"Who are you?!"
Lava wrapped around Rōshi's entire body, but even its scorching heat couldn't dispel the chill in his heart.
He usually focused solely on his own training, hoping to become a Perfect Jinchuriki, and was extremely stubborn.
If Ōnoki hadn't considered Rōshi an indispensable elite fighter for Iwagakure and swallowed his pride to earnestly persuade him time and again,
Rōshi's temperament would likely have driven him to leave Iwagakure long ago and wander the world alone as a traveling monk.
A gentle breeze stirred the peach grove in the distance, sending blossoms fluttering through the air with a sweet, heady fragrance.
"Heh!"
"You don't need to know who I am. I'm here to take something from you, that's all..."
Souya gazed leisurely at the distant peach grove, paying Rōshi no mind at all.
Rōshi's short frame tensed, and his face darkened. He prided himself on being one of the few powerful shinobi in the Ninja World, and naturally had the dignity of a strong fighter. How could he tolerate Souya treating him with such contempt?
He formed hand seals, then abruptly brought his hands together.
"Lava Style: Scorching River Rock Technique!"
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Rōshi spat several glowing balls of magma at Souya.
"Water Release: Water Wave!"
A broad stream of blue water suddenly surged from behind Souya's flank and engulfed the magma balls, hissing as wisps of white vapor rose into the air.
As the stream swept toward Rōshi, he formed a hand seal. The lava covering him brightened, and magma seemed to flow slowly across his entire body.
Ssss!
Great clouds of white vapor burst upward. Rōshi swung his arms, and the blue stream evaporated completely before it could reach him!
"Sasori! You're here?"
Hearing a faint creaking sound, Souya spoke without turning around.
In the