Cruel Battle

Ever since the system announced the mission to deal with Genin using only potions, Zhou Duan had been preparing. He utilized the extremely resilient leg muscles of a Toad and various muscle-hardening medicinal ingredients to create a perfectly balanced potion. This potion was then injected into the Toad's body, resulting in a Toad whose head and neck possessed extreme extensibility, incredible physical hardness, and immense impact force!

This Toad's attack method was to continuously extend its head at extreme speed like a cannonball, then retract it just as quickly. Such swift attacks were like a Gatling gun, crushing enemies with immense impact and dense, rapid assaults!

Zhou Duan had also carefully considered the user of the potion. Toads too small in size couldn't withstand the dosage, while those too large would affect the speed of their head's extension and retraction. Furthermore, considering the Toad's slow movement speed disadvantage, Zhou Duan had Shui Jian use the potion-modified, retractable legs to firmly attach himself to his body. As for the attachment point, considering the waist is the focal point of all body power and the Toad's shell could protect the ninja's vital areas, Zhou Duan had Shui Jian attach directly to his waist. And with this setup...

In the center of the Leaf Village school's training ground, a ninja named Moshang Shizhen was frantically and miserably dodging enemy attacks. He had used a large amount of potions with unknown side effects to open the first gate of the Eight Inner Gates, gaining Chunin-level speed. However, under the enemy's assault, it all turned to naught, like a joke. He endured the enemy's attacks with humiliation!

His efforts in opening the first gate of the Eight Inner Gates, his resolve to use explosive tags all over his body for a mutual destruction, had all been shattered amidst the sky-high shadows!

"This... this..."

Facing the scene before him, he was completely at a loss. On one hand, he really didn't want this sight to pollute his eyes and challenge his worldview. On the other hand, Moshang Shizhen hadn't surrendered yet, so the match had to continue!

"Hahaha, wahahaha..."

The Toad named Shui Jian let out a wild laugh. Its originally shy and timid personality had completely changed after the potion injection during combat:

"Moshang Shizhen, right? Weren't you very arrogant? A Genin, forced to take forbidden medicine and use forbidden jutsu, even covering himself in explosive tags by an ungraduated student. Aren't you ashamed?"

"For the hatred in my heart, no matter how you treat me, I will not give up!"

"Oh, you dare to be so arrogant in front of me? Believe it or not, I'll beat you until you doubt your life?"

"Come on, I'm not afraid of you. Attack me to your heart's content. I will not surrender to you!"

"My, my, I've been hitting you for so long, and you still haven't surrendered? It seems you really enjoy being beaten like this!"

"What are you kidding me? Even if my body is subjected to merciless whipping, I will still complete my revenge!"

"Crack!"

A slight cracking sound was heard. It was the Third Hokage, in extreme anger, unconsciously crushing his beloved pipe. His face, as black as the bottom of a pot, could no longer tolerate this farce. He roared at the top of his lungs:

"Enough! Zhou Duan wins this match. Both of you, stop it right now!"

The Third Hokage's words acted like a pause button. Zhou Duan immediately stopped attacking. However, while Zhou Duan stopped, Moshang Shizhen became relentless:

"Unfair, this is unfair! Third Hokage, I haven't lost yet. I still have the strength to fight. I am not satisfied with this result!"

"Hmm? You're not satisfied?"

The prolonged war stalemate, the news of heavy ninja casualties on the battlefield, had left the Third Hokage exhausted. He had wanted to relax by watching the Genin graduation exams, but he never expected to encounter such a ridiculous fight right from the start. The Third Hokage wasn't unaware of Zhou Duan's unreliability, but for a proper match to turn into this state, even someone with the Third Hokage's good temper couldn't stand it. At this moment, looking at Moshang Shizhen's disgraceful appearance, the terrifying killing intent accumulated from countless life-and-death battles on the battlefield and the bloody power struggles within the village surged forth. His eyes fixed on Moshang Shizhen:

"You're not satisfied?"

Like the descent of night, like a gaze from hell, Moshang Shizhen's defiant spirit was instantly interrupted. He stood frozen on the spot, cold sweat instantly soaking his tight-fitting clothes. However, whether it was Moshang Shizhen's extremely strong psychological fortitude or his uncontrollable hatred for Zhou Duan, even when reprimanded by the enraged Third Hokage, Moshang Shizhen still argued under immense pressure:

"Hokage, ninjas are born to fear nothing. Even if the path ahead is humiliating, they must persevere. This is my ninja way. Moreover, I have only been struck a few light blows. Don't talk about losing combat effectiveness; I am still in my prime fighting stage!"

These words caused the Third Hokage to fall silent. It wasn't that he couldn't directly order Moshang Shizhen to be taken away. It was simply because doing so would be inconsistent with the Third Hokage's long-standing style – I can arrest you, but at least openly, I must make you genuinely accept it before I do!

The Third Hokage remained silent, but he signaled with his eyes to the Hokage guards who wanted to apprehend the disrespectful individual. The Third Hokage glanced at Zhou Duan, his meaning clear – if you don't completely defeat this guy, you'll have a very unpleasant end!

Zhou Duan curled his lips and gave the Third Hokage a reassuring look. He then turned back and showed Moshang Shizhen a "kind" smile:

"Moshang Shizhen, do you know? My attacks come with a grab skill!"

As his voice fell, a black shadow once again slammed into Moshang Shizhen from Zhou Duan. This time, as Moshang Shizhen felt the impact, he also felt a slight pulling sensation. After the storm of attacks, Moshang Shizhen, in pain all over, looked closely and saw a thick stack of explosive tags gathered beneath Zhou Duan. And that damned Toad was also holding a thick stack in its mouth!

Looking at the white and green explosive tags beneath Zhou Duan, Moshang Shizhen's remaining unwillingness gradually disappeared. Just as he was about to despair and surrender, his years of ninja experience made him instinctively sense something was wrong – the explosive tags were all white with black patterns, when did they become white and green?

A gentle breeze blew, and Moshang Shizhen felt an even more noticeable chill. After silently swallowing, Moshang Shizhen forced himself to look down. His bare chest, blindingly white. It was fine; he was male, being shirtless was no big deal. Continuing to look down, his bare thighs, his bare calves, and then, his bare...

Moshang Shizhen was silent for a second, forced to accept a cruel reality. Because the reality was too cruel, Moshang Shizhen couldn't bear the inner torment and fainted in despair!