Sparring (Part 2)

Seiji's expression suddenly turned serious as Chakra began flowing rapidly through his body.

"Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"

The Chakra in the air churned violently. Under Seiji's control, vast quantities of moisture gathered together, forming a torrent of water large enough to fill a small lake as it surged toward Chino and Yagura.

"Yagura! Defend!" Chino shouted when she saw the scale of the technique.

Chino swiftly moved to Yagura's side, and the two formed hand seals in unison.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

The Water Formation Wall they released together successfully canceled out the impact of the Water Surge Wave, but the two of them were swept into the center of the artificial lake in the courtyard.

Once the curtain of water raised by the collision of ninjutsu dispersed, Chino and Yagura, standing on the lake's surface, had lost track of Seiji.

"Yagura, sense him, quickly!" Chino urged. There was no need to think about it—Seiji, now hidden from sight, was definitely looking for a chance to ambush them.

"Not good! He's underwater!" Yagura's face changed drastically when he sensed Seiji's Chakra signature.

Before Yagura had even finished speaking, a hand shot up from beneath the water and dragged him straight under. Before he could resist, Seiji's Water Clone unleashed the ninjutsu it had prepared beforehand.

"Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"

A spherical prison swiftly enveloped Yagura. Seiji's Water Clone inserted one hand into the Water Prison, using the Chakra within to suppress Yagura so thoroughly that he could not move.

"Got one!" Seiji said.

Meanwhile, another Water Clone charged toward Chino on the surface. Chino used Great Water Arm again, throwing a heavy punch at the clone. The Water Clone could not withstand the blow and instantly dispersed, but Seiji manipulated it from the side, turning it into a Water Prison that attempted to envelop Chino.

Chino's heart leaped with joy when she saw the Water Prison Technique. She hurriedly liquefied her body and escaped, but she had not considered why Seiji would still use the Water Prison Technique against her when he knew she could turn her body into water.

"Big Sister Chino, you've lost!" At that moment, a Bone Blade silently rested against Chino's neck just as she escaped the Water Prison Technique, while Seiji's voice came from behind her.

So the Water Prison Technique just now had merely been a feint—the true killing move came afterward. Knowing how much power Shikotsumyaku could unleash at close range, Chino did not struggle further and decisively admitted defeat.

"Seiji, you really are strong. Even Yagura and I together weren't your match," Chino praised. She knew Seiji had yet to use many techniques related to Shikotsumyaku.

"You're amazing too, Big Sister Chino. You really gave me quite a lesson today!" Looking back on Chino's tactics, Seiji found them truly eye-opening. At the same time, he gained a deeper understanding of battles between ninja.

The memories he had gained were ultimately only memories. Moreover, the Otsutsuki Clan lagged far behind the Ninja World in both the application of techniques and tactical ability. Seiji realized that only by tempering himself through constant battle and gradually turning the combat experience he had acquired into instinct could he be considered truly strong.

As Seiji and Chino chatted, they had already unconsciously forgotten a certain green-haired little brother who was still trapped in a Water Prison beneath the lake.

Only after quite a while did Seiji remember Yagura. He quickly dispelled the Water Prison Technique and released him.

Trapped underwater and unable to sense the outside world, Yagura had no idea that his beloved brother and sister had just forgotten all about him. He thought the battle had only just ended.

Still, Yagura knew that from the moment he had been caught, his and Chino's joint effort had entered a countdown to defeat. So he did not foolishly ask who had won.

Seiji and Chino gave Yagura awkward smiles, each silently apologizing for having cast him from their minds.

"That took a lot of Chakra! Let's go out for a bit, then get something to eat! I know a grilled fish restaurant that opened in the village recently. I heard it's incredibly good—you have to line up every day at mealtime if you want to eat there," Yagura suggested.

After indulging lavishly in the capital of the Land of Water, Seiji—who in his previous life had been lonely and poor, with little spare money and few chances to eat good food—was gradually becoming a foodie. At the mention of food, and especially delicious grilled fish, his eyes lit up, and he wore the expression of a seasoned gourmand.

Chino, who had also heard there would be good food, happily agreed.

The three restored some Chakra, changed into fresh clothes from their respective Storage Scrolls, and then left Seiji's home together.

Kirigakure, Matsukawa Grilled Fish Restaurant.

Having arrived early enough to avoid the queue, Seiji, Yagura, and Chino sat in a private room, patiently awaiting their meal.

They did not have to wait long before the owner, Matsukawa Ryuhei, personally carried the grilled fish into the room.

"Esteemed ninja, please enjoy! Thank you for visiting my humble establishment." Kirigakure was a village ruled by ninja, so whenever ninja came to eat grilled fish, Matsukawa Ryuhei personally attended to them.

After thanking the owner, the three caught the rich fragrance filling the air, and their appetites were instantly whetted.

"Let's eat!" the three shouted in unison.

Seiji impatiently picked up a piece of fish and put it into his mouth.

The grilled fish skin was charred, crisp, and delicious, seeming to burst into flame on his tongue, while the flesh retained its natural tenderness and juiciness. As the delicate fish meat and crispy skin melded perfectly in his mouth, a sharp gleam flashed through Seiji's eyes.

The fresh sweetness of the fish intertwined with the rich flavor of the spices. It was so delicious that words could hardly describe it.

The fish gleamed a golden hue, and its aroma was utterly unforgettable. Paired with the distinctive sauce, its flavors became even more layered—the fish's freshness and the seasonings' fragrance blending perfectly together, intoxicating the senses. Every bite carried a different depth of flavor, leaving one completely immersed in it.