Shadow Clone Exploding Tag Technique

Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!

"What!" The two Mist Ninja stared in utter shock and fear.

How could their opponent know a B-rank technique from their own village?!

And... his hand seals were eight times faster than theirs, despite them having practiced for years?!

In that moment of hesitation, the Water Dragon Bullet surged toward them.

The massive wave crashed into the two of them with unstoppable force, hurling them against distant rocks. Their bones shattered, and they died on the spot, unable to catch their breath.

No new ninjutsu dropped from the kill, so Sen casually chose two [Chakra +1] traits and hurried to Kushina.

When he arrived, he saw several shallow wounds on Kushina, and a Mist Ninja's corpse lying at her feet.

The corpse had taken a punch to the face, its jaw knocked out of place. Kushina had clearly killed the man with one punch. It seemed he'd underestimated the Uzumaki Clan's physique.

When Kushina saw Sen approach, still shaken, she immediately raised her Kunai. "Password!"

"Deep-red flowers can bloom throughout the Shinobi World."

Only then did Kushina relax, finally lowering her guard.

Sen took out a medical kit and crouched to tend to her wounds.

Watching his serious profile, Kushina smiled. "With my physique, you're wasting medical supplies."

"In my eyes, this definitely isn't a waste," Sen replied without looking up.

"Hey! You two, quit showing off your love!" Minato called from nearby. "Teacher Jiraiya is still fighting the enemy, and there's no fighting over here anymore. He must be worried!"

Kushina rolled her eyes at him. "Yellow... Minato, you're as annoying as ever. No need for a password; this one's real. But he's right. Let's go help Teacher Jiraiya."

Sen nodded too. After bandaging her wounds, he gave Minato a mischievous grin, planning to use a dangerous technique.

Minato pouted at the sight and took out two Explosive Tags. "Fine. I don't know how you came up with such a painful technique."

On the other side of the battlefield, Jiraiya heard the fighting stop and grew terribly worried.

Two of them were the village's future, and the other was its most important Jinchuriki candidate. If anything happened to them, he'd be held responsible!

The more he fought, the more anxious he became. He was clearly stronger than his opponent, but he hadn't expected the man's sword to seem almost alive. It had drained a huge amount of his chakra, and the already massive blade had grown even bigger.

It seemed he had no choice but to summon a toad from Mount Myōboku for help!

Just then, a Water Dragon suddenly appeared from the mist and attacked him.

The technique wasn't very powerful, and its aim was poor. It looked like a novice had cast it.

Jiraiya easily leaped onto a treetop to dodge.

At that moment, two figures landed behind Suikazan Fuguki and respectfully reported, "Captain Fuguki, we've taken care of them all. Now let's team up and kill this white-haired ninja too."

Suikazan Fuguki nodded, hefted Samehada, and sneered. "Well done. White-haired ninja of Konoha, tell me your name. I, Suikazan Fuguki, don't kill nameless nobodies!"

Jiraiya's heart sank. Were the three brats really dead?

Just as grief and rage overtook him and he prepared to fight to the death, he suddenly noticed that the Mist Ninja who had just called him a "white-haired ninja" was secretly making a familiar hand gesture: an "OK" sign!

Was this... a trap?

The two "Mist Ninja" moved toward Suikazan Fuguki. When they got close, they suddenly sprang into action!

Before Suikazan Fuguki could react, Samehada moved first! The great sword opened its mouth and bit at one of them, but only caught a cloud of smoke.

Then it swung its blade hard, crashing into the other one.

The man was struck by Samehada but clung tightly to the blade, a crazed grin spreading across his face. "Try my Shadow Clone Exploding Tag Technique!"

Suikazan Fuguki looked down in horror. Two Explosive Tags were stuck to the "Mist Ninja"!

And two more had been stuck to his beloved Samehada!

"BOOM—BOOM—BOOM—BOOM!"

Four successive explosions swallowed him in an instant! The terrifying shockwave even blasted a huge hole through the surrounding mist.

When the smoke cleared, Sen and the others appeared behind Jiraiya.

After greeting Jiraiya, Minato commented, "I'm going to call that technique the 'Super Shadow Clone Whirlwind Exploding Rock Impact Wave'!"

Jiraiya rolled his eyes at him. "Shadow Clone Exploding Tag Technique sounds better. Don't let your guard down. We don't know if that move finished him off!"

As the smoke cleared, Suikazan Fuguki appeared, covered in wounds. Leaning on the badly damaged Samehada, he struggled to his feet.

Even Samehada's spikes had snapped in several places, yet it continued to throb stubbornly, pouring the chakra it had previously drained from Jiraiya back into its master and nourishing his many wounds.

"Attack! Don't give him a chance to recover!" Sen knew they couldn't let him catch his breath, and immediately gave the order.

"I can't believe Konoha has Genin this powerful!" Suikazan Fuguki eyed the four charging at him warily. "I, Suikazan Fuguki, acknowledge you as Konoha's strongest!

"It seems I can't hold back anymore!"

He quickly formed Hand Seals. "Water Release: Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"

"Watch out!" Jiraiya hurriedly held the three back.

A flood of water poured from Suikazan Fuguki's mouth, sweeping toward them like a tsunami!

"Damn, this guy has so much chakra." Kushina steadied herself and surveyed the raging waves beneath her feet.

He had almost as much chakra as she did, despite her being a member of the Uzumaki Clan.

Jiraiya held the three back as they stood on the surface of the water. "Be careful. He's a ninja who specializes in Water Release. His sword seems to have a will of its own, and it can absorb chakra.

"From what we've seen, it can also transfer chakra to whoever wields it. Be extremely careful."

The three knew Jiraiya was giving them information. Staying alert, they committed it to memory.

"Take my blade!" Suikazan Fuguki roared from the water.

Everyone immediately drew their weapons and prepared to defend themselves.

But the fierce attack they expected never came. The man had only feinted. With a huge mass of water surrounding him, he fled toward the sea without looking back.

Within a few breaths, he disappeared from sight.

The water receded, and Kushina was still trying to process what had happened. "H-he ran away just like that?"

Sen let out a long breath and looked at the system prompt:

[Defeated Suikazan Fuguki. Choose a trait to absorb: Water Release: Exploding Water Wave, Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique, Chakra +1]

He selected [Water Release: Exploding Water Wave], then said, "Looks like he got away. This is the coast, which gives him a huge advantage. Let's withdraw first."

He had just turned to leave when Minato quickly stepped in front of him and crouched, offering his back. "I'll carry you. Using Shadow Clones and Explosive Tags together must be exhausting for the original too."

Seeing Minato trying to carry Sen, Kushina shoved him aside with a grin. "I'll carry Sen back to the boat!"

She was about to scoop Sen up in her arms.

"Whack! Whack!"

Sen bonked each of them on the head. "Am I really that weak? The last time I used it was a year ago. It doesn't hurt at all now. Hurry up and move! What, are you waiting for the enemy to bring reinforcements?"

But Jiraiya, who had been silent until then, suddenly came over. He briskly lifted Sen onto his back and led the retreat, berating them as he went.

"Move! You two, keep up! If you use such a dangerous technique again, I'll teach you a lesson!"