The tension in the Forest of Death was palpable. The battle lines had shifted, alliances had formed, and the combatants prepared for the next phase of the encounter. Ma Ji, cautious yet pragmatic, decided it was best to secure reinforcements. He extended a request to Kirabi, whose reputation and skill were well-known.
"Cloud Ninja," Ma Ji began, his tone formal yet laced with urgency, "this person's strength is extraordinary. How about we cooperate to deal with him?"
Kirabi studied Ma Ji for a moment, weighing the suggestion. He had no desire to retreat unnecessarily; his earlier withdrawal had only been a tactical necessity, dictated by the unfavorable circumstances at that time. Now, with the support of the Sand Ninja, he felt confident that they could continue their offensive.
"Alright," Kirabi finally agreed. "But that red-haired female ninja is formidable as well. My teammate is injured, so I'll leave her in your care."
The Forest of Death was notorious for its dangers. Kirabi could not afford to divert his attention to someone unconscious; Shiko was tasked with guarding the injured Motoi.
"Understood," Ma Ji responded without hesitation.
"Rintō, Haruko, that red-haired female ninja is your responsibility," Ma Ji instructed, assigning his teammates to contain Kushina, who had already proven herself to be a powerful combatant.
Once the responsibilities were clear, Ma Ji and Kirabi faced Qingshui, the Leaf Village prodigy whose abilities had caused quite a stir. Meanwhile, Rintō and Haruko advanced toward Kushina, intent on neutralizing her threat. For a brief moment, the chaos of the monitoring room paused as every jonin and examiner turned their attention to the unfolding battle.
"Now that he has the support of the Sand Ninja, let's see how that Leaf Ninja handles it," one of the Cloud Village observers remarked, a trace of anticipation in his voice.
Had they not been distracted earlier, they would have noticed Qingshui's astonishing skill: forming hand signs with a single hand while maintaining complete control in combat. The sight alone would have stunned even the most seasoned jonin.
"Don't worry. Ma Ji is very capable. He will lead the charge without issue," one of the Sand Ninja commented with a faint smile.
The Leaf Village had held the top position in the ninja world for so long that their rivals relished even the possibility of seeing one of their ninjas face defeat. Both the Cloud and Sand representatives could hardly conceal their anticipation.
"Hmph," Qingshui retorted inwardly, "so what if your teams join forces? Victory still belongs to the Leaf Village!"
Though confident in his words, Qingshui felt a flicker of doubt. His knowledge of his opponents was limited; he did not even know that Kirabi existed until recently. The feats Qingshui had just witnessed were formidable, but he assumed they were the result of superior battlefield experience, not necessarily overwhelming power. Yet Kirabi and Ma Ji were not likely to give him any openings, and the situation would remain a challenge until Kushina arrived to lend support.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The sharp resonance of metal on metal signaled that Kushina had engaged her adversaries. She quickly assessed the situation: individually, neither opponent could match her strength, but together, their coordination was flawless. She was temporarily suppressed, struggling to find a window of opportunity for counterattack.
Most genin would have been overwhelmed in this situation, quickly succumbing to the combined assault of two skilled ninja. But Kushina was not an ordinary genin. Despite the seamless coordination of her opponents, she refused to surrender or hesitate.
Two fists are no match for four hands, as the old saying went, and Kushina knew the limits of a head-on confrontation. She relied on agility and strategy, creating distance between herself and the attackers while positioning herself advantageously. With a swift leap onto a tree trunk, she evaded the immediate threat.
Swish, swish, swish!
Rintō threw several shuriken, each one aimed with precision. Kushina dodged with grace, moving fluidly through the canopy. Haruko, meanwhile, executed hand signs and released a Wind Release jutsu, sending slicing waves of air toward Kushina. The wind cut sharply, grazing her in places.
Bang!
Before Haruko could savor any sense of accomplishment, the kunoichi realized that Kushina had used Substitution Jutsu at the critical moment. The strike hit only a wooden log in her place, leaving her momentarily stunned.
"Damn it!" Haruko exclaimed, frustration clear in her expression.
"Watch out!" Rintō shouted, recognizing the danger too late.
Kushina had thrown two kunai attached with explosive tags, carefully designed to separate her opponents before defeating them individually. The explosions boomed in rapid succession, powerful enough to disrupt their formations but leaving Qingshui's immediate engagement undisturbed.
Qingshui remained calm, an unshakable presence amidst the chaos. He did not feel the need to strike first. With his skill, he could end the confrontation with a single decisive action, yet he chose to restrain himself. The current battle served a purpose beyond victory—it was an opportunity to engage in real combat, testing both allies and enemies.
Kirabi drew his second ninja blade, eyeing Qingshui intently. Unlike his future self, destined to become a perfect Jinchūriki, the present Kirabi focused entirely on taijutsu, particularly swordsmanship. Qingshui's own swordsmanship was formidable, and a faint spark of interest crossed his face as he drew his blade in response.
Swish, swish, swish!
Kirabi launched a rapid sequence of attacks, over a dozen strikes in mere moments. Each was met with Qingshui's composed defense. Qingshui not only blocked the assault but deflected all of Kirabi's shuriken mid-flight, sending them back toward Ma Ji with even greater speed. Ma Ji's pupils constricted sharply at the display.
Kirabi's shock mirrored Ma Ji's. With just his initial maneuvers, Qingshui had demonstrated extraordinary prowess.
"Not bad," Qingshui said coolly, complimenting Kirabi's technique.
Although Kirabi's skills were excellent and his physical strength considerable, they proved insufficient against Qingshui's mastery. The combination of agility, precision, and composure placed Qingshui clearly above the level of the average Chūnin.
Frustration began to seep in as Ma Ji prepared another attack. Specializing in Wind Release jutsu, he sought to take advantage of medium-to-long range. However, Qingshui remained unfazed, forming hand signs with his free hand while using Water Formation Wall to defend against the incoming assault.
Ma Ji's jutsu collided with the immense water barrier, failing to make any impact. The Wall stood solid, neutralizing his Wind Release completely. His confidence faltered. Could it be that his jutsu was ineffective, or was his target simply too powerful?
It became clear: Qingshui's abilities transcended ordinary limitations. Even in a forest devoid of natural water sources, he had executed consecutive large-scale Water Release jutsu without apparent fatigue. The efficiency, precision, and resilience he exhibited left his opponents grappling with a single, inescapable conclusion—he was a monster among genin.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)