Fantasy—Moon Pulling Technique in Water (5/10)

Fantasy—Moon Pulling Technique in Water (510)

Maruboshi Kosuke remained calm under pressure. He continued forming hand seals while kicking off his prosthetic leg, revealing a sharp blade at his shin and sending it toward Retsuo's tachi.

He believed that as long as he completed this technique, Retsuo would undoubtedly lose. To turn the tables, he had to keep Retsuo occupied and prevent him from completing his ninjutsu.

But after swinging his blade, his opponent, Uchiha Retsuo, actually retreated?

Then, a sudden change occurred within Maruboshi Kosuke's perception! The water suspended before him had originally been meant to form the ninjutsu, but somehow, it became violently agitated.

With a splash, the water burst into a powerful vortex that rebounded toward Kosuke!

Not good! The backlash from the failed ninjutsu made Kosuke sense danger. He immediately advanced instead of retreating!

He had studied Water Release his entire life, and the properties of water had seeped into his very bones. At this moment, the vortex's power had yet to be unleashed. Though his chest took a direct hit, he still charged straight through!

Retsuo had just been overjoyed. This chakra ninja blade practically adds critical hits when facing Water Release users! It can even affect the opponent's ninjutsu. In certain situations, it can practically close the gap between a Genin and a Jōnin. It's incredibly useful.

However, in the next moment, Kosuke had already burst through the curtain of water!

Retsuo was just about to throw himself forward and fight desperately when he suddenly saw that the coarse cloth covering Kosuke's eyes had been knocked away. Their gazes met at once.

Hand seals!

When Kosuke saw Retsuo forming hand seals, he began forming them as well. There were quite a few this time, but he moved incredibly quickly, changing through a rapid succession of seals. Then the old man shouted, "Hell Viewing Technique!"

At the same time, Uchiha Retsuo completed the seals for his genjutsu. "Fantasy—Moon Pulling Technique in Water!"

A warrior's etiquette was to use their strongest move the moment they met. This was also one of the genjutsu techniques Yulong had taught him. It dragged the opponent into his mental battlefield, then used the flowers in the mirror and moon on the water to wear down both sides' Spiritual Energy until one side was exhausted.

This technique would not cause physical harm to either side, but once the loser's Spiritual Energy was depleted, they would certainly lose their combat ability. It could never be used without confidence that one's Yin Release Chakra was superior. Even with that advantage, it was still a strategy that injured the enemy by a thousand while inflicting eight hundred points of damage on oneself.

But now, the timing was perfect.

Because of the enormous consumption, Retsuo had never fought anyone after mastering the technique. This was his first time using it. At the same time, the Yin Release Barrier swept out, directly trapping Maruboshi Kosuke's Hell Viewing Technique inside it.

In this instant, Maruboshi Kosuke desperately circulated his Chakra to interfere with the genjutsu's operation, even allowing his Chakra to run rampant through his meridians. He was equally experienced in resisting genjutsu. Injuring his own Chakra meridians was absolutely the best method of opposing genjutsu.

But in the next moment, Maruboshi Kosuke crashed to the ground, sending up an enormous splash.

Across from him, Uchiha Retsuo was merely panting heavily. He still had the strength to fight.

At this, all the spectators rose to their feet. Uchiha Yulong's Moon Pulling Technique in Water was not well known in Konoha Village, but three of the spectators happened to understand the technique thoroughly. It was a genjutsu that could not be broken by the method of injuring one's own meridians. The more one injured oneself, the faster one would succumb.

But why couldn't Maruboshi Kosuke's Spiritual Energy defeat Retsuo's? That was impossible!

Shimura Danzo: He must have consumed too much while injuring himself. What a useless fool! He was far stronger, yet he chose the one strategy destined to fail. He has utterly disappointed Tobirama!

Sarutobi Hiruzen: Kosuke, you mustn't be hurt!

Uchiha Shisui: Huh? Retsuo should know that this is a technique for competing in Spiritual Energy, right? Why was he confident he could outlast Senior Kōsuke? Is it because he simply didn't know how powerful Senior Kōsuke was?

As the referee, Sarutobi Hiruzen immediately walked over to Kosuke. He then shook his head helplessly, tapped his pipe a couple of times, and announced, "The winner is Uchiha Retsuo."

After saying that, he hurriedly helped Maruboshi Kosuke up and began treating him.

As long as someone provided treatment, this technique would not cause any serious problems. Maruboshi Kosuke soon regained his footing. Looking at the three newly promoted Genin celebrating together, the old man's rich senses left him with mixed feelings. After the three quieted down, he said, "Little Retsuo, congratulations. Actually, I have a question."

"About the battle?"

"No. When you entered the Hokage Building, you told Shisui that your vision and wisdom could change the village and change the Uchiha. I want to hear your plan."

Retsuo looked around. Danzo had already taken the Root Ninja and slipped away, leaving only Sarutobi Hiruzen and Shisui.

It was a pity he had not gotten to see Danzo's expression when he left.

As they spoke, Uchiha Shisui also came over. Tenma and Shinji obediently moved to the outer edge.

Shisui had not expected Maruboshi Kosuke to ask such a question, and he immediately frowned. "Senior Kōsuke, the conflict between the Uchiha Clan and the village is deeply rooted. It can only be resolved through the efforts of knowledgeable people. I believe there must be a way to resolve the conflict between both sides, but Retsuo... and I are both children. Please don't laugh at us."

"But I think Retsuo is serious, and I want to hear him out. For so many years, this has been Konoha's greatest internal problem. It was also a mission that the Second Hokage, Tobirama, was unable to complete..."

When he heard Tobirama-sensei mentioned, Sarutobi Hiruzen's lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing. His gaze shifted toward Retsuo.

Retsuo said, "It's very simple, Grandpa Kosuke. I won't avoid mentioning the problem within the clan. The Uchiha Clan contains both the Rational Faction and the Hardline Faction."

He was also saying this for Hiruzen's benefit. Only after seeing Hiruzen and Shisui nod did he continue. "Have you noticed a certain phenomenon? The composition of the two factions is quite distinctive."

Uchiha Shisui perked up. "What distinction?"

"Without exception, no member of the Hardline Faction has ever attended the Ninja Academy. You are also a member of the Uchiha. You should know what attitude everyone in the clan has. Most members of the Rational Faction are Ninja Academy graduates."

"That's true. But why?" Shisui himself was a Rational Faction member who had graduated from the Ninja Academy. After thinking about it, he naturally knew that it was true.

Retsuo thought, You really are lacking in wisdom, aren't you?

"Of course, it's because of the Will of Fire. Everyone in Konoha has been influenced by the Will of Fire, with the effect being strongest at the Ninja Academy. If you give both sides eight or ten years, and the village asks the Uchiha to send as many school-age children as possible to the Ninja Academy, the Rational Faction will naturally gain the upper hand. Moreover, I believe that with Lord Fugaku's wisdom, he would be happy to see this happen. He might even lend it a push."

Sarutobi Hiruzen tossed aside his pipe. How had I never thought of this after all these years? We need to hold a meeting and discuss it immediately, then try to reach an agreement with Fugaku when I take up the position of Hokage again!

"Wait, Third Grandpa!" Retsuo hurriedly called out to Sarutobi Hiruzen. "Whatever you do, don't tell Elder Danzo about this."

"Why?" asked Hiruzen and Shisui together.

Retsuo thought, Just look at them. Maruboshi Kosuke didn't even ask. Are you two really idiots?

But he had no way to explain it. He couldn't exactly say that Shimura Danzo would definitely obstruct and sabotage the plan, could he?