As Ishikawa Tatsuya and Jiang Rui passed each other, Ishikawa Tatsuya lashed out with a kick. When he looked up, he saw the cunning gleam in the other's eyes.
Damn it!
His heart sank as he recalled part of the other party's intelligence.
The Hozuki Clan. The Water Transformation Technique.
Sure enough, the instant his kick connected, it felt as though he had stepped into water, his leg sinking straight in.
Meanwhile, Karatachi Yagura finally reacted. A sharp whistling sound cut through the air as his staff came swinging in.
Ito Rei arrived a moment later. The instant she saw Jiang Rui holding both of them back, she immediately made her judgment—take down Karatachi Yagura first!
In that instant, Jiang Rui, who was keeping Ishikawa Tatsuya occupied, did not choose the fastest and most ideal method of punching him away.
The reason was simple: his strength was only 1.6.
Yes, Jiang Rui seriously doubted whether he could even hurt the guy with a punch...
So he chose the simplest method!
Hand seals!
At close range—Water Release: Water冲波!
As Ishikawa Tatsuya braced himself to take a heavy punch head-on, he rapidly formed hand seals in secret.
Water Clone, Water Substitute!
What made it even more interesting was that after their clash, Ishikawa Tatsuya's substitute immediately rushed toward Ito Rei without another word, intending to ambush her and rescue the already-kicked-away Karatachi Yagura. Meanwhile, the massive torrent Jiang Rui had prepared followed straight after him toward Ito Rei!
When I go crazy, I'll hit even my own teammates!!
Seeing this, Ito Rei finally stopped relying solely on taijutsu and swiftly planted both hands on the ground!
Earth Release: Earth Wall!
Oh-ho! So Ito Rei had an earth nature!
Jiang Rui froze. Then a question came to mind.
Why would the Third Mizukage take in an earth-nature student?
Even if she was a genius, he should have found her an Earth Release teacher.
Generally speaking, most Mist ninja had wind and water natures. Earth and fire were much rarer. No wonder she rarely used ninjutsu...
As the water gradually receded, Ito Rei and Ishikawa Tatsuya behind the earthen wall did not continue fighting.
Ishikawa Tatsuya glanced at the substitute that had turned into water beside him, then at "Jiang Rui," his face full of surprise. "When did you use a clone?"
"At the beginning." Jiang Rui honestly walked over from afar, making the spectators' eyes practically pop out of their heads.
He found the spot where the other "Jiang Rui" had dissolved, quietly absorbed the slightly differently colored clump of mud in the water back into his body, and answered, "I was sleeping at home the whole time."
Ito Rei: "???"
She raised a brow in dissatisfaction. "You started training with a clone from the very beginning?!"
"Yep."
Jiang Rui did not explain that he was also controlling the Avatar himself. He was exhausted, okay?!
"A Water Clone can actually pass for the real thing?" Ishikawa Tatsuya looked at Jiang Rui with great interest. Since this was only a spar, he and Ito Rei had felt too embarrassed to go all out and bully them. Yet Rimuru before them had given them quite a few surprises.
Compared to him, Yagura had probably suffered quite a blow, hadn't he?
"I'm starting to believe you're the Water Release genius everyone talks about. But Ru-chan..."
"It's Rimuru!" Jiang Rui retorted. He ignored him after that and ran over to the dazed Karatachi Yagura, pinching his little cheek.
Wow, was this guy really a boy?!
He poked him again.
He really looked just like a girl—though so did Jiang Rui himself.
"What are you doing?!" Karatachi Yagura clearly felt that his wounded pride had been insulted. Ever since the fight began, he had not had a single standout moment.
It dealt him a severe blow and sent him into a bout of self-doubt.
What the heck!
This was really the future Tyrant?
Jiang Rui smiled and held out his hand.
"Hello, I'm Rimuru. Uh, Hozuki Rimuru!"
Karatachi Yagura was startled. He looked up at Jiang Rui: a very cute blue-haired girl, with tiny stars seeming to glimmer in her golden eyes.
He did not take the hand Jiang Rui offered. Instead, he stood up on his own and said, "Karatachi Yagura."
"Mm!" Jiang Rui nodded. He did not seem embarrassed at all as he withdrew his hand and slipped it into his pocket. Looking at Ishikawa Tatsuya, he asked, "Are we continuing?"
Damn it, he had not even managed to punch him.
This guy's various Water Substitutes were way too fast, okay?!
"Forget it. We concede." Ishikawa Tatsuya thought for a moment. Sparring was not a fight to the death, after all. "Your taijutsu isn't bad either, but your speed and strength limit how much you can bring out in that area."
His speed could actually be compensated for with the Swift Feather skill. It was just that his body felt a little too light after activating it.
Do not ask how he knew. Yesterday, Ito Rei had sent him flying over twenty meters with one slap and nearly scared herself to death.
"Starting tomorrow, we're increasing your taijutsu training."
Ito Rei gave a cold snort and said coolly.
???
Now that was just wrong!
Was it really necessary just because he had hidden the fact that he was using a clone?!
Tomorrow, he was still going to use a clone!!
"Your hand seal speed is also a problem." Ishikawa Tatsuya twisted the knife further.
"Got it! I'll practice hand seals!" Jiang Rui declared decisively. He grabbed Karatachi Yagura, then said while the boy stared at him in confusion, "We'll train together tomorrow!"
Ito Rei scratched her delicate chin, her face full of teasing. "Don't tell me you've fallen for Yagura? He's a boy, you know."
Jiang Rui showed no reaction. He merely gave Ito Rei a bland glance and asked in an irritating tone, "Rei-chan, are you jealous?"
Tsk, tsk.
Ishikawa Tatsuya stood nearby with a smile, watching the two beautiful figures grappling with each other.
What a fine cat-and-dog fight!
At the edge of the training ground, the Mizukage stood there. He removed his conical hat, nodded slightly, and asked, "Genji, are there any more problems?"
Beside him, a middle-aged man in his thirties shook his head. "A genius... and from the Hozuki Clan... sigh!"
Not a ripple disturbed the Third Mizukage's expression. Perhaps he himself had not noticed that, for someone as naturally indifferent as him, his actions over these past two days had become somewhat more urgent.
Genji, an elder who had risen to power during the Second Mizukage's era, knew all too clearly just how deep the Third Mizukage's feelings were for the name Hozuki.
"It's a pity that the ninja sword scroll has already been designated for Kaguya Tsuki to safeguard in this generation."
"Mm." The Third Mizukage naturally understood Genji's meaning. Even if Rimuru possessed Hozuki Clan blood, it could not change which faction he belonged to. Kaguya Tsuki's branch had now risen to power, and naturally would not allow others to seize the status they had already obtained.
We can acknowledge his identity, but what has already been given to us cannot be taken back... that was all it meant.
Especially when he was a genius?
If they accepted him back into the clan, who would become clan head in a dozen or so years?
The current decision-makers of the Hozuki Clan were no longer the Second Mizukage, who had hoped each new generation would surpass the last.
"Observe him for a while," the elder said. "If there are no problems, let him join the direct forces or the Anbu."
He paused and did not continue on that subject. Instead, he changed the topic. "Konoha has been making major moves lately. They're already fighting on three fronts."
"I know." The Third Mizukage nodded slightly. "Although Konoha's rear is currently vulnerable, they have also planted a large number of hidden sentries. If we make even a small move, Konoha will be on guard."
"Once they are deeply bogged down in Amegakure's mire..." Genji said unhurriedly, "we can first dispatch small units into their territory to scout."
"The Seven Ninja Swordsmen should draw their blades."
"Very well."
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