"No more, no more, I'm tired."
Halfway through their fight, Qingshui voluntarily called a halt.
He was running low on Chakra.
While a Puppet Master's Chakra consumption is relatively low when manipulating a single Puppet, it naturally increases with the number of Puppets controlled.
But that was only a small part of it.
The main critical point was the pneumatic system.
When operating at full power, Qingshui frequently needed to use Wind Release to draw air into and compress it within the cylinders.
Before, when he only had Fatty, Qingshui's Chakra reserves could last a long time, but now he had a new Puppet, Big Ivan.
Big Ivan's pneumatic system was far more complex and offered more functions than Fatty's, requiring significantly more Chakra.
Additionally, the Mechanism Shield Seal, used for defense, was also a major Chakra drain. Qingshui could only sustain it for about twenty minutes.
"Excellent, your progress has exceeded my imagination."
Fukami Senran stopped performing hand signs, returned his Ninja Blade to its sheath on his back, and said with admiration, "Your current strength is already close to Jonin level. I say 'close,' but you actually possess the ability to contend with some Jonin for a certain period. However, there are still some shortcomings..."
As Fukami Senran spoke, Baki and Pakura walked over, observing the aftermath of the battle, and listened to his words.
Aside from his insufficient stamina, Qingshui's combat capability was now barely on par with a Jonin.
"Tsk, tsk, I say, Qingshui, you're probably going to break the Third Kazekage's record and become the youngest Jonin in the village's history, aren't you?"
Baki's eyes were filled with envy.
The current record for Jonin promotion in the Sand Village was set by the Third Kazekage during the First Kazekage's era, becoming a Jonin before the age of fourteen.
Pakura also had a chance, but the probability was lower because she was nearing that age herself. She was currently on the verge of being promoted to Special Jonin, estimated to become a Jonin before fifteen.
Baki believed his talent wasn't inferior to Qingshui's and Pakura's. His personal minimum goal was to become a Jonin before sixteen.
That way, if he developed well in the future, mastered a powerful Secret Technique, or successfully fused his own Kekkei Genkai, there was still a slight chance of becoming a Kage-level powerhouse when his strength peaked.
And Qingshui was only just twelve years old. Although he was currently just a Chunin, he already possessed strength nearing that of a Jonin.
He only needed to accumulate merits for a little over a year, make up for his current minor deficiencies, and elevate his strength by another small step. He truly had a lot of hope.
At this rate, Qingshui's strength would undoubtedly reach Kage level after he came of age, making him the new leading figure of the Puppet Force after Chiyo.
No wonder Elder Chiyo wants to take Qingshui as her disciple!
Baki thought to himself.
At this moment, Fukami Senran also surveyed Qingshui and Pakura for a few moments, then stroked his chin in thought before speaking:
"After the war stabilizes, I will request Elder Chiyo to let you accumulate more merits by going on missions, so you can be promoted to Special Jonin as soon as possible. Baki, once the squad has accumulated enough merits, I will begin special training for you all. You must master Wind Release Chakra nature transformation within one year."
The current composition of this squad was already very strong.
Fukami Senran was a top-tier Jonin, Qingshui could display Jonin-level combat power for a certain period, and Pakura could be considered half a Jonin.
As for Baki...
Baki was no slouch either; an ordinary Chunin would generally not be Baki's opponent. With Qingshui, Pakura, and Baki operating with mutual understanding, they wouldn't hold each other back.
This lineup, as long as they didn't encounter a Kage-level expert or a large-scale encirclement by Ninja, could retreat safely under any circumstances.
"Within half a year, Qingshui and Pakura will accumulate enough merits to be promoted to Special Jonin. Within one year, all three of you will master Wind Release nature transformation and each advance another rank. By then, you three will be ready to graduate from my tutelage."
Fukami Senran said.
By then, Pakura would have mastered Wind Release and Fire Release nature transformation, her raw strength would be sufficient, and battle merits wouldn't be an issue. Her promotion to Jonin would be a certainty. As for Qingshui, there was even less to say; with Chiyo as his backer, he would definitely get suitable missions to earn battle merits, and once his strength was sufficient, he could basically be promoted.
Baki might be a little behind, but a thirteen-year-old Special Jonin was already an undeniable genius. Becoming a Special Jonin meant he could already act as an independent Ninja and was fully capable of self-preservation in the Ninja World.
Wasn't Fukami Senran taking on this captain role to be both a teacher and a nanny, ensuring the growth of these three individuals who had the potential to become pillars of the village in the future?
The Sand Village wanted three people who could shoulder the village's burden in ten years, not people who were constantly protected. Without experiencing sufficiently harsh trials, it was impossible to grow into top-tier powerhouses.
As a high-level combatant of the Sand Village, Fukami Senran couldn't always lead them.
Originally, Chiyo and Ebizo had requested Fukami Senran to mentor Qingshui and the others for three years, believing that with their talents, they could at least become Special Jonin within three years.
It was only because the Sand Village was one of the five great Ninja villages in the Ninja World, and currently in a relatively prosperous period, that it could afford to dedicate an elite Jonin's three years to the growth of three Chunin.
Even if the lower limit for these three Chunin in the future was likely elite Jonin, it was still a luxury.
However, it now seemed that these three years could be compressed to within two years, and the mission would be overfulfilled.
...
...
Demon Slayer World.
Mount Tsurugi.
This is one of Japan's hundred famous mountains. Just from its name, one can tell how steep it is.
The mountain has an altitude of approximately three thousand meters. It was not until 1907 that the first person successfully climbed it, making it the last mountain in Japan to be conquered by humans.
During the Taisho era, this place remained forbidden to most, with many ascetic religious figures living and practicing in seclusion, and numerous Buddhist temples.
Qingshui walked along a bamboo corridor, wearing a straw hat and carrying a bamboo basket on his back.
At the end of the bamboo corridor was a temple.
The temple's plaque read "Tateyama Temple," and an old monk stood before the gate beneath the plaque.
"Amitābha, benefactor, you must be the swordsman Uesugi Qingshui, recommended by Wind Hashira-sama, correct? This old monk is Morioka Nen. I was once an Upper Rank swordsman in the Demon Slayer Corps, and with the recognition and trust of the Master and Wind Hashira, I am a Trainer for the Demon Slayer Corps, teaching Wind Breathing."
The old monk put his palms together and bowed to Qingshui in a Buddhist greeting.
"Amitābha, Master Morioka, I am indeed Qingshui."
-----------
Machine Translation by: https:// beta.randomtranslator.com/
Read 1111+ original & fanfic translations in English, Español, Português, Deutsch, Français, or Русский at: https:// beta.randomtranslator.com/
Join our Discord: https:// discord.gg/NSWvfN7vua
-----------