"On the battlefield in the Land of Fire, Konoha has dispatched many more ninjas, and our people on the battlefield have spotted Orochimaru."
"Juzo, Mizukage-sama hopes that you can quickly help Chief Uehara organize the guard team of the forging department, then head to the Land of Fire battlefield to confront the Konoha ninja"
"The village needs your strength."
Juzo's expression turned serious.
"I understand."
"But..."
Juzo said, "My injuries have healed considerably now, and Pakura's injuries in the Hidden Sand Village are probably much better too, so she might go to the battlefield again."
"With my abilities, we from the Hidden Mist Village might be better equipped to confront Pakura."
"I might not necessarily be able to go to the Konoha ninjas' side."
Fuguki Suikazan nodded.
"That's true."
"We'll see when the time comes. Whether it's against the Konoha ninjas or the Hidden Sand ones, the village does need your strength with the Blue Rose Sword."
Watching Fuguki Suikazan leave, Juzo returned to Soma and Ao.
"Soma, I'm afraid I'll have to head to the battlefield again soon. Mizukage-sama instructed me to help you organize the guard team of Forging Island before I leave. Do you have any thoughts?"
Soma shook his head.
"To be honest, I don't have many acquaintances in the village, especially among combat ninjas. In this regard, Juzo-senpai and Ao-senpai are the experts. My only requirement is that this person must be trustworthy."
Ao added, "Considering my current situation, I'm not suitable for the battlefield. Staying in other parts of the village isn't ideal either. I'd rather stay on Forging Island, so count me in for the guard team."
"Kaguya... Well, maybe we can consider someone from the Kaguya Clan," Juzo remembered Kaguya Neko's words from last time.
"After cleaning up the Kaguya Clan, the remaining members of the Kaguya Clan are all decent. Moreover, they are currently under pressure from other ninja families in various aspects of the village. Once they are given the opportunity to join Forging Island, they will definitely cherish it."
Soma nodded. "Alright."
The guard team of Forging Island was allocated thirty-six positions by the Third Mizukage. Ao occupied one, leaving thirty-five vacant spots. However, it wasn't necessary to fill all thirty-six positions in a short time.
There were a total of ten positions for Blacksmiths. Soma had only used two for now because they didn't need so many at the moment. The consumption of surgical knives by the medical department of the Hidden Mist Village wasn't significant unless it was for surgeries performed on ordinary people. Currently, the medical department only used Forging Island's surgical knives for surgeries on ninja.
But when it comes to ordinary people, there is a pricing issue. During wartime, ordinary people find it harder to earn money. Fortunately, Hidden Mist Village is surrounded by the sea, rich in marine resources; otherwise, even food could become a problem. On the other hand, places like Hidden Sand Village have already encountered this issue.
In terms of the guard team, Soma's overall strength has reached the level of a Special Jonin. If Pioggia is used, he can reach Jonin level. Coupled with the environment of Hidden Mist Village, the probability of success for Konoha to send ninja to assassinate Soma is extremely low.
Soon, a list appeared in Soma's hands. "Ao, Hoshigaki Ryukame, Kaguya Satoru, Kaguya Izumi..." and ten ANBU ninja, led by someone named Daida. These ten ANBU ninja have already shed their ANBU identities. Basically, all ten of them come from civilian ninja backgrounds, so there should be no problem with their backgrounds.
Soma didn't change their composition and directly had these ten individuals operate as a team. Daida is the Squad Captain of the second squad of the guard team. This name surprised Soma slightly. It's just two characters, and they're capitalized, which seems a bit out of style for the ninja world. However, Soma recalled that there seems to be a similar name in Konoha, named Yamato.
Yamato was initially one of Orochimaru's experiments, the sole survivor of early Wood Release experiments. He first joined the Anbu after being part of Root and then became an ordinary ninja. The Squad Captain of the first squad is Ao. Hoshigaki Ryukame, from the Hoshigaki Clan, is Kisame's cousin, older but not as talented. Soma felt that the names of the Hoshigaki Clan seemed quite distinctive.
Kisame.
Ryukame.
Kaguya Satoru, a young man.
Kaguya Izumi, a kunoichi.
With this, the guard team of the forging department already has fourteen official members.
Soma entered the training ground and looked at the translucent panel in front of him.
[Name: Soma.]
[Comprehensive Strength: Special Jonin.]
[Swordsmanship: Skilled (7300).]
[Body Modification Technique: Familiar (2000).]
[Abilities: Underwater Breathing.]
[Forging Technique: Very Good (Proficient—enhanced by Forging Island, enhanced by God's Hand).]
[Mission Items: Thug Recruitment Token X3.]
[Blacksmith Reputation: 32.]
[Evaluation: As a blacksmith, the foundation is quite good. Because of having one's own forging site, equipment forging, the Forging Technique is enhanced, and there is a chance to forge ninja tools above the quality level.]
[As a ninja, possessing a certain level of strength, stronger than cannon fodder.]
Soma casually took out a ninjato and waved it a few times.
"Kenjutsu is still at the Skilled level, but compared to before, it has improved somewhat."
"It's just that there hasn't been a qualitative change."
"But at the Skilled level, it can still be used in actual combat."
Soma withdrew his gaze.
"Good-level talent in Taijutsu."
"Good-level talent in Lightning Release."
"Ultimate-level talent in Water Release."
"Excellent-level talent in Water Release is equivalent to Juzo-senpai's proficiency."
"Perfect-level talent in Water Release surpasses even Juzo-senpai."
"Water Release Ninjutsu is almost mastered upon learning."
"And with a high affinity for water attribute chakra, it's easy to skip some of the hand seal processes."
Soma organized the Water Release Ninjutsu he had already learned.
Hiding In Mist Jutsu, Water Clone Jutsu, Water Prison Jutsu, Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu, Exploding Water Colliding Wave Jutsu, Water Fang Bullet Jutsu, Water Fang Blade Jutsu, Great Waterfall Jutsu, Water Wall Jutsu, Water Formation Pillar Jutsu.
"These Water Release techniques are already sufficient for an average Water Release ninja," Soma remarked. "But for me, they are not enough."
With a flick of his wrist, Soma produced a scroll in his hand.
Inside were two Water Release Ninjutsu.
One named Water Whip.
It transformed water into the shape of a whip, binding enemies. Additionally, if combined with Lightning Release, it could achieve better results.
The other was named Mist Rain.
To Soma, this was a highly valuable Ninjutsu.
It could weaken all Ninjutsu and Chakra secret techniques except for Water Release.
Regardless of whether it's Fire Release, Lightning Release, Earth Release, Wind Release, or simple Chakra Ninjutsu like Rasengan, or even Secret Jutsu like Super Beast Imitating Drawing, they can all be weakened.
It can be completely described as the nemesis of Ninjutsu.
Even Ninjutsu from Kekkei Genkai will be effective.
For example, Pakura's Scorch Release.
There are not many ANBU Ninja from the Hidden Mist Village who know Mist Rain, and their strength compared to Pakura is quite different, so they cannot reach the level of countering Pakura.
To use Mist Rain to counter Pakura, one must possess stronger basic attributes and stronger Chakra than Pakura.
Even if they are at the same level, it's not achievable.
If this Ninjutsu were in the hands of a Jinchuriki, it should have a strong effect.
Because in terms of Chakra quantity, a Jinchuriki who can extract tailed beast Chakra is much stronger than other ninjas.
In addition to that, Ninjas like the Uzumaki Clan, who possess a huge amount of Chakra, are also suitable.
In the Hidden Mist Village, only the Kaguya Clan's Chakra quantity can be considered outstanding.
This can be seen from the original plot, as demonstrated by Kimimaro's performance.
During the encounter with Gaara, Kimimaro's creation of the bone forest, while not on the scale of Senju Hashirama's "Nativity of a World of Trees," was still impressive.
Members of the Kaguya Clan who haven't awakened Shikotsumyaku have less Chakra than those who have.
However, they are still much stronger than the average ninja.
A figure appeared in front of Soma.
"Chief Uehara."
"Squad Captain Daida."
"Chief Uehara, shall I start explaining these two Water Release Ninjutsu now?"
"Go ahead."
"Yes."
Daida began to explain earnestly.
However, because he wasn't a professional instructor type of ninja, Daida's explanation wasn't particularly good. If it weren't for Soma, but rather another Water Release ninja, they might have found it all rather confusing.
Soma, besides possessing an Ultimate-level Water Release talent, also has a deep understanding of Water Release itself.
In no time, Daida finished his explanation.
As Soma recalled Daida's explanation and opened the Ninjutsu scroll to observe, combining it with his existing knowledge of Water Release, he quickly grasped his own understanding of these two Water Release Ninjutsu.
In the next moment, he formed the hand seals.
"Water Release: Water Whip Jutsu."
As soon as the seals were completed, a whip formed from condensed water appeared in Soma's hand.
The water was densely condensed, constantly flowing and rotating.
Soma swung the whip in his hand.
"Snap!"
The target in front of him immediately suffered a heavy blow.
It exploded entirely.
"The power is not bad."
Daida watched Soma's actions with wide eyes.
Earlier, Daida had already understood that Soma's Water Release talent was formidable.
Previously, among the ANBU Ninja sent by the Third Mizukage to protect Forging Island, Daida was one of them.
However, Daida did not expect Soma's Water Release talent to be so strong.
Learning in an instant.
The difficulty of the Water Whip Jutsu within Water Release is not low.
It requires strong and continuous control over Water Release Chakra.
That's not all.
When Soma first used the Water Whip Jutsu, Daida noticed that it was clearly different from what a normal ANBU Ninja would use, much stronger in intensity.
Same hand seals, same Chakra.
Still, it was the first time it was used.
Daida found this somewhat unreasonable.
This was because Daida hadn't seen the comparison between Senju Hashirama and Yamato.
With the same Wood Release, the effects produced by Yamato and Senju Hashirama were like night and day. So, Soma's current performance wasn't excessive.
With a thought, Soma made the Water Whip disappear.
Following that, he formed hand seals again.
"Fire Release: Crimson Earth Spider!"
A huge spider formed from flames appeared.
Since Soma didn't set a target, the fiery spider just remained stationary.
"Water Release: Mist Rain!"
Suddenly, rain fell.
The range wasn't large, just enough to envelop the Crimson Earth Spider.
As the rain fell, the Crimson Earth Spider's form shrank at a visible speed, and the flames on its body extinguished just as quickly, soon disappearing entirely.
"The ability of Mist Rain is indeed remarkable."
"It's not just about extinguishing flames with water attributes."
"It's about Chakra interference."
"It can target anything other than Water Release."
Soma calculated for a moment.
"However, it consumes quite a bit of Chakra, and it can be dodged."
Soma looked at Daida.
"Daida, thank you for your help. I can handle it from here. You can go about your own business now."
"Yes Chief."
After Daida left, Soma began comparing the Water Release techniques he had already mastered.
"Using Ninjutsu feels a bit easier now."
"Under the same Chakra consumption, the power seems to be greater than before."
"This proves that the conversion efficiency has increased."
"Also, it seems that the upper limit of Water Release Ninjutsu in my hands has increased."
The power of Ninjutsu is not entirely fixed.
When not mastered to the Skilled level, it's certainly not as effective as when it is.
But once it's Skilled, the power of the same Ninjutsu is more or less consistent.
However, Soma found that the Water Release techniques in his hands could actually break through this supposed fixed upper limit.
"This is the Ultimate-level Water Release talent, isn't it?"
"Higher conversion efficiency."
"Simpler hand seals."
"Stronger power."
"For some Water Release techniques, I might even be able to condense it down to just one hand seal."
Soma raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Isn't this like Senju Hashirama's 'Clap Hands, Get Whatever You Want'?"
"Fuguki-senpai has already gone to the Land of Fire battlefield. If all goes well, he'll bring me quite a bit of reputation soon. During this time waiting for my reputation to rise, I can practice Water Release."
"Regarding the Water Release techniques I've already learned, I'll try to reduce the number of hand seals required as much as possible."
"This way, I can improve my overall strength."
...
Land of Fire.
A Hyuga Clan ninja quickly approached Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru-sama, there's a situation ahead."
"What's the situation?"
"I saw traces of the Hidden Mist Village ninja not far ahead, suspected to be a team led by Yagura Karatachi from the Hidden Mist Village."
"Yagura Karatachi?"
Orochimaru's eyes flickered.
"Pass on my orders, ambush!
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