Subduing

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"

"Ice Release: Ice Crystal Wall!"

Suikazan Fuguki and Zi raised their defenses at the same time. The Water Formation Wall stood in front, while behind it, layers of ice walls wrapped around them from every angle.

The blazing golden flames crashed into Suikazan Fuguki's Water Formation Wall. The flames, hotter than 1,200 degrees, instantly vaporized the wall, and massive amounts of steam and white smoke billowed up, obscuring everyone's vision.

"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Deafening explosions rang out as the layers of ice walls were continuously breached, utterly unable to halt the flames' advance.

Zi continuously poured out chakra, creating ice walls without pause to resist the attack.

Finally, after Zi had spent nearly half his chakra, the power contained within the flames was exhausted. However, the entire First Training Ground had already been completely shrouded in thick smoke and steam.

Lacking sensory abilities, the two stood back-to-back amid the dense smoke, keeping watch for an attack Qing Si might launch at any moment.

A sharp whistling sound suddenly came from the direction Suikazan Fuguki was facing. Several bone blades pierced through the thick fog, shooting toward Suikazan Fuguki's limbs.

Suikazan Fuguki let out a roar, drew the standard-issue ninja blade strapped to his back, and swung it wildly, blocking every bone blade and knocking them down around the two of them.

Seeing that he had successfully blocked the attack, Suikazan Fuguki's taut nerves relaxed slightly. Suddenly, Zi behind him sensed that something was wrong, but it was already too late.

"Bang!"

One of the bone blades beside them erupted in a puff of white smoke. Qing Si burst out of the smoke, leapt up, and kicked Zi away. Then, with an elegant spin in midair as he gathered force, he delivered another heavy kick that sent Suikazan Fuguki flying as well.

Qing Si had used the Transformation Technique to turn himself into a bone blade and mix in among the ones he had just fired. Then, while the two were caught off guard, he canceled the transformation and appeared with lightning speed, kicking them both away.

The dense fog blocked sight, but it could not block Qing Si's senses. This kind of battlefield was simply perfect for Qing Si, who possessed powerful sensory abilities.

The sounds of fighting within the smoke had already subsided. As the mist gradually dispersed, the observing ANBU clearly saw that Suikazan Fuguki and Zi had each been restrained by one of Qing Si's clones, with sharp bone blades pointed at their throats.

Everyone watched as the two were effortlessly defeated in such a short time, and the place fell silent. The new squad captain was truly formidable!

"You lost," Qing Si said calmly to Suikazan Fuguki and Zi.

Zi did not answer, but inwardly, he had already acknowledged Qing Si as his powerful new squad captain. He was also willing to follow him and serve under his command.

Suikazan Fuguki also lowered his proud head and respectfully expressed his submission to Qing Si.

Admiring and following the strong was common in the Hidden Mist Village, so neither of them felt any shame in submitting to Qing Si, who was far stronger than they were.

"The six squad leaders and Flower stay. The rest of you may leave," Qing Si said.

"The commander has granted our First Division the authority to recruit additional personnel on our own. Squads that are not at full strength must fill their vacancies as quickly as possible. Suikazan, and Jing, your First Squad and Sixth Squad currently have the largest personnel shortages. Forget it for today. Tomorrow morning, the two of you will accompany Flower and me to the ANBU Reserve Training Department to see if there are any promising candidates," Qing Si continued.

Suikazan Fuguki and Yagura nodded in agreement. Qing Si then turned to Zi and said, "The Second Squad is currently at full strength. Set out immediately and head to the capital of the Land of Water as quickly as possible. This is the mission scroll; read it on the way. Once the mission is complete, immediately send me a message via ninja hawk."

"Yes, Lord Bone!" Zi accepted the order, then swiftly used the Body Flicker Technique to leave and gather his team members.

Qing Si, who had only just taken office, decisively arranged all the tasks before dismissing his subordinates.

The next morning, the rising sun in the distance had already traced the faraway mountains with a thin golden edge. After getting up, Qing Si ate breakfast with his grandfather Yuan Shi. Once he was fully dressed, he headed directly to the ANBU Reserve Training Department.

As its name suggested, the ANBU Reserve Training Department was a place for cultivating new ANBU recruits, mainly ninja from civilian or minor ninja clan backgrounds. Once their training was complete, they could be assigned to fill vacancies in the formal ANBU forces at any time. As for why Qing Si and Yagura had not gone through this department back then, Qing Si had a good grandfather, while Yagura's surname was Kurosuki.

When he arrived at the training base, Qing Si saw that Suikazan, Yagura, and Qian Nai had already arrived and were waiting for him in front of the base.

After entering the base, an ANBU wearing a mask approached them. Recognizing the mask as belonging to the Third Division, Qing Si proactively identified himself and handed over the written order Jian had given him. "I am Bone, captain of the First Division. By the commander's order, I have come to recruit additional personnel."

After verifying Qing Si and the others' identities, the ANBU led them to the area used for daily training.

Standing upstairs, Qing Si swept his gaze across everyone below who was engaged in paired combat on the training grounds. His attention was instantly drawn to one particular group.