Snake–Ram–Horse–Rabbit–Ram–Horse–Rabbit!
Facing the flashes of cold light rushing toward him, Kisame Hoshigaki swiftly formed hand seals, then spat out a stream of water.
"Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"
The blue stream of water immediately split into two currents and curved backward, forming a round Water Ball that enveloped Kisame's body.
Splash! Splash! Splash! Splash!
Araki's sword struck the Water Prison again and again, throwing up sprays of water, but he could never break through that layer of flowing-water defense. Seeing this, he could only withdraw his attack and retreat.
Damn, you turned a C-rank Water Prison Technique into something with the defensive effect of a B-rank Water Formation Wall!
He clicked his tongue inwardly. Could someone really do whatever they wanted just because they had a lot of chakra?
I couldn't see the hand seals clearly without the Sharingan, but after all those rapid seals, there's no way it was only two or three. I remember the Second Mizukage's Water Formation Wall only needed one or two seals.
Could it be that you were the one who taught Zabuza that forty-four-seal Water Dragon Bullet?
After Araki retreated, the water swirling around Kisame gradually dispersed as well. Kisame nodded with some approval.
"Your technique is pretty good. You're just a little lacking in strength."
Damn it, why does that sound so familiar? I feel like I used to show off to people with those exact words!
Araki reviewed the sword techniques he currently possessed. Because there was such an absolute gap in strength between him and Kisame, he could not use his consecutive slashes at all. A simple Draw-Cut was not powerful enough to break through Kisame's Water Release defense either.
As for Dragon Cry Flash, it inflicted irreversible damage. He had no idea whether Kirigakure's medical ninja were skilled enough to treat it, so he could not use that move on his own people for now.
After thinking it over, he realized that he truly had no way to deal with Kisame.
At that moment, Zabuza came over as well. He had recognized his limits earlier than Araki had. Kisame had not even used ninjutsu against him.
"All right. Judging by your expressions, you've both realized your limits. I've also gained a general understanding of your strength. We'll end this fight here."
Kisame called a halt to the battle.
"You haven't chosen any ninjutsu to claim yet, have you? Do you need some advice from me?"
"Of course we do, Captain!"
The two hurriedly nodded.
"All right."
Kisame dispersed the lake beneath his feet, then took out two small slips of paper from his clothes and handed one to each of them.
"These are chakra papers. They can test the chakra attributes in your bodies. Just inject chakra into them. Go ahead and test yourselves first."
Taking the slips, each only half the size of a palm, the two injected their chakra into them.
The paper in Araki's hand displayed three different changes. One part became wet, one part wrinkled, and then the entire sheet was cut in half down the middle.
"Hm? Your chakra talent is quite good. You actually have water, wind, and lightning attributes!"
Kisame, who was watching from the side, praised him.
"Then, Captain, based on my fighting style, how should I choose my ninjutsu?" Araki asked, looking up.
"Your speed is fast, and your swordsmanship is quite skilled. Your strength isn't bad, but it can't be called outstanding. So you follow a speed-based swordsmanship style, right?"
After Araki nodded in confirmation, Kisame advised him.
"Then among D-rank ninjutsu, you can choose the Body Flicker Technique to strengthen your speed advantage. For C-rank ninjutsu, either Gale Palm or Wind Cutter can enhance your attack power. Add a D-rank Water Replacement Technique for defense and self-preservation, and that should be about right.
"If you want to diversify your tactics further, you can choose the C-rank Water Clone instead. But then there won't be any D-rank techniques left that can directly enhance your attack power."
Araki was somewhat puzzled after hearing that. "The Body Flicker Technique is a D-rank ninjutsu?"
Why did he feel like that technique was supposed to be rather advanced?
"Of course. The most basic Body Flicker Technique is merely a taijutsu technique that controls chakra to burst directionally from the soles of your feet. It isn't particularly difficult to learn. What you think is difficult should be advanced Body Flicker Techniques like Water Body Flicker and Lightning Body Flicker."
Kisame explained patiently.
It had to be said that, as a captain, Kisame was quite competent. He explained everything that needed teaching and everything that needed reminding with perfect clarity.
"What about me, Captain?"
Zabuza asked, holding up the chakra paper in his hand, which had been completely soaked.
"Mm, you only have the water attribute. Then I suggest choosing the C-rank Water Clone to diversify your tactical options.
"Unlike Araki, your strength, speed, and technique are all insufficient for you to gain a major advantage immediately in close combat. So you should focus on using more flexible tactics to find the enemy's openings. With that in mind, you can also choose the D-rank Hidden Mist Technique. It has an extremely wide range of tactical applications.
"For your final D-rank ninjutsu, you can choose the Body Flicker Technique as well to increase your own mobility."
Recalling Zabuza's performance just now, Kisame made his recommendations.
Zabuza nodded. Though Kisame had bluntly pointed out that he was inferior to Araki, he was not discouraged, because he knew that he could still obtain an advanced ninjutsu from Karatachi Yagura. That was an advantage Araki did not possess.
"Then if I also want to strengthen my attack power, what techniques among C-rank or B-rank ninjutsu would work better?" Zabuza pressed.
Kisame glanced at him in surprise. He had apparently not expected Zabuza to have connections capable of getting him more advanced ninjutsu. But Kisame had never been someone who liked to meddle in other people's affairs. Besides, the stronger his team members were, the safer the squad would be when carrying out missions.
"There aren't many powerful Water Release ninjutsu. The only one that meets your requirements is probably the B-rank Water Dragon Technique. Most other high-power Water Release techniques are A-rank, or they require a special physique."
Kisame thought for a moment before offering his guidance.
Speaking of which, Kirigakure was rather pitiful. Ninety percent of the village's ninja had the water attribute, so by all rights it should have been the village most proficient in Water Release ninjutsu. Yet the strongest Water Release user in the world had not come from here at all, but was instead the Second Hokage of the Land of Fire. It was simply absurd.
Moreover, many powerful Water Release techniques had been developed by the Second Hokage himself, while Kirigakure did not know them. As a result, Zabuza did not have many options.
"The B-rank Water Dragon Technique? Thank you, Captain."
With a goal in mind, Zabuza immediately seemed much more energized.
"There's nothing to thank me for. That's enough for today!"
Kisame waved a hand. "Go exchange for those ninjutsu now. Then I'll take you around the village to do a few simple missions first, and you can familiarize yourselves with those techniques while we're at it. In one month, we'll start taking missions outside the village. Gather directly at the Mission Assignment Desk tomorrow morning!"
"Yes, Captain!" *2
Araki and Zabuza answered with great spirit.
"All right, dismissed."
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