powerful attack methods," Ishiro thought to himself.

For now, he decided to ignore Jun. Given her limited range attack capability, she posed little threat to him. Ishiro shifted his focus instead to searching other areas within the same region.

Back at the academy, Ishiro consistently ranked first in theoretical classes. While serving in Team 5 and Squad 18, he actively participated in trap-setting. This experience gave him a solid grasp of how and where ambushes might be placed.

After carefully scanning the surroundings multiple times, Ishiro pinpointed several possible hiding spots, then promptly unleashed multiple Water Line Techniques toward these suspected areas.

Unlike his previous attack aimed at Jun, Ishiro couldn't be sure if Fu and Seiten could safely evade his Pressurized Water Lines. Concerned about accidentally injuring them during a mere training exercise, he chose instead to use the weaker Water Line Technique. After a dozen Water Line strikes, Fu and Seiten could no longer maintain their hiding spots and were forced out.

Standing in battle formation among the trees, Fu stood at the front, with Jun and Seiten flanking him slightly behind. Ishiro quickly scanned the surroundings again, inwardly sighing at how cleverly concealed Seiten's traps had become; he hadn't noticed even a single one.

Putting these thoughts aside, Ishiro jumped down from the Earth Flow Wall and entered the wooded area directly.

Most of Ishiro's attacks were designed for mid-to-short-range combat: Earth Spike, Mind-Body Disturbance, Body Binding Technique, Cold-Break Flow, and sword techniques.

His long-range options were limited to Water Line techniques and Water Surge Wave, neither of which were highly effective in this situation. Therefore, Ishiro had no choice but to risk entering the area his subordinates had prepared for ambush.

Earth Clones lacked the flexibility and judgment of his true body and were easily defeated by slightly complex traps. In contrast, Ishiro's main body entered the trap-filled area cautiously, carefully disarming suspicious spots along the way.

Due to his wariness of Seiten's skill, Ishiro expended three explosive tags and repeatedly used Water Surge Wave at close range, ultimately managing to approach his three subordinates without mishap.

This training battle greatly differed from actual combat, as both sides were fully aware of each other's capabilities and had ample preparation.

Ishiro knew Seiten's trap-making ability well and thus proceeded carefully. Conversely, his subordinates were aware of his various techniques, deliberately choosing terrain disadvantageous to him and preparing traps accordingly.

About 50 meters away from his team, Ishiro's advance halted. Although he hadn't checked the area thoroughly, he intuitively knew it was laden with traps. Additionally, his three subordinates were prepared to disrupt any attempt at dismantling those traps. Breaking through smoothly was now impossible.

Rather than immediately using Water Surge Wave, Ishiro hid behind a large tree. Out of sight of his subordinates, he swiftly created an Earth Clone, and both he and his clone charged simultaneously at their opponents.

Fu's group remained calm, splitting responsibilities efficiently: Jun used ninjutsu against one attacker, while Fu and Seiten dealt with the other—Fu threw shuriken, while Seiten triggered his traps.

Jun easily destroyed Ishiro's Earth Clone with a ninjutsu attack, while Ishiro himself was temporarily stalled by traps and forced back to his original position.

This exchange resulted in some chakra expenditure for Ishiro—though not severe due to his large reserves—and consumed several traps for the enemy, although Ishiro couldn't be sure how many remained. Neither side gained a clear advantage from this encounter.

However, Ishiro, as the attacker, faced time constraints, making this stalemate unfavorable for him.

After brief hesitation, Ishiro initiated a third wave of attack, this time sending three Earth Clones forward simultaneously.

Among the three subordinates, Fu was strongest in close combat but lacked strong long-range capabilities. Seiten could rely on traps defensively, while Jun's ninjutsu served as ranged support, leaving Fu less effective from afar.

This time, Jun targeted Ishiro's real body. Ishiro initially feigned the limited mobility of a clone to deceive her. After one of his clones fell victim to Seiten's trap, Ishiro suddenly accelerated, using Water Line Techniques to counterattack and disrupt Jun's timing.

At this point, Ishiro had closed the distance to roughly 30 meters, close enough to employ genjutsu.

However, with two Ishiros approaching simultaneously—one clone and one real—the trio adjusted quickly. Seiten's traps engaged Ishiro's real body, while the other two took on the remaining clone.

The clone advanced a short distance before Jun's attack destroyed it, reducing it to a pile of rocks. However, Jun immediately shouted in shock, "Watch out for explosive tags!"

Indeed, the destroyed clone carried two explosive tags. The resulting blasts scattered dust and debris everywhere.

Exploiting this opportunity, Ishiro's real body swiftly closed in. He performed quick hand seals, activating Mind-Body Disturbance, targeting Seiten first to disable his trap-triggering capability.

Seeing Seiten affected, Fu and Jun reacted immediately, stepping up to protect him.

Yet the anticipated follow-up strike never came. Instead, Ishiro formed another hand seal and activated Body Flicker Technique. Previously, due to Seiten's threat, Ishiro had refrained from using Body Flicker. Although fast, the technique wasn't teleportation. The user couldn't control the trajectory mid-movement, leaving him vulnerable to incoming projectiles.

Thus, Ishiro used Body Flicker Technique the moment Seiten was mentally impaired. With considerable mastery, he could now perform three consecutive Body Flickers with just a single hand seal.

Ishiro first appeared next to Fu, who responded instinctively, slashing horizontally. Yet, Ishiro vanished before the attack landed, appearing next to Jun. Fu had anticipated this, knowing Jun would be targeted due to her vulnerability in close combat. After missing his slash, Fu moved quickly to support Jun, positioning himself defensively to trade damage if Ishiro attacked.

Not willing to trade injuries, Ishiro vanished again, reappearing by Fu's other side. Fu's position became awkward; protecting Jun left him momentarily unstable and unable to defend this new angle adequately.

With Jun unable to assist effectively and Seiten just recovering from the earlier genjutsu, Ishiro had isolated Fu momentarily.

Ishiro quickly executed four hand seals and cast the Body Binding Technique. Fu, mid-turn, froze instantly and fell off balance.

To maintain this genjutsu, Ishiro couldn't attack physically, so he immediately ended the genjutsu after it disrupted Fu's balance. Taking advantage of Fu's unstable position, Ishiro instantly unleashed a Water Line attack.

Fu, initially expecting Ishiro's immediate Water Line attack, had planned to evade. However, Ishiro's sudden genjutsu had completely caught him off guard, breaking his stance. Unable to react in time, the Water Line easily knocked Fu's sword from his grasp, effectively "eliminating" him.

From the start, Ishiro had deliberately targeted Fu, the one opponent who could match or surpass him in speed. With Fu removed, victory was now certain.

Indeed, losing Fu proved fatal. Without their strongest teammate, Jun and Seiten quickly fell in the subsequent fight.

Although this battle wasn't spectacular or drawn out, its swift exchanges and careful positioning accurately represented real ninja combat—filled with careful probing, concealed moves, and decisive finishing blows.

The next day, Squad 7 concluded their intensive training with a thorough review of their combat performance. They then disbanded, preparing for their next assignment.

This upcoming mission was their second formal assignment and the first chosen personally by Ishiro.

His destination: the Land of Rain. He hadn't seen Yahiko, Nagato, and Konan for quite some time, and he wondered how their organization—Akatsuki—was progressing.

It was time for another visit.

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