Tricks of the Trade Dared to Show Off Before an Expert? Mighty Water Dragon Bullet

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Ying Shu chose one group based on instinct, firing a barrage of shuriken while pulling back.

Sure enough, the Root youths in the other directions all scattered, though they vaguely sealed off Ying Shu's escape routes.

Ying Shu did intend to run, but not yet.

The two youths each dodged the shuriken. One charged forward with a kunai, while the other remained where he was and formed hand signs.

"Damn it!" Ying Shu spat. The three of them had always teamed up to gang up on others. Who would have thought they would get their comeuppance today?

If he fought at close range, he had to watch out for ninjutsu from behind. If he kept retreating, he would fall into a passive position.

Ying Shu made a swift decision. He had to make use of his advantage.

"Water Release: Water Chain Bullet!"

Thud-thud-thud-thud-thud-thud!

Ying Shu rapidly formed hand signs, moving so fast that he practically wanted to rub sparks from his fingers.

The water bullets shot out almost the instant they formed. Both their rate of fire and coverage were top-notch. Ying Shu had plenty of chakra right now, so he intended to play to his strengths and avoid his weaknesses.

"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall."

But at that moment, the Root youth in the rear suddenly changed his hand signs and pressed both hands to the ground.

Almost at the same time Ying Shu launched his counterattack, the ground trembled slightly and an earthen wall abruptly rose up. Though it lacked the soul that came with a dog head, it blocked every one of Ying Shu's water bullets.

"This..." Ying Shu's face darkened. Right now, he desperately wanted to ask whether he could pick his opponents again.

They had clearly come prepared!

Pfft—Ying Shu ended his ninjutsu and formed hand signs again. A Shadow Clone appeared, formed a Rasengan within half a second, and charged at the earthen wall.

Boom!

The earthen wall finally shattered under the strain, but the Shadow Clone dispersed along with it.

Ying Shu frowned. Based on the Shadow Clone's feedback alone, he could not even tell how it had been destroyed.

Only when he saw the earthen spikes slowly retracting from the wall did he understand.

"Both of them are Earth Release users. One uses Earth-Style Wall, the other Earth Spear... a combination ninjutsu?"

This really taught Ying Shu a lesson.

Combination ninjutsu was not his exclusive privilege. Even ninjutsu of the same attribute could be combined.

Like now—the Earth-Style Wall had been fitted with thorn armor, making it both offensive and defensive.

Ying Shu could not help looking toward the other three pairs of Root youths.

If nothing unexpected happened, they probably had similar teamwork.

"Don't make that face. They... are merely Root apprentice ninja. They were paired up temporarily, and they have had less than two days to coordinate."

The Root ninja behind him spoke up, unexpectedly providing live commentary.

"Just as I said before, Root's battlefield is more advanced. Compared to ordinary slaughter, we make full use of every favorable factor. An enemy's habits, an enemy's weaknesses, even an enemy's bonds..."

"Root follows an elite path, emphasizing efficiency and teamwork. Your two teammates may have had an extremely high degree of tacit understanding with you, but in Root's eyes, breaking the three of you apart only requires a single plan."

"Like now, every one of your ninjutsu has been completely exposed from the moment you begin forming hand signs. They will immediately employ countermeasures to suppress and retaliate... This is Root."

He was showing off. He was absolutely showing off.

Ying Shu was certainly unconvinced, but he had to admit that Root's methods were indeed quite efficient.

Yes, he believed the Root ninja.

But that did not mean he would admit defeat.

"Root, what impressive skills you have.

"If my master's wife were here, would you still dare to brag like that?"

Ying Shu mocked him in a deep voice, and the voice behind him immediately fell silent.

But Ying Shu was not merely planning to act tough with his words... What he was about to do would be brutal.

It might be a little risky.

Leaving aside whether it would succeed, even if it did, it would only deepen Danzo's greed for him.

Ying Shu began forming hand signs.

At the same time, the Root ninja behind him suddenly shouted, "Interrupt him!"

It was a little unsporting, but Ying Shu did not care. He had realized that this Root ninja's role was to mess with his mindset.

Whether Ying Shu won or lost, this process itself was part of "joining Root."

In the end, they would probably still force him to join. He had already seen through everything.

Whoosh—

The two Root youths launched another attack. They were incredibly fast, one on the left and one on the right, but both formed hand signs at the same time—and their signs were identical.

It inevitably made one wonder whether they were joining forces to unleash a powerful move, or whether one was a feint while the other was the real attack.

"Heh." Ying Shu smiled disdainfully.

"Such petty tricks, and you dare show off before an expert!? Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!"

Ying Shu shouted with imposing force. Combined with the long string of hand signs he had just formed, the two Root youths narrowed their eyes and immediately pressed both hands to the ground!

"Earth Release: Multiple Earth-Style Walls!"

The two spoke in unison. Multiple Earth-Style Walls was not merely one plus one.

It was one plus one plus one plus one plus one—four earthen walls stood directly before Ying Shu!

Yet the Water Dragon that was supposed to appear never did.

Ying Shu grinned broadly, displaying a mouthful of white teeth.

"Sorry, the Hokage only just gave me that technique. I haven't had time to practice it yet. But... thanks for trusting me."

The Root ninja's face instantly turned livid. This was already the second time he had been fooled!

Then, amid Ying Shu's mockery, three successive puffs sounded, and Ying Shu's operation began.

The first two were Shadow Clones—Shadow Clones carrying Double-Yellow Rasengan. The final sound, however, was a dirty smoke bomb.

Ying Shu's advantage was not his chakra reserves, nor was it Hydrogen Release or the Rasengan. As always... it was his brain!

Konoha's dirty trickster, transform!

"Surround him!"

The Root ninja made a swift decision, practically engraving the words "no holds barred" onto his mask. The remaining six Root youths immediately surrounded the smoke.

But they did not attack, clearly worried that Ying Shu would flee.

After Root took custody of that Kumogakure ninja and confirmed his identity, they immediately went to inspect the scene. They had gained a certain understanding of the tactics Ying Shu's group had used at the time.

At this moment, Ying Shu was alone. He could not use that combination ninjutsu, but in the Root ninja's eyes...

He was trying to run!

"I told you already. Before you defeat them, you have no right to leave," the Root ninja sneered.

Meanwhile, the two Earth Release youths displayed the results of their training. Working together, they quickly dispersed Ying Shu's two Shadow Clones.

The two exchanged a glance, did not hesitate, and charged straight into the smoke!

But just then...

Ying Shu's voice sounded from within the smoke.

"I told you too... don't show off petty tricks before an expert. Behold my Mighty Water Dragon Bullet!"

"Heh!" The Root ninja snorted. He was still just a brat, always... Hm!?

A majestic azure Water Dragon suddenly burst from the smoke with a roar!

The Water Dragon roared. The Water Dragon ravaged everything in its path. The six Root youths nearby, along with the two who had just rushed in, had no time to react. In a single instant, they were swept up and scattered by the Water Dragon!

It was not over yet. The Water Dragon slammed through them in a circle before soaring upward. It had already begun to disperse along the way, yet it still charged toward the Root ninja!

"You dare attack me? Do you know the consequences!?" the Root ninja roared furiously, but his body honestly began forming the signs for the Substitution Technique.

Ying Shu did not answer. He silently pulled out two Explosive Tags, each tied to a kunai, and fired them in two different directions.

"You lot think you can make me join? Making me your leader would be more like it! Trash!"

Ying Shu's mouth was merciless, but his body was even more honest. The moment he finished his harsh words, he turned and ran!

And at that moment, within the shadows.

An old man wearing a cheap, buy-one-get-one-free mask from a roadside stall silently watched everything unfold.

"Brat..." The old man chuckled softly, his gaze leaving the Water Dragon that had struck a substitution log and the Root ninja who had just landed and was about to face an explosion.

He raised his head and looked at the bright moon in the sky.

"Just like you..."