A Battle with Might Duy

That night, Jiogan lay in his bed, having not slept soundly in a long time. He reflected on the missions of the past two months, scenes flashing through his mind like a slideshow. As his combat experience accumulated, his path of combining Taijutsu with Water Release Ninjutsu had become unquestionably clear.

I carried out this mission with Maruboshi Kosuke, but there were too few chances to seek his guidance. We barely saw each other make a move. I ended both battles too quickly, leaving Maruboshi Kosuke no opportunity to act. What a pity. Still, this mission helped us build a good relationship of trust. It will be only natural for me to ask Maruboshi Kosuke for advice afterward. I also want to see just how powerful the Water Release passed down to him by the Second Hokage truly is, Jiogan thought.

The Water Palm Prison Technique still has room for improvement. Its sealing power is enough to deal with opponents below Jonin rank now, but if it could truly attain the killing power of Gaara's Sand Binding Coffin... I need to give it more thought!

Thinking back to when he had knocked out the Kirigakure Chunin leader with two Water Palms, Jiogan felt that he had found a direction for improvement. Yet he had a feeling that if he succeeded, the Ninjutsu would need a new name as well.

Before long, Jiogan fell asleep as soon as his head touched the pillow. This time, he had another dream. He dreamed that he stood in the depths of a battlefield, controlling endless streams of water that wrapped around every enemy. He coldly declared, "Under my Water Binding Burial, no intact corpse is ever left behind!" With that, he raised a hand and clenched it fiercely. The spheres of water surrounding his enemies instantly contracted. They turned blood-red, mixed with shredded flesh and broken bones, then fell to the ground, dyeing the battlefield around him into a sea of corpses and blood!

Jiogan jolted awake from the dream! He sat up in bed! He was drenched in sweat! Clutching his head, he took several deep breaths. Is this the ultimate form of the Water Palm Prison Technique?! It's far too bloody. I should take this slowly!

He looked out the window. Dawn had only just broken, and it was barely four o'clock. Jiogan had no desire to sleep any longer, so he simply got up and practiced Tai Chi until six in the morning. After taking a shower, he felt much better.

After breakfast, he went with his mother to open their shop. He helped her with some work and delivered takeout to several households. Only when it neared ten did he head for Training Ground 6 to meet Might Duy.

Might Duy had arrived early. He was someone who could never sit still, and he was already drenched in sweat. "Jiogan, you're here! Wait a moment. I'm about to finish three thousand push-ups!"

Jiogan said irritably, "Brother Duy, you finally came back to the village to rest, yet you're still working this hard. No wonder you're so strong!"

Yet his body was more honest than his words, and he began doing push-ups alongside him. Before the two had even started sparring, they were already competing.

An hour later, Jiogan and Might Duy stood facing each other. They had formed the Opposing Seal, and battle could break out at any moment. Under normal circumstances, it was always hot-tempered Might Duy who could not resist attacking first, but today was different.

Jiogan struck first, catching Might Duy by surprise. The two immediately clashed. "Oh! Jiogan, you're actually taking the initiative this time. Come on, let me see how much you've improved!"

"Brother Duy, just watch! I guarantee you'll be satisfied!" With that, he swept a kick toward Might Duy.

Very quickly, the two exchanged fifty rounds. Might Duy knew that Jiogan had already found his own path in Taijutsu, one no worse than his own. Still, he was deeply shocked. Throughout the exchange, he had been completely on the defensive. Every attack he launched, even the newly developed moves he had created, was neutralized by Jiogan. It felt as though he were fighting a ball of cotton, leaving him thoroughly uncomfortable.

After another fifty rounds, Might Duy could no longer hold back and performed a backflip to create distance!

Here it comes—Brother Duy's Eight Inner Gates! Jiogan immediately understood and made his preparations.

"Eight Inner Gates, Fourth Gate, Gate of Pain, open!" Might Duy directly opened the Fourth Gate, and green vapor appeared around his body!

"Damn it! Brother Duy! You opened the Fourth Gate right away! You're going too hard! Isn't this a bit much?!" Jiogan stared wide-eyed!

Opening the Third Gate was not enough? Was opening the Fourth Gate meant to take him out?!

Might Duy's speed soared as he circled him, leaving afterimages all around. Jiogan did not sit still and wait for death. He brought his hands together. "Water Release: Water Wall!"

A spinning Water Tornado appeared around Jiogan. Might Duy punched at it, instantly kicking up a huge spray of water. Yet water from the other directions rapidly replenished the gap as it rotated, and Might Duy's strike failed to break through!

As Might Duy's movements stalled for a moment, Jiogan seized the opportunity. He thrust his hand seal forward toward Might Duy. "Water Release: Water Wave!"

The Water Tornado transformed into a rushing Water Wave that engulfed Might Duy's figure in an instant. But Jiogan did not relax. Instead, he grew even more tense, because the water had only imposed a minor restriction on Might Duy. His speed was still incredibly fast!

Might Duy charged at him again at high speed. Jiogan immediately cast the Water Palm Prison Technique on himself! Of course, it was the kind that did not seal Chakra. It enclosed him completely! Might Duy leaped into the air and delivered a heavy kick!

A massive crater appeared where Jiogan had been standing. The Water Prison shattered under the kick, but buffered by the water, Jiogan barely dodged the impact in a disheveled state. Before he could react further, however, he felt a punch strike his chin and was sent flying into the sky!

Might Duy flashed to his side and quickly tied him up! This is bad! Jiogan inwardly cried.

Might Duy held him as they spun rapidly, then slammed fiercely toward the ground!

Front Lotus!

Boom! A deep crater was smashed into the ground, and clouds of dust billowed up!

Beyond the dust, Might Duy appeared, already having withdrawn from the Fourth Gate state.

After catching his breath, he said, "Ah, I went a little too far this time! Is Jiogan okay?" Might Duy felt somewhat regretful, afraid that Jiogan had been seriously injured!

"Brother Duy, you know yourself that you went too far. I almost got taken out!" Jiogan's voice came from behind Might Duy, startling him. He swiftly turned around and assumed a fighting stance!

"Alright, alright! No more fighting! We've made enough of a commotion today!" Jiogan hurriedly waved his hands, signaling a truce.

As the swirling dust settled, Might Duy saw a puddle of water at the center of the crater. "This is?!"

"It was a Water Clone," Jiogan said.

In truth, when Might Duy opened the Eight Inner Gates Technique, Jiogan had known he could not withstand Brother Duy's ultimate move. So, when he cast the Water Palm Prison Technique on himself, he created a Water Clone. The one sent flying from the Water Prison had been the Water Clone!

Jiogan had developed the Water Clone himself after studying the Shadow Clone. As a veteran fan of the Hokage anime, he understood the principles behind the Shadow Clone very well. He simply had never had an opportunity to use it before, nor did he need Water Clones for training. This time, however, it had come in handy.

"So that's how it was! Jiogan, have you already become this powerful?! I've taken down more than one or two Chunin, yet I've never encountered anyone more troublesome than you!" Might Duy said admiringly.

"Brother Duy, you're no different. You forced me to use every method I had. I've fought quite a few Chunin too, but you're the first to give me this much trouble!" Jiogan replied.

The two exchanged a round of commercial praise!

After forming the Seal of Reconciliation, they left the training ground. The two agreed to have a cookout in the back mountain!

As for the main dish, of course it was Jiogan's grilled fish!