Chōjūrō and Ranmaru stood side by side.
One of them looked weak and had shifty eyes, while the other was simply a child. Facing them was Ino, covered in blood and exuding the aura of a great demon lord.
Chōjūrō didn't believe there was any need for his side to fight to the death with the Konoha Ninja.
His combat strength was intact, and the opponent was injured. Wasn't the outcome obvious?
He shouted to Ino from afar, "Hey, you, you're already injured, give up quickly! Really, I'm advising you out of kindness, you can't beat us!"
Ino glanced at him; the future Sixth Mizukage was even less confident than she imagined!
She sneered, "Can't beat you? I still have many Ninjutsu I haven't used! Was it glorious for the three of you to fight me alone before? Getting injured is indeed my problem, I just didn't expect that Hidden Mist Village would find a way for all three of you to pass the previous genjutsu stage. Don't you think this method is truly despicable? As one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, don't you feel ashamed to play such petty tricks?!"
She secretly took medicine to recover from her injuries, preparing to fight again.
Her mouth, however, didn't stop; she first vented to her heart's content! Damn it, her palm was pierced through, it hurt like hell!
Her words had no effect on Ranmaru. Hidden Mist Village? A month ago, Ranmaru was still pursuing the promising career of a bandit; he had little impression of Hidden Mist Village.
Chōjūrō, however, was filled with shame.
This competition was indeed very unfair to Konoha Village. Hidden Mist's side was full of schemes. After all the scheming, they were three against one, and one of them was severely injured and eliminated. It was truly a disgrace.
The opponent was pointing at his nose and scolding him, making him feel guilty and unable to refute. Little Mustache felt even more ashamed.
Little Mustache did not reveal himself, merely standing in the air and scolding, "Exactly, exactly! Even I, an old man, am being shamed by you youngsters! Did Hidden Mist Village become one of the Five Great Ninja Villages by relying on schemes and tricks? You've completely disgraced your ancestors!"
Ino pointed at Chōjūrō, "You're the ones who should give up! Before, I had to face two opponents, now I only need to deal with you alone!"
Chōjūrō broke out in a sweat from being rebutted, instinctively taking a step back. His own Mizukage was gentle, but the Female Ninja from Konoha Village was truly terrifying! She was fiercer than a tiger!
However, making him surrender was also impossible.
As the hope of the entire Village, he absolutely could not lose!
He quietly discussed tactics with Ranmaru.
Just as she had said to Shikamaru before, Ino indeed had no good way to counter Ranmaru's Red Eye.
X-ray vision, perception, Chakra-created illusions, visual interference.
The Red Eye had many functions. Coupled with Haku's Ice Release and Chōjūrō's Water Release ability and close-combat skills, it could be said that their temporarily assembled trio had extremely strong combat power!
Ino traded blows, eliminating Haku, but still faced immense pressure against the remaining two.
After a round of verbal Ninjutsu and feeling refreshed, she launched an attack first.
Chakra is omnipotent; the Red Eye can obscure vision but cannot obscure Chakra.
"Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
"Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
"Water Release: Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave!"
Ino and two Shadow Clones continuously released three Great Exploding Water Colliding Waves.
Overwhelming waves of water covered the entire area! Up, down, left, right, front, back—it was all water.
The space created by the 'Mirage' with genjutsu seemed boundless, but it was actually limited.
Three Great Exploding Water Colliding Waves used up more than half of Ino's Chakra! The waves submerged the entire area!
Ino was at ease in the water, like a swimming fish. Chōjūrō was similar, but Ranmaru was not.
He was a fake Hidden Mist Village Ninja; he had never practiced Water Release.
A giant wave swept him into the depths of the sea.
What else could an eight-year-old child do in such a situation?
Chōjūrō wanted to save him, but Ino manipulated a large amount of water, forcefully pushing Chōjūrō away. Both used Water Release Ninjutsu, vying for control of the water flow.
Ranmaru, on his side, swallowed several mouthfuls of water, his breathing becoming increasingly faint. Little Mustache, who was observing the battle, saw this and sent him out of the maze.
The Hidden Mist Village trio eliminated another member.
"Clap, clap, clap." Little Mustache still did not reveal his form, merely clapping his hands, expressing his admiration for the Great Exploding Water Colliding Wave that Ino used.
The timing, scale, and purpose of this Ninjutsu were all impeccable.
Ino's mind was very calm; she knew who posed the greatest threat to herself, so she didn't hesitate to expend a large amount of Chakra to eliminate Ranmaru. This decisive operation, in Little Mustache's opinion, was already very outstanding.
As the great water receded, Ino stood on the surface, panting as she looked at Chōjūrō: "Hey, it's just the two of us left! Let's decide the winner!"
Ino didn't believe that three Great Exploding Water Colliding Waves could defeat the future Sixth Mizukage. She used the signature Ninjutsu of his Village simply to see his reaction.
Her Ninjutsu, combined with Little Mustache's applause for the enemy, stimulated Chōjūrō.
The bespectacled boy held Hiramekarei upside down, stomped on the waves, and charged forward with a roar.
Little Mustache nodded in the shadows; this boy still had spirit.
Whether you can win or not is another matter, but at least you can't be a coward!
Chōjūrō had lost two teammates, and Ino's Chakra could no longer maintain her Shadow Clones, let alone allow them to use Ninjutsu.
The two were now truly in a one-on-one fight.
When they were still ten meters apart, Ino spat out a line of water.
It was the Water Release Ninjutsu, Water Release: Water Severing Wave, created by the Second Hokage!
The silver-white water line was extremely fast, and its attack range was also very large. Chōjūrō knew he couldn't take it head-on, so he dodged left and right with his great sword. Several times he entered Hiramekarei's attack range, but he was forced back by the Water Severing Wave.
He lacked the resolve of Haku, who disregarded his own life and was willing to trade lives with the enemy.
His talent was considered the highest among his generation in Hidden Mist Village, but due to the Village's isolation, he had no channels for external communication, nor did he constantly refine and perfect his tactics like Ino. When he suddenly saw the Water Severing Wave sweeping towards him, his lack of combat experience was exposed.
While dodging, he recalled the information he knew in his mind.
Water Severing Wave is the Second Hokage's Water Release Ninjutsu; it has strong destructive power and speed. Does it have any weaknesses?
As he was thinking, Ino suddenly, amidst her Water Release Ninjutsu, unexpectedly threw a Kunai carrying an Exploding Tag at him, and shouted.
"Take my Multiple Exploding Tags!"
Chōjūrō was startled.
Multiple Exploding Tags were famous throughout the Ninja World. They had killed many Hidden Mist Jonin back then, and even he had read about them in books. He didn't know the specific principle, only that it was a Ninjutsu of infinite explosions.
Ino's Water Severing Wave and Hidden Mist Village's full cultivation of him led him to misjudge. He thought Ino received the same treatment in Konoha Village as he did in Hidden Mist Village.
Since the opponent could use Water Severing Wave, then she should also be able to use Multiple Exploding Tags!
At this moment, without even thinking, he swung his sword from afar!
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