Avatar

"So, his strength is already comparable to a High Ninja's?"

Before the expressionless Third Mizukage, Ito Rei nodded as she ate dango.

The Third Mizukage nodded, rose to his feet, and walked to the window. "Tell me what you think."

At that, Ito Rei hurriedly swallowed the food in her mouth, straightened up, and reported.

"Although I lost to him in the sparring match and also lost our subsequent ninjutsu clash, in actual combat, I could kill him outright."

Hearing Ito Rei's slightly unconvinced, half-explanatory words, the Third Mizukage shook his head and repeated himself.

"I asked for your opinion."

Ito Rei fell silent for a moment before answering.

"I don't think he's suited for the assassination unit!"

"His mobility is poor, and he lacks strength. Though that's partly due to his age, he's proficient in Water Style Ninjutsu, and his fighting style is broad and forceful. I think he's better suited for the front lines!"

"His Chakra reserves aren't great either," the Water Shadow added with a nod.

"He's still young. At twelve, he already surpasses most Mid Ninjas, and in some respects, he's even reached High Ninja level. Not to mention..."

Her tone sharpened before softening. "To reach that level all alone, one can imagine what he's been through..."

The Third Mizukage quietly watched Ito Rei.

His disciple had originally been a genius of the assassination unit, but her heart was simply too soft... In the end, she had chosen to become his assistant.

So be it.

But Rimuru...

Not only was he proficient in Water Style, but according to his own report, he also possessed a talent for Lightning Style. Yet he had never learned any Lightning Style techniques because his father only knew Water Style, so he had never come into contact with Lightning Style.

His talent was obvious. His aptitude for ninjutsu was truly one in ten thousand.

As for taijutsu, that could be trained gradually.

It was just that his background was rather murky, and his identity could not be verified.

But that was not a problem. He had spent his life at his teacher's side, right up until his teacher died in battle. He had tried countless times to practice his teacher's Water Gun Technique, but had never succeeded.

He knew very well that the Water Transformation Technique, Water Gun Technique, and Great Water Arm Technique were less secret techniques than Kekkei Genkai. If not for the fact that all three were Water Style techniques without any special properties, and required acquired training rather than awakening alongside one's bloodline, how could they have been classified as secret techniques?

After all, just as the Senju Clan's cells possessed vitality, the Hozuki Clan's unique cells could dissolve in water after being activated by Chakra!

That was the foundation of those secret techniques.

So when it came to identity, taken seriously, it meant his origins could not be proven. Taken lightly, the Water Shadow could simply determine that he belonged to the Hozuki Clan!

As for whether the Hozuki Clan would acknowledge him...

With the reputation of his teacher, Hozuki Gengetsu...

Teacher, if you were still here, you would surely be delighted that the Hozuki Clan had such a young little fellow, wouldn't you?

What his teacher loved most was seeing the younger generation grow...

Thinking of this, his headache returned. During the afternoon's test, Ito Rei had asked Jiang Rui what duty he wished to fulfill in the future, and Jiang Rui had answered, "I heard Mist has a unit directly under the Water Shadow."

What Jiang Rui had meant was the Mizukage Direct Mobile Unit.

But he had not realized that at this time, both the Anbu and the Mobile Unit answered directly to the Water Shadow. Moreover, the Mobile Unit was practically a Guard unit and had very few members.

Thus, his teacher and senior sister had immediately understood it as the Anbu—the assassination and special tactics unit!

Everyone else fought tooth and nail to get into the Security Force!

Those who could not make it would become Mission Ninjas in the Mission Department.

There truly were not many who volunteered for the Anbu...

Of course, it was also possible that his disciple only knew of that one unit and had taken an interest in it after hearing that it was directly under his teacher.

"Go rest," the Third Mizukage said after pondering for a moment.

Everything could wait until the mission ended in a few days before a decision was made.

And Jiang Rui?

He was studying the Water Gun Technique and Water Clone.

He was researching the Water Gun Technique because he remembered that the Second Mizukage could use this move without making it explode, granting it only extraordinary penetrating power and speed.

Impossible to guard against!

It could also be combined with steam explosions...

After countless experiments and failures, he tried it once with Great Sage and succeeded...

This made Jiang Rui realize that his magic control was truly... impossibly weak.

Giving up in frustration, he tossed the Water Gun Technique aside and created a Water Clone.

The two Jiangs Rui stared at each other.

The clone possessed independent consciousness, but he could indeed reclaim that consciousness whenever he wished. It was a very strange feeling.

Moreover, Water Clones could relay information just like Shadow Clones. They could not be used for cheat-like training as Shadow Clones could, but the original body could freely allocate any amount of Chakra to them, whereas Shadow Clones split it evenly.

Oh... the clone did not have Great Sage...

Suddenly, the clone's combat power felt much weaker.

"An illusion!"

So that meant I was still very strong?

"After rigorous deduction, a clone without Great Sage possesses no combat power whatsoever."

Tch...

No getting mad. Great Sage is me, and I am Great Sage...

So? Was the Water Clone just for show, useful only as bait?

But what if?

An idea struck Jiang Rui. He extended his hand... turning it into a blue ball of liquid water, which he shoved straight into the Water Clone.

All at once, he felt that he could control the clone.

Oh-ho!

This was interesting!

It felt like multitasking, like playing a game from two viewpoints.

Then...

Great Sage, control the clone for a moment?

"Understood."

Then Jiang Rui saw the formerly expressionless clone's lips curl upward.

It actually smiled better than he did?!

Oh-ho!

Amazing!

Great Sage, activate combat mode.

The clone's eyes instantly turned crimson.

The original body too.

Then, from the clone's perspective, Jiang Rui saw his original body's eyes turn entirely crimson as well.

After they exchanged a few blows, Jiang Rui discovered that neither side's combat techniques had weakened in the slightest.

Not bad. As expected of Great Sage—its multithreaded control was seriously impressive!

Only then did Great Sage's voice arrive.

"Skill successfully developed."

"Talent: Split acquired! Water Clone derivative skill: Avatar acquired!"

Split: Can freely split one's body into different individuals, granting them different levels of strength while weakening the original body. Full strength can be restored through fusion.

Avatar: Can combine Split and clones to create another self. After the Avatar dies, it can be fused back into the original body.

So this Sequence thing really was a seed of power, entirely dependent on development?!

Avatar...

Jiang Rui looked at his other self, his thoughts beginning to stir.

For some reason, an image surfaced in his mind: after several Heroes had cleared out all the minor monsters, their corpses slowly fused together, and a gigantic Slime boss appeared!!!

Uh... but no matter how he looked at it, Split and Avatar were divine skills!

Most interestingly, the original body could remain very, very weak while sending out a powerful Avatar to stir up trouble. However, if the Avatar died, he would have to personally recover that portion of his body that had split off.

Jiang Rui grinned happily and looked outside. It was already late at night. Mm, time to sleep!

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