Chapter 7: Defeating the Paper Clone

Chapter 7: Defeating the Paper Clone

The lake surface was calm.

A ninja stepped onto the lake water, creating ripples.

Uehara Naraka walked step by step onto the lake surface, following Konan's steps, slowly taking his position. After resting for two days, today was the official test for him.

It was unclear what Pain was thinking. Two days ago, he seemed displeased with Konan's decision, but today he actually came to watch this battle between master and disciple.

Konan closed her eyes, brought her palms together, and said in a low voice, "Naraka, don't be careless just because this is a test. My paper clone is not weak..."

Konan's voice gradually faded.

Countless sheets of paper floated out from her body, dancing in the air and converging into a human shape, forming a paper clone nearly equal in ability to her real body.

This paper clone was different from the ordinary Shadow Clone Technique.

While ordinary shadow clones are also tangible, they are forced to disperse upon taking a hit. Paper clones are vastly different; when Konan's paper clone is attacked, it can even break down into smaller pieces of paper, fly away, and reconverge elsewhere.

Besides this, the paper clone could also use any ninjutsu Konan could use. Even an ordinary piece of paper, under her chakra control, possessed sharpness comparable to a shuriken, not to mention the countless exploding tags hidden amongst the sheets.

"Unfortunately, if I can't even defeat a single paper clone..."

Uehara Naraka looked up, a confident smile playing on the boy's lips, "Wouldn't that make me too useless?"

He had worked hard for a month to fully charge the bonus chakra from the Tear of the Goddess, finally possessing Jonin-level chakra reserves.

Losing to Uchiha Itachi before was because he was too careless, caught by the Sharingan's genjutsu, and the fight was ended by Konan.

Now, Uehara knew Konan's information. Whether it was her ninjutsu or her weaknesses, Uehara Naraka knew them clearly in his heart. Adding his unique skills on top of that...

If he still couldn't defeat Konan's paper clone like this, he'd eat the cards in his hand on the spot!

"We'll see about that after the test is over!"

Konan's paper clone dashed across the lake surface towards Uehara Naraka, shouting a reminder, "Naraka, it's officially starting... Paper Shuriken!"

Dozens of paper sheets flew over!

The sharpness of the paper shuriken was almost indistinguishable from iron ones, and their flight speed and throwing angles could be even more unpredictable!

Uehara Naraka held four cards in each hand and quickly threw them towards the incoming paper shuriken!

Boom! Boom!

Eight cards shot out. Two of them, automatically empowered by chakra, instantly exploded, altering the trajectory of the paper shuriken!

The other six cards flew towards Konan's direction!

"Well done..."

Ripples spread across the water surface again!

Konan was very satisfied with Uehara Naraka's method of dealing with the paper shuriken. Sheets of paper folded and gathered behind her paper clone, forming a pair of wings that lifted her body into the air, dodging the card attack, and then launched another attack using the wings!

Dance of the Shikigami!

Paper Rain!

Sheets of paper transformed into a dense barrage of sharp paper blades, raining down diagonally towards Uehara Naraka's position, making it impossible to dodge on the ground!

"Wind Wall!"

Uehara Naraka symbolically brought his palms together, formed a hand seal, and a wind wall materialized above the water surface, blocking the Paper Rain attack.

But the crisis wasn't over yet...

Even if the Wind Wall could block it for a few seconds, it couldn't hold indefinitely. Konan's Paper Rain was recyclable; she could release it almost endlessly!

The wind wall slowly dissipated...

The Paper Rain attacked Uehara again!

Uehara Naraka dodged aside, avoiding another wave of incoming Paper Rain, but this couldn't resolve the crisis!

"Is that the only move left?"

Uehara Naraka clenched his fists tightly, chakra flowing rapidly within him. His toes pushed off the water surface, and he flew into the air out of nowhere, dodging the dense Paper Rain!

It was the flight skill, Flight Technique!

"Naraka... can fly too?"

Konan's brow furrowed instantly. Flight techniques weren't exactly rare, but just flying up into the sky like that was quite unexpected.

The next moment, Konan saw Uehara rushing towards her!

"Very fast!"

Konan's paper clone quickly stopped the downward barrage of Paper Rain. Countless sheets of paper overlapped to form a paper spear, shooting towards Uehara's direction!

However, Uehara Naraka's movements in the air were surprisingly agile, almost no different from being on the ground. He dodged the paper spear with just a sidestep.

"Can his body be this agile even in the air?"

The woman's brow first furrowed tightly, then relaxed, "This little fellow Naraka... can't be underestimated either!"

Bang!

The two finally clashed at close range!

But Uehara's taijutsu was somewhat poor. Even though he could move freely in the air, he couldn't defeat Konan in hand-to-hand combat!

This couldn't be helped...

His Life Energy was only over 600. Life Energy was linked to his stamina, strength, and speed. Judging purely from the numbers, it was roughly only at the Chunin level.

But that didn't matter. As long as he got close to Konan, the battle would be over, right? The thundercloud storm was already gathering around him!

"Lightning Release: Slicing Maelstrom!"

The thundercloud storm continuously dropped lightning bolts, shredding the paper clone in front of him into individual sheets. Some sheets even had electricity coursing over them. This scene surprised Uehara.

Only the paper sheets stained with water showed electricity! But these wet papers acted as conductors, making them almost impossible to destroy with lightning...

"Konan-sensei, did you soak the paper clone in water beforehand?"

"Correct."

Konan nodded, not denying it, "If I didn't do this, my paper clone would have difficulty resisting Fire Release ninjutsu..."

"..."

Uehara Naraka helplessly facepalmed. Konan actually used soaked paper to conduct lightning...

Countless paper sheets flew to the other side and reformed Konan's body. She spoke softly, "Naraka, besides sticky oil, it's very difficult for other techniques to completely destroy my paper clone... If you don't have another way, you won't be allowed to participate in that dangerous mission."

"Understood. Then I can only use another secret technique!"

The boy nodded, looking at Konan with a serious face, forming messy hand seals. He had always been Uehara 'Symbolic Seals' Naraka... because his skills were instant-cast; the seals were just a means of deception.

Watching this, Konan felt a sense of importance inwardly.

However, she didn't stop Uehara's actions either. A spar between master and disciple should allow the disciple to demonstrate their true strength, right?

Besides, Konan also wanted to see what powerful ninjutsu this disciple, who usually just clapped his hands to get what he wanted, would release when suddenly forming seals so seriously.

"Life Form Disintegration Ray!"

After finishing the messy hand seals, Uehara Naraka finally brought his palms together abruptly, his eyes fiercely locking onto Konan's paper clone!

A surge of purple energy instantly burst forth!

Attacked by the purple energy, Konan's paper clone didn't even have time to split again; it instantly vanished into smoke, reduced to nothingness!

At the same time, another 'ding' sounded in Uehara Naraka's brain, and another strange side quest was completed...

Mission Complete: Defeat Akatsuki's Angel Konan once (1/1), Reward: Angel Skill: Intervention.

(End of Chapter)