Terumi Mei

Just then, the Mist Ninja below let out furious roars as one Water Release technique after another hurtled toward Aragaki Yasushi.

Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu!

Water Release: Water Fang Jutsu!

Water Release: Water Shark Jutsu!

A dense barrage of water projectiles, each a different shape, shot toward him.

Aragaki Yasushi saw them coming and curled his lip, utterly unruffled. His Paper Wings fluttered lightly, sending him soaring higher as he dodged nimbly from side to side.

The seemingly fearsome Water Release attacks didn't even graze his clothes.

That's it?

In an instant, Aragaki Yasushi figured out what the Mist Ninja were planning.

They don't want me getting close to the transport ship?

They've got a pretty good plan, but too bad for them—I can attack from a distance, too!

Aragaki Yasushi focused, and an Energy Scroll appeared in front of him. Without Hand Seals or any telltale windup, it fired a blinding green beam toward the transport ship at an absurd speed.

But the Mist Ninja had been ready for him.

Water Release: Water Formation Wall!

A vast volume of seawater surged up from the surface and formed a thick wall, completely enclosing the transport ship in an attempt to stop the beam.

Aragaki Yasushi scoffed.

The next second, the green beam from the Energy Scroll passed through the wall without the slightest resistance and struck the transport ship head-on.

"Boom!"

A deafening blast sounded, and brilliant flames shot skyward from the transport ship.

Aragaki Yasushi's eyes lit up.

It worked!

That should complete the mission, right?

Four hundred points, here I come!

But before he could celebrate for two seconds, the Mist Ninja reacted swiftly, forming Hand Seals one after another and dousing the flames with Water Release techniques.

After all, they were out at sea, surrounded by water. The power of the Mist Ninja's Water Release techniques was effectively doubled.

In the blink of an eye, the flames aboard the transport ship were completely extinguished, without even a spark left.

Aragaki Yasushi hurriedly opened the system panel to check the mission. His expression instantly darkened.

What the hell?

Why wasn't the mission complete yet?

So that blast hadn't damaged the supplies at all?

Aragaki Yasushi narrowed his eyes and examined the transport ship, but no matter how hard he looked, he couldn't tell where the provisions and weapons were stored.

After all, he didn't have the Byakugan. He couldn't see through things.

Still, he could just keep blasting it.

The Energy Scroll didn't consume chakra, so he could keep firing until the supplies were blown into the sky—or until the mission was complete!

That's right. The Energy Scroll was a magical item, like a Talisman, and had Magic Power of its own. Even an ordinary person could activate it once it was bound to them.

And the Energy Scroll had one advantage over Talismans: it could recognize its owner. Even if an enemy stole it, they wouldn't be able to use it.

The next instant, Aragaki Yasushi focused again and again, sending beam after beam of green light from the Energy Scroll. They rained down on the transport ship and the Mist Ninja around it.

Blow it up! Blow the hell out of it!

I'm sinking this ship today, and I'm getting those four hundred points!

Meanwhile, Aragaki Yasushi himself darted through the sky with ease, dodging the various Water Release techniques fired up at him from below.

Come on, hit me if you can!

With aim like yours, you think you can knock me out of the sky?

Keep dreaming!

Though the Water Release attacks aimed at Aragaki Yasushi came in a dense, intimidating barrage, he knew exactly what was going on.

He was flying high enough that only the jutsu of the Jonin—and a few especially capable Chunin—could reach him.

But from that far away, he had more than enough time to react before the attacks reached him.

Dodging them was easy!

Ao below was so furious his face twisted, and his fists clenched with a crackling sound. "Damn Leaf brat!"

"Who is this guy?"

"I've never heard of Konoha having a secret Paper Style technique like that!"

Just as Ao was hopping mad, a young woman walked up beside him.

She had striking reddish-brown hair that completely covered her right eye, leaving only one emerald-green eye visible. She looked young, yet had a remarkably curvaceous figure.

The girl spoke calmly, with a note of certainty in her voice. "A Paper Style ninja from Konoha."

Ao turned to look. Recognizing her, he relaxed slightly and quickly asked, "Mei, do you know this brat?"

That's right. The girl was none other than Kirigakure's prodigy, Terumi Mei, who possessed two Kekkei Genkai: Lava Style and Boil Style!

Terumi Mei nodded lightly, her voice even. "I heard Konoha had a genius ninja who created a Paper Style technique of his own. He's been very active on the battlefield between Konoha and Iwagakure."

"Why is he here?"

"Could the fighting between Konoha and Iwagakure already be over?"

Ao furrowed his brow and pondered. "It's possible."

"Lately, Konoha has been sending a lot more Uchiha Clan ninja here."

"The Uchiha Clan had been responsible for fighting the Iwa Ninja. Now that they've come here, I'm guessing Iwagakure has called a ceasefire."

Terumi Mei's expression grew serious, though her voice held a hint of confidence. "Let me deal with him, before he causes any more trouble here."

As soon as she finished speaking, Terumi Mei swiftly formed Hand Seals and parted her red lips.

Boil Style: Skilled Mist Technique!

A cloud of boiling, highly corrosive mist billowed from her mouth, steaming white. It rose swiftly and surged toward Aragaki Yasushi in the sky.

Aragaki Yasushi had been having a blast, but suddenly froze. A sharp sting came from beneath his feet. He looked down.

What the hell?!

Why was the paper on my feet getting eaten away?

It was even sizzling. This mist has to be poisonous!

A gas?

Could this be... Boil Style?

Aragaki Yasushi realized what it was in an instant.

Why did I have to run into this?

A paper body was especially vulnerable to this kind of strong acid. It was a hundred times more troublesome than Water Release!

He didn't dare waste a moment. He immediately activated the Horse Talisman, and a faint glow enveloped his entire body. Layers of paper flakes spread out from the corroded area, and in the blink of an eye the damaged parts were restored, without a trace left behind.

Aragaki Yasushi looked down and followed the rising mist to its source. Sure enough, he spotted the red-brown-haired girl, and instantly understood.

Oh, isn't that Terumi Mei, the future Fifth Mizukage?

So she was already out here doing the work.

Aragaki Yasushi snorted. His Paper Wings beat once, and he swiftly dodged away from the corrosive mist as it continued to spread.

The Boil Style mist was less dense than air and drifted quickly, but they were outside.

It wasn't an enclosed space. Dodging it was easy!

Terumi Mei watched as the corroded parts of Aragaki Yasushi's body instantly regenerated. Her expression darkened, and she was secretly stunned.

How could this be?

This Paper Style's regenerative ability was that strong?

My Boil Style hadn't even managed to hurt him!

Just then, a loud crash rang out. The transport ship, riddled with holes by Aragaki Yasushi's Energy Scroll, finally gave way. It shuddered violently, then slowly sank into the sea, taking the supplies aboard with it.

Ao saw what had happened, trembled with rage, and roared, "Damn it! He really destroyed our supplies all by himself!"