The Lightning-Infused Water Dragon Bullet surged forward, forcing Pakura to reconsider her approach.
The jutsu's range was too vast to evade, leaving her with no choice but to counter it head-on with Scorch Release.
"Scorch Release: Overheat Kill!"
In an instant, her chakra was drained, forming a massive, sun-like blazing sphere that crashed into the water dragons.
Scorch, Water, and Lightning clashed head-on!
A deafening explosion erupted as the water dragons let out an anguished wail.
Yagura seized the opportunity to activate Hidden Mist Jutsu, retreating along with his clones into the thick fog and smoke.
He cannot be allowed to escape!
Pakura lunged forward, diving into the mist in pursuit.
With every clash of Scorch Release and Water Release, vast amounts of steam billowed outward. The temperature of the surrounding air continued to rise by the second.
Pakura noticed something.
That little brat was deliberately keeping his distance, engaging her in long-range combat—the type of battle she was least adept at.
As much as she didn't want to believe it, the cold truth was undeniable—Kirigakure had intelligence on her.
A shinobi is half-defeated the moment their battle tactics and jutsu are fully analyzed by the enemy.
When an opponent knows your arsenal, studies your style, and crafts a strategy specifically to counter you, the odds turn against you.
Just like now.
Pakura's eyes narrowed as the fiery sphere struck Yagura's form—only for him to dissolve into water and evaporate.
"Another water clone!"
Chakra depletion was accelerating, yet she had failed to land a decisive blow. Anxiety gnawed at her.
If not for Yagura's lack of experience, she wouldn't have been able to suppress him as much as she had. Her battle-hardened instincts gave her the upper hand—for now.
However, what had begun as a battle she hoped to end swiftly had morphed into an exhausting war of attrition.
And with time, the brat's combat instincts were growing—fast!
Opportunities like her earlier near-hit were becoming fewer and farther between.
"I don't have much chakra left... at most, three more attacks."
Pakura panted, wiping away the sweat that had formed due to the stifling heat in the air.
Meanwhile, Yagura showed no signs of exhaustion.
Water Release is the most chakra-intensive among the five basic nature transformations. No matter how talented Yagura was, it was impossible for him to sustain this level of jutsu output on his own.
Pakura had a strong suspicion about his identity. She just needed more confirmation.
At this point, her objective had shifted.
Compared to the original mission, unearthing Yagura's true nature had become a greater priority.
A child no older than ten, with this level of chakra control—
If he was indeed a Jinchuriki, then one day, he would become Sunagakure's greatest threat!
Killing him here and now was unlikely. Her best course of action was to extract as much information as possible—and escape to report back.
Having reassessed her priorities, Pakura exhaled deeply, steadying her mind.
She gazed at Yagura from afar and suddenly spoke. "Kid, you're quite strong."
Yagura, caught off guard by her sudden conversational shift, remained wary and hesitated before responding,
"Uh... thanks?"
"You must know my name by now. I'm Pakura."
Pakura studied his face closely. No surprise, no reaction—her name was already known to him.
Which meant Kirigakure had gathered intel on her.
But how? Where was the leak?
"I don't know your name, though. Mind telling me?"
"...Yagura."
"Nice name." Pakura smiled faintly. "I'll remember it."
Was she giving up?
Yagura sensed that her battle intent had noticeably diminished.
Throughout the fight, he had been on high alert, wary of the scorching orbs that could appear at any moment. His mind was stretched to the limit, knowing that even a single hit from Scorch Release could drain the moisture from his body in an instant, leaving him a mummified corpse.
And that was just from fighting her at long range.
If they had fought in close combat... he didn't even want to imagine the outcome.
But Yagura himself was also running low.
He had expended as much chakra as Pakura, and if he wanted to maintain his Lightning Release chakra state, he estimated he could only cast two more Water Release jutsu.
Canceling the Lightning Release state would conserve energy, but if Pakura got close and he failed to escape in time, the consequences would be dire.
Pakura moved again!
Uncertain how much chakra Yagura had left, she decided it was time to force his hand—with everything she had left!
She raised her hands high, gathering Scorch Release chakra into a massive orb, over two meters in diameter.
And it was still growing!
The ground beneath her feet had long since dried and blackened. As the searing heat intensified, the brittle vegetation crumbled into ash with just a passing breeze.
Was this her final attack?!
"Shit!"
Cursing, Yagura funneled every last ounce of chakra into his legs.
Lightning Release: Thunderclap and Flash!
Not to attack—but to flee.
Like a streak of lightning, he shot backward, vanishing into the night.
...
The moment the colossal sphere touched the earth, its temperature soared to the extreme!
A blinding white explosion engulfed the land, illuminating the night sky as if it were midday.
BOOM!!!
Grass, trees—everything was incinerated. Even the rocky terrain cracked under the unbearable heat.
...
The ground, once solid earth, was now nothing but white ash, wisps of smoke curling into the air.
Pakura stepped into the scorched battlefield, scanning the empty surroundings.
No corpse.
Her Scorch Release hadn't met with a Water Release counterattack either.
"He ran, huh?"
Fast little brat.
She sighed.
Even if he hadn't fled, she was out of chakra. She would've had to retreat regardless.
But now, she had a duty—
She needed to report back to Sunagakure.
This Yagura was a prodigy of Kirigakure.
The village had to be warned.
...
Had Yagura truly fled?
No.
As Pakura turned her back—
A sharp gleam of water shot forth from the darkness, streaking toward her like a serpent striking its prey!
Pakura never let her guard down. The instant she heard the rushing sound of water, her instincts screamed danger.
Water Release—fast. A linear attack. Aimed at her right chest.
If it hit, she would die!
Her battle-honed reflexes took over—she twisted low to dodge.
But the speed of the high-pressure water jet was terrifyingly fast.
Even as she avoided a fatal hit, her right shoulder was struck!
"Water Release: Coral Water Cannon!"
"Argh!"
She rolled aside, clutching her wound in pain.
A quick glance at her shoulder made her pupils contract.
Bone-deep.
What kind of Water Release was this? She had never seen anything like it.
Its piercing force was extraordinary, its speed far beyond her expectations.
A jutsu utilizing pressurized water?
A variation of Water Severing Wave?
Yagura lowered his hand, cutting off the water flow. A smirk tugged at his lips.
"Coral Water Cannon... a success."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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