The Two's Combat Training

In the forest, shing shing shing!

Several shuriken flew through the air, and Shota followed closely, thrusting his kunai at Su Zheng, who stood on the tree trunk.

Clang clang clang!

Su Zheng quickly blocked the incoming shuriken, dodged to the side to avoid the thrusting kunai, and kicked at Shota before the kunai could hit him.

Bang!

Shota's body fell to the ground, turning into a severed log.

"Water Style: Water Whip!"

Shota emerged from another direction, spitting out a stream of water that quickly transformed into a blue rope, coiling around Su Zheng.

"Heh heh, I got you. I knew you'd react quickly, so I used a Substitution Jutsu for a feint. That's my strategy, what do you think!"

"Not bad. While your reaction speed isn't as good as mine, your strategy is excellent." Su Zheng's arms bulged as he tried to break free with brute force.

"Don't waste your energy. I've practiced this jutsu for a long time. I tried it, and even a black bear couldn't break free, let alone..."

Before Shota could finish speaking, Su Zheng's body dissolved into a splash of water.

"This is impossible! A Zheng can already use a water clone on level ground? Is his Water Style that strong?"

"No! He must have used a water clone before entering the forest! What a great strategy!"

There was no time for admiration. Shota quickly pulled out several smoke bombs and threw them.

Bang bang bang!

Purple smoke billowed, obscuring the area, and Shota hid again.

"Shota, I have to admit, you've improved. Then I should take this seriously too!"

Su Zheng's voice echoed ethereally, making it impossible to pinpoint his location.

After a long while, the smoke dissipated, and no one was in sight. Shota had no choice but to search slowly.

"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

More than a dozen fireballs rained down from the sky, burning around Shota.

So, Su Zheng had been hiding at the treetop. No wonder his presence couldn't be detected.

Roar roar roar!

The flames spread rapidly, burning the bushes around Shota, and dust and smoke filled the air.

Shota was forced to reveal himself, escaping the fiery area.

"Got you!" Su Zheng continued to spit out several fireballs and pursued him.

Bang bang bang! Fireballs exploded continuously near Shota as he dodged and threw kunai to counterattack.

Su Zheng batted away the incoming kunai, getting closer and closer. Suddenly, just as he was about to touch Shota, Shota turned around abruptly, a flash bomb in his hand, a triumphant smile on his lips.

"Hah!"

A blinding white light struck, forcing both of them to close their eyes.

"Earth Style: Mud Swamp!"

A swamp rose up, enveloping the area where the bright light had been, slowly sinking.

"Success!" Shota emerged from the burning bushes, somewhat excited.

It turned out that the one who escaped the fire ring was just an Earth Clone. Shota's real body had been hidden there, waiting for Su Zheng to appear.

Shota excitedly walked towards the swamp, but it wasn't Su Zheng; like himself, it was another Earth Clone!

"Earth Style: Headhunter Jutsu!"

A hand emerged from the ground, pinning Shota in the earth, rendering him unable to move.

Shota gave a wry smile. As expected, he was still one step behind!

Su Zheng clapped his hands, emerging from the earth, and looked at Shota with admiration.

"Excellent, excellent! You know how to use tactics to confuse your enemies, and you've compensated for your slow reaction speed by avoiding close combat. Very good!"

Shota smiled helplessly and retorted, "Your vigilance is too high; you used clones the entire time!"

"I can't help it. You were even more cautious, using smoke and flash bombs to find an opening and avoid close-quarters combat. So, I could only use clones to lure you out!"

Shota pouted and said helplessly, "Aren't you going to pull me out already!"

The two of them used Water Style to extinguish the burning flames and sat down on a tree.

Shota asked, "When did you learn Fire Style? You didn't even tell me!"

Su Zheng said mysteriously, "How can I tell you that? You always have to keep a trump card! If I told you everything, wouldn't that mean I have no fallback?"

Shota rolled his eyes. I don't believe you, you only fool your own people.

"Then let me ask you, what do you do if the opponent uses clones multiple times in a battle?" Shota posed a question.

Su Zheng thought seriously and replied, "There are two situations. The first: if you can sense whether the opponent is the real body, then you can use your tactics to distract the enemy and attack."

"The second type: you can't sense if it's the real body. If you can kill it in one hit, then you don't need tactical substitutions. Otherwise, you can only keep substituting to deplete the opponent's chakra and look for an opening!"

"However, it's best to hold back a little during battle and substitute more. If you don't understand your opponent's strength, avoid being instantly killed!"

Shota nodded in deep agreement and analyzed, "Back in Yubu Town, that Chunin really controlled our combat rhythm. Close combat wasn't safe, and they'd always interrupt us when we were releasing Ninjutsu. It was incredibly annoying!"

"Hmm, this is the difference between Chunin and Genin. Even if team formations can compensate for combat power, their battle experience is absolutely crushing. It was only because they underestimated us that they failed!"

"Speaking of which, how has Maki been treating you since then?" Su Zheng asked curiously.

When this topic came up, Shota became a little smug. "Heh, you know, Maki has been treating me much better since that time."

"Brother might not be as handsome as you, but I'm still loved by someone." He tidied his hair, sounding a bit cocky.

Su Zheng rolled his eyes speechlessly. There was really no comparison in this regard. Maki and Shota grew up together, so their bond couldn't be matched.

For some reason, Su Zheng thought of Konan and Haruna and quickly shook his head. He was still young.

He still had a great dream to achieve. Before he possessed immense power, he didn't want to think about such things.

As for the future, Konan, Haruna, and those from the Five Great Nations – none of them would escape him!

Su Zheng wore an evil smile.

"It's about time, let's head back!"

"Oh, right, these are the Ninjutsu Scrolls I borrowed today. Take them and study them!" Su Zheng took out the Ninjutsu Scrolls and handed them to Shota.

"Okay!"

Shota didn't stand on ceremony. Most of the Ninjutsu he used before were given by A Zheng. Their Jonin instructor had gone to the battlefield that morning and didn't have much time to teach them, so they were told to self-study. Thanks to Hanzo's nephew status, Shota and Maki could learn Ninjutsu quickly without having to work hard on missions to exchange for them.

The two tidied up the area, collecting the shuriken and kunai they had used.

As the two groups dispersed, Su Zheng pulled Konan and Haruna home.

Behind the Sand Village's main camp.

The poisoned Sand Ninja were gathered in one area, with medical ninjas working at full capacity to treat them. However, Hanzo's poison was potent and acted quickly. Many Sand Ninja were already covered in bruises and had high fevers, indicating the poison had entered critical areas.

"Lady Chiyo, many have already fallen unconscious from the poison. Please hurry and help!" a medical ninja outside the tent said anxiously.

"What's the rush! Have the medical ninjas stop the bleeding first. Take two of the most severe cases to the surgical tent and bring the prepared antidotes with you."

"Also, order the first and second squads to stand guard against Amegakure and await our reinforcements. Report any situation immediately."

"Yes." The medical ninja hurried off to make preparations.

Inside the tent, Chiyo first put away the puppets she had brought back, stopped the bleeding from her own wounds, wrapped them with bandages, and then headed to the operating room after getting herself sorted.

The Chunin poisoned on the left was bloated, his skin a strange red. He didn't seem to have any external injuries, likely having inhaled the poisonous smoke.

The ninja poisoned on the right was different. He had been wounded by a sharp weapon, and the wound had festered, emitting a foul odor. This indicated the sharp weapon was contaminated with poison.

Understanding the methods of poisoning, Chiyo now had a direction. As a master of poison herself and skilled in medical Ninjutsu, she naturally understood how to prepare antidotes.

After testing over a dozen formulas, she finally concocted an antidote, which greatly simplified the treatment process.

On the way, Konan and Haruna kept looking at Su Zheng, smiling, but not saying anything.

Su Zheng found it a bit strange. "What's wrong? Is there something funny?"

"No, no." The two said in unison, exchanging glances. Thinking of Brother Zheng's embarrassing moments, they laughed even harder.

Su Zheng was a bit helpless and asked, "What do you want to eat tonight? Shall we go buy something?"

"I want to eat grilled fish, big grilled fish!"

"Me too, me too!"

"Okay~" Su Zheng looked at them dotingly, the setting sun casting their shadows infinitely long.