Training Zabuza (Asking for Recommendation Votes)

After completing a mission, ninjas were entitled to varying lengths of rest depending on the mission's rank.

As a rookie squad, Araki and the others received a week off after completing a C-rank mission.

Having struck it rich, the Kisame Squad's strength soared during that week through the [Power of Spending Money]!

Kisame bought several B-rank Water Release techniques in one go, giving his tailed-beast-level chakra more outlets to unleash itself.

Honestly, at Kisame's current stage, he was like Naruto in his early days. He only needed to consider how to mobilize the maximum amount of chakra in his body, rather than study precise control.

Because, in a sense, their chakra was "infinite."

Meanwhile, Zabuza was asking Araki for guidance in swordsmanship.

After Araki questioned him repeatedly, Zabuza confirmed that he did not like the style of swinging a massive blade through crowds and mowing everyone down. Instead, he preferred being an elusive assassin.

Since that was the case, Araki did not need to consider teaching him any other broad, forceful sword styles.

Araki did have a few ideas for Zabuza's combination of [Hidden Mist Technique] and [Silent Killing Technique].

"Zabuza, since you use thick mist to obscure your enemy's vision, your own vision is affected too, right?"

"Mm!" Zabuza nodded.

"Then how do you lock onto an enemy's position within the mist?"

"By listening! I can hear their breathing, heartbeats, even the sound of their blood flowing." Zabuza's tone was rather proud.

Araki: Σ(⊙▽⊙"a

Could your ears be some kind of Kekkei Genkai too?

But how could that possibly stump the great swordmaster, Araki Yachiru?!

"If there are only enemies in the mist, then your method certainly works. But if the mist contains both enemy and allied ninjas, how will you accurately tell them apart?"

Zabuza furrowed the skin over his brow, then asked after a long while, "Do you have a solution?"

"I can offer you two paths to become stronger."

Araki raised his hand and folded back three fingers.

"The first is this: since your hearing is so exceptional, have you ever considered developing it further?"

"Further?"

Confusion appeared on Zabuza's face.

His superhumanly sharp hearing was an inborn talent, unrelated to ninjutsu or chakra. How was he supposed to develop it further?

"You can currently hear other people's breathing, heartbeats, even the sound of their blood flowing, right?"

"Mm." Zabuza nodded.

"Then can you hear flowers blooming? Can you hear the pulse of the earth? Have you ever considered that everything in this world has its own unique sound? If one day you could hear the voices of all things, what kind of power would that be?"

"The Voice of All Things..."

Zabuza was instantly drawn in by the beautiful future Araki described. He asked excitedly,

"Can something like that really be done? What should I do?"

"Mm, this is only an idea of mine. There is just one key point: listen with your [heart]. For more specific methods, you can consult the village's sensory ninjas. In any case, first develop your hearing until it rivals sensory ninjutsu."

Araki only intended to point out the direction. As for how to walk the path, Zabuza would have to explore it himself.

"Sensory ninjas..."

Zabuza pondered for a moment. Given his background, he naturally did not know any sensory ninjas, but he could ask Karatachi Yagura to help him get in touch with some.

"Then what is the other path?"

Though Zabuza was not yet ten years old, he already deeply understood the principle of wanting it all.

"The second path may be a little more difficult."

Araki smiled meaningfully. "Besides your naturally sharp hearing, there is something else unique about you. It is an intense negative aura, like a combination of killing intent and resentment. For now, I'll call it Ghostly Aura. You should know where it came from."

"From the graduation exam?"

Zabuza's expression darkened.

Though he did not think he had done anything wrong, it could never be considered a pleasant memory.

"That's right, from that time. Perhaps it came from their hatred toward you, or perhaps some other reason. In any case, you already possess this special energy. Do not fear or reject it. Since you already bear those hardships, you might as well integrate it into your swordsmanship."

Araki's style remained as consistent as ever.

"Ghostly Aura..."

Zabuza sank into thought.

Araki did not interrupt him. Instead, he waited in secret anticipation.

[The Voice of All Things and mastery of Ghostly Aura—I've already shown you the great path to the heavens. Let me see whether you truly possess the talent to stand at the pinnacle beside me!]

After sending Zabuza away, Araki turned to Kisame and raised the [Wind Sword] in his hand. "Captain, shall we have another match?"

"Looks like that new weapon has given you a lot of confidence, Araki!"

Kisame said meaningfully.

In this squad, Zabuza was the only normal genin. Though he was strong as well, he had not yet exceeded the limits of a genin.

But Araki was different. Since their combat test on the first day the squad was formed, Kisame had never regarded him as a genin. With that level of strength, speed, and swordsmanship, even ordinary chunin might not be able to defeat him.

Kisame had no doubt that if the Chunin Exams were held on the spot, Araki would pass without a hitch.

And after training for so long, how strong had he become now that he had grasped chakra nature transformation? Kisame took Araki's challenge very seriously.

The two moved about twenty paces apart. After forming the Seal of Confrontation, Araki swung his sword and slashed diagonally through the seawater beneath his feet.

[Water Dragon Flash]!

As the blade vibrated, oval droplets of water splashed into the air.

[Whirlwind Slash]!

Holding his sword in one hand, Araki swung it at high speed. A violent whirlwind surged forth, driving the droplets before it as they shot toward Kisame at incredible speed.

"Flying Water Shuriken!"

Since this was a sparring match, Araki directly called out the technique's name.

Requiring only a slash and a swing, [Flying Water Shuriken] was extremely fast to execute. The frigid gale carried the water bullets to Kisame in the blink of an eye.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

Kisame rapidly formed hand seals, and a wall of water rose from the ground before him.

Though he was confident that the Water Formation Wall could block Araki's attack, for some reason, a faint sense of danger lingered in Kisame's heart.

"Not good!"

Suddenly, he pushed off with his foot and used the Body Flicker Technique to leave his original position.

Screech!

Kisame's prediction was correct. The instant he moved away, the water wall before him was sliced apart by a sword wrapped in a chakra wind blade. Araki appeared there, surrounded by fierce winds.

"Captain Kisame, you're quite vigilant!"

Watching Kisame widen the distance once more, Araki grinned, his fighting spirit blazing.

"After all, my opponent is you, Araki. I don't want to be defeated by one of my own subordinates."

As Kisame spoke, his hands continued forming seals. Then he suddenly shouted,

"Water Release: Water Fang Bullet Technique!"

Two spiraling streams of water rose from the sea, transforming into sharp fangs that tore toward Araki.

Knowing Araki's close-combat prowess, Kisame had no intention of competing with him in swordsmanship, despite the long blade on his back.

Araki's figure flashed repeatedly. While evading the spiraling water streams, he charged toward Kisame.

At present, he still lacked long-range means of fighting enemies. He had to close the distance before he could truly threaten his opponent.

Pursued by the two Water Fang Bullets, Araki seemed to become a nimble seabird darting across the turbulent ocean. No wave, no matter how fierce, could swallow him.

Seeing that the two Water Fang Bullets had limited effect, Kisame began to display the terrifying extent of his chakra. His hands formed seals once again.

"Water Release: Multiple Water Fang Bullet Technique!"

Splash! Splash! Splash! Splash! Splash! Splash!

A total of ten sharp spiraling streams of water rose from beneath his feet, like ferocious dragons rushing at Araki from every direction.

At that moment, surrounded by ten ferocious dragons, Araki stopped and slowly sheathed his sword.

He inhaled, lowered his stance, and drew his blade!

Clang!

A clear, resonant sword cry rang across the sea. Nine sword shadows appeared around Araki almost simultaneously, instantly cleaving apart all ten Water Fang Bullets attacking him.

"Nine-Headed Dragon Flash!"

Before his words even faded, Araki moved with the wind. His speed reached its peak in an instant, and he appeared directly before Kisame as though teleporting.

Looking at Kisame so close before him, Araki lightly rested his blade on Kisame's shoulder, a delighted smile spreading across his face.

"Looks like I won!"

"Don't celebrate too soon, Araki!"

Kisame suddenly smiled. His entire body exploded into a mass of water that wrapped around Araki.

"A trigger-based Water Prison Technique?"

Araki frowned, then swept his sword horizontally. The sharp chakra blade sliced directly through the Water Prison. He turned and looked at the Kisames emerging from the water dozens of meters away.

"Water Clones?"

This chapter ended up a little longer. Five thousand words today! Puffs out chest.

Thank you all for the recommendation votes!

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