Elementalization

Uchiha Kagami continued, "Since your Fire Style is so powerful, and it may be related to your physique, you need to develop your physique accordingly. Take my Sharingan, for example. Developing the Sharingan is also..."

As Uchiha Kagami explained, Li Yi began to get a rough idea of how the Sharingan was developed.

"So, since you're naturally attuned to fire, you should become one with it and try to experience it. Developing any kekkei genkai is dangerous, so you need to be prepared for that!" Uchiha Kagami said earnestly.

Li Yi nodded. After listening to Uchiha Kagami, he finally had some idea of what to do. Otherwise, he'd have been completely clueless about developing the Mera Mera no Mi. In the One Piece World, all you had to do was eat the fruit. As for its final form and such, that could come later. The most basic applications came naturally.

But here, things were a pain in the ass. Li Yi didn't even want to complain. How could he put it? It was like being constipated. He had a powerful Devil Fruit, but he'd turned it into a tiny portable charger that could only give his ninjutsu a slight boost. It was honestly a little depressing.

And so, as he followed Uchiha Kagami on patrol, Li Yi continued to contemplate his Fire Style chakra and the peculiarities of his body.

Gradually, time seemed to pass faster and faster, and the border clashes grew increasingly fierce. After two years, Li Yi could patrol on his own and even lead some Chunin who had come from Konoha. He couldn't exactly be called a hardened veteran, but he'd grown quite accustomed to it.

For the past two years, aside from refining chakra each day, Li Yi had focused on developing his Mera Mera no Mi. With a clearer direction and a better grasp of its special properties, he'd already mastered some of its power.

Over those two years, Li Yi had come to understand a little more. Perhaps because the world's laws were different, developing the Mera Mera no Mi's abilities was actually tied to his chakra. By now, he could partially turn his body into fire. When he added the Mera Mera no Mi's power to his Fire Style, it became much stronger. Even without mastering Chakra Nature Transformation, the Fire Style he performed was already no weaker than one enhanced by it.

Thinking back to when he'd first crossed over, Li Yi realized that he'd finally gained some means of protecting himself. At the very least, partially turning his body into fire would let him shrug off many attacks.

As for Ryujin Jakka, there had been no response so far. Perhaps he hadn't killed enough people. Although he'd spent two years at the border, he'd seen little actual fighting. Most of the time, the ninjas from both sides simply hurled a few Shuriken at each other and vanished.

It was only recently that things had begun to escalate, and the air had grown thick with tension.

"Xiao Yi, come with me. We've got a new mission!" Uchiha Kagami appeared in front of Li Yi and spoke at once.

Without a word, Li Yi followed Uchiha Kagami.

As they ran, Li Yi asked, "Teacher, are we heading to the Land of Rain border?"

Uchiha Kagami nodded. "Kirigakure's ninjas have crossed the border here several times to attack our village's shinobi. Among them are the famous Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. They appear and disappear without a trace. The Third Hokage has ordered me to intercept them."

Li Yi understood. So it was the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist. At this point, they weren't called that yet, since there weren't even seven of them. Still, they were undoubtedly among Kirigakure's elite fighters.

The fact that Konoha had sent Uchiha Kagami to intercept them showed just how seriously they took Kirigakure.

"Xiao Yi, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist are all elite Jōnin, and their Ninja Blades are powerful. If you run into them head-on, remember to get as far away as you can. Understand?" Uchiha Kagami said.

After all, Li Yi was still officially a Chunin. Of course, his current strength was more than enough to qualify him as a Special Jōnin. He simply hadn't mastered Chakra Nature Transformation yet. Once he did, he'd be a full-fledged Jōnin.

But becoming a Jōnin still required passing Konoha's assessment and receiving recommendations from two Jōnin. It was quite a hassle.

"I understand!" Li Yi replied.

Uchiha Kagami had brought Li Yi along because there was no telling when they might encounter the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, but they were sure to run into Kirigakure's ninjas. He wanted Li Yi to get some real-world experience.

However, the Land of Rain's environment would weaken Li Yi to some extent, while giving Kirigakure's ninjas an advantage. It rained there all year round, making Fire Style a poor choice.

But that was the way of the ninja. The world wouldn't always give you an environment suited to you. You had to overcome such difficulties to become strong.

Li Yi didn't mind. Ordinary rain couldn't put out his Fire Style.

And so, they reached the border of the Land of Rain. Without the slightest hesitation, Uchiha Kagami stepped into the country. This was how helpless small nations were in the wars between great powers: the battlefield was always on their land.

As Uchiha Kagami and Li Yi pressed forward, a thick white mist suddenly spread all around them. Uchiha Kagami immediately said, "Stay alert!"

Li Yi nodded. He knew this was Kirigakure's signature ninjutsu, the Hidden Mist Technique.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! The sound of projectiles slicing through the air reached them. Li Yi leaped up, spun Ryujin Jakka in his hand, and knocked away every Kunai flying toward him. Uchiha Kagami remained where he was, clearly watching to see how Li Yi handled the attack.

Li Yi didn't know Wind Style. He could dispel the Hidden Mist Technique with a large amount of Fire Style, but that would waste far too much chakra. He naturally wouldn't do that.

But the Kirigakure ninja hidden in the shadows would surely keep attacking. If Li Yi could seize an opening, he could finish him off.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh! Another volley of projectiles came flying. Li Yi swung Ryujin Jakka, only to realize that this time there were not just Kunai but Explosive Tags as well. He cursed under his breath and hurriedly used the Body Flicker Technique to get away.

At that moment, Li Yi heard a noise. He immediately raised his hand and hurled two Shuriken toward it. Another rustle came from that direction—the enemy was evidently dodging the Shuriken. Li Yi seized the opening, rapidly formed Hand Seals, took a deep breath, and breathed out a gigantic dragon-shaped head of fire.

It was the ninjutsu Fire Style: Great Fire Dragon Technique.

The fire dragon's head vaporized the mist wherever it passed. But the enemy was clearly prepared for Li Yi's Great Fire Dragon Technique. Two walls of water rose up in front of him to block it, and when the water and fire collided, they produced a fresh cloud of mist.

But this time, since the mist hadn't been created by the Hidden Mist Technique, the Kirigakure ninja couldn't see Li Yi either. Still, both of them knew roughly where the other was.