Shuriken were useless.
That much was expected.
Ninja were simply accustomed to beginning combat with a volley of shuriken—but few ever believed a handful of blades could decide a fight, especially against an opponent of equal or greater strength.
Mei Terumī's shuriken throw was only a probe.
But—
Kyoichi's response was nothing like she anticipated.
This "pretty boy" did not, as she had predicted, use the hardened-earth technique Iwa shinobi were so proud of, charging straight through her attack. She had prepared for that possibility before even taking on the mission to escort the Koeda clan.
Since there was always the chance of encountering Iwa shinobi pursuing the Koeda, she had researched their methods exhaustively.
Through sleepless study, she had learned that Iwa tactics often revolved around two key techniques: Earth Release: Subterranean Voyage and Earth Release: Hardening Technique. In squad-scale combat, Iwa shinobi often split into two teams—one charging openly with hardened defenses, the other slipping underground to strike from below.
Neither path was a feint. Both could be decoys, and both could be lethal. Which one succeeded depended entirely on the enemy's response.
Of course, Kyoichi was alone.
And standing on water, the Earth Release: Subterranean Voyage was unusable. Thus Mei reasoned he would most likely harden his body and charge through her shuriken to close the gap, aiming for close combat.
She was ready for that.
Ordinary Kiri shinobi might lack the means to counter an earth-hardened body—but she, with two Kekkei Genkai, feared no such defense. Even without Lightning Release, both her bloodlines were natural siege-breakers.
Naturally, she also considered the possibility of genjutsu.
The Koeda were nicknamed the Clan of the Magic Flute. Her grandfather had warned her of their rare sound-based illusions. To prepare, she carried custom earplugs in her pouch, ready to block them the moment Kyoichi raised a flute.
But the jutsu he used now… was something else entirely.
"Earth Release: Golem Technique."
Kyoichi exhaled refined earth chakra.
In an instant, the expelled mud swelled and took shape—transforming into a hulking rock giant, vaguely human in form, its whole body composed of jagged stone. It stood five or six meters tall, nearly as high as the inn's two-story roof. Its massive feet planted on the hot spring's bed, the water barely reaching its ankles.
The displaced water surged, sloshing violently out of the pool.
The two elderly spectators reacted swiftly, leaping to the top of a nearby ornamental rock to avoid being drenched by the steaming flood.
If even bystanders had to dodge, then Mei, facing Kyoichi directly, was naturally not spared. She staggered slightly to avoid being swept by the wave.
At the same time, she quickly pulled out the prepared earplugs and fitted them in.
The towering stone giant had not only deflected her shuriken but also concealed Kyoichi from view. For the moment, she had no idea what he was doing. She chose not to recklessly attack the construct, nor to charge in blindly.
Lacking information, she first covered her weakness—blocking her hearing against possible sound genjutsu.
Her grandfather had assured her: while not a perfect defense, earplugs greatly reduced vulnerability to auditory illusions. The Kirigumo and Koeda clans had been allies for over a century—they knew each other well.
Similarly, she knew Kyoichi must be wary of her own Kekkei Genkai.
Her surname, Terumī, was synonymous with the Lava Release in Kirigakure.
But in addition, she had inherited her mother's Boil Release. If she found the chance, she was confident that her hidden trump card could end the fight.
"…Hm? Still no movement?"
With her ears sealed, Mei frowned at the looming rock giant.
No flute.
No jutsu cast.
No sign of Kyoichi leaping down from the giant's head for an assault.
Fine then—if he wouldn't attack, she would.
"Lava Release: Melting Apparition Technique."
Mei weaved hand seals.
Her mouth spewed a fountain of orange-yellow corrosive fluid, splashing across the rock giant's body. The construct's stony mass, harder than steel, melted like wax under the acid. In mere moments, half of its bulk was gone.
Then—
Mei sensed a killing intent rushing from behind.
"Been waiting for you!!"
Unflinching before the sudden ambush, she let the blade graze the back of her head—only for her body to burst into wood with a thud. She had prepared a substitution jutsu beforehand, anticipating the sneak attack.
She wasn't a sensory ninja, so she hadn't detected Kyoichi's approach.
She had guessed it.
The logic was simple:
Kyoichi hadn't charged head-on. He hadn't used sound-based genjutsu. That meant he had likely slipped around during the water's disturbance, coming for her blind spot.
And her gamble proved right.
Kyoichi had indeed struck from behind.
"Surrender, Koeda Kyoichi! Though the field favored me, no matter how you look at it… this spar is my win!"
Mei's figure appeared behind him, kunai pressing against his back. She didn't drive it in.
This was a spar, not a death match.
Neither had gone for the kill—his blade had stopped short of her hair. But it wasn't his restraint that saved her. She had already swapped with a log before his strike landed, turning his assault into her opening for a counter.
Her timing had been impeccable—perfectly executed.
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