What was bound to come would eventually arrive. Many things happen regardless of one's personal will. Faced with the girl's challenge once again, Kyoichi… this time, he did not avoid or decline, but accepted it directly.
Because it wasn't only the girl who wanted to spar with him—
Even the clan head of the Kirigumo, seated beside her, had a look of keen interest. Not only did he not stop his granddaughter's impulsive act, but instead spoke with surprising enthusiasm:
"The room is too cramped, not suitable for you two to fully unleash your techniques… let's head to the hot spring! Mei, take Kyoichi there first!"
"Hot spring?"
Kyoichi raised a questioning eyebrow.
But Masakazu Kirigumo did not explain immediately. Instead, he turned to Dazen and said:
"Dazen, how about we eat after these two young ones finish their spar?"
"Fine by me," Dazen readily agreed, adding, "It won't take long anyway."
"…You sound rather confident."
Masakazu chuckled dryly.
"If I didn't have confidence, I wouldn't have agreed to let you see the rising star of my clan, now would I? Truthfully, Masakazu, you've been planning to witness Kyoichi's ability firsthand for quite a while, haven't you? Still, I must say you're rather bold—letting your granddaughter be the one to fight. Aren't you afraid she'll be crushed, unable to recover her spirit afterward?"
As they spoke, the two elders rose together and walked outside side by side.
Meanwhile, Mei Terumī had already dragged Kyoichi out, otherwise Dazen wouldn't have dared to speak so freely.
"Crushed? Dazen, aren't you underestimating my precious granddaughter? If Mei were the sort to fall apart from a single defeat, neither I nor that old fellow from the Terumī clan would ever have placed our hopes on her… Besides, she may not lose at all."
Masakazu cast a sidelong glance at Dazen and added, "Throughout history, there have been plenty of strong men who capsized in a gutter. If she thinks that killing Hanzō of the Salamander makes her untouchable… sooner or later she'll pay dearly."
"Hahaha, then let's wait and see."
Dazen didn't argue further, only chuckled and gestured for Masakazu to lead the way.
They didn't walk far.
Led by Masakazu, they quickly arrived at a large hot spring behind the inn. Mei and Kyoichi were already standing by the steaming water, waiting.
"Oi, oi, Masakazu—you're not planning on having them spar on the hot spring, are you?"
Dazen narrowed his eyes at the steaming pool.
"Why not?" Masakazu countered.
"It's not that they can't… but this gives you an advantage!" Dazen grumbled.
For shinobi of Kirigakure, skilled in Water Release, such a place naturally gave them the terrain advantage. For Iwa shinobi, who specialized in Earth Release, fighting on water was distinctly disadvantageous.
"Dazen, consider this early training. The Land of Water is not the same as the Land of Earth. Once you arrive, there will be countless battles fought not only on water, but beneath it. Better to adapt early."
Masakazu spoke leisurely.
"…That's true enough."
Dazen did not argue. Masakazu's point was sound. Shinobi warfare was always shaped by the interplay of timing, terrain, and manpower. Leaving aside the first two, terrain alone could drastically affect combat.
For an Iwa shinobi, master of Earth Release, on the sea they might only be able to bring out thirty to forty percent of their true ability.
On the other hand, a Kiri shinobi specializing in Water Release, once forced into the desert or barren plains, might need to expend one-and-a-half to twice as much chakra to achieve effects that would normally cost them far less.
In extreme cases, even the nature of a shinobi's chakra could be strained by the environment. Iwa shinobi leaned heavily toward Earth nature, Kiri shinobi toward Water. The terrain's influence was profound indeed.
"So? Any questions about this training ground?" Masakazu asked, turning to Kyoichi.
"No questions."
Kyoichi shook his head.
True, the environment clearly favored Mei Terumī.
But—he had escorted his clan all the way from the Land of Rain, carving a bloody path through shinobi who were just as skilled in Water Release. Even Hanzō of the Salamander, a true master of the art, had fallen by his hand.
A mere would-be Fifth Mizukage still in her youth…
She wasn't about to overturn the heavens.
"I'm ready to begin anytime," Kyoichi said.
"Then let's begin," Mei responded instantly.
She wasn't naive enough to worry about fairness, even if the field favored her. Already a jōnin, she hadn't passed her trials through family connections. She wasn't foolish enough to demand an idealized, "honorable" duel.
Ninja battles had never been about honor.
Using every means necessary—
That was the shinobi way.
She didn't mind seizing the advantage before the spar even started. After all, in real combat she would also seek every edge possible. And though she often teased Kyoichi as "pretty boy," in truth, she didn't dare underestimate the man who had killed Hanzō.
"You two, move out onto the water. I'll act as referee. Once I give the signal, you may begin." Masakazu stood at the hot spring's edge and gave his instructions.
The youth and the girl moved at once.
Both walked lightly across the rippling surface as though it were solid ground—one to the east, one to the west, standing in opposition across the steaming pool.
Then—
"Begin!" Masakazu's voice cut through decisively.
In the next instant—
Swish, swish, swish!!
Mei hurled her shuriken.
Ninja battles often began with shuriken.
Ninjutsu required hand seals, and no matter how fast the caster, even the slightest pause could leave them vulnerable. Moreover, chakra was finite and could not be wasted recklessly.
Not every shinobi had the chakra reserves of the Senju or Uzumaki clans, nearly on par with living Tailed Beasts.
Nor could many shinobi emulate the Uchiha, who could seize Tailed Beasts as living "chakra batteries."
Thus, when lacking intel on the opponent, most ninja would start by probing with ranged tools like shuriken. Only after gauging their enemy would they decide whether to attempt a decisive ninjutsu strike—or to grind them down in close combat.