Changes in Water Release

In Konoha, at Training Ground 4, Jiogan stood beside a rushing river, forming hand seals. He was not moving quickly, because he needed to familiarize himself with the changes in Chakra when casting Five Release Ninjutsu after storing it in his Dantian.

As his hand seals changed, Chakra was no longer extracted and circulated from every part of his body. Instead, it was drawn directly from his Dantian, flowed through his Meridians, and transformed through the seals. "Water Release: Water Wall!"

With a loud shout, the river water was drawn forth by the Ninjutsu, instantly forming a water wall two meters high and three meters thick. After maintaining it for five seconds, the wall dispersed.

In terms of Ninjutsu strength, it was unquestionably a powerful defensive Water Release Ninjutsu.

After casting the Ninjutsu once, Jiogan discovered that one-twentieth of the Chakra in his Dantian had been consumed. In the past, he could cast Water Wall twice. Now, theoretically, he could cast it twenty times. As his proficiency improved in the future, he would be able to control the scale and power of his Ninjutsu more precisely with even less Chakra consumption.

Jiogan then cast Water Wall five more times, thoroughly familiarizing himself with the method of drawing Chakra from his Dantian and circulating it. His Ninjutsu became more stable as well.

Water Wall training can stop here for now. I'm familiar with the new Chakra circulation method too. Time to train Water Wave! Jiogan thought.

Water Wave is a Ninjutsu improved by the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju. Father exchanged military merits for it. When I watched the anime before, I saw Tobirama Senju use it. In his hands, Water Wave creates a spinning vortex around his body that can defend him. At the same time, it can use that vortex to generate even greater force and blast the water stream outward, even changing the terrain of the battlefield. Jiogan recalled the scene from the Konoha Crush Plan, when Orochimaru summoned First and the Second Hokage with Impure World Reincarnation to fight Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The enormous power and versatility Water Wave displayed in the hands of the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju came from his unparalleled understanding and talent for Water Release Ninjutsu. Of course, for Tobirama Senju, he possessed an unparalleled understanding of all Ninjutsu. Otherwise, he would not have created so many heaven-defying forbidden techniques.

As he began forming hand seals, Jiogan drew Chakra from his Dantian. Since this was his first time casting Water Release: Water Wave, he did not use much Chakra, less than he normally used for Water Wall. Once the seals were complete, he shouted, "Water Release: Water Wave!"

With a loud roar, the river water was drawn forth, producing a rushing water stream directly in front of Jiogan. Its scale was not particularly large, only affecting an area more than thirty meters across on the opposite bank. The water's impact was not especially strong either. A few minutes later, the water receded and everything returned to normal, aside from the bushes that had been knocked crooked and left in disarray.

Although the impact isn't strong, Water Wave has a wider range than I imagined, and this is only my first time using it with reduced Chakra. Impact and range affect battle differently. Impact is for dealing damage, while range is for scattering the enemy's formation. Different combat situations require different Ninjutsu effects. Water Wave really does have exceptional tactical value. After only one use, Jiogan had gained a deeper understanding of the Ninjutsu Water Wave.

Just thinking about the Second Hokage's Water Wave—it can attack when advancing and defend when retreating. To use a C-rank Ninjutsu to that extent, I can't help but admire him! Jiogan's respect for the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju rose from the bottom of his heart.

This also became a small goal in his heart. Jiogan possessed only Water Release Chakra, so he intended to follow the path of Ninjutsu specialization and develop Water Release to its utmost limits.

Keep training! Jiogan encouraged himself.

As night fell, Jiogan, whose Chakra had been completely exhausted, left Training Ground 4 and headed home.

I'm starving. Durian from the south of the Land of Fire just arrived at the shop, and it hasn't gone on sale yet. I'll crack one open later to test the waters and replenish myself. Hehe, I wonder how durian in the Ninja World differs from Blue Star's. Jiogan could hardly wait to get home; his thoughts had already drifted to his family's Fruit Shop.

At Training Ground 4, a slovenly figure with white hair, painted markings on his face, and a hemp-colored kimono looked at the mess around the river and grumbled, "Who was training Water Release Ninjutsu here? They couldn't even restore the terrain afterward? What a mess!"

With that, he formed a hand seal for Earth Release and restored the devastated area to its original state.

Meanwhile, the culprit—Jiogan, who was currently wolfing down durian and was already on his third one rather than his first—sneezed.

If Jiogan had known, he would surely have looked helpless. I only know Water Release Ninjutsu, not Earth Release! How am I supposed to restore the terrain?

At midnight, Jiogan had just finished practicing Tai Chi, and the Chakra in his Dantian was recovering when he suddenly realized that the qi in his Dantian had not been consumed at all today. At present, he only knew that it could expand his Meridians; he had no idea what other effects it possessed.

Moreover, every time he finished practicing Tai Chi, Chakra would continuously gather in his Dantian. Although it was less than when he was actively practicing, the phenomenon would generally disappear after one night.

That meant Tai Chi still held many secrets waiting for him to discover.

Today's Water Release training was quite fruitful. I've mastered a second Water Release Ninjutsu, and my strength has improved further. Tomorrow, I'm meeting Might Duy at Training Ground 6 for sparring practice, which will be perfect for testing my progress. Jiogan then drifted off to sleep.

In his dream, he stood above a Desert, looking down at Sunagakure as if they were a swarm of ants. He said indifferently, "Do you all want to dance too? Come. Entertain me!" Then he clapped his hands together. "Water Release: Great Torrential Water Wave!" An ocean appeared in the Desert, and those ants were submerged beneath its waters.

The next day, at Training Ground 6, the moment Jiogan appeared, Might Duy's hearty laughter rang out. "Hahaha, Jiogan, we haven't seen each other in over half a month. What secret technique have you been secretly training? Come on, let's have a fiery battle of Youth and let me see your results!"

With that, he immediately threw a kick at Jiogan. Jiogan dodged with a sidestep. "Haha, Brother Duy, you guessed right. I really did train a big move. I'll let you see it soon enough. Take this!" Jiogan replied.

Their interactions had always been so simple and direct. Both were hardworking people, and Jiogan had long regarded Might Duy as a close friend bound to him by fate. Might Duy felt the same.

As the two exchanged Taijutsu, Jiogan noticed that Might Duy's Taijutsu seemed slower than before. Moves that had once left him scrambling could now be handled with ease.

In contrast, Might Duy was even more shocked. Jiogan's Taijutsu Skill has improved so much. He can actually handle my moves this easily. I must have been slacking off in my training lately. No, I need to train even harder than Jiogan!

After several hundred exchanges, both were breathing heavily. Ordinary Taijutsu sparring could no longer suppress either of them. Might Duy had already decided to activate the Eight Inner Gates Technique, while Jiogan saw through his intentions and prepared to use Ninjutsu.

"Jiogan, be careful. I'm going to activate the Eight Inner Gates Technique!"

"Come on, Brother Duy. Give me everything you've got!"

"Second Gate, Gate of Healing, open!" Might Duy roared. He then kicked at Jiogan.

"What? You can directly open the Second Gate without going through the First Gate, Gate of Opening? Brother Duy really is incredible!" Jiogan said in shock.

"But I'm no pushover either. Water Release: Water Wall!" Jiogan formed hand seals at lightning speed, his sealing speed no less impressive than Kakashi's in the anime.

A massive water wall appeared. Might Duy's kick struck it and sent up a spray of water, but the attack ended in failure.

That Water Release: Water Wall shocked both of them. Might Duy was shocked because Jiogan's Water Wall had become so powerful that even the strength of the Second Gate could not break through it.

Jiogan, meanwhile, was shocked because some of the qi in his Dantian had actually been consumed. It had circulated and transformed alongside his Chakra into Water Wall, and it was as powerful as a Water Wall cast in a place with water nearby.

The two retreated some distance from one another. Jiogan's expression shifted uncertainly as his mind raced.

Seeing that something was wrong with Jiogan's expression, Might Duy stopped, concern in his voice. "Jiogan, what's wrong? Is something not right?"

Hearing Might Duy's worried words, Jiogan came back to his senses. "Brother Duy, I have an idea I want to verify. Next, I'll use the Water Release Ninjutsu I just learned. Brother Duy, come on, let's continue!"

"Alright, come on! Burn, Youth!" Might Duy charged forward at top speed.

"Water Release: Water Wave!" Jiogan roared, mobilizing the greatest amount of Chakra he could draw upon. At the same time, another portion of the qi in his Dantian was consumed.

A massive stream of water appeared out of thin air and surged toward Might Duy. Stunned by the torrent rushing at him, Might Duy lost focus for a moment and was caught squarely. He was swept away by the water for more than fifty meters.

Might Duy choked on a mouthful of water as he was swept away. Soaked from head to toe, he also dropped out of the Second Gate state and looked rather bedraggled. Of course, he was not injured.

"Jiogan, how did you do that? How did you cast such powerful Water Release Ninjutsu at Training Ground 6, where there's no water?" Might Duy was both shocked and curious.