Ninjutsu Showdown

Yota did not grow complacent. He felt he had more important things to do.

He needed to keep clearing land and earning Merit Points. He wanted to save enough to earn a chance to learn B-rank Ninjutsu.

Lu Zeming had said that the B-rank Ninjutsu Earth Release technique Earth Flow Wall was perfect for building houses.

Yota had never felt so fulfilled, or so hopeful about the future.

Every day, he had a clear goal. Every day, he could see himself getting closer to it. He was hooked on that sure sense of happiness.

If anyone dared destroy it, Yota would tear them limb from limb, even if it cost him his life.

And there were many people like Yota in the village. There would only be more of them!

Lu Zeming was very pleased with the Mission Board he had designed.

The tasks were updated daily. First, this let him allocate workers more effectively and give everyone work they were good at, improving efficiency.

Second, it let him adjust the village's direction at any time.

For instance, if he wanted the villagers to improve their literacy, he only had to add a study task to the Mission Board.

Attending the evening study session earned one Work Point.

The village had no entertainment yet, and people were bored once darkness fell.

The study sessions were welcomed by every villager as soon as they were announced. They could pass the time and earn Work Points. Who wouldn't want to go?

Each session had two halves. In the first, Kumi Uzumaki taught everyone to read.

In the second, Lu Zeming told them entertaining little stories.

The Foolish Old Man Moves Mountains, Zhou Chu Eliminates the Three Evils, Marking the Boat to Find the Sword, Rise at the Sound of the Rooster, Tiying Saves Her Father, Baring the Back and Pleading Guilty, A Meal from the Washerwoman—he brought them all out.

Through the stories, he taught them how to conduct themselves while giving them shared stories that strengthened the village's bonds.

And so everyone worked by day and studied by night. Time slipped by unnoticed.

Meanwhile, Flower Village was changing at an astonishing pace.

The most stunned of all were the three Jonin assigned to protect Kusakai Naoto.

They had watched with their own eyes as a group of people built something from nothing, transforming this little corner of the world with their bare hands.

The old mountain stronghold was gone. Rows of brick and stone houses now stood neatly in its place. Steep mountainsides had been leveled into farmland that stretched beyond sight. The mountain path had become a broad stone road, and the stronghold's little pond was now an artificial lake.

Everyone's face shone with optimism. Even old men who barely knew a few characters spoke constantly of the spirit of the Foolish Old Man and how labor was the most glorious thing of all!

The three Jonin had never imagined people could unleash such tremendous power. It was not the power to destroy, but to build—a vibrant, orderly force.

Without realizing it, the three put aside their arrogance and wanted to become part of it.

For three people who had come through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, that sense of order and safety held a powerful appeal.

But conscious of their status, they had never quite made up their minds. Then, one day, someone came to tell them that Village Chief Lu Zeming wanted to see them.

To their surprise, the meeting place was not the village chief's office, but the newly cleared herb garden.

When they arrived, they found Lu Zeming explaining the finer points of growing medicinal herbs to several older villagers.

"Like Platycodon, Angelica Dahurica can't tolerate waterlogged soil. It's best to plant it on raised beds about twenty centimeters high. Don't bury the seeds too deep. For fertilizer, wood ash is your best choice. It kills bacteria and adds potassium..."

Lu Zeming taught them carefully. The villagers all held small notebooks, writing in crooked characters.

They had only recently begun learning to read and write, so Lu Zeming sometimes had to wait for them to finish before moving on to his next point.

The three Jonin standing at the edge of the field did not dare hurry him, so they could only wait quietly.

Only after Lu Zeming had said everything he needed to did he brush the dirt from his clothes and walk over to the three Jonin.

The three Jonin unconsciously straightened up. They could not say why, but lately, looking at Lu Zeming felt like facing the Kusakage; he carried an invisible pressure.

"Sorry. I've been back for over ten days and still haven't found time to talk with you. I really do apologize!"

"We should be apologizing for imposing on you. We've stayed in the village for so long!"

"I still don't know your names. Would you introduce yourselves?"

The three Jonin, two men and a woman, promptly gave their names.

Ikeda Masato, Hayato, and Yuki Kamimai.

After chatting with the three for a while, Lu Zeming abruptly changed the subject.

"I've learned a few new Ninjutsu recently. Since you're Jonin, you must have both excellent combat skills and keen judgment. Could we have a sparring match? I'd appreciate your advice."

Lu Zeming's words were polite, but his tone held a resolve that left no room for refusal.

Ikeda Masato stepped forward first.

"I'll go first, then!"

Lu Zeming shook his head. There was no need to take turns. He wanted all three of them at once.

That unsettled them. What gave Lu Zeming the confidence to face three Jonin at the same time?

Lu Zeming was firm in his stance, so the three no longer held back and prepared to teach him a lesson.

The match took place at the Training Ground on the village's eastern edge. Calling it a Training Ground was generous: it was an open lot with a few wooden posts and targets.

A large circle had been drawn in lime at its center, clearly marked out just for this match.

By the time the four arrived at the Training Ground, people had already crowded around it.

Word that the village chief was going to fight had brought every villager out to watch.

The moment Lu Zeming appeared, the villagers began cheering him on!

The three Jonin felt awkward. The only person cheering for them was Kusakai Naoto.

Before long, even Kusakai Naoto had been pressured by Rin into switching sides and cheering for Lu Zeming.

Once both sides had taken their places inside the circle, the three Jonin spoke in turn.

"I'm proficient in Water Release and skilled with Hidden Weapons!"

"I'm proficient in Earth Release and skilled in Taijutsu."

"I've studied Wind Release Ninjutsu extensively!"

They meant to give Lu Zeming a few hints so he would not lose too badly.

After all, losing in front of so many people would be embarrassing.

To their surprise, Lu Zeming offered a description of his abilities too.

"I know a little of every release technique, but if I had to name my specialty, it would probably be Medical Ninjutsu. I'm a doctor at the very top of my field!"

At the mention of Medical Ninjutsu, the villagers' expressions turned strange. Even their cheers grew much quieter.

Kumi Uzumaki coughed awkwardly twice, then raised her voice.

"Blades and fists can't always be controlled, but no one is to be killed in this match. If one side raises a hand to surrender, the other must stop attacking. No one may step outside the circle during the match. Anyone who lands or is knocked outside it is eliminated. Are you all ready?"

After confirming both sides were ready, Kumi Uzumaki swept out her hand.

"Begin!"

Ikeda Masato flung his Shuriken first. Almost simultaneously, Hayato and Yuki Kamimai darted toward Lu Zeming's left and right, launching Shuriken of their own as they moved.

The three worked in perfect sync. They meant to use their numbers to surround Lu Zeming and attack from all sides.

Once surrounded, Lu Zeming would face enemies on three fronts and be at a severe disadvantage.

Lu Zeming had no intention of letting that happen. Without any visible hand signs, he activated Earth Flow Wall. Four walls of earth rose around him, blocking every Shuriken they threw.

Before the three could make another move, Lu Zeming activated the Water Release technique Hidden Mist Technique.

Thick mist billowed up, cutting off everyone's sight.

Though shocked by how quickly Lu Zeming had cast his techniques, the three responded at once.

Wind Release: Typhoon! A violent gust swept through, scattering the mist almost as soon as it formed.

But when they looked back into the ring, Lu Zeming was gone.

The three proved themselves experienced Jonin. They showed no panic, instead standing back to back and watching every direction.

The moment he heard soil shifting, Hayato, who specialized in Earth Release, warned his companions.

"It's the Earth Release technique Underground Projection Fish Technique! He's underground!"