103 Tactical Instruction, Ice Release
In the Land of Water, Hidden Mist Village.
Yagura ordered all Mist ninjas to remain on the island and not venture out. He then brought Hozuki Mangetsu back to the village to report the situation.
The Seven Ninja Swordsmen are dead.
The burden was too heavy for Yagura to bear.
Moreover,
It was Hozuki Mangetsu who advocated the attack. What did this have to do with Yagura?
Upon hearing the news, the gravely ill Third Mizukage also arrived.
"So, my Seven Ninja Swordsmen are gone?"
The Third Mizukage sat there, his aged and sickly face showing a hint of sorrow.
He had naturally heard Yagura's report.
Therefore, without waiting for an answer, he paused for a few seconds and then said, "What about the Hozuki clan? Have you tried using a scroll to summon the swords back?"
"Lord Mizukage, our clan tried, but it seems the enemy used some method to prevent our summoning from succeeding," replied an elder of the Hozuki clan.
The swords were gone too.
The Mizukage opened his mouth and finally sighed helplessly, saying, "Tell me everything in detail."
The surrounding elders were very worried.
The truth of the matter had been confirmed. After all, such a significant event could not be taken at Yagura's word alone. With Hozuki Mangetsu's return, they had immediately had the Anbu verify it.
And the result?
It was all true!
Indeed, it was Hozuki Mangetsu who led the charge, and although Yagura tried to stop it, he couldn't. In the end, he sent a young sensor ninja, Ao, along to ensure safety.
However,
Despite this, the Seven Ninja Swordsmen were still lost.
These were the seven warriors painstakingly trained by the Third Mizukage.
The Mizukage, already in poor health, could have been infuriated by this news.
But instead,
He just had a brief moment of irregular breathing and quickly calmed down, his expression growing even sadder.
Thus, Yagura began to recount from the beginning.
An elder interrupted.
"The focus is on the seven shinobi."
"No, Elder Shōyūki, six of the seven have already died, and the loss is irrecoverable. The focus should be on the special tactics adopted by Konoha."
Yagura's expression turned serious.
The Third Mizukage coughed a few times, then nodded and said, "Continue."
With the Mizukage speaking, no one else dared to interrupt.
Yagura continued.
His focus was on Kyōichi's tactics, not the life and death battle of the Seven Swordsmen, for they were undoubtedly gone.
With only one sword remaining, could they still be called the Seven Ninja Swordsmen?
At first, the elders were impatient.
After Yagura finished describing the first phase of the battle, he paused and looked at the elders: "Did you elders notice anything?"
"This tactic is similar to our assassination squad. If they can do it, our Mist assassination squad can do it too," Hozuki Shōyūki said.
"The Seven Swordsmen thought the same," Yagura replied.
"???"
Hozuki Shōyūki's face darkened.
This statement...
Whom was it meant to embarrass?
He stared at Yagura in silence.
Yagura did not directly respond, but instead began to describe the second phase —
Konoha hunting the Mist sentries that were distributed on the islands.
The Third Mizukage's hand trembled.
He understood! Intelligence!
Yagura continued, recounting how the Seven Swordsmen insisted on emulating Konoha to launch a sneak attack on Nagano Mountain. He was uneasy about letting Ao go with them, but after they left, he thought over and over, feeling that something was wrong.
"Elders, Konoha's tactics are not simple, traditional assassination tactics, but a complete system of infiltration and assassination based on intelligence, speed, and sensor ninjas!"
Yagura stated plainly.
Hozuki Shōyūki had already understood.
Although they were old, they were once Jonin who killed enemies on the battlefield. They of course knew the importance of intelligence, and Konoha's system was indeed built upon it.
Why could Konoha ambush them, and why were their ambushes easily countered by Konoha, turning into a death march?
Because the opponent's sensory abilities were far superior, simple and brutal, yet difficult to break —
In terms of perception and reconnaissance, no one in the ninja world could match the Byakugan.
The room fell silent.
"What do you mean?"
"Lord Mizukage, elders, I think this is a great tactic, especially suitable for our Mist ninjas. We should study and learn from it."
"…"
Silence fell in the meeting room again.
Study and learn? Not so easy.
Hozuki Shōyūki wanted to object, but seeing Hozuki Mangetsu trussed up like a rice dumpling and sealed, and remembering Yagura's previous taunt, he suddenly didn't feel like speaking.
The Third Mizukage tapped the table and pondered for a while before saying, "This tactic can't counter the Byakugan. Konoha can do this because they have clans like the Hyuga and Yamanaka, specialized in reconnaissance."
"Yes."
Yagura nodded, not denying this point.
He looked up, a smile appearing on his face, and said, "We learn this tactic not to use this against Konoha, but we could use it against Kumogakure."
"What do you mean?"
Attack Kumogakure!
The Third Mizukage was stunned for a long time.
This was...
Completely unexpected.
"Do you want to negotiate with Konoha?"
The elders, all astute veteran politicians, could hear the underlying meaning in Yagura's words.
"Is there a second option?"
Yagura didn't directly answer but looked at the elders.
Negotiating with Konoha meant admitting the strategic failure of the Mist Village, akin to a form of surrender.
It was too humiliating! But then,
Those six swords...
Thinking of this, they sighed softly, their eyes on Hozuki Mangetsu filled with more anger.
It was all his fault!
If they had followed Yagura's strategy, staying put in the Land of Water and waiting for Kumogakure and Iwagakure to fully engage in battle, none of this would have happened.
"Let's not talk about negotiation for now. We can delay, wait for the other two villages, but this tactic is indeed worth learning. Arrange it in the meantime."
The Third Mizukage, his energy waning, had no interest in continuing the discussion.
With his emotions fluctuating so much, the fact that he had held up until now was already a sign of his strong mental fortitude. Any ordinary person might have been so angry as to spit blood or even die.
Yagura didn't press further.
The elders still had to argue.
The Third Mizukage giving such a relatively definitive answer was already surprising to Yagura. In fact, his thoughts were the same as the Third Mizukage's.
Wait for Kumogakure and Iwagakure!
...
[Completion of 'Guerrilla Tactics']
[Evaluation: Outstanding!]
[Reward Options:
Principles of the Hydrification Technique
Water Release: Water Shark Bomb Technique
Ice Release
Choose one of the three rewards.]
Where did these rewards come from?
Kyōichi woke up in the morning, utterly confused. He unexpectedly received a reward, and upon closer inspection, his expression grew solemn.
These rewards were no ordinary matter.
The Hydrification Technique.
A powerful foundation of the Hōzuki clan.
Sadly, it was just the principle.
Considering the status of the Yin Seal, Kyōichi felt this technique might be deemed beyond his current learning capabilities by the system.
Indeed, the Hydrification Technique seemed to be closely related to one's physical constitution!
The second option, the Water Shark Bomb Technique.
This jutsu is a part of the Shark Bomb series. Mastering one could make it easier to deduce the others, perfectly harmonizing with his Water Release skills.
And the third...
Kyōichi took a deep breath.
Ice Release!
Though just an elemental Kekkei Genkai, it had shown considerable strength in the anime.
Even though it might fall short against many more potent Kekkei Genkai later on, if used wisely, it could significantly enrich his current arsenal, something the Water Shark Bomb couldn't offer.
After much deliberation,
Kyōichi eventually chose Ice Release.
This technique was unique, with a highly challenging derivation process.
For now, Kyōichi had no starting point, whereas acquiring the Great Shark Bomb Technique from the Hidden Mist Village or other sources seemed feasible. If worse came to worst...
He could simply forego it.
The Great Shark Bomb series was powerful, but not indispensable.
Ice Release was different.
As for the Hydrification Technique.
Not to mention that Kyōichi had captured Hōzuki Senkei, learning this technique likely required altering one's physical constitution, just as Kabuto did in the anime.
Kyōichi preferred not to delve into physical modification.
Having made his decision, he quickly claimed his reward.
Soon, memories about Ice Release, including knowledge on merging wind and water natures, surfaced in Kyōichi's mind.
Nature fusion...
Kyōichi immediately immersed himself in deep contemplation.
However,
He felt somewhat disappointed.
Different attributes required different fusion methods.
Therefore,
The knowledge of Ice Release couldn't be applied to Wood Release.
Kyōichi wasn't concerned.
Although this path was a dead end, Wood Release had simpler methods.
Moreover, he was well aware of one thing—
It wasn't the Wood Release itself that was powerful, but the Wood Release of Hashirama Senju.
Kyōichi experimented for a moment.
Then, tiny ice crystals appeared at his fingertips.
So simple!
Yet, without understanding the fusion of wind and water natures, achieving this would only be possible through a Kekkei Genkai.
Kyōichi sighed, intending to continue his research, but then he heard footsteps approaching.
He dispersed the ice crystals and stepped out of the tent.
Uchiha Fugaku?
Kyōichi wasn't surprised.
The Uchiha had been dispatched to the east to join the battle, naturally harboring ambitions for distinction.
"Fugaku-senpai."
"Lord Kyōichi, I have been briefed by Yashiro on the general situation, and I thank you for your magnanimity."
Fugaku bowed deeply.
If Kyōichi wished, he could have used yesterday's bet as an excuse to make an example of Yashiro Uchiha. The fact that he hadn't brought it up yesterday or today indicated he had no real intention of antagonizing the Uchiha.
Kyōichi shook his head, saying, "It was just a joke. Yashiro Uchiha-senpai and the others did their best yesterday. It's not their fault they couldn't beat Yagura."
"Thank you for your understanding."
Fugaku thanked him again, then was about to ask something when Kyōichi entered the tent, gesturing for him to follow.
Reluctantly, Fugaku stepped in.
"Lord Kyōichi, will there be another battle with the Hidden Mist?"
"The Hidden Mist Village currently doesn't want to fight, but they haven't declared a ceasefire either. We can't let our guard down and should maintain the standoff for now."
Kyōichi shared his thoughts.
This was the result of his discussion with Inoichi.
However, he added, "Of course, if the Uchiha has other ideas, feel free to suggest them. We can discuss it together."
"That's not the case. No one craves war. The Uchiha has been in combat for years and suffered significant losses."
Fugaku sighed.
Who would want to fight if it could be avoided?
"In that case... I have no immediate battle plans, but will definitely inform you if the need arises."
Kyōichi gave his response.
Fugaku nodded, then stood up and bowed, "Yes! I will take my leave now. Also, I'm deeply grateful for your guidance to Shisui!"
"He's my disciple. It's only proper."
Kyōichi smiled.
Fugaku didn't say more and left the tent.
With Tsunade's ascension, the Uchiha were still uneasy at heart.
Each Hokage has their own policies.
Fugaku's visit was probably meant to show loyalty and gauge the situation.
