*Splash! Splash! Yet another splash!*
In the middle of this artificially created sea, Ren knelt on one knee atop the water's surface.
No matter how many times he slashed his opponent, the result was the same—the enemy turned into water and reformed without so much as a scratch.
This was the Kekkei Genkai of the Hōzuki Clan.
As long as there was water, they could restore their bodies at an incredibly low Chakra cost.
In an ocean environment like this, they were practically invincible—immune not only to all physical damage but resistant to most ninjutsu as well.
"What's wrong, brat? Weren't you all high and mighty just a minute ago? Why so limp now?"
Hōzuki Getsumei—the infamous Jōnin of Kirigakure—emerged smugly from the waves.
Ren gritted his teeth and slashed through his body once more with his Chakra blade.
"No… If this keeps up, I'll die from exhaustion." Ren's thoughts raced.
"With an endless water source, the Hōzuki can regenerate constantly. They're damn near immortal in a battlefield like this. Maybe only Ice Release can counter them…"
Despite its seemingly small size, the Land of Water had never been successfully invaded.
The secret lay in the element surrounding it—water.
A Water Release shinobi here could exert over 200% of their normal combat power.
That's why those types of shinobi frequently dumped their Chakra to create lakes during battle.
Where there is water, Water Release reigns supreme.
At that moment, Hyūga Sogi and Uchiha Canon Fodder 1 were busy teaming up to fight an Ice Release user from the Yuki Clan.
Meanwhile, Jōnin-level Hatake Fan was locked in a fierce sword duel with one of the Elite Chūnin from Kirigakure, and their Elite Chūnin could barely hold off a basic Chūnin attacker.
Everything they had planned had gone to hell.
Originally, the mission was to take place in a desert environment.
According to the plan, Hyūga Sogi was supposed to be able to take both the Yuki and Hōzuki ninja head-on.
This assignment was supposed to be easy—just another warm-up mission where Ren could get some practice.
And yeah, Ren was getting practice all right.
Just... against a Hōzuki Jōnin.
Ren clenched his fists. He knew Hōzuki Getsumei was just toying with him. But he had yet to go all out.
He'd been holding back—hadn't even used Lightning Release.
The only elemental counter to the Hydrification Technique was Lightning Release.
In the original timeline, when Sasuke's Taka infiltrated the Five Kage Summit, Hōzuki Suigetsu got pinned to the wall by a massive blade charged with Lightning Chakra and was completely immobilized.
The technique broke his body's liquification.
Ren had been waiting for that moment—an opening, a perfect window.
And when that window came, there'd be no room for failure. None.
But right now, he needed something crucial—a **carrier**.
In the original battle, Suigetsu couldn't regenerate because he was nailed to a wall, his body unable to draw more water.
But here, even if Ren electrocuted Getsumei into goo, the guy could just reform using the ocean water all around.
Ren needed to get Getsumei **out** of the sea—*even for just half a second*.
But for that, he needed something to carry or trap him.
Ren's eyes darted across the battlefield as he parried another watery kunai strike. Nothing. Just water, endless ocean.
Then—*clang!*
A metallic ring echoed. Ren turned his head.
Hatake Fan was in a full-blown berserker state, sword locked against the Chūnin's weapon.
That guy's strength—it wasn't just Elite Chūnin level anymore. He was bordering on Jōnin level now.
"You looking away in a fight? You trying to die, kid?"
The voice sent a chill down Ren's spine. A razor-sharp kunai, condensed entirely from water, was already inches from his neck.
"Say goodbye, brat."
*Slash!*
Blood sprayed into the air.
The next moment, Getsumei was sent flying backward, his body splashing violently into the water.
"Wha—! What the hell just happened?! What the hell was that just now?!"
Getsumei's eyes widened. His mind couldn't process what had occurred. He stared at Ren with disbelief.
Ren didn't reply. He simply covered his neck with his hand, trying to stem the blood pouring out from the gash. It was bad, but not fatal.
In that final moment, Ren had used Wind Release Chakra to form a microscopic buffer between the kunai and his throat. It hadn't fully blocked the slash, but it had *barely* prevented a killing blow.
"High-level Nature Transformation with Wind Release…? Kid, did I see that right?" Getsumei whispered, stunned.
"I always thought you were some rookie with raw talent, barely able to use Wind Chakra with that blade of yours… But the speed you just showed—my god. How old are you even?!"
Getsumei trembled with excitement, his eyes bloodshot, lips twitching in a manic grin.
"A genius… You're a goddamn genius! A super-genius from Konoha! HAHAHA! My lucky day! I get to kill a prodigy! Oh, this is so fucking exhilarating! KILL THE GENIUS! AH—SO GOOD! MY BLOOD'S FUCKING BOILING!!!"
He cackled like a lunatic, then surged forward, water parting beneath his feet.
This time, he wasn't playing.
This was a serious assault—a true Jōnin-level strike. The water-forged kunai swung toward Ren's throat once more, as fast and sharp as a guillotine.
*Clang!*
The ocean rippled softly as the two clashed. This time, Getsumei's weapon didn't shatter.
A single droplet of blood trickled from his mouth as he licked the corner of his lips, eyes now utterly crazed.
"You might've trained your Wind Release to an absurd level, but your Chakra reserves… they're barely higher than a normal Chūnin's.
Not even Elite Chūnin level! Me? I'm standing on this sea—my element—and here, I might as well be an Elite Jōnin!"
Getsumei's laugh turned into a growl, the bloodlust rolling off him like fog on a lake.
---