Chapter 82

Instead of standing still, the technique surged forward like a wave, effortlessly absorbing the first blow thanks to the infused amount of chakra. Following that, the second technique flew...

"Raiton: Kangekiha."

... electrifying the water and allowing it to withstand the Doton chakra. Due to the relatively low complexity of taijutsu and the use of fewer hand seals, I managed to execute the combo attack much faster than the usual four seconds required.

Thus, the wall erected in the wave's path proved unable to withstand the pressure until the end. However, the Jounin behind it was no longer there—he had bounced further back, and the bald man's confident look was replaced with a healthy dose of concern. Despite the excellent opportunity to continue the attack, I stayed put—protecting the commander was too tempting a target to leave uncovered, even with a busy clone not counting. Moreover, engaging alone with such a strong and experienced shinobi was too risky.

"Iryo-nin, and with Raiton," spat the Jounin, clenching and unclenching fists covered in stone with a creak, "for now, the battlefield seems to be yours, but we will meet Shigeru Uchiha again, and you, red-haired one, I will remember."

Throwing a literally murderous (thanks to Chakra Inhibition) glance in my direction, the man "dived" into the ground and quickly started moving towards the territory of Iwagakure. Next to me, Uchiha sighed in relief and relaxed a bit, deactivating the Sharingan as soon as he was sure the danger had passed.

"Lucky that Goto didn't dare to fight both of us and retreated."

"More like, he feared I would finish treating you before he could take advantage of your reduced mobility," I succinctly clarified, surveying what had once been part of the grass-covered plain.

Smoking grass, traces of burns and explosions, piles of earth, and huge pits, puddles of mud and murky water from my technique—all this in just about five minutes of battle between two elite Jounin. Yeah, water tends to be gentler in its impact on the surrounding nature compared to fire and earth.

"That's it, I patched up the wound on your thigh quickly, but after returning to camp, come to me for further treatment," announced the clone, rising from his knees, "dealing with ribs will take longer, so you'll have to endure."

"Not just ribs, but hands too," Uchiha grimaced, carefully rolling up the sleeves of his vest and observing the large bruises beginning to form on the outer sides of his arms, "if not for the powerful chakra reinforcement, I would now also have broken arms."

Recalling the stone-covered fists of the giant shinobi, I involuntarily grimaced. Indeed, an ordinary Chunin would break in half even catching one of those blows, if an A-rank shinobi received such injuries. Perhaps I could still engage in taijutsu against him without significant consequences, simply due to the advantage in overall strength of an Uzumaki, but others shouldn't attempt such tricks.

"So, the hands as well," nodded the clone.

"Seal the bodies," I tossed copies of the scroll until it dispersed and nodded at the commander's raised eyebrow, "yes, I handled both."

He doesn't need to know that the lady remained alive—it might lead to attempts to take her back, and then what would you get back as legitimate prey, at least in general form. I'll need her to test some ideas, practice, and apply them first on less significant experimental subjects whose deaths won't be as important as immediately on Saya.

"Then let's check on the Chunin and help if necessary," sighed Uchiha, forgetting that I am essentially a Chunin as well.

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