Sparring (Part 2)

Qing Si's expression suddenly turned serious, and the chakra within his body began circulating rapidly.

"Water Release: Who Built the Dam!"

The chakra in the air churned violently. Under Qing Si's control, vast amounts of moisture gathered together, and water enough to form a small lake surged toward Qian Nai and Yagura.

"Yagura! Defend!" Qian Nai shouted when she saw the scale of the technique.

Qian Nai swiftly moved to Yagura's side, and the two formed hand seals in sync.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

The Water Formation Wall they released together successfully offset the impact of the Exploding Water Shock Wave, but the two of them were swept into the middle of the artificial lake in the courtyard.

Once the curtain of water raised by the clashing ninjutsu dispersed, Qian Nai and Yagura, standing atop the lake, had lost sight of Qing Si.

"Yagura, sense him, quickly!" Qian Nai said urgently. There was no need to think about it—Qing Si, hidden somewhere, was definitely plotting an ambush.

"Not good! He's underwater!" Yagura's expression changed drastically as he sensed Qing Si's chakra.

Before Yagura had even finished speaking, a hand reaching up from beneath the water grabbed him and dragged him down. Before he could resist, Qing Si's Water Clone at the side unleashed the ninjutsu it had prepared in advance.

"Water Release: Water Prison Technique!"

A spherical prison rapidly enclosed Yagura. Qing Si's Water Clone plunged one hand into the Water Prison, and the chakra within firmly suppressed Yagura, leaving him unable to move.

"Got one!" Qing Si said.

Another Water Clone swiftly charged toward Qian Nai on the water's surface. Qian Nai used Mighty Water Arm again, throwing a heavy punch at the clone. Unable to withstand the force, the Water Clone instantly dispersed, but Qing Si controlled it from the side, turning it into a Water Prison that tried to envelop Qian Nai.

At the sight of the Water Prison Technique, Qian Nai was delighted. She hurriedly liquefied her body and escaped, but she had not considered why Qing Si would still use the Water Prison Technique against her despite knowing that she could liquefy her body.

"Big Sister Qian Nai, you've lost!" At that moment, a bone blade silently rested against Qian Nai's neck just as she escaped from the Water Prison Technique, while Qing Si's voice came from behind her.

The Water Prison Technique had merely been a feint; the real killing move came afterward. Knowing how much power Dead Bone Pulse could unleash at close range, Qian Nai did not struggle further and decisively admitted defeat.

"Qing Si, you really are strong. Even when Yagura and I joined forces, we weren't your match," Qian Nai praised. She knew Qing Si had yet to use many techniques related to Dead Bone Pulse.

"You're amazing too, Big Sister Qian Nai. I really learned a good lesson from you today!" Looking back on Qian Nai's tactics, Qing Si found them truly eye-opening. At the same time, he gained a deeper understanding of battles between shinobi.

The memories he had obtained were ultimately only memories. Moreover, the Otsutsuki Clan was far inferior to the Shinobi World in both the use of techniques and tactics. Qing Si also realized that only by steadily turning his acquired combat experience into instinct through constant battle could he become truly strong.

As Qing Si and Qian Nai chatted, they had unconsciously forgotten a certain green-haired little brother still trapped in a Water Prison beneath the water.

Only after quite a while did Qing Si remember Yagura. He hurriedly dispelled the Water Prison Technique and released him.

Trapped underwater and unable to sense the outside world, Yagura had no idea that his beloved brother and sister had just forgotten him. He thought the battle had only just ended.

However, Yagura also knew that from the moment he was caught, the countdown to the defeat of his team-up with Qian Nai had begun. Therefore, he did not foolishly ask who had won.

Qing Si and Qian Nai gave Yagura awkward smiles, each silently apologizing for having cast him out of mind.

"That used up so much chakra! Let's go out for a bit and get something to eat! I know a grilled fish restaurant just opened in the village recently. I heard it's delicious, and there's always a long line at mealtime," Yagura suggested.

After feasting heartily in the capital of the Land of Water, Qing Si—who had been alone and poor in his previous life, with little spare money and hardly any chance to eat good food—had gradually begun turning into a foodie. Hearing Yagura mention food, and then learning there was delicious grilled fish, his eyes immediately lit up and he wore the expression of a seasoned gourmet.

Qian Nai, who had also heard there would be good food, readily agreed.

The three of them recovered some chakra, changed into fresh clothes from the storage scrolls they carried, and then left Qing Si's home together.

Hidden Mist Village, Matsukawa Grilled Fish Restaurant.

Having arrived early enough to avoid the line, Qing Si, Yagura, and Qian Nai sat in a private room, patiently waiting for their food to arrive.

They did not have to wait long before the owner, Matsukawa Ryuhei, personally carried the grilled fish into the private room.

"Honored shinobi, please enjoy! Thank you for visiting my humble establishment." Hidden Mist was a village ruled by shinobi, so whenever shinobi came to eat grilled fish, Matsukawa Ryuhei personally attended to them.

After thanking the owner, the three inhaled the rich aroma filling the air, their appetites immediately aroused.

"Let's eat!" the three shouted at once.

Qing Si impatiently picked up a piece of fish and put it into his mouth.

The grilled fish skin was crisp and delicious, as though it burned in his mouth, while the fish itself remained tender and juicy. Feeling the tender fish and crispy skin blend perfectly together, Qing Si's eyes flashed sharply.

The savory fish and rich spices intertwined, making it so delicious that words could hardly describe it.

The fish glowed golden, and its aroma was utterly unforgettable. Paired with the unique sauce, the flavors became even more distinct, perfectly blending the fish's freshness with the fragrance of the seasonings, leaving one utterly intoxicated. Every bite carried a different layer of flavor, making it impossible not to lose oneself in it.