After leaving the exchange, Sora first headed to the dangerous coastal area where the group of pirates was entrenched.
According to the intelligence provided by the exchange, these pirates were based in a group of sea caves that were easy to defend but hard to attack. They used the complex waterways and reefs as barriers to plunder merchant ships coming and going, acting very arrogantly.
The intelligence mentioned that the pirate leader possessed "quasi-Kage level" strength. At first, Sora was somewhat interested, thinking it might be a chance to stretch his limbs a bit.
However, when he silently infiltrated the pirate lair and finally saw the leader who called himself "Raging Waves", he couldn't help but feel disappointed.
The opponent's chakra reserves were indeed a bit larger than those of an ordinary Jonin, and his water release ninjutsu was quite proficient and impressive. But under Sora's keen perception, he was at best just a slightly more experienced Jonin. The so-called "quasi-Kage" title was probably more the result of self-promotion and flattery from his subordinates.
The fight was almost without suspense.
Sora didn't even use the Eight Gates. Relying solely on his powerful taijutsu and extreme speed, he moved upstream against the opponent's proud "Great Waterfall Technique" and pierced his heart with a single strike.
The so-called "quasi-Kage" couldn't even make him warm up.
Cleaning up the remaining pirate lackeys took a bit more effort. There were quite a few of these desperadoes, and they were familiar with the terrain, putting up a stubborn resistance using the complex cave environment.
To avoid exposing too much strength and attracting unnecessary attention, Sora did not use large-scale area-clearing ninjutsu. Instead, he relied on speed and taijutsu to pick them off one by one. It took him the better part of a day to completely clear out the entire pirate stronghold.
Following the mission requirements, he retrieved the pirate leader's token and some of the plundered goods as proof. Then, without any lingering attachment, he left this sea area permeated with the smell of blood.
...
After a brief rest, Sora immediately set off for the second mission target, the defected elite Kirigakure Jonin, Hōzuki Zangetsu!
According to the exchange's intelligence, Hōzuki Zangetsu had mastered some kind of water release secret technique. The reason for his defection was unknown, but he was cautious in character, elusive in movement, and extremely skilled at hiding.
Sora followed the trail, investigating several possible hideouts mentioned in the intelligence.
Finally, on the fourth day after leaving the pirate base, Sora arrived at the remote small island located in the southeastern sea of the Land of Water mentioned in the intelligence.
The island was not large, densely vegetated, with a small freshwater lake at its center. The environment was quite secluded.
Sora did not rashly land on the island. Instead, he stopped on a sea reef about three miles away from the island and fully activated his special sensing ability.
An intangible sensing field quickly covered the entire island.
'Found it!'
Almost the instant his sensing covered the island, Sora detected several violently clashing chakra reactions.
One of these chakra signatures was cold, lingering, carrying a strong water nature transformation and a hint of bloodlust, matching the description of Hōzuki Zangetsu in the intelligence.
The other four chakra signatures clearly belonged to the Kirigakure Anbu style, sharp, swift, carrying a kind of trained tacit coordination and killing intent.
"Kirigakure Anbu? Are they also chasing Hōzuki Zangetsu?"
Sora's mind stirred. He immediately suppressed all his aura, reducing his presence to the minimum, lying in wait like a reef. His perception, like the most precise lens, distantly "observed" the battle on the island.
...
At the center of the small island, by the freshwater lakeside.
The battle was at a white-hot stage.
Four Anbu wearing Kirigakure animal masks were surrounding and attacking a middle-aged man wearing a torn Kirigakure Jonin vest, pale-faced but with fierce eyes. This was Hōzuki Zangetsu.
Hōzuki Zangetsu's strength was indeed not weak, his water release ninjutsu was superb.
"Water Release, Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
His hand seal speed was extremely fast. The lake surface exploded as three water dragons, far larger than normal, roared and charged at the four Anbu, their momentum terrifying.
At the same time, his body could often transform into flowing water to evade physical attacks. This was precisely the Hōzuki clan's secret technique, the Water Transformation Technique!
The four Kirigakure Anbu surrounded and attacked him; three wore Fox, Monkey, and Bear masks. Their chakra was condensed, their actions tacitly coordinated, clearly experienced Jonin.
They cooperated with each other. One used Earth Release, Earth Wall, for defense, one used Lightning Release to interfere with the Water Transformation Technique, and one used swift sword techniques for close-quarters combat, resolving most of Hōzuki Zangetsu's attacks and tricky methods one by one.
The most eye-catching was the fourth Kirigakure ninja.
She wore a White Pigeon mask. Her figure was slightly more slender among the four. But judging from the activity of her chakra and the power of her occasional attacks, she seemed quite young, probably only around twelve or thirteen years old, with a chakra level around Special Jonin.
However, her fighting style was extremely fierce and special.
"Lava Release, Corrosive Mist Technique!"
The young female Anbu formed hand seals and spewed a large amount of highly corrosive, magma-like viscous liquid from her mouth, shooting toward Hōzuki Zangetsu in an overwhelming spread.
This was not ordinary water or fire release, but an extremely rare Kekkei Genkai, Lava Release!
Hōzuki Zangetsu was clearly caught off guard by this sudden Kekkei Genkai attack. Although the Water Transformation Technique could negate physical attacks, its defensive effectiveness was greatly reduced against this kind of attack with strong corrosiveness and chakra nature transformation.
"Sizzle! Sizzle!"
Hōzuki Zangetsu scrambled to manipulate water flow to form multiple layered Water Walls in front of him. But the Lava Release liquid rapidly corroded and melted the water walls, billowing up large amounts of white steam.
Although he barely blocked it, the water vapor around him became thinner, and his expression turned even uglier.
"Mei Terumī… It is her indeed."
Sora, five miles away, immediately confirmed the identity of that young Anbu upon sensing that unique Lava Release chakra.
The future Fifth Mizukage, the super genius possessing two Kekkei Genkai, Lava Release and Boil Release!
"Special Jonin at twelve years old, dual Kekkei Genkai… The talent is indeed terrifying."
Sora evaluated inwardly, but that was all.
The current Mei Terumī was far from having grown to a level that could make him wary. As for the future, it was even more impossible for her to pose a threat to him.
The battle continued.
Hōzuki Zangetsu, caught off guard by Mei Terumī's Lava Release, seemed enraged.
"Little brat! Seeking death!"
He abruptly pressed his palms together, his chakra surging violently.
"Water Release, Water Needle Secret Technique!"
In an instant, centered on him, countless highly compressed water needles, fine as ox hair but fast as bullets, fanned out toward the four Anbu in an indiscriminate burst!
The range was enormous, the penetrating power extremely strong!
This was his secret technique, pushing the form transformation of water release to the extreme, making it difficult to defend against.
The three Jonin Anbu reacted swiftly, using the Body Flicker Technique to evade.
But Mei Terumī, due to lack of experience and a brief stagnation of chakra after using Lava Release, was a moment slow in dodging. Although she tried her best to evade, her left arm and shoulder were still grazed by several water needles, immediately bleeding profusely!
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