3 - Isn’t This Water Release?
It was a stream of water shrouded in white mist.
The mist came from nitrogen gas, which, after being converted from chakra into liquid nitrogen, rapidly vaporized upon meeting atmospheric pressure.
The water itself was liquid nitrogen at a bone-chilling -196°C!
A volume equivalent to two adult bodies' worth of liquid nitrogen splashed toward the group of Hyuga kids!
The ground instantly frosted over.
In the midst of summer, this absolute-zero liquid nitrogen created a patch of wintry desolation!
The Hyuga boys charging at Yuto Souta managed to shield their eyes and noses with their arms at the last second, but the piercing cold that followed left them screaming in agony.
On the other side of this "battlefield," Obito Uchiha, still in a chasing stance, stood with his mouth agape, utterly shocked!
"What… what… what's going on?!"
He couldn't believe his eyes.
How had his clanmate and deskmate suddenly become so powerful?
That stuff… it was Water Release, right?
But why did it feel so cold?!
He knew these Hyuga kids—they'd clashed in fights before.
The key point was, these guys were all third-years or higher!
The one crying the loudest? He was a fourth-year!
How could…
"Obito! What are you standing there for? Strike while they're down and finish them off!"
Yuto Souta's voice rang out from the other side.
Obito snapped out of it, only to see his usually quiet and refined deskmate now straddling one of the Hyuga kids!
"Oh… oh! Hold on, I'm coming!"
Still dazed, Obito gritted his teeth.
A strange, unfamiliar feeling welled up inside him…
So this was what it felt like to have a comrade at your back?
His small fists swung again as he charged toward a Hyuga kid in two quick strides.
As he pummeled away, he muttered under his breath…
"'One-on-one,' huh? I'll make you regret calling your buddies!"
"You think your Lord Obito doesn't have allies?!"
"Do you even know who you're up against? An Uchiha!"
Obito vented his rage and the frustration of being ganged up on.
Meanwhile, Yuto Souta was lost in the thrill of… educating these brats, unable to pull himself away…
The chaos lasted about two minutes.
It was Yuto Souta's first time using ninjutsu in combat, and his chakra control was still shaky. Plus, with his limited chakra reserves, even with the Ninjutsu Master title, he only managed to lightly frostbite the Hyuga kids.
Their fists actually dealt more damage…
But as he fought, a system notification chimed in his mind.
[Defeated Apprentice Genin. Nitrogen Release Proficiency +1]
[Defeated Apprentice Genin. Nitrogen Release Proficiency +2]
[Defeated Apprentice Genin. Life Energy +1]
…
Finally, the two stopped.
The Hyuga kids no longer had the strength to even whimper…
Panting heavily, Yuto Souta's gaze landed on the oldest Hyuga boy.
Perhaps because of his age and more rigorous training at home, this one had screamed helplessly earlier but now retained some awareness.
The resentment in his eyes was proof enough…
Yuto Souta frowned.
Stepping forward, he watched as the Hyuga's resentful glare shifted to fear. Then he raised his foot.
Crack!
With a heavy stomp, the Hyuga's left shoulder bone shattered!
"AHHH!!!!"
A pig-like squeal echoed endlessly. The Hyuga's cries were so pained that even Obito, the original victim, felt a pang of sympathy!
Yuto Souta paid it no mind.
Scientists excel at calculation.
In his view, if you're going to act, you do it decisively.
No point in leaving room for endless revenge later!
Truth be told, if he'd aimed that stomp at the neck, it could've been fatal.
He wasn't afraid of killing—since becoming a ninja, he'd long prepared himself for it.
But killing wasn't something someone his age should do.
So…
"Obito, I'm out of strength," Yuto Souta said, his voice chillingly cold.
"The other side… it's up to you!"
Obito froze again!
Pointing at himself, his voice trembled with nerves.
"M-Me… me?"
Did they really have to be this brutal?!
Obito instinctively wanted to refuse, but a voice inside him warned…
If he backed down now, he might lose this friend who'd stepped up for him!
The conflict on his face faded. Obito took a deep breath, his gaze firm as he looked at Yuto Souta.
"Alright! We're in this together!"
Raising his little foot high, Obito aimed for the writhing Hyuga's right shoulder, closed his eyes, and—
Crack!
"AHHHH!!!!"
…
As the sun dipped below the horizon, the two exhausted boys parted ways at a fork in the road.
The looks they exchanged carried a new, unspoken bond.
Obito never imagined his polite, bookish deskmate could get so fierce when pushed!
Yuto Souta, though, felt a bit conflicted…
"I can't be this reckless again…"
Gazing at the setting sun, the boy murmured to himself.
After all, a scholar should keep a low profile…