76-80

*Chapter 76: Mission to Assassinate Momochi Kenji*

Shiro felt a bit pleased. His initial goal was to join the Anbu and stir up the major families, then have Mei Terumi recruit them, establishing his own force.

Everything was progressing as expected, except for one small flaw: Mizunotsuki Cheng!

"I can join the Anbu, but I refuse to be on her team!"

The once-happy face of Mizunotsuki Cheng immediately darkened upon hearing Shiro's words.

Her eyes flared with anger, and she looked like she wanted to bite him!

"Oh? Why is that? Explain your reasoning," Yagura said.

"Anbu carries out secret missions, basically licking blood off the tip of a knife! I don't want to work with a weakling who always comes in last."

"Who are you calling weak? I might not be strong, but I'm still a ninja! I won't drag anyone down!" Mizunotsuki Cheng retorted, hands on her hips, her face full of anger.

"Alright, Li Ren, Cheng has already awakened her Ice Release. Her strength is no problem! Plus, with you by her side, she'll be trained well. I've made up my mind, so no more arguments."

Shiro shot a cold glance at Mizunotsuki Cheng before turning and walking away.

Mizunotsuki Cheng quickly followed, chattering nonstop by his side.

"Yagura-sama, we haven't fully investigated this kid's background. Putting him directly into the Anbu might be a bit rash," Matsuga approached Yagura with renewed confidence after Shiro left.

Yagura's lips curled into a sinister smile.

"If he's not a spy, there’s no problem with him completing the mission. But if he is, he'll be killing members of the major families anyway! It's a win-win for us!"

Matsuga raised a thumb. "As expected of the Mizukage, your foresight is remarkable."

Meanwhile, Shiro sat in his office, completely exasperated, as Mizunotsuki Cheng babbled on nonstop, even more annoying than Suigetsu!

"Say one more word, and I’ll show you what true cruelty is!" Shiro threatened.

Startled, Mizunotsuki Cheng stepped back several paces, but quickly came back, her mouth still moving.

Shiro's face twitched; he was itching to punch her. But Mizunotsuki Cheng wasn’t actually speaking—just moving her lips!

Just as Shiro was reaching his breaking point, Matsuga approached, serious-faced, and tossed a scroll to Shiro.

"This is your mission for today—your first task. Show us what you can do!"

Shiro slowly opened the scroll and frowned when he saw the name.

"Momochi Kenji?"

"Yes, a member of your Momochi clan. He may only be ten, but our investigation revealed he's a full-fledged spy. You’re assigned to take him out!"

Shiro sneered inwardly.

When he first familiarized himself with the role of Momochi Li Ren, he had learned about Momochi Kenji.

At just ten years old, Kenji could proficiently use various Water Release techniques—a rare talent.

Now, Yagura wanted Shiro to kill Kenji, clearly to weaken the Momochi clan’s strength and test Shiro's loyalty.

But this played right into Shiro’s hands!

"Don't worry. I’ll complete this mission perfectly."

"Wait, aren’t you from the Momochi clan? Don’t you have any second thoughts?" Matsuga, surprised by Shiro's immediate acceptance, hurriedly asked.

Shiro gave a dry laugh, staring at Matsuga with a confused look.

"The Mizukage-sama already confirmed he’s a spy, right? If that’s the case, what’s there to question?"

Matsuga was left speechless by Shiro’s response, unable to argue.

"Good! That’s the right attitude."

As Matsuga left, Shiro chuckled coldly.

He'd never imagined everything would go so smoothly, all according to his plan.

Mizunotsuki Cheng approached with concern, whispering, "Are you sure it’s okay? After all, he's from your clan."

"Come on. Whether you’re fit to be my teammate depends on how you perform today."

Shiro laughed bitterly to himself, thinking of Uchiha Itachi, who had slaughtered nearly his entire clan for the village.

Shiro was merely killing a few strangers—what mental burden could there possibly be?

Shiro and Mizunotsuki Cheng waited outside the Momochi clan’s gates.

Though Matsuga's intel outlined Kenji’s daily route, Shiro’s goal wasn’t just to kill Kenji—it was to create chaos!

A stealthy assassination wouldn’t do; the kill needed to happen in public.

"Li Ren, isn’t it a bit inappropriate to wait outside the Momochi clan’s gate?" Mizunotsuki Cheng asked anxiously.

"What do you know? This is the route he takes every day. If we complete the mission on the first day, Mizukage-sama will definitely be impressed. And as Anbu, never call me by my name while on a mission!"

Mizunotsuki Cheng lowered her head and muttered an uncertain “oh,” still full of doubt.

"He's back! Put on your mask!"

Shiro smiled as he saw the person in the photo.

What thrilled him most wasn’t Kenji’s return, but the fact that next to him was his father, the head of the Momochi clan, Momochi Guiren!

Killing Kenji in front of Guiren would surely ignite an uncontrollable rage!

"Guiren's here. Shouldn’t we just call it off today?" Mizunotsuki Cheng hesitated.

"Call it off? Why? I’ll handle Guiren, and you and my water clone will deal with Kenji—make it quick!"

Seeing Shiro’s unwavering resolve, Mizunotsuki Cheng hesitated for a moment before nodding.

As Kenji approached, Mizunotsuki Cheng’s heart raced. Though she had made her first kill before, she still hesitated when it came to taking a life. But knowing Kenji was a spy ignited her killing intent.

"You go first. I’ll stop Guiren!"

Mizunotsuki Cheng nodded and charged forward.

The moment she appeared, Guiren immediately reacted, drawing a kunai from his pouch. But when he saw the distinctive Anbu mask, he frowned.

"Anbu? So the time has come for you to make a move against the Momochi clan? Yagura, you’ve gone too far!"

With that, Guiren rushed toward Mizunotsuki Cheng, kunai in hand.

Mizunotsuki Cheng’s heart raced, but she ignored Guiren and headed straight for Kenji.

"Your target is Kenji? You dare underestimate me?"

A dragon has its reverse scale, and touching it spells death.

Kenji was Guiren's reverse scale.

Just as Guiren’s kunai was about to reach Mizunotsuki Cheng, a massive water dragon burst out, slamming into him and sending him flying. The impact knocked down walls and buildings in its wake.

"Is this what you call an assassination?!"

*Chapter 77: Genius? I'm a Prodigy!*

Momochi Onin glared furiously at Shiro, his eyes practically shooting flames.

Naturally, Suigetsu Cheng wouldn’t miss this golden opportunity and charged straight at Momochi Kenji.

"So, everyone wants me dead? Then I won’t be polite!"

As Momochi Kenji spoke, his hands quickly formed seals, and several water clones identical to him appeared around him.

However, Kenji didn’t stop there; his hands moved rapidly again, and a water dragon materialized out of thin air, spiraling around him.

Shiro couldn’t help but frown.

As expected, Momochi Kenji was a genius. He was only ten years old, yet his hand signs were so fast. Given a little more time, he would undoubtedly become a top-tier master!

But Suigetsu Cheng wasn’t a pushover either.

With her hands pressed together, a chilling aura began to emanate from her, and the water dragon began to freeze at a speed visible to the naked eye.

“Damn it, that’s Ice Release! When did the Suigetsu Clan ally with the Fourth?” Momochi Onin shouted anxiously, standing up, ready to rescue his son.

“You’re not going anywhere. Your opponent is me!” Shiro stood calmly, not at all like a typical twelve-year-old kid.

Momochi Onin snorted coldly and pulled out a large blade from his back.

“If you want to die, I’ll grant your wish!”

As Momochi Onin charged at him, Shiro smiled indifferently.

If it were a battle of ninjutsu, Shiro might have hesitated to avoid revealing his true abilities. But if it was taijutsu, he could fight without restraint!

Shiro charged toward Momochi Onin with a powerful punch.

Onin, who had been indifferent at first, suddenly sensed danger and instinctively dodged to the side.

Boom!

The force of Shiro’s punch ripped through Onin’s clothes, and a section of the building behind him collapsed! A deep fissure was left in the ground.

“Is there really a kid behind that mask, or is he just short?”

Momochi Onin swallowed nervously, no longer daring to underestimate Shiro.

As for Kenji, there was nothing to worry about.

The title of genius wasn’t just a nickname; it came with the power of a true genius!

“You really think that little brat can handle Kenji? You’re underestimating the word ‘genius,’ aren’t you?” Momochi Onin sneered, no longer as anxious as before.

“Genius? That’s outdated. People call me a prodigy!”

Momochi Onin shuddered.

It wasn’t Shiro’s words that shook him, but his voice.

During a ninja’s development, there’s a phase when their voice changes. No matter how good someone is at imitating, it’s nearly impossible to replicate that youthful tone before the change. And the kid in front of him didn’t have that skilled mimicry.

He really was just a child.

Maybe this kid really was the prodigy he claimed to be!

“Do you really need to do this? Is it worth it to risk your life for Yagura? Why not join the Momochi Clan? No one will dare disrespect you in the future.”

“Are you done talking? If so, let’s keep fighting.” Shiro raised his hands, eager to continue.

One of Shiro’s purposes in coming to the Land of Water was to hone his combat skills.

And Momochi Onin was a ninja with exceptional close-combat abilities.

This was an opportunity for an unforgettable battle!

“In that case, die!” Momochi Onin growled, charging at Shiro with his large blade, the force of his swings stirring the air.

The long reach and high damage of the blade gave it an advantage, but each swing required a brief pause afterward.

At first, Shiro struggled to defend himself, but once he adapted to the rhythm of Onin’s attacks, he began to fight more calmly.

Soon, sweat started to form on Momochi Onin’s forehead.

The kid in front of him had initially seemed inexperienced, but after a few rounds, Onin found he could no longer dominate the fight.

The boy was even counterattacking at times, nearly landing hits.

Still, Momochi Onin wasn’t worried.

This was, after all, the front gate of the Momochi Clan. In less than ten seconds, reinforcements would arrive.

If he couldn’t use them, he would eliminate them!

Suddenly, Shiro leaped back and stretched lazily.

“Seems like the game’s almost over,” he said.

Momochi Onin, startled, glanced at Kenji and realized something.

Kenji had completely overpowered Suigetsu Cheng.

Although Suigetsu Cheng possessed the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, her lack of combat experience was apparent. Several times, her hesitation had caused her to miss the best moments to strike.

Meanwhile, Kenji, a true genius of the Momochi Clan, had flawless combat skills.

Just then, a column of water slowly rose, taking on the shape of a person.

It was none other than Shiro!

“Kenji! Behind you! Run!” Momochi Onin shouted, frantically rushing over with all his strength.

“Too slow!”

Shiro smirked, raising a kunai and plunging it into Kenji’s heart.

“Sorry, but this time, you have to die.”

Shiro stabbed several times before stopping.

Kenji stared at Shiro in disbelief. He was supposed to have a bright future ahead of him.

But now, he was dying here.

“Stabbing someone in the back feels pretty good. No wonder Itachi and Kakashi like this move!”

“No! I’ll kill you! I’ll kill you!”

Seeing his son lying in a pool of blood, Momochi Onin went mad with rage.

At that moment, the Momochi Clan members rushed out.

They froze at the sight before them.

Shiro had killed their clan leader’s son right in front of them!

No matter who he was, this was now a fight to the death!

“Kill them! No, don’t kill them—capture them! I want them to beg for death!”

Shiro smiled indifferently and patted Suigetsu Cheng on the shoulder.

“Let’s go.”

Suigetsu Cheng snapped back to reality.

She knew how strong Momochi Onin was. While fighting Shiro, he hadn’t even used half of his power.

Because he had been so confident.

But now, Momochi Onin had lost control. Even Yagura himself would avoid facing him now.

Shiro, watching Suigetsu Cheng leave, quickly formed hand signs, summoning another water dragon.

“Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!”

The water dragon rampaged through the crowd, but Momochi Onin swung his large blade, slicing the dragon’s head off with one strike.

However, when the water receded, Shiro had already disappeared.

“Clan Leader, look at the ground!”

Momochi Onin rushed over and found a scroll lying on the ground. It contained a picture and details of Kenji.

It was the mission scroll Matsugō had given Shiro.

Momochi Onin’s hand trembled as he held the scroll, his teeth grinding together.

“Yagura, my Momochi Clan will never rest until you’re dead!”

---

end

*Chapter 78: Isn't He Right There?*

Shiro and Mizunotsuki Orange returned to the base. At this point, Mizunotsuki’s eyes towards Shiro had clearly changed.

Her eyes sparkled nonstop.

"Liren, I never thought you'd be this strong! Even the head of the Taodi family couldn’t stop you! Please, you must teach me ninjutsu!"

"I refuse."

"Why? We’re the best teammates; our combination is stronger than ever!"

"I still refuse."

The two started a heated discussion.

"Oh, you two are back so soon! Did you manage to track Taodi Kenji’s movements?"

Songgang noticed the two sitting in the base and sneered as he walked over.

Mizunotsuki immediately lifted her head high, her face full of pride.

"Our mission is already complete."

Songgang was taken aback.

Typically, before assassinating someone, ninjas would scout their target's habits and routines.

Though there was information available, real-world conditions often differed from the records.

Only by seeing it with one’s own eyes could one truly understand the situation and increase the chances of success.

Shiro and Mizunotsuki had only been given a few hours for the mission, so Songgang found it impossible to believe they had already succeeded.

"If you haven’t finished, you don’t need to lie!"

"We really succeeded in the assassination. And we did it right at the entrance of the Taodi clan, right in front of Taodi Oni."

Songgang’s face twitched uncontrollably.

At first, he hesitated, wondering if it was a misunderstanding. After all, it wasn’t unheard of to succeed in an assassination by charging straight in.

But to say they did it at the entrance of the Taodi family, right in front of Taodi Oni, was absolute nonsense.

Regardless of whether they could kill the target or not, no ninja in their right mind would do something like that!

"Alright, enough jokes. You don’t have much time, less than three days. You should go observe Taodi Kenji’s habits for yourself!"

Songgang shook his head, ready to leave, when suddenly Jūjitsu Yagura stormed in, furious.

"Did you two kill Taodi Kenji?"

Seeing Yagura’s rage-filled face, Mizunotsuki, who had been full of confidence, instantly shrank back, hiding behind Shiro.

Shiro couldn’t help but shake his head.

"Yes, we killed him just now."

Songgang was shocked. He had thought they were joking, but they had really done it. And Yagura had already received the news!

But if that was true, Mizunotsuki’s next sentence nearly made Songgang jump out of his skin.

"Where did you kill him? In front of who?"

"On his usual route, and yes, there was someone nearby."

Yagura’s face twitched as he slapped a scroll onto the table.

"The 'usual route' you’re talking about is the entrance to the Taodi family’s compound, right? And that 'someone' was the head of the Taodi clan, right? I’m very curious how you managed to succeed!"

Songgang’s trembling hand picked up the scroll.

Though it had been soaked with water, the words were still legible.

And those few words made Songgang collapse to the floor.

"You guys..." Songgang was so shocked he couldn’t even speak.

"So, did we kill the wrong person?" Shiro remained unfazed, his expression completely calm.

"You killed the right person, but in the wrong place. Taodi Oni is now demanding that I hand over the two assassins, or he’ll tear down the Mizukage’s office!"

"What… what do we do now?" Mizunotsuki’s hands trembled in fear.

Though it’s said that "he who kills will be killed," facing the reality of the situation, fear inevitably crept in.

"So, Lord Mizukage, what’s your plan?" Shiro asked, still calm, his eyes locked on Yagura, showing no fear.

"My plan? If they tear down my office, I’ll tear down their clan first!" Yagura snorted, his eyes filled with killing intent.

Songgang, who had been frozen in shock, immediately became anxious.

"Lord Mizukage, we can’t! The Taodi family is too strong. If we fight, we’ll suffer heavy losses. Maybe we should hand these two over…"

"Why would we? They completed their mission. They should be rewarded, not handed over!" Yagura smiled dismissively.

"You’re all insane!" Songgang cried out.

"We’re not crazy; the Taodi clan is just too arrogant. If they want to challenge us, I’ll destroy them first!" Yagura scoffed coldly, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

As Yagura and Songgang left, Shiro couldn’t help but smirk.

If it had been Yagura’s real will, he would have handed Shiro and Mizunotsuki over to maintain temporary peace.

But Yagura was now controlled by Uchiha Obito.

And Obito’s goal was to create chaos in the Hidden Mist Village to satisfy his vengeance.

So when the Taodi family caused trouble, Yagura was more than happy to escalate the situation.

And it was precisely because of this that Shiro remained seated calmly. Otherwise, he would have fled long ago!

"Orange, do you want to go see Taodi Oni now?" Shiro asked.

Mizunotsuki was stunned by the bold suggestion.

They had just killed his son, and now they wanted to stroll in front of him? That was a surefire way to provoke him!

But when Mizunotsuki saw the determination in Shiro’s eyes, she inexplicably nodded.

"Fine, but we’ll only watch from a distance!"

Shiro and Mizunotsuki made their way to a small forest outside the Mizukage’s office.

By now, the office was surrounded by layer upon layer of guards.

At the entrance, Yagura was in a standoff with Taodi Oni.

"Lord Mizukage, hand over the two assassins, or our clan will not rest!"

Yagura, however, smiled indifferently and shrugged.

"I already told you, there’s no such person in the Anbu. Maybe they’re spies from another village!"

"Don’t take us for fools. If you don’t hand them over today, don’t blame me for what happens next!"

"I’d like to see what you plan to do." Yagura crossed his arms, showing no signs of backing down.

"You! Don’t think just because you’re Mizukage you can do as you please!"

"Being Mizukage means I can do as I please. If you’re so confident, find those two assassins yourself before you come for me!"

"You bastard! Where am I supposed to find them now? You’ve definitely hidden them!"

Just as Taodi Oni was mid-sentence, his eyes suddenly lit up.

"Wait! They’re right there!"

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 79: The War Begins*

Kugitsu Yagura and the others turned their heads, spotting Shiro and Mizunotsuki Cheng casually standing on a nearby tree.

Both were wearing masks of the Anbu!

Matsuga's heart skipped a beat, and he almost collapsed to the ground.

Momochi Giri, however, was furious. He pulled out his massive sword and shouted behind him:

"See that? This is the Water Shadow's care for us! If we keep this up, who knows whose child will be next. Do we still need to stay silent?"

"No need! Today we make them pay in blood!"

"Blood for blood!"

"Blood for blood!"

...

In an instant, angry shouts erupted, and the momentum on Kugitsu Yagura's side weakened significantly.

Shiro smirked.

Chaos was exactly what he wanted.

Initially, the various clans thought they could stay out of it, assuming the fire wouldn’t reach them.

Even when they were oppressed, they endured it in silence.

But now, this wasn’t just oppression—it was about complete eradication. At the brink of life and death, who could continue hiding?

Shiro intended to use this opportunity to push the Momochi clan into a desperate situation, paving the way for Mei Terumi's perfect entrance.

"All it takes now is a trigger!"

Though it seemed like the Momochi clan was shouting fiercely, they hadn’t yet reached the breaking point!

In this scenario, there was a strong possibility that Kugitsu Yagura would hand over the clan to Momochi Giri for punishment.

After all, Kugitsu Yagura intended to dismantle Kirigakure Village using tactics, not brute force.

This would only unite the clans, making future actions even more difficult!

"What trigger? We need to run now, or we're done for!" Mizunotsuki Cheng tugged at Shiro's arm, panic evident on her face.

Shiro, however, showed no intention of leaving. Instead, he lifted his mask slightly and placed his hand over his mouth.

Whistle...

Though soft, the long whistle was heard by everyone present.

However, neither side paid attention to its source.

At that moment, one of the ninjas on Yagura's side suddenly showed a look of terror in his eyes.

With trembling hands, he pulled out a kunai.

"What are you doing? What do you want from me?"

The kunai flew out, striking a member of the Momochi clan in the shoulder.

"This is bad!" Matsuga's pupils contracted.

Before, it had just been a dispute. If someone backed down, the anger would subside, and it would end.

But if someone struck, it was no longer a dispute.

It was war!

"Damn it! The Water Shadow wants to wipe out the Momochi clan! Stop thinking and fight back!"

"Damn it!" Yagura growled in fury before shouting, "Suppress this group for me!"

Suddenly, both sides drew their weapons, and the fuse was lit.

"How did this happen? Weren't we supposed to be killing traitors? Can't we just explain it to them?" Mizunotsuki Cheng stared in confusion at the chaos before her.

She had thought that killing one person could save dozens, even hundreds, in Kirigakure Village.

But now, Mizunotsuki Cheng realized she had been wrong.

Meanwhile, Shiro was inwardly ecstatic. He hadn’t expected things to go so smoothly. Just one pre-set genjutsu had lit the fuse.

And while the Momochi clan was strong, how could they be a match for the Water Shadow?

When they inevitably lost, they would have no choice but to turn to Mei Terumi!

"Now, it's time for some stealing."

Ding! Recognized ninjutsu: Water Release: Water Wall!

Ding! Recognized ninjutsu: Water Release: Water Cannon!

Ding! Recognized ninjutsu: Water Release: Wave Strike!

...

As system notifications kept popping up, Shiro’s heart filled with glee.

He had put in so much effort just for this moment!

With enough ninjutsu, he would have more options for combinations.

In the future, he could also be well-prepared and avoid synthesizing techniques during battles, significantly reducing risk!

Ding! Triggered mission choice!

1. Help Kugitsu Yagura defeat the Momochi clan! Reward: Advanced Speed Mastery!

2. Help Momochi Giri defeat the Water Shadow's forces! Reward: Advanced Genjutsu Mastery!

Shiro frowned as he considered the two options.

Genjutsu mastery had been his initial plan. After all, using illusions to kill silently was incredibly cool.

But he had merely forced the Momochi clan to rebel—there was still much more he needed to do.

If he openly rebelled against Yagura, who knew if Momochi Giri would even be grateful? And future tasks might be impossible to complete.

Thankfully, advanced speed mastery wasn’t bad either.

As long as he was fast enough, no one could catch him! That would give him a significant advantage in battle.

Combined with his taijutsu, it would be a huge boost!

"I choose option one!"

The moment Shiro made his choice, he suddenly felt the world spinning around him.

In less than a second, he recovered.

The world around him now seemed much slower. He could clearly see every move the ninjas made.

Shiro took out a kunai and stood up.

Mizunotsuki Cheng anxiously grabbed Shiro’s arm.

"What are you doing? It's chaotic down there. No matter how strong you are, it's hard to avoid getting hurt. And besides, you killed Momochi Kenji. The Momochi clan won't let you go!"

"This war started because of me. I can't just hide. I have to fight! You're too weak; just stay here and wait."

Before Mizunotsuki Cheng could react, Shiro leaped away like lightning.

She looked around, but Shiro was already gone. She turned and saw that Shiro had already charged into the battlefield.

"He's so fast! I never knew he was hiding his true strength! I really wonder if the person who went to school with me was actually this Shiro."

Shiro entered the battlefield, but only the edges. He didn’t dare go to the center.

That was the true meat grinder. Unless you had the strength and combat awareness of an elite Jonin, you were just going to die!

It was better to stay on the outskirts and slowly get used to the flow of battle!

At that moment, Shiro had advanced taijutsu mastery and speed mastery. Though he hadn’t fully reached Jonin-level strength, his speed and taijutsu surpassed that of some Jonin.

The ninjas on the outskirts were mostly Chunin or even Genin, and they were no match for Shiro.

"Who's this kid? He's incredible!"

"Such speed and strength in taijutsu—he's no nobody. Focus on killing him!"

Shiro found himself targeted by the enemies on the outskirts.

But using his speed, he evaded their attacks time and time again, even taking down several of them.

"That slow? And you think you can kill me? How naïve!" Shiro laughed triumphantly.

Suddenly, he felt a wave of murderous intent. His body tensed as every hair stood on end.

"Kid! Give me back my son's life!"

(End of this chapter)

*Chapter 80: Wherever He Goes, Battle Follows*

Shiro suddenly became energized.

Previously, due to time constraints, Shiro hadn't had a proper fight with Taodi Guiren. Although he knew that Taodi Guiren was likely hiding his true strength, Shiro himself had also made significant improvements.

Having such a skilled opponent like Taodi Guiren to hone his abilities was perfect!

Shiro quickly tossed aside the few Chunin around him and dashed towards Taodi Guiren.

"Water Style! Water Clone Technique!"

In an instant, two water clones appeared beside Shiro.

"Oh? I didn’t expect that mastering high-level speed would also increase my hand-sign speed. It seems that casting six signs per second is no longer just a dream."

Shiro's confidence soared, and he, along with his two water clones, began circling around Taodi Guiren.

"Oh? I didn’t expect that in just a few hours, your speed could increase to this extent!" Taodi Guiren snorted coldly.

Although Shiro had grown stronger, this only ignited Taodi Guiren's fighting spirit. He gripped his large sword with both hands and began swinging it relentlessly.

"What fast swordsmanship! He’s using his technique to minimize the inherent stiffness of wielding a large sword! No wonder he became the clan leader!"

Shiro was amazed, but he had no intention of fleeing.

After all, Shiro hadn’t just increased his speed; he had also learned numerous Water Style jutsu!

Previously, he hadn’t dared to use other techniques for fear of revealing his identity.

But now, after collecting so many Water Style jutsu, he could unleash them without restraint!

"Water Style! Great Waterfall Technique!"

"Water Style! Water Horn Technique!"

"Water Style! Water Fang Bullet!"

Each of the three clones cast a different jutsu, all aimed at Taodi Guiren.

"How is this possible? How could someone so young have such a vast amount of chakra? It seems today, I must kill you," Taodi Guiren's eyes grew more serious.

He gripped his large sword tightly, and chakra surged into the blade.

A faint membrane began to form over the sword.

With each slash, the sword emitted a sharp cutting sound, and the air around it seemed to slice open.

"Wind attribute enhancing a weapon?"

This technique was similar to the one Sarutobi Asuma had taught Naruto Uzumaki, which could enhance a weapon’s sharpness, destructive power, and range.

Initially, Shiro had planned to fight head-on, but now he had no choice but to rely on his speed to evade.

With his three water clones continuously harassing Taodi Guiren using Water Style jutsu, Taodi's speed slowed down considerably, allowing Shiro to constantly provoke him.

Taodi Guiren had never seen anyone use water clones in this way before. Typically, people used water clones to confuse their opponent’s vision. But Shiro’s approach—using water clones to cast jutsu and harass the enemy—was something new.

After all, casting multiple jutsu continuously required an enormous amount of chakra, which was incredibly draining!

"Kid, if you’ve got the guts, face me head-on!"

"Are you crazy? Why would I fight you in your area of strength? I’m not stupid!" Shiro laughed smugly.

"Fine then, don’t blame me for what comes next!" Taodi Guiren snorted, turning to yell behind him, "Brothers, today we kill this kid!"

Immediately, several Taodi clan ninjas rushed over.

Shiro was stunned. His advantage was his vast chakra and versatile jutsu. But Taodi Guiren’s advantage was also clear.

As the head of the Taodi clan, all the clan ninjas followed his orders without hesitation, attacking wherever he directed.

Now Shiro truly felt the strength of Taodi Guiren’s influence. Surrounded by several people, he found it difficult to move.

And nearly all of them were Jonin, their large swords making it hard for Shiro to breathe.

"Lord Mizukage, help me out here!"

Yagura’s mouth twitched. He had originally intended to let Shiro die, thinking that if Shiro were to die, the Taodi clan’s anger would dissipate somewhat.

But now that Shiro had called out for help, Yagura had no choice but to step in.

After all, Shiro was part of the Anbu under Yagura’s command.

If he didn’t save him, it would be hard to lead the squad in the future.

"Hold on, kid! We’re coming!"

With a shout, Yagura, along with several Jonin, rushed into the battle.

Seeing that things were becoming chaotic, Shiro quickly retreated.

Shiro’s goal was clear—stay away from the meat grinder at the center and pick off some weaker enemies on the fringes.

Seeing Shiro escape, Yagura nearly spat blood.

He had come to help, and now Shiro had run off on his own.

"That brat ran away, chase after him!"

Shiro hadn’t gotten far when Taodi Guiren immediately followed.

"What grudge do you have with me? Killing your son was part of Lord Mizukage’s mission, go after him!"

"Brat, you finally admit it! Yagura, what more do you have to say now?"

Yagura spat out a mouthful of blood. He hadn’t expected Shiro to be so unreliable, outright selling him out!

"Shiro, run! I’ll deal with Taodi Guiren!" Yagura sneered. Since Shiro had betrayed him, he didn’t mind dragging him into trouble.

"Shiro! Shiro! So it’s you, Taodi Shiro! I should have killed you back then, and my son would still be alive!" Taodi Guiren roared even louder, his battle intent fully ignited.

"All yours, Lord Mizukage!" Shiro shrugged indifferently.

He hadn’t expected some old grudge to resurface, but it had nothing to do with him.

Once the mission was over, the persona of Taodi Shiro would vanish for good.

As he ran, Shiro continuously ordered his water clones to cast jutsu.

However, Taodi Guiren was fixated on Shiro, determined not to stop until one of them was dead.

Shiro ran ahead, with the Taodi clan in pursuit, and behind them, Yagura’s group followed closely.

The center of the battle followed Shiro’s every move.

The ninjas who just wanted to stay on the sidelines were drawn into the chaos, their lives abruptly ended by Shiro’s presence.

"That kid’s coming this way, run!"

"Damn it, why is he heading over here?!"

...

Shiro glanced back at the crowd chasing him, frowning.

Even the most patient person would snap eventually, and Shiro was no exception.

Being chased for so long had finally angered him.

"If you all want to die, come at me!"

Shiro’s three water clones rapidly formed hand signs, all three sets identical.

"Water Style! Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"

Three water dragons erupted from the ground, rampaging through the crowd.

Wherever the water dragons passed, screams and death followed.

"Is this kid even human? He’s controlling three water dragons at once, and they seem to carry a hint of Sage Art. Just how powerful is he?"

"Clan leader, should we keep chasing him?"

"Chase him? The best time to kill him was before he graduated! Trying to kill him now would cost us too many of our Taodi clan!"

Taodi Guiren glared at Shiro with hatred.

"Taodi Shiro! I’ll remember you!"

(End of Chapter)