On the opposite bank of the river, behind a moss-covered boulder, Ranmaru held his breath.
His back pressed against the cold stone surface. The eyes of his Kekkei Genkai, known as the Akaigan, were now emitting an eerie red glow.
Not the crimson of the Sharingan, nor the coagulated blood color of the Ketsuryugan, but like burning charcoal.
Ranmaru was born into the Red-Eyed Clan, a Dojutsu Clan once as renowned as the Uchiha during the Warring States Period. Now, only his family of three remained.
This Akaigan could not only see through objects and sense danger but also had the special ability to interfere with the Byakugan. In the era when the Hyuga Clan dominated, this was the only Kekkei Genkai that could rival them in the field of reconnaissance.
And Ranmaru was not only the last orphan of the Red-Eyed Clan but also a beneficiary of the genetic modification plan and the Kekkei Genkai Disease research project.
Born in the Star City, Ranmaru had undergone the genetic modification plan since childhood. Not only had it cured the Kekkei Genkai Disease that accompanied the Akaigan, but his originally weak physical constitution had also been greatly improved.
More importantly, stimulated by Hashirama's cells and White Zetsu's cells, his Akaigan had developed new abilities.
For example, now.
In the fog, five blurry figures were moving.
They were not shadow clones, but 'semi-physical shadows' condensed by Ranmaru using his Ocular Power and Chakra.
The principle was somewhat similar to Madara's unique Rinnegan ability, [Limbo Border Jail], but much lower-spec.
They couldn't turn invisible, couldn't stray too far from the main body, and their attack power was limited.
Compared to ordinary shadow clone techniques, their advantage was that they could use various weapons, wouldn't make noise when moving, could interfere with the sensory abilities of most sensory Ninja and even Kekkei Genkai sensory Ninja, and wouldn't transmit pain back to Ranmaru if they were damaged.
Against ordinary Ninja, they were sufficient.
"The Hiding in Mist Technique?" Ranmaru murmured to himself, with a calmness that belied his age.
"It suits my Akaigan perfectly."
Originally, Chojuro had used this technique to interfere with the vision of Karin's team, creating a home-field advantage for themselves.
But now, the thick fog had instead become Ranmaru's cover.
The five shadows flickered in and out of the fog, surrounding Chojuro and Honoka from different directions.
Through the shadows' 'perspective', Ranmaru could clearly see the state of the two.
Chojuro wielded the Blunt Sword: Kabutowari, alternating between axe and hammer. Each attack carried the force to split the earth and crack rocks.
But his expression was nervous, his eyes behind his glasses constantly shifting, trying to lock onto those erratic shadows.
As for Honoka, riding on the back of that summoned creature, her hands forming hand seals, she seemed to be preparing some kind of Ninjutsu.
But the harassment of the five shadows forced her to divide her attention. Whenever she tried to concentrate, a shadow would throw a kunai or launch a feint attack, forcing her to interrupt her hand seals.
'That summoned creature is troublesome,' Ranmaru thought. 'I need to deal with it first.'
He controlled one of the shadows, charging directly at the summoned creature from the front.
The shadow held a kunai in its hand, its movements swift.
"Left side!" Honoka shouted low.
The summoned creature's left front claw raised, its sharp claws drawing five streaks of cold light, instantly tearing the shadow apart.
But the shadow did not bleed, did not scream. It just turned into a cloud of red mist, dispersing into the air.
And the other four shadows had already taken the opportunity to pounce from the flanks and rear.
"Dammit!" Chojuro roared, swinging his hammer at a shadow.
The hammer passed through the shadow's body, hitting the ground and blasting a half-meter-deep crater.
But the shadow merely trembled for a moment, then recovered, its kunai thrusting toward Chojuro's throat.
Chojuro was forced to retreat.
And at that moment, Kurotsuchi's attack arrived.
"Earth Release: Rock Fist Technique!"
Her right fist covered with hard rock, she dive-bombed from the air, punching down toward the top of Chojuro's head.
Chojuro could only raise his axe to block.
Clang—!!!
Metal and rock collided, producing a deafening sound.
The ground beneath Chojuro's feet cracked, his feet sinking half a foot into it.
He clenched his teeth, the muscles in his arms swelling, barely withstanding the blow.
But Kurotsuchi's second strike followed close behind.
She flipped in the air, her left leg chopping down like a battle axe.
"Earth Release: Added-Weight Rock Technique!"
The weight of her leg instantly increased tenfold!
Chojuro's face changed dramatically. He wanted to dodge but had no time. He could only raise his axe again.
Boom!
He was forcibly smashed into the ground, half of his body buried.
His throat went sweet, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth.
"Chojuro!" Honoka cried out in alarm.
She wanted to rescue him, but the other three shadows had already pounced.
One of the shadows flicked out a steel wire, entangling the summoned creature's right front leg. Another shadow jumped onto the summoned creature's back, its kunai thrusting toward Honoka's back. The third shadow launched a feint attack from the front, drawing attention.
A three-pronged attack.
Honoka gritted her teeth. Her hands finally completed the hand seals.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
A large amount of river water surged up from beneath her. A circular water wall rose, protecting her and the summoned creature in its center.
The attacks of the three shadows were blocked by the water wall, the kunai and steel wire both washed away.
But the water wall also blocked her vision.
And Ranmaru had been waiting for this opportunity.
Behind the boulder, his Akaigan suddenly brightened.
The fifth shadow, which had been lurking beneath the river's surface, suddenly leaped out of the water!
In its hand, it held a specially made kunai.
On the blade of the kunai, dense runes were engraved.
This was a kunai that had sealed Lightning Release Chakra within it.
The shadow threw the kunai at the water wall.
The moment the kunai pierced the water wall, the seal was released.
Crackle, crackle, crackle—!!!
Dazzling lightning exploded!
Water conducts electricity.
The entire water formation wall instantly became a huge conductor.
The rampant Lightning Release Chakra spread along the water, instantly sweeping through every inch of space inside the water wall.
"Arrgghhh!!!"
Honoka let out a painful scream.
The lightning passed through her body, causing muscle spasms and nerve paralysis.
The summoned creature beneath her howled even more miserably, its huge body convulsing violently, its scales charred black, green smoke rising.
The summoning technique was released.
White smoke exploded, and the bizarre summoned creature disappeared, forcibly sent back.
And Honoka fell from mid-air, plunging into the river with a splash, sending up a large spray of water.
She struggled to get up, but the paralyzing effect of the lightning was still there. Her limbs simply wouldn't obey.
"Honoka!" Chojuro was somewhat anxious.
He wanted to rush over to rescue her, but Kurotsuchi wouldn't give him the chance.
"Your opponent is me."
Kurotsuchi landed in front of him, her right fist again covered in rock.
"Earth Release: Fist Rock Technique!"
A punch was thrown.
Chojuro could only raise the Blunt Sword: Kabutowari to block head-on.
This time, he couldn't hold it.
Boom—!!!
The axe's surface was dented, the hammer knocked out of his hand.
Chojuro's entire body flew backward, arcing through the air, slamming heavily onto the riverbank ten meters away, rolling several times before stopping.
He struggled to get up, but his chest ached terribly. At least three ribs were broken. He spat out a mouthful of blood.
On the battlefield in the middle of the river.
The fight between Karin and Suigetsu had already lasted five minutes.
For Ninja, five minutes of close-quarters combat meant a huge expenditure of physical strength and Chakra.
But neither showed signs of fatigue.
Suigetsu stood on the water's surface, the Long Sword: Nuibari transforming into a silver streak of light in his hands. Each thrust, each slash was cunning and ruthless.
His body sometimes liquefied, causing Karin's attacks to miss, sometimes hardened, using the power of the Great Water Arm Technique to clash head-on.
This was the Hozuki Clan's secret technique, the alternating use of the Hydrification Technique and Great Water Arm, which made him almost invincible in close combat.
But Karin was equally formidable.
She stood on the water's surface, her long red hair dancing in the fight, her purple crop top already soaked with sweat, clinging to her body, outlining her figure.
But her eyes were constantly fixed on Suigetsu… not her physical eyes, but the Mind's Eye of Kagura.
The Hiding in Mist Technique?
Useless against her.
The Mind's Eye of Kagura sensed Chakra Characteristics, not visual images.
No matter how thick the fog, she could 'see' every movement of Suigetsu, every flow of his Chakra.
So every sneak attack, every feint from Suigetsu was anticipated in advance by her.
"Tch, annoying sensory ability."
After yet another thrust missed, Suigetsu jumped backward, creating distance from Karin.
He licked his lips, the excitement in his eyes growing stronger.
"But… that's what makes it fun!"
He gripped his sword with both hands, pointed the tip downward, and plunged it into the water.
"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Not emitted from his mouth, but channeled through the blade.
The river exploded. A massive water dragon, two meters in diameter, rose from the river's surface, opened its huge jaws, and charged toward Karin, seeking to devour her.
Where the water dragon passed, the water's surface was plowed into deep trenches, its momentum terrifying.
But Karin did not dodge.
She simply raised her right hand and formed a one-handed seal.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Humm—
Five golden chains materialized out of thin air behind her.
Each chain was as thick as an arm, its surface covered in sealing runes, radiating a sense of oppressive force.
This was a Sealing Technique inherited from the Uzumaki bloodline, capable of sealing Chakra, binding Tailed Beasts, and suppressing everything.
The five chains, like living pythons, interweaved and darted through the air, instantly weaving a large net that completely enveloped the water dragon.
Then, they tightened.
Crack, crack, crack—
The water dragon was forcibly crushed, turning into countless droplets of water, falling back into the river.
Suigetsu's pupils contracted.
'A Sealing Technique?'
'And such an advanced Sealing Technique?'
"My turn."
Karin said softly.