Vast, towering waves.
They surged forward in a rolling assault.
This was a large-scale Water Release jutsu that no Genin-and indeed, even a great many Chunin-could possibly unleash. It completely engulfed the area.
The immense chakra emanating from the waves already far surpassed that of almost every Chunin. Even Minazuki Ranne, standing not far away, looked stunned at that moment. She knew very well how powerful Kisame Hoshigaki was, that he was someone she could not match, but she had never imagined that this graduate her own age could be this strong. Though she was unwilling to admit it, the feel and intensity of his chakra were already infinitely close to those of the other Jonin she had seen before!
The towering waves that rose with it were the clearest demonstration of Kisame Hoshigaki's formidable strength. That starkly exposed gap cast an exceedingly heavy shadow over Ranne's heart.
Was the gap between me and them really this enormous?
A bleak look also surfaced in Ranne's beautiful eyes.
Without question, the blow today's battle dealt this young girl of the Yuki Clan was not merely physical. Mentally, she had suffered an incomparably heavy blow as well.
At that very moment, she had even begun to doubt herself!
For someone proud at heart, this was undoubtedly a devastating blow.
This battle was simply beyond the realm of ordinary Genin, never mind the wavering deep within Ranne's heart.
Even Kei felt incomparable astonishment and gravity well up inside him when he saw that Kisame Hoshigaki could already unleash a Water Release jutsu of such terrifying scale.
Ten years old!
And he could already use Water Release on this scale.
Even across the entire Shinobi World, someone like that was exceedingly rare. Setting aside the difficulty of mastering the jutsu, the chakra it required alone was more than an ordinary Genin could afford.
The surging, towering waves rose into the sky.
They swept high overhead, angling down to engulf everything below.
At such close range.
Kei had no way to evade them completely, much less with Minazuki Ranne behind him, still not recovered from her serious injuries.
"Hah!"
And so.
Kei neither dodged nor retreated, instead facing them head-on as he gave a low shout and rapidly formed hand seals.
As a surge of chakra no less powerful than Kisame Hoshigaki's spread out.
"Ice Release: Freezing!"
As Kei's lips moved slightly and uttered those words, white, frigid mist abruptly appeared out of thin air all around him, and the temperature plummeted!
It met the raging tide rolling toward him!
Whoosh!
Hum!
The terrifying freezing air spread at tremendous speed. The instant it touched the waves, their leading edge began freezing rapidly.
Then, within moments, it swept outward.
It froze the enormous waves surging toward him one after another, layer upon layer!
In just a dozen or so seconds.
A magnificent and extraordinarily beautiful spectacle of crystalline ice took shape within that space!
This unexpected means of countering his attack.
Made the wariness on Kisame Hoshigaki's face deepen further as he witnessed it. After taking one last, long look at Kei's figure on the other side of the enormous iceberg.
"Next time, I'll definitely beat you, you Minazuki bastard!"
After cursing under his breath with a savage look, Kisame Hoshigaki leaped away, darting backward in a swift retreat.
By the time Kei stepped onto the iceberg, all he saw was Kisame Hoshigaki's gradually receding figure. Though pursuit was not entirely impossible, Kei merely frowned slightly, showing no intention of chasing after him.
After all, there was nothing to gain from it.
Why insist on fighting him to the death?
Besides, this was merely a graduation exam.
At most, they were competitors, not enemy shinobi from another country. He had to maintain the proper limits and restraint. Not to mention that, in Kei's own future plans, Kisame Hoshigaki's existence held considerable value and significance as well.
Even if this fellow's personality seemed a little strange in the original story, how many of those who could stand at the pinnacle of this world were not strange themselves?!
Though this differed greatly from my expectations, at least we've met for the first time today. Next time, I hope we can get along "amicably," Kisame-kun!
Kei watched that figure, already about to vanish into the shade of the trees and disappear completely from his sight. His eyes flickered as he murmured inwardly.
Though this fierce battle, which was not particularly intense from the perspective of the entire Shinobi World, had been entirely outside Kei's plans, he was quite satisfied with its course and outcome. Through fighting Kisame Hoshigaki, Kei had further assessed the power he could currently wield!
Especially his Kekkei Genkai!
It seemed he could delve deeper into that power of ice and unleash it further!
No wonder people said actual combat was always the best shortcut for a strong fighter to keep growing stronger!
Looks like I've still been a little too cautious. How can a shinobi fear battle? There's still something wrong with this mindset. I need to adjust it! I absolutely must!
The old saying had it right: you could avoid making trouble, but you must never fear it.
As Kei silently pondered this, he swiftly dispelled the enormous iceberg, then leaped up and headed back.
"How did it go, Kei-kun? Did you defeat that guy?"
Upon seeing Kei return.
Ranne immediately came forward to meet him.
Because that enormous iceberg had completely blocked her view, Ranne did not know exactly what had happened.
Naturally, though, she very much hoped Kei could defeat that shark-faced fellow!
It was not merely because he had seriously injured her.
Even more, it was because of her anger at the way he disregarded their Yuki Clan. Whatever else might be said, Minazuki Ranne was absolutely the most typical, proper example of a child born into a prestigious shinobi clan. She truly considered upholding her clan's honor her responsibility!
Had her strength not been lacking, even if she did not kill Kisame Hoshigaki, Ranne would certainly have given him a vicious beating at the very least. This was both for herself and, even more, for her clan.
"No, he retreated. I can't really call it a complete victory. That guy was still very strong. Ranne, who exactly was he? And how did you get mixed up with him?"
Kei first shook his head in reply, then changed the subject, looking at his older clanswoman with a very solemn expression as he spoke in a low voice.