Water Release VS Fire Release! (Seeking Reads, Monthly Tickets)

On the border of the Land of Fire, sitting around a campfire and listening to Hatake Sakumo, Shita Genichi finally understood the details of this mission.

The location was once again the Land of Rivers, and the objective was to protect an iron mine.

This could be considered a follow-up to their previous mission.

After the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers was slain by Uchiha Namiichi, the Land of Fire had swiftly installed a new Daimyo, not only reclaiming the interests that were about to be lost but also securing an additional share.

That was the target of this mission.

The mine had been forced to shut down due to attacks by bandits and rogue ninjas.

Consequently, wealthy merchants from the Land of Fire had paid a high price to hire a ninja squad from Konoha for protection.

Bandits?

Rogue ninjas?

It was more likely that the Land of Wind and Sunagakure were stirring up trouble.

Otherwise, there would be no need for two squads just to deal with bandits and rogue ninjas.

Even if Hatake Sakumo was the only jonin among them.

Once the mission details were explained, everyone began to chat.

Uchiha Namiichi asked curiously, "Genichi, which ninjutsu did you choose?"

Shita Genichi smiled. "A sealing jutsu called the Yin Seal."

Uchiha Namiichi and Yamanaka En were both quite surprised. "A sealing jutsu?"

Yamanaka En asked, puzzled, "Why choose a sealing jutsu?"

"You specialize in Water Release and Genjutsu; it would be more normal to pick something in those categories, wouldn't it?"

At this, Sarutobi Shinnosuke and the others were also drawn into the conversation.

Shita Genichi laughed. "As for Water Release, the ninjutsu I currently possess are sufficient."

Offense, defense, area-of-effect attacks, and single-target strikes—I have them all.

"The same goes for Genjutsu."

"On the contrary, my chakra is somewhat insufficient. The Yin Seal is perfect for storing the chakra I don't use during normal times, so I can release it when I need it."

Uchiha Namiichi's cold face couldn't help but twitch. "Your chakra reserves shouldn't be small, right?"

"Compared to En and me, you aren't lacking at all."

Yamanaka En nodded repeatedly; that was exactly what he had wanted to complain about.

At this point, Sarutobi Shinnosuke remarked, "It's likely because Water Release consumes a lot of chakra, especially in environments without a water source. To bring out the full power of Water Release, besides mastering nature transformation, you need massive amounts of chakra to support it."

Shita Genichi nodded. "Senior Shinnosuke is right. You can't always choose the battlefield yourself."

"Namiichi, what ninjutsu did you choose?"

As the topic shifted, Uchiha Namiichi replied, "A Fire Release ninjutsu, Fire Dragon Flame Bullet."

The image of Sarutobi Hiruzen battling the reanimated First and Second Hokage immediately flashed through Shita Genichi's mind.

This Fire Release was fierce—at least, it was fierce when Sarutobi Hiruzen used it.

However, it had been blocked by the Second Hokage's Water Formation Wall, causing the Anbu ninjas to gasp in shock, and even Sarutobi Hiruzen himself had seemed a bit stunned.

To block such a ferocious Fire Release with Water Release in an environment without water—he truly lived up to his reputation as a master of Water Release.

"Fire Dragon Flame Bullet is a Fire Release ninjutsu that the Third Hokage excels at; it has a fast attack speed and a considerable range," Hatake Sakumo commented.

Uchiha Namiichi nodded; he valued the fast attack speed.

In truth, the Uchiha clan was not lacking in Fire Release; they had all sorts of types.

But since he was allowed to choose one, Uchiha Namiichi still preferred Fire Release.

Yamanaka En laughed. "Namiichi, Genichi, one of you specializes in Fire Release and the other in Water Release. I'm quite looking forward to seeing you two face off."

Uchiha Namiichi looked at Shita Genichi, a hint of eagerness flickering in his eyes beneath his stern expression.

He had already witnessed Shita Genichi's Water Release at the Daimyo Palace in the Land of Rivers.

It was extremely powerful.

But that was in an environment with water; if there were no water...

Shita Genichi looked toward Hatake Sakumo.

Hatake Sakumo said, "You can give it a try. It will increase your experience in countering Fire Release with Water Release."

Shita Genichi and Uchiha Namiichi exchanged a glance, then vanished from their spots in unison.

A few meters away.

The two stood five or six meters apart.

Uchiha Namiichi shouted in a low voice, "Here I come!"

As the words fell, he formed hand seals at lightning speed.

Ram-Horse-Snake-Dragon-Rat-Ox-Tiger!

In just over a second, the seals were complete. Uchiha Namiichi inhaled, his chest swelling, and a line of fire erupted from his mouth.

The line converged into a fireball a meter away, and with a booming roar, flames surged from within, a dragon-shaped torrent whistling toward Shita Genichi at incredible speed.

Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet!

In just a few short days, Uchiha Namiichi had already mastered this B-rank Fire Release.

Watching this, Sarutobi Shinnosuke gave an imperceptible nod, impressed by Uchiha Namiichi's execution of the technique.

On the other side, Shita Genichi only then began his seals.

He extended his arms, left hand in a fist supported by his right palm, then pulled them back to form the Snake seal. Water instantly condensed and swirled around him, forming a circular water curtain.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke's eyes lit up.

The seal was concise, fast, unique, and visually striking.

No wonder that guy Asuma wanted to imitate it.

A smile tugged at the corner of Sarutobi Shinnosuke's mouth.

Even though his younger brother was getting the short end of the stick, it didn't stop him from enjoying the show.

BOOM!

The dragon fire collided with the rotating water, sending steam billowing into the air and obscuring Shita Genichi's figure.

Uchiha Namiichi maintained the output, but he could not break through Shita Genichi's water defense.

He immediately ceased the ninjutsu and began forming new seals.

Across the field, the steam dissipated, and the water swirling around Shita Genichi scattered into droplets before vanishing entirely.

Seeing Uchiha Namiichi forming seals again, Shita Genichi extended his palms, then quickly pulled them back and clapped them together with a sharp crack.

Water condensed around him once more, spinning like a top and rising with increasing momentum.

Water Release: Water Colliding Wave!

"Such powerful Water Release!"

Nara Kakuto and the others were stunned, having never seen such a massive Water Release performed in an environment without a water source.

Hatake Sakumo thought to himself, Genichi's choice was the right one.

Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!

Fireballs whistled through the air, circling toward Shita Genichi.

This Fire Release allowed for control over the fireballs' trajectories, enabling attacks from multiple angles.

Shita Genichi spread his arms, and the water surrounding him surged outward, extinguishing every incoming fireball and sweeping toward Uchiha Namiichi.

Uchiha Namiichi leaped into the air, dodging the waves and landing on the water's surface.

At that moment, Shita Genichi crossed his arms.

The water behind Uchiha Namiichi surged backward, curling toward him from both left and right.

"Such incredible control!"

Yamanaka Jing couldn't help but exclaim.

Akimichi Dozō added, "I've never seen anyone better at Water Release than him!"

Even Sarutobi Shinnosuke nodded; he suspected even his own old man would have to admit inferiority.

However, Uchiha Namiichi was already familiar with this move. He turned, drew his blade, and slashed out with a wave of fire, shattering the incoming water with a thunderous boom.

Uchiha-Style Kenjutsu!

Just then, a hand reached out from beneath the water, and with a splash, pulled Uchiha Namiichi under.

However.

Behind Shita Genichi on the other side, another Uchiha Namiichi appeared, opened his mouth, and unleashed a roaring dragon of fire.

Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!

BOOM!

The dragon fire engulfed Shita Genichi.

POOF!

Amidst the flames, Shita Genichi burst into a cloud of smoke.

On the other side, Shita Genichi surfaced from the water.

The Uchiha Namiichi he had just pulled underwater was clearly a Shadow Clone.

Shita Genichi had used his Shadow Clone when the first Fire Dragon Flame Bullet created the massive cloud of steam.

Meanwhile, Uchiha Namiichi had used his Shadow Clone after unleashing the Phoenix Sage Fire.

At that moment, water vapor was rising as well.

The key was that Uchiha Namiichi had used his Sharingan to see Shita Genichi's chakra hidden within the water.

However, he could not distinguish which one was the real body.

Therefore, he used a Shadow Clone to remain in place and draw Shita Genichi's attention, while his true self circled around to attack from behind.

Unexpectedly, both sides had attacked a Shadow Clone.

At this moment, the two looked at each other and could not help but laugh in unison.

A draw!