Summarizing was one of Gong Yi's habits.
Whether it was reviewing his daily training or, as now, going over a battle, he felt it was essential.
People always made the same mistakes!
Only by constantly reflecting and learning from experience could one improve!
From gathering intelligence that day, to eavesdropping on Kitsuchi and the Sand Ninja's secret meeting, to the counterattack against Shaquan's squad, and finally the fight to the death with Kazama Heitetsu.
Gong Yi kept thinking it through, examining every detail!
"According to what they taught us at the Ninja Academy, I didn't make any major mistakes while gathering intelligence."
"The same goes for eavesdropping on the secret meeting. I was only discovered by Kazama Heitetsu, an elite Jonin, because I didn't know any concealment techniques. I need to make up for that weakness."
"I handled the close-quarters fight against Shaquan's squad well. From pretending to be overwhelmed, to interrupting Shaquan's killing move at just the right moment, to taking him out with Shurikenjutsu—I did everything perfectly. I was a little too careless when dealing with the bodies, though."
"Still, that wasn't really my fault. If we hadn't run into Rasa, the body would have misled them, and Kazama Heitetsu would never have suspected a Konoha Ninja."
Gong Yi went over everything one point at a time, finally reaching his battle with Kazama Heitetsu.
Even now, Gong Yi still felt a little shaken.
That fight had been far more dangerous than he'd imagined. Anyone around Gong Yi's age would probably have died in it.
From the very beginning, Gong Yi had clearly assessed the difference between his strength and Kazama Heitetsu's.
When it came to the speed of Chakra refinement and maximum capacity, he couldn't compete with an experienced elite Jonin like Kazama Heitetsu.
The same was true of their Ninjutsu skills.
After all, Kazama Heitetsu was the Kazekage's bodyguard, a high-ranking figure in Sunagakure with access to all kinds of advanced Ninjutsu.
That was why Gong Yi had decided from the start to make himself seem weaker than he was.
He used the Ninjutsu he knew to withstand as many of his opponent's attacks as possible and wear down his Chakra.
Only when his opponent had decided to kill him and was ready to finish him off in one fell swoop did Gong Yi reveal all his hidden cards.
"It was still too dangerous!"
Gong Yi shook his head and couldn't help sighing.
"If I'd mastered several advanced Ninjutsu, I wouldn't have ended up in that situation. I wouldn't have had to rely on my body to win."
Gong Yi's Chakra reserves were every bit as large as an ordinary Jonin's.
But he'd been forced onto the defensive the entire fight because the gap in their Ninjutsu skills was simply too great.
"Once I'm back in the village, it'll be time to collect some Ninjutsu. I've just completed this mission, and the intelligence I brought back should be important enough to give me access to them!"
Gong Yi narrowed his eyes and slowly rose from the bath.
His body was covered in one shocking scar after another.
The strength of Wind Style users was beyond question.
During the fight, Gong Yi had taken too many tiny wind blades, leaving him with wounds all over.
The worst was the huge scar across his chest, carved there by a Vacuum Sphere from Kazama Heitetsu.
Only because Gong Yi was so physically tough had he managed to recover, little by little, over the past ten days.
"Let's go. Back to the village!"
Konoha's Hokage Office!
Iga Kawaji stood there looking haggard, his left sleeve hanging empty.
His entire left arm was gone!
The Third Hokage felt a pang of sorrow at the sight.
Iga Kawaji gave him a strained smile. "Rasa is hailed as the Third Kazekage's successor, and he's mastered the powerful Kekkei Genkai. Surviving a fight with him was lucky enough. Lord Hokage, please don't grieve for me."
"But without that hand, you won't be able to use Ninjutsu the way you used to..." The Third Hokage shook his head, feeling somewhat to blame.
If he hadn't pulled Iga Kawaji out of Anbu and had let him take on other missions as usual, perhaps this wouldn't have happened.
Still, just as Iga Kawaji had said, surviving was already a stroke of luck.
"Rasa, that young man—how strong is he? Have you given Konoha's intelligence department all the details about him?"
Iga Kawaji nodded. "I traded an arm for this information. Of course I made sure to report it all."
"Rasa has mastered the Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai! He can also extract gold from sand and soil, then combine it with other Ninjutsu to increase their power. The techniques he used were Magnet Release: Sand-Stone Flow, Magnet Release: Shuriken, and Magnet Release: Glazed Shatter..."
As the Third Hokage listened to Iga Kawaji's report, his brows furrowed deeply.
"Is this young man really that strong? He's only eighteen, isn't he?"
Iga Kawaji said quietly, "Lord Hokage, there's no need to worry. We have people like Orochimaru and Jiraiya in our village. And among the younger generation, Minato Namikaze is every bit his equal. In fact, I think Minato Namikaze may even be somewhat stronger than Rasa."
The Third Hokage trusted Iga Kawaji's judgment. But if that was the case, then he was curious about something else.
"Rasa went after you himself, so your squad must have intercepted something—information or an object. What could it have been?"
Worry appeared on Iga Kawaji's face at the question.
"My two subordinates, Hyuga Senso and Ogawara, didn't obtain much valuable intelligence. The pursuit was set off by another member of the team, Gong Yi. If there was any intelligence of great value, it must be with him."
"Gong Yi, the top student at the Ninja Academy, the genius among civilian Ninja?"
The Third Hokage fell into thought. "Has he returned?"
Iga Kawaji shook his head. "Not yet. It's been ten days, and we haven't received any news. We don't even know who was chasing him. I hope he's safe."
The Third Hokage was more concerned with what intelligence Gong Yi might have gathered.
As the squad leader, Iga Kawaji was more concerned with whether Gong Yi was alive.
The Third Hokage suddenly asked, "I've had you keep an eye on Gong Yi. What's your assessment of him? I mean, not just his personal strength, but also his attitude toward the village."
Iga Kawaji hesitated, then answered firmly, "Although Gong Yi was a war orphan found outside the village, he grew up here and has a strong sense of belonging."
"During our escape, he did everything he could to protect the other two team members, then drew the pursuers away on his own."
The Third Hokage stroked his beard, still uncertain.
He seemed less concerned with Gong Yi's personal strength now.
"Lord Hokage, I'll be going. My team is waiting outside. If Gong Yi returns to the village, I'll bring him to see you as soon as I can!"
"Go ahead."
As he left the building, sunlight spilled down, warming Iga Kawaji's face.
Hyuga Senso and Ogawara ran over. They glanced at his empty sleeve, their faces heavy with sorrow.
Iga Kawaji gave them a stiff smile. "Come on. My hand may be ruined, and I may not be able to go on missions anymore, but I'm still your squad leader until the new one arrives. I'll teach you as much as I can."
Just as they were about to leave, a figure slowly appeared at the entrance to Konoha.
"Konoha, I'm back!"
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