After some experimentation, Mo Yu discovered that "multi-tasking" was far more powerful than he had originally imagined.
"Multi-tasking" wasn't just about using jutsu simultaneously. For instance, Mo Yu could use his sword techniques for close combat with one hand, while the other hand could secretly launch a jutsu to strike from a distance, making it nearly impossible for his enemy to defend.
This was something that couldn't be achieved if he only knew how to perform one-handed hand signs.
In combat, your focus is usually entirely on the fight, and you can't afford to divide your attention. However, multi-tasking perfectly solved that problem.
With both one-handed hand signs and multi-tasking combined, Mo Yu had the best of both worlds—both the strengths of a ninja and those of a samurai. Whether it was ranged or close combat, he no longer had to fear either.
Although he hadn't yet advanced to the rank of Jonin, he finally felt that he was at the level where he could challenge a Jonin head-on.
This realization allowed Mo Yu, who had always felt under pressure, to finally relax.
Now, even if Uchiha had something up his sleeve, he felt confident he could handle it when he returned to Konoha.
Looking outside, he saw that it had already turned completely dark.
Since it was so late, Mo Yu decided to spend the night in the cave.
He had been out for nearly a week, and if he returned too late, Iruka would likely worry.
Spreading some cotton on the ground, he lay down, using a stone as a pillow. From this angle, he could clearly see the moon outside.
Thinking about Iruka, Mo Yu suddenly remembered his other two friends.
After graduation, Kagami Saku had become a rare sight. He was always out on missions and only appeared a few times a year. The last time they met was over two months ago.
Then there was Mizuki Yuko, the girl who felt like a little sister to him, always dreamy and sometimes absent-minded.
Unlike Saku, who was obsessed with missions, Yuko at least made an effort to meet up regularly—at least once a week. They often went to Iruka's ramen shop to catch up while she shared stories about her missions.
Every time Yuko went on a mission, Mo Yu couldn't help but worry, fearing that she might get distracted at a crucial moment and never come back.
This time, Yuko's mission had been longer than usual—it had already been over a week. Normally, she would return in three to five days.
"I hope nothing happened to her."
Mo Yu thought to himself, "I remember she said she was planning to participate in the Chunin Exams this year. It would be funny if we both ended up taking it together. I wonder what her reaction will be when she finds out I've become a ninja."
Thinking of this, Mo Yu couldn't help but smile slightly.
His lack of natural talent as a ninja was well known throughout the village, all thanks to Uchiha Fugaku. Naturally, his two friends knew about it.
However, perhaps to preserve his dignity, neither Saku nor Yuko had ever mentioned it to him. Mo Yu could sense their care for him.
Now, he had finally become a ninja, and at least he wouldn't be holding them back anymore.
"Boom!"
A thunderclap suddenly echoed in Mo Yu's ears.
"Is it going to rain?"
Mo Yu jumped up, staring at the large, full moon outside, confused.
"This doesn't make sense!"
He looked into the distance and saw a dark cloud forming about 700 to 800 meters away, with lightning flashing inside it.
The rest of the sky was clear, but it was raining only in that specific area.
"Something's off. There's something suspicious going on."
Mo Yu furrowed his brows and decided to investigate.
Although this situation wasn't directly related to him, who knew whether it might somehow involve him? Instead of waiting passively, he'd rather take the initiative.
With his improved strength, Mo Yu was more confident.
If he were still a low-ranking Genin, his first instinct would definitely be to run as far away as possible. But now...
With a light leap, Mo Yu landed on a tree, his chakra sticking firmly to the branches.
Mo Yu had learned chakra control for walking on trees and water when he first became a Genin. He didn't need to spend any time learning it; the system had directly imparted the technique into his mind.
Mo Yu leaped through the jungle, nimble as a monkey, getting closer and closer to the stormy cloud.
"This is a chakra disturbance. As expected, ninjas are fighting, and the scale is considerable. I wonder if any Jonin are involved."
The dark cloud was likely caused by multiple ninjas skilled in Water Release techniques battling. When thinking about Water Release, Mo Yu immediately thought of the Land of Water.
However, the Land of Water was isolated from the continent. Since their defeat in the First Ninja War, they had closed their borders and stopped communicating with other countries. So, it was unlikely these were ninjas from the Land of Water.
"Could it be from the Land of Rain?"
This seemed more likely. The Land of Rain was always rainy, and most of its ninjas were water-type. Aside from their assassination skills, the most famous aspect of the ninjas was their expertise in Water Release. They were sometimes called the "Little Land of Water."
Additionally, Konoha was close to the Land of Rain, and friction between ninjas from both nations often led to battles, big and small, occurring from time to time.
Though he hadn't seen the scene yet, Mo Yu had already made some educated guesses in his mind.
If Konoha ninjas were involved and it was within his capability, Mo Yu would still lend a hand. But if the enemy was too strong...
"Whoosh!"
Mo Yu landed on a tree and peered through the leaves, observing an open area ahead.
Outside, the moon was bright, but in that area, it looked like a different world—heavy rain was falling.
Seven or eight ninjas dressed in black with breathing masks stood in a circle, resembling wooden posts.
They wore ninja headbands with four vertical lines.
"Just as I thought, they are ninjas from the Land of Rain."
Mo Yu silently thought.
In fact, he didn't even need to look at their headbands—those breathing masks were a distinctive feature of ninjas from the Land of Rain.
Inside the circle, several bodies were scattered around, some lying in disarray.
Only one person was standing.
When Mo Yu looked at that person, his pupils constricted.
"Yuko?!"
Why was she here? Did something go wrong with her mission?
Mo Yu's mind became a mess.
Yes, that person was none other than Mizuki Yuko, his friend and the girl he thought of as a sister.
Right now, Yuko looked disheveled, her clothes covered in blood—he couldn't tell if it was hers or someone else's.
Mo Yu's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously clenched the tree he was holding onto, tearing off a layer of its bark.
"Crack!"
The sound wasn't loud, but ninjas are always sharp and perceptive, and even the smallest noise could be noticed.
"Who's there?"
The Rain ninjas all turned their heads toward Mo Yu.
Seeing that he had been exposed, Mo Yu stopped hiding and jumped down from the tree.
As soon as he appeared, a surprised voice rang out.
"Mo Yu?!"
Mizuki Yuko's face changed when she saw him.
Mo Yu's face turned cold as he stared at the Rain ninjas, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
Hearing Yuko's shout, Mo Yu turned his head, and his killing intent faded, leaving only pain and anger in his eyes.
"Yuko, don't be afraid. I'm here to rescue you."
Upon hearing Mo Yu's words, Yuko's eyes flickered, and she subtly hid the kunai that had slipped into her hand.