Chapter 18

Three ninjas of different ages, statuses, and strengths sat quietly a few meters apart by the lakeside, waiting for the arrival of Mizunuki Ryosuke.

Due to the differences in their statuses and personalities, the atmosphere between the three was not exactly good.

Unlike the simple waiting of Mizunuki Mitsuhiko and Terumi Mei, Takeda Yoichi had an additional task assigned by Mizunuki Ryosuke.

"Intelligence gathering."

And the targets from whom information needed to be gathered were none other than Terumi Mei and Mizunuki Mitsuhiko before him.

As a teammate and old subordinate who had already lived and died together several times, Takeda Yoichi naturally executed Mizunuki Ryosuke's orders with one hundred percent compliance.

He also understood that this was a test for him from Mizunuki Ryosuke.

After thinking it over, Takeda Yoichi came up with a suitable idea.

Takeda Yoichi, who had been sitting in place, suddenly stood up, took a scroll from his waist, opened the seal, and took out an iron pot that was easy to use.

Afterward, he gathered firewood on the spot, took water from the nearby lakeside, used Fire Release to ignite the wood, and began to boil water.

Before long, the water was boiled.

Drink more hot water (manual doge), this point is also true for ninjas.

Except for necessary moments or special missions, ninjas also try to use boiled water before drinking to avoid contracting diseases.

Takeda Yoichi very diligently handed the treated water to Terumi Mei.

"Thank you."

Terumi Mei took the hot water and politely said thank you.

Having rushed here without stopping, she was indeed a bit thirsty.

Subsequently, after Terumi Mei finished drinking, Takeda Yoichi came to Mizunuki Mitsuhiko's side in the same way and handed the cup Terumi Mei had used to Mizunuki Mitsuhiko.

"Drink some water."

Takeda Yoichi revealed a simple and honest smile and said kindly, but what Mizunuki Mitsuhiko did not notice was a flash of sharpness in his eyes.

A look of disgust immediately appeared in Mizunuki Mitsuhiko's eyes; as the son of the great elder of the Mizunuki clan, how could he drink water from a cup someone else had used?

"Get lost!"

Immediately, Mizunuki Mitsuhiko said in a blunt, low voice, the disgust in his eyes undisguised.

Takeda Yoichi's expression immediately turned ugly.

This scene was even more unsightly in the eyes of Terumi Mei on the other side.

"Rise!"

Terumi Mei stood up abruptly, looking at Mizunuki Mitsuhiko with cold eyes.

"Heh."

"What, a mere burden wants to cause trouble?"

Mizunuki Mitsuhiko said bluntly while sneering.

At this, Terumi Mei could no longer tolerate it.

"A burden? I'm afraid the one you're talking about is yourself."

She retorted bluntly.

"What, do you want to try it?!"

The sneer on Mizunuki Mitsuhiko's face vanished instantly, and his expression became very gloomy.

"Try it then!"

A cold glint flashed and vanished in Terumi Mei's eyes.

Water Release: Water Trumpet Technique!

Terumi Mei formed hand seals at an extremely fast speed, spraying a water jet with terrifying impact from her mouth.

Facing Terumi Mei's sudden attack, Mizunuki Mitsuhiko did not panic at all; he also formed hand seals quickly and slammed his hands onto the ground.

Ice Release: Ice Wall Technique!

An ice wall that just happened to shield his body rose from the ground.

Although the speed of their hand seals was still far from the level Mizunuki Ryosuke displayed during the chunin exams, it far exceeded that of ninjas of the same age.

The foundation was extremely solid.

In terms of attributes, Ice Release severely countered Water Release, so Terumi Mei's Water Release ninjutsu naturally returned without success.

Seeing Mizunuki Mitsuhiko's Ice Release, Terumi Mei frowned.

However, this would not make Terumi Mei shrink back.

Terumi Mei quickly formed hand seals again, opened her mouth to spit out several fireballs about half a meter in diameter, and at the same time, her body moved quickly toward Mizunuki Mitsuhiko's back.

Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!

Several fireballs moving in an arc bypassed the ice wall, encircling Mizunuki Mitsuhiko from multiple directions.

Seeing this, a hint of gravity appeared in Mitsuhiko's eyes.

"Boom!"

The sound of a fiery explosion came, and it seemed to have completely hit Mizunuki Mitsuhiko.

Just then, a figure suddenly burst out from the smoke, holding a weapon formed of ice, and stabbed toward Terumi Mei.

It turned out that Mizunuki Mitsuhiko had used the Body Replacement Technique to dodge the Fire Release attack.

Terumi Mei pulled out the kunai at her waist and exchanged dozens of blows with Mizunuki Mitsuhiko.

Seeing that he could not gain an advantage in close combat, a cold glint flashed in Mizunuki Mitsuhiko's eyes; ice quickly condensed toward his legs and feet, and then he kicked out violently at Terumi Mei.

Terumi Mei turned to parry, but was kicked away, creating distance.

Subsequently, Mizunuki Mitsuhiko formed hand seals again, and countless sharp tools resembling awls condensed at his sides, then shot toward Terumi Mei.

At the same time, Mizunuki Mitsuhiko also continuously condensed kunai formed of ice in his hands, increasing the force as he continued to throw them at Terumi Mei.

It seemed he wanted to use this long-range attrition method to strike his opponent.

Seeing this, Terumi Mei also had to bring out her own blades to engage in a war of attrition with Mizunuki Mitsuhiko.

Only, compared to the blades Mizunuki Mitsuhiko condensed with ice, the blades Terumi Mei carried would soon be exhausted.

"No, I can't just sit here and wait for death!"

A cold glint flashed in Terumi Mei's eyes; if this continued, she would be no match for Ice Release.

The opponent's suppression left Terumi Mei breathless; she also used the Body Replacement Technique to evade a wave of ice blade attacks.

Then she took the opportunity to quickly form hand seals to release the highest-level Fire Release she could currently perform.

Fire Release: Great Eruption!

The intense flames burned toward Mizunuki Mitsuhiko, just as he was preparing to use an ice wall to block it.

Suddenly, Terumi Mei formed hand seals again, releasing another ninjutsu without stopping.

Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!

Under the sweep of the gale, the power of the C-rank ninjutsu Great Eruption instantly doubled, forming a brand-new composite ninjutsu.

Mizunuki Mitsuhiko's pressure increased several times over in an instant.

Wanting to defend, he simply couldn't block it with the ninjutsu he currently mastered!

The only way now was to meet force with force for a glimmer of hope.

Ice Release: Ice Strangling!

A B-rank Ice Release secret technique was barely performed by Mizunuki Mitsuhiko; cruel ice rose and wound from the ground, and ice pillars carrying hideous ice spikes wound toward Terumi Mei to strangle her.

The two of them had truly lost their tempers!

It looked like it was about to get out of hand.

A gentle voice suddenly sounded.

"Water Release: Water Formation Pillar!"

A water pillar carrying massive water pressure shot into the sky, and whether it was ice or fire, both were instantly washed away by the water pillar.

As if they were not worth mentioning at all.

Also dressed in white, very similar to Mizunuki Mitsuhiko, a man with a gentle smile appeared at the center of the battle.

"Not bad, you both seem quite energetic."

Mizunuki Ryosuke said with a smile, looking at Terumi Mei and Mizunuki Mitsuhiko who had collapsed to the ground.

And Takeda Yoichi on the side wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

(Seeking flowers, seeking tickets, seeking support, thank you very much!).