Yōkō returned to the small lake.
Senju Tobirama was truly a genius, creating such a unique jutsu.
Common Water Release techniques primarily relied on impact damage.
However, Senju Tobirama had developed a method similar to centrifugal pump pressurization, using chakra to increase water pressure, giving the water stream an extremely high initial velocity.
But this wasn't the limit.
Yōkō had a new inspiration: he could completely use two centrifugally pressurized water vortices to simulate gear pump pressurization.
In his previous life, gear pumps could generate much higher water pressure than centrifugal pumps.
Two gears rotating in opposite directions, their meshing points spinning at high speed, continuously creating a vacuum, thereby providing high water pressure.
Yōkō formed hand seals and first gathered a mouthful of water.
Not too much water was needed; it could be produced as needed.
Then, he slowly formed seals, creating two water vortices in his mouth.
One vortex spun left, the other right.
He controlled the two vortices, slowly moving them towards the center.
When the two vortices collided, they meshed in the middle. Not only was there the centrifugal water pressure from the vortices themselves, but also the squeezing pressure from the vortices meshing together.
Yōkō felt the water pressure in his mouth instantly increase.
A stream of water shot out, this time moving faster.
The water stream pierced the first tree and embedded itself into the trunk of a second tree.
By continuously maintaining chakra and sweeping slightly, the Water Cutting Wave sliced through two large trees.
Success!
With a slight modification using the gear pump principle he learned in his previous life, he had obtained a more powerful Water Cutting Wave.
He named this improved jutsu Water Release: Twin Vortex Water Cutting Wave.
After practicing over ten times consecutively, Yōkō became increasingly proficient.
He found a rock and used the Water Cutting Wave on it.
The rock was quickly cut in two by the Water Cutting Wave.
With this level of offensive power, it would become Yōkō's sharpest blade in actual combat, a sharp water blade.
His exploration of the Water Cutting Wave paused here for now. Next, it was time to spend a significant amount of time honing this jutsu.
Proficiency, chakra consumption, power enhancement, etc., all required a relatively long period.
There was also hand seal training; forming seals wasn't just about the hand signs but also required practicing the corresponding chakra flow to increase the speed of seal formation.
Yōkō remembered in the original story, Sage Fukasaku had used a technique similar to the Water Cutting Wave to slice through Nagato's summoned creatures.
If he could achieve that level of power, then this technique would be extremely threatening.
Its ultra-fast speed and wire-cutting range would be enough to serve as a Jōnin's signature technique.
The next afternoon, Yōkō received a mission to be responsible for the security defense during the Jōnin Commander meeting.
It was a particularly easy task. No spy would attack during a Konoha Jōnin assembly, right? The place is full of Jōnin; that would be too stupid.
During Jōnin Commander meetings, the Anbu served more as the Hokage's backdrop, or to quickly relay the Hokage's commands or scrolls, or to temporarily summon someone to speak at the meeting.
On the second floor of the Hokage Building, aside from the Jōnin at the frontlines and in the Anbu, the remaining 90-plus Jōnin were all present.
Yōkō stood in a corner of the conference room, performing the boring guard duty.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzō, and Utatane Koharu sat at the podium in the front.
The Jōnin Commander, Nara Clan Head Nara Rokaku, said:
"All Jōnin have heard the news: Sunagakure has declared war on Konoha. This Jōnin Commander meeting is primarily to announce personnel assignments for the Land of Rivers battlefield, including the Commander, Deputy Commander, various Battalion Commanders..."
"Wait!"
Hearing a voice, Yōkō immediately perked up.
Someone actually dared to interrupt the Jōnin Commander's speech? Quite bold.
Seeing it was Tsunade, Yōkō wasn't surprised anymore.
Tsunade, sitting in the first row, stood up and said:
"Deciding matters for the Land of Rivers battlefield isn't urgent right now. Shouldn't we first address the issues in the Land of Grass and Land of Rain wars?
Konoha lost too many ninja in the Land of Grass and Land of Rain. Is there no one who thinks we need to reflect, that someone needs to be held responsible?"
Hearing Tsunade's words, everyone looked towards the higher-ups on the podium.
Yōkō felt Tsunade's questioning was forceful, but too rash; it might not effectively challenge the higher-ups.
Sure enough, Nara Rokaku said:
"The village deeply mourns the sacrifices in the Land of Grass and Land of Rain.
However, according to the battle reports sent back by Commander Mitokado Homura, we have already driven the Iwa-nin from the Land of Grass and successfully negotiated Guardian Ninja positions with the Land of Grass Daimyō.
Henceforth, Konoha ninja will serve as the Land of Grass Daimyō's Guardian Ninja.
After the war, we will obtain a share of missions from the Land of Grass.
Sacrifices are unavoidable for the sake of the village."
Nara Rokaku's words were high-sounding. A simple 'for the village' could shut others up.
But Tsunade wasn't buying it now. Tsunade continued:
"I once proposed that every team should be equipped with a medical ninja.
As long as a team has a medical ninja, the mortality rate of ninja would be greatly reduced.
If you claim it's impossible to assign one medical ninja per team, then what about increasing the number of medical ninja overall?
Just doubling the number of medical ninja at the frontlines would significantly reduce the casualty and disability rates.
Why is the village unwilling to do something so obviously correct?
I have never hesitated to sacrifice for the village.
But everything has a limit. Why can't we do something to reduce the sacrifices?"
Utatane Koharu, responsible for internal affairs, had to step in and explain:
"Princess Tsunade, training a medical ninja requires a long time.
Basic Dissection Technique, medical principles, medical ninjutsu – it takes at least five years to train a Genin into a qualified medical ninja.
The scrolls on medical principles alone would fill a large cart.
The village understands the benefits of training medical ninja. The village is willing to reduce the ninja casualty rate, but the investment is too great, the cycle too long, and it's unfeasible during wartime.
After this Great Ninja War ends, I am willing to listen carefully to your suggestions."
Utatane Koharu's words weren't fully explicit, but everyone understood the underlying meaning.
The resources required to treat a single injured person were too high. In comparison, training more cannon fodder was clearly more cost-effective.
Using Genin as disposable cannon fodder and Chūnin as cannon fodder squad leaders resulted in a higher input-output ratio for the war.
Among the Jōnin, most clan Jōnin supported the village's approach.
But those civilian-born Jōnin, who had truly fought life-and-death battles, managed to develop a fighting system that suited them, and were fortunate enough to be promoted, wore expressions of sorrow.
At that moment, Senju Hanaki, the head of the Senju clan and also the Director of Konoha Hospital, stood up.
Senju Hanaki said:
"Hokage-sama, my Senju clan still has 227 ninja.
I am willing to contribute the Senju clan's strength by having them become the village's medical ninja to treat the wounded.
The Senju clan has a special physique, and most have learned some medical ninjutsu. We currently have 112 medical ninja.
For the remaining 114 ninja, Tsunade and I are confident that within one month, we can train at least 50 of them into qualified medical ninja."
All the Jōnin stared in shock at Senju Hanaki and Tsunade in the first row!
What was the Senju clan doing?
They were using the pretext of becoming medical ninja to withdraw the majority of their clan members from the combat roster!
Withdraw from the frontlines, and fully enter the medical system?
To avoid giving ammunition to critics, the Senju clan still kept 64 combat ninja.
For the village, they contributed resources to train medical ninja. For the village, they kept 64 ninja on the frontlines.
From any angle, it seemed impossible to fault the Senju clan.
A woman leading the household is indeed more realistic.
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(End of Chapter)