Silent Killing

Basically, once within a three-kilometer range, he could use the Ultrasonic Radar Technique to accurately identify targets, achieving a level of perception and insight comparable to the Byakugan.

Within two hundred meters, it was entirely his domain of absolute perception, a 360-degree, all-time control over the battlefield's rhythm. The effectiveness of his tactics was evident in his performance when intercepting two Sand Ninja squads recently.

Conventional ninja battles often revolved around intelligence, fighting spirit, and the quality of weapons and supplies, especially intelligence.

Ninjas were typically glass cannons with high attack and low defense. Once at a complete disadvantage in terms of intelligence, unless the power gap was too vast, they were essentially just waiting to die.

The fact that the Raikage's Village and Kirigakure desperately sought a pair of Byakugan showed just how crucial intelligence and perception were.

"This combat style is good, but it's far too expensive and not a long-term solution. I need to master the Water Release: Mist Technique as soon as possible."

Umino Sasuke shook his head, rejecting the idea of making this combat style conventional.

By anticipating enemies and using traps and Tool Manipulation against them, his combat power was almost equivalent to that of a Jonin specializing in Tool Manipulation. However, this combat style, while seemingly good, had a fatal flaw.

It was extremely draining on weapons and supplies.

A major battle could cost anywhere from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands, or even millions of Ryo.

He wasn't a rich second-generation like Tenten; how could he afford to burn through so much?

Compared to the meager earnings from missions, a major battle was essentially him subsidizing Konoha.

In the past six months of patrol missions, he had only engaged with Sand Ninja a few times. If it weren't for Tejudo's assistance, he would likely be heavily in debt. If Water Bat No. 7 were to be noticed by Sunagakure and its antidote deciphered, cutting off his cash flow, his financial problems would undoubtedly worsen.

Continuing to use this combat style was too costly, and relying on Tejudo's weapons and supplies wasn't a sustainable solution.

Using them in a moment of crisis was understandable, but doing so in normal circumstances, even if Tejudo didn't mind, his family might.

The Tejudo family was prosperous, and to protect their legacy, many of their disciples had given up their leisurely lives to become ninja on the front lines.

It was better to have enough than to have inequality.

The Tejudo family had already invested a great deal of effort for Tejudo, who was fighting abroad. Weapons and supplies like the Iron Prison Gate, specially made Fuma Shuriken from the Land of Artisans, and Explosive Tags were continuously sent to Tejudo from the rear.

The Double Iron Prison Gate alone cost several million Ryo, equivalent to the reward for several S-rank missions.

The Tejudo family was wealthy, but Tejudo wasn't the only one fighting on the battlefield; there were limits to favoritism.

Although the Tejudo family had boasted that the Multi-Iron Prison Gate, a defensive Ninjutsu he taught them, was worth an A-rank Ninjutsu, and that he owed them nearly ten million Ryo, allowing them to use any weapons and supplies they wished.

However, Tejudo was his subordinate, even a half-disciple. There was no reason to charge a disciple for teaching them Ninjutsu.

Of course, compared to life, face was worthless.

In a true crisis, no one would care about saving face, and Tejudo's weapons and supplies would be used when needed.

The reason he didn't want to continue using this combat style was simply that he didn't want to be confined to the framework of Tool Manipulation.

After all, Tool Manipulation had a low ceiling unless one could master Orochimaru's core technology or Nagato's Asura Path puppets.

"In times of crisis, I'll use Tool Manipulation, but for regular combat, it's still the Silent Killing Technique."

The tactical model combining Water Release: Mist Technique and Ultrasonic Radar Technique was almost identical in effect to Momochi Zabuza's Silent Killing Technique.

Coupled with Water Release: Mist Body Flicker, it would be even more formidable.

The cost-effectiveness of the Silent Killing Technique was far superior to Tool Manipulation, costing almost nothing.

He had been forced to subsidize Konoha with his own money when fighting for them previously.

Who ever heard of someone paying to fight for others?

As such, the more cost-effective tactical model shifted to Water Release: Mist Technique and Water Release: Mist Body Flicker.

Coincidentally, he had recently developed the Infrasonic Radar Technique, extending his perception range to five kilometers, eliminating the fear of Sand Ninja ambushes and resolving security issues for patrol zones, allowing him to focus on cultivation with peace of mind.

The cultivation of Water Release: Mist Technique and Water Release: Mist Body Flicker, both D-rank Water Release Ninjutsu, was not difficult and they were quickly mastered.

After all, they were just D-rank Water Release Ninjutsu. With his prior experience in cultivating the C-rank Water Release: Water Prison Technique, he quickly and easily learned these two D-rank Ninjutsu.

"A radius of thirty meters is still too small. A single Body Flicker Technique can basically move one out of the Mist Technique's effective range."

Umino Sasuke shook his head, clearly dissatisfied with the effective range of the Water Release: Mist Technique.

Although a thirty-meter radius was already considerable, and many elite Chunin from Kirigakure might not even achieve such a level, for practical combat, a hundred meters would be more useful.

After all, his absolute perception domain with the Ultrasonic Radar Technique had already reached two hundred meters.

It would be best if the effective range of the Water Release: Mist Technique was also at this distance to maximize his perceptual advantage.

"The Water Release: Mist Technique can be gradually improved with effort; I believe its range can be significantly increased later. But the Water Release: Mist Body Flicker is a bit tricky."

The limiting factors for the Water Release: Mist Technique were primarily proficiency and Chakra quantity. Through continuous practice and increasing Chakra reserves, its effective range could indeed be expanded.

However, Water Release: Mist Body Flicker, in addition to requiring Water Release talent, also had extremely high demands on Taijutsu.

In terms of Taijutsu, his foundation was not weak; in fact, it was significantly stronger than that of an average Chunin. Especially with the enhancement of good Chakra control, he could even suppress most elite Konoha Chunin in Taijutsu.

Unfortunately, this body, having originated from an ordinary civilian family and already being an adult, had limited potential for major breakthroughs in physical functions. Furthermore, consuming large quantities of Soldier Pills previously had already pushed this body's potential to its limit.

Of course, it couldn't be said that this body was completely useless in terms of Taijutsu. The human body was a treasure trove with infinite potential. As long as he continued to cultivate diligently and explore, he could still slowly improve. But this required a significant investment of time and energy, as well as strong physical recovery capabilities.

With his current Taijutsu foundation, the Water Release: Mist Body Flicker he used was only eighty percent faster than the basic Body Flicker Technique.

While seemingly very fast, it was still leagues behind the Water Release: Mist Body Flicker demonstrated by Momochi Zabuza.

With such a speed, he could easily slit the throats of Chunin and effectively counter the speed of most Special Jonin.

However, when facing a Jonin, it was still somewhat lacking.