Long before the system assigned him a mission to defeat a genin using only medicine, Zhou Duan had been making preparations. He combined the exceptionally resilient leg muscles of a Ninja Turtle with various medicinal herbs that could harden muscles, carefully balancing the ingredients to create a perfect formula. Then he injected it into Mizuken. The end result was a Ninja Turtle whose head and neck had incredible flexibility, tremendous physical toughness, and immense striking force!
The turtle's method of attack was to shoot its head out at incredible speed like a cannonball, then retract it just as quickly. The ferocious assault was like a Gatling gun, crushing enemies beneath the force and relentless barrage of its attacks!
Zhou Duan had also given careful thought to who would use the medicine. A turtle that was too small couldn't withstand such a high dose, while one that was too large would compromise the speed of its head's extension and retraction. And since Ninja Turtles were slow, Zhou Duan had Mizuken use his four legs, enhanced by the medicine to extend and retract, to cling tightly to his body. As for where to attach him, the waist was the body's main source of power, and the turtle's shell could protect a ninja's vital areas. So Zhou Duan had Mizuken cling to his waist. And so...
In the middle of the Konoha Academy training ground, a ninja named Moshang Shizhen was scrambling desperately to dodge his opponent's attacks. He had taken a large quantity of medicine with unknown side effects to open the first of the Eight Inner Gates, giving him the speed of a chūnin. Yet that advantage had vanished beneath his enemy's attacks. It was downright laughable—he could do nothing but suffer the humiliation of being pummeled!
All his effort to open the first of the Eight Inner Gates, all his determination to plaster himself with Explosive Tags and take his enemy down with him, had already been smashed to pieces beneath a sky full of black shadows!
"This... This..."
Faced with the scene before him, he had no idea what to do. On one hand, he really didn't want this spectacle polluting his eyes and challenging everything he believed in. On the other, Moshang Shizhen hadn't admitted defeat, so the match had to continue!
"Ahahaha! Wahahaha..."
The turtle named Mizuken burst into wild laughter. The medicine had transformed his shy, timid personality completely. In battle, he was a whole different turtle:
"So you're Moshang Shizhen, huh? Weren't you so cocky? A genin gets forced into taking forbidden drugs and using forbidden techniques by a student who hasn't even graduated—and then covers himself in Explosive Tags. Aren't you embarrassed?"
"For the sake of the hatred in my heart, no matter what you do to me, I won't give up!"
"Oh, you're still running your mouth in front of me? Want me to beat you until you don't know which way is up?"
"Come on! I'm not afraid of you. Attack me with everything you've got! I will never yield!"
"Hey, I've been beating you for ages, and you still haven't admitted defeat. Are you enjoying getting the crap beaten out of you?"
"What are you talking about? Even if I'm mercilessly thrashed, I'll still carry out my revenge!"
"Crack!"
A faint snapping sound rang out. In his fury, the Third Hokage had unconsciously crushed his beloved pipe. His face had gone as dark as the bottom of a pot, and he could no longer stand this farce. He bellowed:
"That's enough! Zhou Duan wins this match. You two sons of bitches, stop it!"
The Third Hokage's words were like a pause button. Zhou Duan stopped attacking at once, but Moshang Shizhen refused to let it go.
"This isn't fair! This isn't fair, Third Hokage! I haven't lost. I can still fight. I refuse to accept this result!"
"Hmm? You refuse to accept it?"
The war had been deadlocked for days, and the grim news of so many ninjas lost on the battlefield had left the Third Hokage exhausted. He had hoped to relax by watching the Academy's genin graduation exam, but he had never expected such a damnable fight to greet him right from the start. He knew Zhou Duan could be unreliable, but even someone as good-natured as him couldn't tolerate a perfectly good fight turning into this. Now, as he looked at Moshang Shizhen making a fool of himself, the terrifying killing intent he had accumulated through countless life-or-death battles and the bloody power struggles within the village surged forth. His eyes bore into Moshang Shizhen.
"You refuse to accept it?"
It was like night had fallen, like the gates of hell had opened. Moshang Shizhen's defiant howls abruptly died away, and he stood frozen in place. Cold sweat instantly soaked his tight-fitting clothes. Yet whether he had extraordinary mental fortitude or simply couldn't contain his hatred for Zhou Duan, he still argued under the immense pressure, even after the Third Hokage's furious reprimand:
"Hokage, a ninja must fear nothing. Even if the road ahead is humiliating, you must hold fast to your convictions. That's my way of the ninja! Besides, I've only taken a few light hits. I haven't lost the ability to fight—I'm still in my prime!"
His words left the Third Hokage silent. It wasn't that he couldn't simply order Moshang Shizhen to be dragged away. It was just that doing so would go against everything the Third Hokage stood for: I can have you arrested, but at least in public, I have to make you accept it first!
The Third Hokage said nothing, but stopped the Hokage's guards from stepping forward to seize the insolent man. He glanced at Zhou Duan. The meaning was clear: If you don't make this guy understand once and for all, you're going to regret it!
Zhou Duan pursed his lips and gave the Third Hokage a reassuring look. Then he turned to Moshang Shizhen and gave him a "kind" smile.
"Moshang Shizhen, you know my attacks come with a grab skill, right?"
As soon as he finished speaking, another black shadow shot out from Zhou Duan and slammed into Moshang Shizhen. This time, when Moshang Shizhen felt the impact, he also felt a gentle tug. When the storm of attacks finally ended, Moshang Shizhen—aching all over—looked down and saw a thick pile of Explosive Tags beneath Zhou Duan. The damn turtle was holding another thick pile in its mouth!
Looking at the white-and-green Explosive Tags beneath Zhou Duan, Moshang Shizhen's last shred of defiance gradually faded. He was just about to give up in despair when his years of experience as a ninja instinctively told him something was wrong. Explosive Tags are white with black markings. Since when are they white and green?
A breeze swept past, and Moshang Shizhen felt an even more obvious chill. He silently swallowed, then forced himself to look down. His chest was completely bare, pale enough to sting the eyes. No matter, he was a man; there was nothing wrong with being shirtless. He looked farther down. His thighs were bare. His lower legs were bare. And then, there was nothing at all...
Moshang Shizhen fell silent for a second, forced to accept a cruel reality. It was too cruel for him to bear, and unable to withstand the torment, he fainted in despair!
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