[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-grind-is-my-ninja-way":3,"chapter-grind-is-my-ninja-way-grind-is-my-ninja-way-chapter-417":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Grind is My Ninja Way",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1481138,1929,"Chapter 417: The Art of Hydration Technique","grind-is-my-ninja-way-chapter-417",417,"\u003Cp>*Ding~*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A crisp metallic clash echoed through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seimei slashed out with his blade, knocking the kunai out of Yamada Shinichi's hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without pausing, Seimei swiftly rotated his wrist, slicing horizontally across Yamada Shinichi's chest, leaving a long, bloody gash.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Ugh~\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A searing pain shot through Yamada Shinichi, causing him to let out a muffled groan as he staggered backward several steps, momentarily widening the gap between himself and Seimei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he was about to catch his breath and pull out another kunai, Seimei was already closing in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Whoosh~*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A cold gleam flashed from Seimei's blade as he swung again, this time aiming directly for Yamada Shinichi's neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Yamada Shinichi was too weak to dodge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the nick of time, a kunai shot in from the side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chill ran down Seimei's spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Out of the corner of his eye, Seimei spotted the incoming kunai and realized that if he continued with his attack, he would inevitably be struck by it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if it didn't kill him, it would leave him gravely injured.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, the timing of the attack was deliberate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmph!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seimei snorted coldly, abandoning his attack for the moment. He shifted slightly to the side, slicing the incoming kunai out of the air with a horizontal slash of his blade.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because of this, Yamada Shinichi narrowly escaped death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, Yamada Shinichi leaped back several times, putting more distance between him and Seimei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seimei didn't bother to pursue. He cast a glance at Yamada Shinichi but lost interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After their previous exchanges, Seimei had already seen through his opponent's tactics. Creating another opportunity to finish him off wouldn't be difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, the slash he landed earlier on Yamada Shinichi's chest, though not fatal, had severely weakened him. His remaining combat strength was likely less than half of his peak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, there was no need to chase him down relentlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right now, the two Mist ninjas in front of him were more pressing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seimei turned his attention to where the kunai had come from and saw two Mist Jonin approaching him from opposite sides.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Behind them lay a fallen Leaf Jonin, his throat slit, lifeless on the ground.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this support squad from the Leaf Village, there had been six Jonin, while the Mist had ten. Seimei had been holding off three of them, leaving seven Mist Jonin remaining.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seven against six.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Five of the Leaf Jonin were engaged in one-on-one duels with the Mist Jonin, but this particular Leaf Jonin had been caught between two enemies.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was no surprise that he was killed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, not every Jonin had Seimei's strength, able to take on multiple opponents and still prevail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, aside from a few geniuses, the vast majority of Jonin were just ordinary people, with their combat strength fairly even.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a one-on-one duel, unless there was a significant tactical disadvantage, the chances of victory were about fifty-fifty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At worst, it might be sixty-forty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in a chaotic battle full of unexpected twists, such small differences could be negligible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jonin with a win rate far higher than this were the elite of the elites, commonly referred to as \"elite Jonin.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fallen Leaf Jonin was clearly not one of these elite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Facing two opponents of the same level, it was no surprise that he lost.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, there was no guarantee that his opponents were of the same level as him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seimei glanced at the Mist Jonin on the right. With his Sharingan, he could see that this Jonin had chakra reserves far beyond the average Jonin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Additionally, there was a constant, highly active flow of chakra in his body, suggesting he was continuously maintaining a certain technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the slain Leaf Jonin, this Mist Jonin seemed like an elite.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But that would only be confirmed through battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that thought, Seimei's body glowed faintly with blue light as he activated the \"Instant Blade Technique.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In an instant, his speed soared to the limit. In the blink of an eye, he appeared in front of the Mist Jonin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their eyes met, and Seimei prepared to cast the \"Sharingan Genjutsu.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, his opponent was quick to react, sensing the danger immediately. The moment Seimei activated his Sharingan, the Mist Jonin closed his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this, Seimei had no choice but to abandon the genjutsu.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his attack couldn't stop.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Whoosh~*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The blade gleamed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seimei swung his sword, aiming for his opponent's neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Ding~*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another crisp metallic clash sounded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mist Jonin raised his short sword, precisely blocking Seimei's strike.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before Seimei could adjust his stance, his opponent pressed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Mist Jonin twisted his body, dodging Seimei's blade, and his short sword scraped against Seimei's long sword, aiming straight for his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Screech~~*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The grinding of sword against sword produced a harsh, nerve-wracking sound as sparks flew between them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seimei's eyes lit up at his opponent's reaction. Despite exchanging only a single move, it was enough for him to see many things.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For example, his opponent's swordsmanship was quite skilled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This sparked Seimei's interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having mastered both the \"Konoha Style Swordsmanship\" and \"Uchiha Style Swordsmanship,\" and fused them into a perfected \"Sword Art,\" he had further developed ultimate techniques like the \"Instant Blade Technique\" and the \"Phantom Blade Technique.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Most sword-wielding ninjas were no longer a match for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, finally encountering a worthy opponent, Seimei was eager to test his skills.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that thought, Seimei leaned back, narrowly dodging the Mist Jonin's short sword.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, he unleashed his perfected swordsmanship and engaged his opponent in a fierce exchange.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a while, the clashing of blades echoed without pause.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seimei's instincts were correct; his opponent's swordsmanship was indeed impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it had been an ordinary Jonin, they would have already been caught in a fatal mistake and killed in short order.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was likely how the fallen Leaf Jonin had died.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His opponent's current state reminded Seimei of himself before awakening the Mangekyō Sharingan, when he could defeat many Jonin using only swordsmanship.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately for his opponent, he was now facing Seimei.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of swordsmanship alone, let alone overall combat ability, Seimei far surpassed the average Jonin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a fierce exchange, Seimei had not only avoided making any mistakes but had also probed his opponent's limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At a critical moment, Seimei spotted a flaw in his opponent's technique. He struck with precision, slashing toward his neck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Pfft~*\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, to Seimei's surprise, there was no sound of the blade slicing through flesh, nor any blood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though his blade had connected with the Mist Jonin's neck, at the moment of impact, his opponent's neck, along with half of his body, turned into water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Hydration Secret Technique?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With just a glance, Seimei recognized the technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This ability to transform one's body into a liquid state could only be achieved through the Hydration Technique, a secret jutsu of the Hozuki Clan from the Hidden Mist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seimei hadn't expected his opponent to be a member of the Hozuki Clan, and judging by his skill, likely a core member at that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Otherwise, he wouldn't have mastered such a secret technique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Seimei realized the technique he had seen earlier within the Mist Jonin's chakra flow—the one constantly active—was indeed the Hydration Technique!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, it was a semi-passive ability after all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It made sense. Otherwise, how could he have accurately liquefied the targeted area at the exact moment of attack?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it required precise pre-emptive activation, the technique would be too impractical and wouldn't be considered a secret of the Hozuki Clan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I wonder if I could learn this technique?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The thought suddenly crossed Seimei's mind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he quickly shook his head. The Hydration Technique wasn't something that could be learned just by manipulating chakra.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were many prerequisite steps involved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And that was the crucial part.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seimei doubted that even if he defeated his opponent, he could extract the necessary knowledge from his mind. Such secrets were likely protected by seals.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, relying on the Sharingan's copying ability to learn it was out of the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for reverse-engineering it from his opponent's body…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was something Orochimaru would do, not him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He'd rather spend that time improving his \"Mirror of the Heart Technique\" proficiency.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, what's a mere Hydration Technique compared to his \"Heavenly Subjugation\"?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1388,"2026-06-06T03:30:41.619Z",1,"novelbin.me","6292b4587a345982375989daf51d6b5d2c02aef45207630523be666e23ef8b7f","grind-is-my-ninja-way-chapter-418","grind-is-my-ninja-way-chapter-416",1097,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fgrind-is-my-ninja-way-cover.jpg"]