Advanced Nature Transformations (Please Vote)

After casually discussing the war for a few moments, the three of them did not talk much more. After all, such matters had little to do with their genin squad, nor were they things they could control or influence.

For Kisame Squad, the most pressing matter was how to improve their strength. Especially after fighting Orochimaru, Araki had become increasingly aware of his current shortcomings.

Although Kisame had judged his close-combat abilities to be no weaker than those of some ordinary jonin, just like in the battle against Orochimaru earlier, when would he ever get the chance to approach Orochimaru?

Did he not need to dodge all those ninjutsu that killed with a touch and crippled with a graze?

He was not some freak like the Raikage who could withstand ninjutsu with his body!

Of course, perhaps it was a little too early to use Orochimaru as a benchmark. After all, he was merely a weak genin who had graduated less than a year ago and was skilled in swordsmanship, Wind Style, and basketball...

Pah! No basketball!

Still, it was good to discover problems early.

"How can I successfully get close to an enemy amid their ninjutsu bombardment and then cut off their heads?"

After reading through the scroll in his hands and finding no useful information, Araki began brainstorming.

"Huh, there's an idea for a technique recorded here. It looks quite interesting!"

Kisame suddenly spoke up. "By making use of water's flowing nature, it can create a monster that can repair itself as long as it is in water."

"Self-repair? Flowing nature? Does that count as a type of Water Style chakra nature transformation?" Araki asked.

"That's right. Just as shape transformation includes Water Ball, Water Whip, Water Dragon, Water Wall, and so on, water's nature transformations are also numerous. Many powerful ninjutsu possess such tremendous might precisely because they developed unique nature transformations."

As he said this, Kisame gave an example that both Araki and Zabuza knew well.

"For example, Karatachi Yagura of Mist Village. His signature ninjutsu, [Water Mirror Technique], makes use of water's reflective properties, allowing it to directly copy an enemy's technique and send it back at them.

"And the Tsuchikage's Light-Weight Rock Technique likely only allows free flight because it developed the gravitational nature of Earth Style chakra.

"Of course, techniques involving specific nature transformations are extremely difficult to learn. Unless someone who knows them personally teaches you, it is very difficult for outsiders to grasp their key points."

"So the technique in this scroll is also such an advanced ninjutsu?"

Zabuza was somewhat excited. He was the one in Kisame Squad who most desperately wanted to grow stronger.

"Judging from the description, it should be. After all, it creates monsters that can regenerate endlessly. As long as there are enough of them and enough chakra, they will definitely be troublesome!"

Kisame thought for a moment before reaching a conclusion.

Hearing their discussion, Araki first thought of Amachi's [Summoning Technique: Umi-bozu], but as Kisame analyzed it, he realized that this was not the basic concept behind Kisame's future signature series of ninjutsu, [Thousand Feeding Sharks]?

But as he thought of this, inspiration suddenly struck him.

"This flowing property does not seem to belong solely to Water Style. Wind Style has it as well, and its restrictions are even fewer than water's. After all, wind is everywhere in the sky! Perhaps I can also try studying Wind Style nature transformations in this direction. For example... a single sword slash that creates a wind dragon capable of regenerating endlessly?"

Aside from that one ninjutsu concept, the scroll contained no other valuable information. There was not even a single word about Cursed Seals or natural energy, which left Araki somewhat disappointed.

However, as someone whose achievements all relied solely on his talent and hard work, he did not absolutely need these materials. Thus, he was only disappointed for a moment before quickly gathering himself and returning to the village with Kisame.

This time, Kisame did not turn in the mission by himself. Since this mission involved Konoha, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, Araki and Zabuza, as those in the know, would certainly not escape a round of questioning.

Therefore, Kisame simply took them with him to the Mizukage's office.

After being announced, the three of them entered smoothly.

This was Araki's first time seeing the Third Mizukage up close.

He looked extremely old. His shriveled skin was already covered in age spots, while his graying hair seemed to silently speak of time's hardships. He wore a blue-trimmed Hokage Cloak, and his Mizukage hat rested on the desk. From his appearance alone, it was difficult to detect even a trace of a powerful aura.

"Kisame, I heard something went wrong with your mission this time?"

The Third Mizukage's voice was also rather aged, though his tone remained quite kind. Perhaps it was because all three of them were civilian shinobi.

"Yes, Lord Mizukage. While investigating the Sea Demon attacks in the Land of the Sea, we accidentally discovered Konoha's secret base. Those Sea Demons were their experimental products, and in the end, we encountered pursuit from Orochimaru, one of Konoha's Legendary Sannin."

Kisame took out the materials Araki had collected and handed them to the Anbu beside the Mizukage.

"This is the intelligence we found there."

"Sea Demons, Konoha, Orochimaru..."

The Third Mizukage softly murmured these words as he accepted the scroll, without letting the slightest emotion show.

"Human experiments, amphibious troops? Could Konoha truly be setting its sights on us?"

However, as he read through the scrolls one by one, the Third Mizukage's brows gradually furrowed, as though he had realized that things were not as simple as he had imagined.

Originally, he had thought they had merely destroyed an ordinary Konoha laboratory. Many shinobi villages conducted human experiments, and quite a few established their laboratories directly within smaller foreign nations to obtain experimental materials more conveniently.

After all, did foreigners even count as people?

But as he continued reading, he ultimately discovered that Konoha's purpose in conducting these experiments was to create amphibious soldiers capable of adapting to combat on both land and water.

Who could they be targeting? Did that even need to be asked?

Other than Mist Village, what other village needed to fight at sea?

Then what did Konoha mean by researching this?

Did it intend to do something to Mist Village?

"This is going too far!"

The Third Mizukage slammed his hand onto the desk and ordered the Anbu beside him:

"Go bring Karatachi Yagura to me!"

Then he turned back and praised them.

"You did very well this time. You uncovered Konoha's scheme in advance, giving us ample time to respond. You even escaped Orochimaru unharmed and did not disgrace Mist Village! I hereby declare that this mission is officially upgraded to S-rank and will be sealed in the archives. In addition, Kisame Hoshigaki will receive one A-rank ninjutsu exchange privilege, while Araki and Zabuza Momochi will each receive one free B-rank ninjutsu exchange privilege."

"Thank you, Lord Mizukage!" *3

The three of them were instantly overjoyed.

Completing an S-rank mission normally only earned one A-rank ninjutsu exchange privilege.

For an ordinary jonin, an A-rank ninjutsu could be considered a trump card kept in reserve. The Fourth Hokage's Rasengan and Kakashi's Chidori were both ninjutsu of this rank. Exchanging for one not only required an S-rank mission privilege, but also came at a considerable price.

Yet the Mizukage had rewarded each of them with an additional ninjutsu. Even if such a reward were given to an ordinary jonin, it could instantly raise his strength by a considerable margin, let alone genin like Araki and Zabuza.

From this, it was clear that the Third Mizukage's attitude toward promising civilian shinobi was fairly good.

Thanks to Jitu for the donation.

The recommendation period starts this afternoon—so happy!

Hoping for a huge surge in bookmarks and follow-up reads! (ω)