"Puff, puff..."
After piercing through the earthen wall's defenses, the weakened wind blades struck the enormous mass of water, carving a huge gash into it.
The mass of water let out a loud "glug glug" sound, like someone blowing bubbles through a straw in a glass of water...
But that was its limit.
What did it matter to a mass of water how many cuts were made in it?
The water mass splashed about, though its movements looked more like swimming...
The wind blades that entered its body vanished completely after a few ripples.
A large string of harmless bubbles rose from within it and burst away with popping sounds.
Only then did Nawaki get a clear look at what the huge mass of water looked like.
It was not merely a "mass of water"; it seemed to have a vaguely defined little head.
Its two enormous arms, formed from flowing water, wore a pair of bracers gleaming with an inexplicable light. Its lower body was supported entirely by constantly flowing water.
"An elemental creature that uses bracers engraved with magical runes as its skeleton, Arcane-created binding force as its skin, water flowing through an Arcane field as its blood, and water spirits summoned from other planes as its soul."
That was how The Book of Medivh described the casting principles behind Summoning: Water Elemental.
By studying the Enchantment Technique, Satoru had successfully crafted a pair of enchanted bracers before the mission began, but he had no way to find water spirits to serve as souls.
After all, this was not Azeroth. There were no four great elemental planes of earth, water, fire, and wind, nor were there elemental spirits or Elemental Lords.
Still, that was not a problem. Just like Shadow Clones, advanced Clone Techniques could possess self-awareness.
Therefore, with a few modifications based on ninjutsu, the Shinobi World version of "Summoning: Water Elemental" was complete.
"Glug glug glug..."
"Hmm... it hasn't learned Shadow Clone or Water Clone yet, so the little thing's intelligence is somewhat low. Still, it's enough for now."
Satoru felt a little regretful. There had not been enough time. Otherwise, once he learned the Rank B Shadow Clone, the Water Elemental could directly function as his clone.
This thing was far more useful than a Water Clone. It did not require control from the original body, could attack independently, and did not have to divide Chakra equally like a Shadow Clone.
Of course, it also lacked the ability of a Shadow Clone to send its memories back after dispersing. But as a combat pet, that did not interfere with him using Clone Techniques himself.
"Wow! Satoru, how did you make such a huge thing? Is this the 'good stuff' you mentioned before?!"
Nawaki perked up. Satoru's Water Release ninjutsu looked so cool. Could he learn it too?
"Hmm... if I said I forgot to bring a cup when using the Water Creation Technique, would you believe me?"
Satoru shrugged and looked toward the afro-haired chunin.
"Nawaki, don't relax... the enemy isn't down yet!"
"Got it!"
Nawaki rapidly formed hand seals. The other man's chakra pathways were damaged, and he had forcibly used a Rank B Ninjutsu. He was already at the end of his rope.
"Leave it to me! Earth Release: Rock Pillar Spear!"
The afro-haired chunin was struggling to catch his breath when he sensed movement beneath his feet. He leaped away with all his strength and laughed angrily.
"Bastard! Even injured, I'm not going to be hit by a technique like this!"
"Whoosh—!"
"Smack!"
"Ah!!"
The afro-haired chunin screamed in midair as a large water bullet shot toward him at high speed, striking him and sending him flying.
"Hey, you didn't think such a huge Water Elemental was just here for decoration, did you?"
Satoru dug at his ear. The water bullets fired by the Water Elemental were not only huge, but thanks to Arcane Power, their striking force was no weaker than an ordinary Rank C Ninjutsu.
"Earth Release: Rock Pillar Spear!"
This time, the afro-haired chunin was nearly unconscious and could no longer control where he landed. He was struck head-on by Nawaki's ninjutsu.
A massive stone pillar pierced through his chest. The afro-haired chunin was killed by a "mere genin."
Nawaki bared his teeth. It was his first time killing someone.
"I... Satoru... my legs are a little weak..."
Nawaki tried to step forward, only to collapse to the ground with a thud.
For this innocent, sunny young man, killing someone for the first time was apparently a little too intense.
Although killing enemies should have been the most natural thing in the world for a ninja, Nawaki was only twelve years old.
Seeing the blood spraying from the enemy, Satoru could not help covering his forehead.
Compared with Nawaki, a child who had lived for only twelve years, he was even less accustomed to seeing dead people.
Within his mental space, The Book of Medivh gently turned its pages, its soft Arcane radiance soothing Satoru's mind.
Fortunately, Satoru had not killed that man himself.
The burly chunin, who had been disoriented by a breath of dragon fire and then knocked down by a blow from Satoru, was only seriously injured.
"Phew... Nawaki, it's my first time seeing someone bleed that much too... We'll have to get used to it eventually."
The purple Arcane glow in his eyes faded. Satoru let out a long breath, walked over to Nawaki, and pulled him to his feet.
"If he hadn't died, maybe you would have."
"Let's go... the remaining one can still cause Sunagakure some trouble—at the very least, they'll have to spare someone to take care of him."
The Water Elemental swam over with a glugging sound. Satoru waved a hand, and a thin stream of water separated from its body and flew toward Nawaki.
"Open your mouth."
Nawaki opened his mouth blankly. The stream flowed into it, sweet and refreshing...
"Mmm... it tastes amazing!"
Smacking his lips, Nawaki recovered his spirits and cast aside the unease and discomfort of killing someone.
Children in the Shinobi World really did have astonishingly strong adaptability in this regard.
"Can I learn that technique? It looks so cool, and it's really useful too!"
"...Wait until you're stronger. It's difficult even among Rank B techniques, and it requires tools as well."
With Konoha's higher-ups officially backing him, Satoru continuing to develop ninjutsu was no longer a problem.
At present, Konoha did not yet have a monstrous genius like the future Kakashi, who became a jonin at twelve and created the Rank A Ninjutsu Chidori.
Without his prior arrangements, creating so many special techniques would already have made Satoru an "overpowered anomaly."
"Teacher Orochimaru's side should already have... huh?"
Satoru's expression changed. He shoved Nawaki away.
"Run!"
"Blink!"
"Rumble—!!"
A series of emerald-green spheres crashed into the spot where Satoru and Nawaki had just been standing, shredding the ground beyond recognition!
"Damn it!"
Satoru appeared beside the still-shaken Nawaki. In that instant, he had felt The Book of Medivh flash within his mental space. Someone had been casting Genjutsu on them!
"What happened?!"
Holding a kunai, Nawaki nervously searched in every direction, but he could not find the enemy at all.
"That power just now... was that a Rank B Ninjutsu?!"
"That's right... Rank B Ninjutsu, Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!"
Satoru gripped his long staff and had already summoned Mage Eye, yet he still could not locate the enemy.
"Someone was casting Genjutsu on us just now, but I noticed it. He immediately switched to ninjutsu and tried to blast us to death!"
Cold sweat ran down Satoru's temples—this was the first time they had faced an assassination attempt head-on!
"Interesting... He should be a jonin, right? Even Teacher Orochimaru couldn't draw him away?!"
PS: The number of readers following along is still dropping. Please give me some encouragement with bookmarks, recommendations, and the like...
It'll be troublesome if the recommendation ends.
(The Madoka Goddess is watching me...)
Starting tomorrow, I'll update separately at noon and in the evening. Still four updates a day, and I'll fast-forward through this part.
That's sincere enough, right!!!
Before you continue