Battle at the Lakeside! The Spoils of War: Hero Water!

The moment he finished speaking, Danzo and Kagami sprang into action!

"Wind Style: Peacock Whirlwind Slash!"

"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

A fierce wind swept down alongside blazing flames. The unprepared Takigakure squad was thrown into instant chaos, and one chunin was shredded to death on the spot by wind blades!

At the same time, Lin Hai's fingers flew through signs as the shuriken he hurled, trailing thin steel wires, pierced through the net of flames.

"Shuriken Manipulation Technique!"

The burning steel wires were like Death's scythes, instantly slicing open the throats of two genin!

Four genin remained.

Lin Hai used the Body Flicker Technique, charging into the enemy formation like a ghost.

Before their terrified eyes, his hands rapidly formed seals.

"Wind Style: Tornado Hurricane!"

A violent tornado rose from the flat ground, swallowing all four genin.

The gale was like a blade, instantly grinding them into minced flesh amid their screams!

With the cannon fodder cleared out, Lin Hai immediately assessed the battle.

Danzo was tightly entangling the Takigakure jonin, while Kagami was locked in a hard fight, suppressed by the combined attacks of the remaining two Takigakure chunin.

"Fire Release: Dragon Flame Bullet Technique!"

Lin Hai rushed to assist without hesitation, spewing three scorching fire dragons from his mouth as they lunged at the two chunin.

"Playing with fire in front of Water Release? You're courting death!" One of the Takigakure ninja sneered as he formed seals. "Water Release: Water Dragon Technique!"

A thick water dragon surged into the sky from the nearby lake and crushed the three fire dragons in a single bite.

"Near water, even jonin like you will die!" The Takigakure chunin laughed madly as the two of them began forming seals at the same time.

Tiger—Ox—Monkey—Rabbit—Rat—Boar—Rooster—Ox—Horse—Dog—Tiger—Dog—Tiger—Snake—Ox—Monkey—Rabbit!

Watching the lengthy sequence of forty-four hand seals, Lin Hai's eye twitched violently.

Was this really something a chunin could pull off?

Using high-level Water Release beside a lake would definitely double its power!

On the other side, Uchiha Kagami's three-tomoe Sharingan spun wildly, perfectly copying the enemy's hand seals in sync!

Lin Hai lacked water-nature chakra and could not replicate it. He could only retreat several steps and begin preparing his strongest Fire Release.

Under Kagami's guidance, his control over fire-nature chakra had long since improved beyond recognition.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"

The Takigakure ninja and Kagami completed their seals at the same time. Two massive water dragons collided with a thunderous crash, sending spray flying everywhere before canceling each other out.

At that moment, Lin Hai's ninjutsu was completed as well.

"Fire Release: Great Fire Dragon Dance Technique!"

The violent fire dragon, improved under the First Hokage's guidance, roared forth and crashed into the other water dragon with overwhelming force.

The high temperature instantly evaporated the lake water, and vast clouds of scalding white steam engulfed the entire battlefield.

Lin Hai drew his short blade with a backhand motion and used the water vapor for cover, flickering into the fray as he attempted to separate the two Takigakure ninja.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

"Water Release: Water Flow Technique!"

They reacted quickly, one defending and one attacking. Lin Hai twisted aside to evade the rushing water column, decisively discarded his blade, and formed seals with both hands. "Wind Style: Thousand Faces of Wind!"

Thousands of tiny wind blades descended upon the two like a meat grinder.

At the same time, Kagami seized the chance. "Genjutsu: Haze Follower Technique!"

One of the Takigakure chunin's eyes lost focus as he fell under the genjutsu.

The other Takigakure ninja was horrified. Ignoring everything else, he hoisted his companion onto his back and tried to break through toward the jonin.

Elsewhere, the Takigakure jonin fighting Danzo caught sight of Kagami's scarlet eyes and cried out in shock:

"Uchiha Sharingan! You're Konoha ninja! What are you doing infiltrating deep into the Land of Waterfalls?!"

Danzo's gaze turned sinister. "Since you've recognized us, we definitely can't let you live!" His offensive instantly became several times fiercer.

Lin Hai and Kagami pursued the two chunin all the way.

Seeing that the jonin was being held down and knowing there was no way out, the conscious Takigakure ninja flashed a ruthless look in his eyes and formed seals with both hands. "Water Release: Water Blade!"

Wielding a high-pressure water blade, he lunged at Lin Hai like a madman, intending to trade his life for Lin Hai's!

Lin Hai remained calm in the face of danger. He pulled out a kunai with a backhand motion, coating it in wind-nature chakra and precisely blocking the water blade.

The next second, Kagami appeared at the man's side like a ghost, his kunai ruthlessly piercing the man's heart.

"Great Fireball Technique!"

Lin Hai launched a massive fireball with a backhand strike, completely burning the two chunin to ashes.

Seeing all his subordinates wiped out, the Takigakure jonin lost all will to fight and immediately formed seals. "Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique!"

Dense fog instantly spread everywhere. He turned and leaped toward the lake. The underground waterways of the Land of Waterfalls extended in every direction. Once he entered the water, not even the Hokage could catch him!

"Don't even think about running! Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!" Danzo shouted, and a violent gale instantly dispersed the fog.

But one of the jonin's feet had already stepped into the lake.

"Too late!" The jonin was overjoyed.

However, a small figure carrying scorching heat crashed down before him like a meteor.

Less than three meters away!

"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!"

Lin Hai's icy voice rang out.

Several high-density fireballs detonated right in the man's face. The jonin did not even have time to scream before he was instantly reduced to a charred corpse.

Danzo let out a long breath and gave an order after landing. "Search the bodies. Find the map!"

Lin Hai and Kagami immediately got to work. In the end, they found three scraps of cloth on one chunin. When pieced together, their red markings pointed directly at this lake.

"But there's nothing around here." Kagami frowned.

Lin Hai looked up at the enormous ancient tree in the middle of the lake.

"Captain Danzo, the Land of Waterfalls is best known for its underground rivers. Could the item be beneath the tree roots at the bottom of the lake?"

Danzo pondered for a moment. "Very likely. Keep watch. I'll go down and take a look."

With that, Danzo plunged headfirst into the lake.

Not long afterward, he burst from the water with a gourd-shaped glass container in hand and tossed it to Kagami. "Check it for sealing traps."

Kagami carefully examined it. "No traps. It's just a wind seal that keeps out air. But this liquid... we should let Torifu examine it after we return. He's proficient in pharmacology."

Danzo nodded. "Clean up the battlefield. Kagami, use Lightning Release to forge some destruction marks and pin this on Kumogakure. Move quickly!"

Everyone efficiently cleared the scene and swiftly withdrew.

Inside an inn room.

Akimichi Torifu held the glass bottle and studied it for a long while. He carefully dripped out a drop of liquid and tasted it with the tip of his tongue.

Buzz!

A faint yet extraordinarily violent blue chakra instantly covered Torifu's body!

Danzo's eyes lit up. "Well? Can this be used?"

Torifu wiped the corner of his mouth, his expression grave. "It's very similar to the secret medicine of our Akimichi clan. But only members of our clan can consume our secret medicine, and the cost is fat consumption. This, however... anyone can drink it. Its price is the same as our clan's ultimate trump card, the Pepper Pill—it directly overdraws life force in exchange for chakra!"

"How much can it amplify chakra?" Danzo pressed.

"Tenfold!" Torifu said with certainty. "One sip will increase chakra tenfold! But once the effects wear off, there's an extremely high chance that the user will die on the spot."

Danzo took a deep breath, madness flickering in his eyes. "The Land of Waterfalls is filled with danger. This is a life-saving trump card. Kagami, divide the water into four portions and seal them away. Each of us will carry one sip as a reserve."

After giving those instructions, Danzo issued another order. "Tomorrow's transaction is the main event. Everyone, get a good rest tonight and conserve your strength!"

Late at night, the crescent moon hung like a hook.

Lin Hai lay atop the roof, gazing at the night sky.

For some reason, ever since leaving Konoha, an inescapable sense of irritation had lingered in his heart.

It felt as though something immensely important was drifting farther and farther away from him.

"Young Master."

Uchiha Kagami appeared soundlessly beside him and bowed respectfully. "You're still awake so late. Is something troubling you?"

Lin Hai sighed. "I can't really explain it. I just feel restless, like something bad is going to happen."

The two silently watched the night sky.

After a long while, Lin Hai suddenly spoke. "Kagami, do you think... our Uchiha Clan could produce a Hokage someday?"

Kagami froze, his eyes filled with disbelief.

Seeing Kagami's stunned expression, Lin Hai smiled helplessly.

"Surprised? When my teacher first told me I had a chance of becoming Hokage, I thought he was crazy too. Oh, I forgot to tell you—my teacher is the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju."

The moment those words left his mouth, Kagami was struck as if by lightning, unable to contain his shock.

"If it's you, Young Master..." Kagami took a deep breath, his tone becoming incomparably excited. "Then perhaps... it really is possible!"

Lin Hai chuckled softly, his gaze fixed firmly on the distance.

"The village's prejudice against the Uchiha runs too deep. As long as we can change that, the position of Hokage won't be beyond reach. Even if I cannot become Hokage, as long as the clan endures, one day in the future, the Uchiha will surely produce a Hokage..."

Listening to Lin Hai describe the future, Uchiha Kagami looked at his young master, who was only six years old yet possessed such mature wisdom, and the conviction in his heart grew ever stronger.

He silently swore an oath: for the rest of his life, he would follow the young master unto death and bring that magnificent blueprint belonging to the Uchiha to fruition!