Great Waterfall and Great Fire Annihilation. / The Rumble-Rumble Fruit's Elemental Transformation!

The highest position in the village was only Jonin; as for the Hokage, he had no interest whatsoever.

"People were divided into high and low classes, and the same went for Ninjas. If I were a first-rate Ninja, then you would be..." Aogetsu Hyuga's lips curled slightly, forming a mocking smile as he said, "a third-rate Ninja."

He loved talking trash and mocking others because he enjoyed the feeling of people being unable to do anything to him.

It was fun.

"A first-rate Ninja..." Everyone in Team 7 froze. They had never expected that Cangyue-sensei's lengthy buildup had actually been meant to mock the enemy.

Cangyue-sensei seemed extremely confident. Could it be that he was also a particularly powerful figure among the Jonin?

"A third-rate... What an arrogant bastard. If I had Kubikiribōchō in hand, this great-uncle could slaughter all of you in one breath!" Zabuza Momochi's expression darkened as he coldly glared at Aogetsu Hyuga.

This was the first time he had ever been mocked as a third-rate Ninja.

One had to know that he was one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, the Demon of the Mist Ninja who had once eliminated hundreds of Ninjas by himself!

Although Zabuza Momochi was furious, he did not recklessly attack. Instead, he searched for Cangyue's opening.

But he had never expected it.

Aogetsu Hyuga had not moved either!

"Don't be so angry. We're just trading some trash talk." Aogetsu Hyuga raised three fingers and spoke with a frivolous, arrogant attitude. "There's no need to search for an opening. You're a rare opponent for me, so of course I'll give you a chance."

"Three minutes."

"You're planning to defeat this great-uncle within three minutes? You're even more arrogant than the rumors say!" Zabuza Momochi sneered mockingly and glanced at the distant lake.

He had to find a way to move the battlefield onto the lake surface. The Water Release he could use in a place without water was limited.

He was a Ninja proficient in Water Release, and his techniques were more powerful in places with water!

Aogetsu Hyuga said, "I'll give you three minutes. Attack however you want during that time. Use your strongest technique against me. After all, my students haven't seen much of the world. I have to broaden their horizons."

He intended to use this opportunity to test his elementalization.

"Are you serious?" Zabuza Momochi's expression grew even uglier. He had never imagined that Aogetsu Hyuga could be this arrogantly conceited.

Giving an enemy three minutes to attack freely was something he had never encountered in all his years. No Ninja had ever been this absurdly arrogant.

Could Aogetsu Hyuga be playing some kind of trick?

Sakura Haruno glared at Cangyue and reproached him in a delicate voice, "Cangyue-sensei, stop fooling around!"

Giving the enemy three minutes to attack—Cangyue-sensei really dared to say that!

"A plan?" Sasuke Uchiha furrowed his brows slightly. He believed that Cangyue-sensei was giving the enemy a chance so arrogantly because he was planning something.

"It's fine, it's fine. Attack however you like, using whatever method you prefer. After all..." Aogetsu Hyuga waved his hand casually, the corners of his mouth curling slightly with mockery. "You're very weak."

If one had power, one had to show off. A battle without showing off was meaningless.

Chapter 38: The Great Waterfall and Majestic Destroyer Flame.

"V...very weak?" Zabuza Momochi's expression darkened. Several veins appeared on his forehead as he unleashed a massive amount of Chakra. The Chakra formed a fierce current of air that blew away the surrounding branches and dust.

He had always been arrogant and cold. He could even endure humiliation for the sake of a plan. Yet even someone with such a personality was enraged by Cangyue's contemptuous attitude.

A moment ago, he had still been wary of the three minutes Cangyue mentioned, worried that it was part of a scheme.

But now, he realized it.

There was no scheme or plan. Cangyue had given him three minutes purely because he was arrogant and conceited!

He had figured it out now. Cangyue was just like a Wudao Shuonan—disregarding everyone, doing whatever he pleased, arrogantly conceited, and absolutely confident!

"Don't regret this, brat. I'll tear that smug grin off your face, and your ten-billion bounty head will be mine!" Zabuza Momochi rapidly formed Hand Seals, then slammed his hands heavily onto the ground.

"Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique!"

"Rumble!" The ground shook violently. A sea of water surged upward like a massive wave, churning across the earth. Wherever it passed, huge stretches of forest were flattened as it crashed toward Aogetsu Hyuga with an aura of destruction.

This was an A-Rank Water Release rarely seen even among ordinary Ninjutsu. It could even be said to rank near the top among Water Release techniques!

Without Jonin-level Chakra, there was absolutely no way to use the Great Waterfall Technique!

Because Chakra had been infused into it, the surging waterfall was incredibly heavy, weighing at least dozens of tons. It was more than enough to crush many Ninjas to death!

"Is... is that guy really weak?" Naruto Uzumaki widened his eyes and stared incredulously at the huge waterfall surging like a massive wave.

What a terrifying technique!

"How is that possible?" Sasuke Uchiha stared fixedly at the enormous waves closing in with his two-Tomoe Sharingan. A bead of cold sweat appeared on his forehead.

One could tell how terrifying Zabuza Momochi was from this Great Waterfall Technique alone!

The fact that he could use an A-Rank Water Release in a place without any water spoke for itself.

Cangyue-sensei had actually said that someone of this caliber was weak?

Was he kidding?

Forget the Genin of Team 7—even Chunin and some Jonin might be crushed to pieces after being swallowed by that Great Waterfall!

"W...what do we do?" Sakura Haruno's legs went weak, and she fell onto the ground. She had no way to block the Great Waterfall, nor did she have the speed to evade it.

Was this the strength of an A-Rank Rogue Ninja?

What a terrifying enemy!

"The Great Waterfall? Among ordinary Ninjas, it is indeed a very powerful technique." Aogetsu Hyuga calmly watched the enormous waves closing in, then slammed both hands onto the ground.

"Earth Release: Moving Earth Core."

The earth trembled violently. Cracks spread across the ground, and then a mass of earth as hard as steel pushed Team 7, Tazuna, and the others into the sky.

Naruto Uzumaki was suddenly thrust skyward by the earthen mass. He instinctively shut his eyes and cried out, "Waaahhh!"

"He can use Earth Release without forming Hand Seals. What a terrifying man." Sasuke Uchiha breathed a sigh of relief, glanced at the earth beneath his feet, then looked toward Aogetsu Hyuga in the distance.

He had just seen Aogetsu Hyuga activate Earth Release by merely slapping both hands against the ground. He had then used the technique with ease.

Absurd.

Really absurd.

Utterly absurd.

"Huff... huff, we're saved." Sakura Haruno sat limply on the earthen mass in a duck-sitting position and gratefully glanced at Cangyue in the distance.

Without Cangyue-sensei's help, they would have been swallowed by the huge waves!

Sakura Haruno lay at the edge of the earthen mass and glanced at the violently churning waterfall below. Her pretty face was pale, and a trace of lingering fear flashed through her eyes as she secretly swallowed.

It was still so terrifying!

Wait... after saving them, what about Cangyue-sensei?

"Cangyue-sensei, look out!" Sakura Haruno suddenly turned her head toward Aogetsu Hyuga in the distance. At that moment, the surging waves had already rolled right in front of him, with only a short distance between them.

At such a close range, there was no way to defend or move aside in time!

"Cangyue-sensei!" Everyone in Team 7's hearts trembled. They stared anxiously into the distance as Cangyue was swallowed by the huge waves.

"Fire Release: Majestic Destroyer Flame." Aogetsu Hyuga took the Lollipop from his mouth. He exhaled a high-temperature flame, and after it shot out, it transformed into a sea of fire.

"Rumble!" The high-temperature flames, resembling ocean waves, instantly evaporated the entire waterfall. Scalding steam spread across the area like fog.

The enormous flames did not go out. Instead, they surged toward Zabuza in the distance.

"This guy can use Earth Release and Fire Release freely without forming Hand Seals. What a terrifying man..." Zabuza Momochi's expression was ugly as he watched the sea of fire rapidly approaching. He no longer had time to think about anything else.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!" Three enormous water dragons appeared behind Zabuza Momochi. They coiled upward and tore toward the high-temperature sea of fire.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!" Zabuza Momochi changed his Hand Seals. The ground around him shook violently, and a high-pressure wall of water surged upward, blocking his front like a shield.

"Rumble!"

Fire and water collided violently, creating vast amounts of scalding steam. The terrifying flames gradually died out, but the remaining fire ignited the forest. In the end, the entire forest burned with roaring flames.

"Huff... huff." Zabuza Momochi knelt on one knee, clutching his charred left arm as he stared fixedly at Aogetsu Hyuga in the distance.

This guy... was absurd!

Even with the elemental advantage, I had to use three Water Release techniques just to barely cancel out Cangyue's Fire Release!

To be honest, he had never seen such an absurd Fire Release before.

The gap in strength... was too great!

No wonder Aogetsu Hyuga was so arrogantly conceited. If he had this kind of strength, he would be even crazier than Cangyue!

Atop the enormous earthen mass, Naruto Uzumaki wore a blank expression as he looked at Zabuza below, whose arm had been burned black. He muttered incredulously, "H-Heavens... does fire counter water?"

"Idiot. How could it?" Sasuke Uchiha said coldly with his hands in his pockets. "Water Release counters Fire Release. Even an idiot knows that."

He knew Cangyue-sensei's Fire Release was powerful, but he had never expected it to be this absurdly strong!

Despite being countered by the elemental relationship, the Fire Release Cangyue-sensei had casually used still possessed an absolute advantage.

Perhaps what Cangyue-sensei had said earlier about being stronger than Uchiha Itachi was true!

"Don't act so smug, Sasuke. Of course I know!" A [#] character appeared on Naruto Uzumaki's forehead as he pointed at Zabuza Momochi in the distance. "I'm asking why this guy got burned when the elements counter each other!"

"Idiot. I knew you hadn't been listening properly when Cangyue-sensei was talking." Sakura Haruno sighed and rubbed her forehead. "Cangyue-sensei said that a technique's power would increase according to the amount of Chakra infused into it."

Sakura Haruno continued, "When there's a huge difference in Chakra volume, elemental advantages don't mean anything."

She had remembered Cangyue's words carefully. Of course, she had not remembered any of his lewd remarks.

Naruto Uzumaki folded his arms across his chest and nodded as if he understood. "Oh, oh, I get it. It's called Chakra, right?"

"Chakra!" Sakura Haruno glared at Naruto.

At this moment, elsewhere.

Aogetsu Hyuga held the Lollipop between his teeth and deliberately adopted an apologetic expression. "Sorry, sorry. I hate getting wet. I really hate the feeling of being drenched, so I couldn't help using Fire Release."

He was telling the truth. He hated getting wet.

Aogetsu Hyuga slightly raised his chin and looked coldly and arrogantly at Zabuza in the distance. In a puzzled tone, he said, "But I never expected you to be this weak."

That was also the truth.

He had just casually used a Fire Release technique. He had only wanted to evaporate the waterfall and avoid having his clothes soaked through.

But he had never expected it.

Zabuza had actually needed three Water Release techniques just to barely withstand his casually used Fire Release.

Was it because of the Beginner's Gift Pack reward?

After his own Chakra volume had doubled, the power of all his techniques had doubled as well.

Chapter 39: The Elementalization of the Rumble-Rumble Fruit!

Zabuza Momochi clutched his charred left arm. Ignoring the searing pain throughout his body, he coldly stared at Aogetsu Hyuga and sneered, "A ten-billion bounty head really isn't easy to take down."

After their exchange just now, he had already realized that Cangyue was powerful—far more powerful than the rumors claimed!

He could use Fire Release and Earth Release without Hand Seals. Even a casually used Fire Release possessed enough power to reach S-Rank!

In all his years of hunting targets, this was the first time he had encountered such an absurd monster!

If the battle continued, he would certainly die!

But so what?

He was merely a tool called a Ninja, with an ambition he would fulfill even at the cost of his life!

"I'm curious. Who put a bounty on me?" Aogetsu Hyuga toyed with his silver-white hair and asked with faint curiosity, "Although it sounds narcissistic, no one in the Five Great Nations should dare place a bounty on me, right?"

"Even if I stuck my neck out, those cowards wouldn't have the guts to touch me."

Although he had made countless enemies throughout the Shinobi World and countless people wanted him dead, hardly anyone had ever placed a bounty on him.

Because he was too powerful!

For example, when the First was alive, had anyone dared to offer a bounty for his head?

He had once been placed on a bounty by Kirigakure. He had immediately run to Kirigakure and caused a ruckus, ultimately forcing Kirigakure to withdraw the Bingo Book entry.

He had not been placed on a bounty again since then.