By the time Higashino Shin dragged his captive over, the fighting here was finished.
The Ninjutsu had vanished and the lake had receded, leaving the battlefield a swamp.
Water created by ordinary Water Release disappears when the jutsu ends, but apart from the Second of the Red-Eye almost no one is that wasteful; most gather ambient moisture with Chakra or draw on real bodies of water to boost their techniques.
That lake covering the field earlier had been produced by a Kirigakure Ninja diverting a nearby stream—produce that volume from his own reserves and you'd squeeze him dry.
Earth Release works on the same principle.
The Konoha group had moved to drier ground and were sitting to rest, five corpses piled to one side—definitely dead.
In wartime, when scores of Iwa Ninja were cornered at Musashibashi facing the Yellow Flash, surrender was the only option; you couldn't slaughter that many prisoners, so they became bargaining chips.
But in small skirmishes like today, Ninja rarely leave enemies alive.
That's why the Great Ninja Wars kill so many—sometimes even retiring with injuries is a luxury.
Seeing Shin haul in a Mist-nin, Gekko Yun Jian asked curiously, "Don't tell me you caught another one alive?"
"He's alive, but crippled. A member of the Yuki Clan who's already awakened Ice Release. I figure he's worth more breathing than dead."
Everyone turned curious eyes on the pretty enemy—Ice Release Bloodline Limit! Rare these days, many had never seen it.
Even in Kirigakure, those who awaken Ice Release are few; no one knew why this one was sent to harass the line.
After one glance they looked away—stare too long and the pure will of fire might waver.
Yūgao Uzuki eyed the prisoner tossed aside, then Shin, and grinned wickedly: "Shin, you're brutal—so pretty and you show no mercy?"
Shin stared at her like she was insane: "It's a guy!"
"Eh?" Yūgao petrified, then curled into a ball, gouging circles in the dirt with a Kunai.
To be out-prettied by a man—this Ninja World was garbage.
Now no one dared look again.
"A-haha!" Gekko Yun Jian laughed off the awkwardness, pointing to an antique-haired Mist-nin among the corpses. "We've got another Bloodline here—judging by the style, he should be from Kirigakure's Kaguya clan."
"But in our fight he never used Shikotsumyaku, so I guess he never awakened his clan's bloodline."
"Really?" Shin studied him—dress did resemble Kimimaro's, pity about the dormant Shikotsumyaku.
Even if it had awakened, Shin wouldn't care—only Orochimaru would be pleased with today's haul.
Ninja World bloodlines fall into two kinds. First, organ-type: Hyuga Byakugan, Uchiha Sharingan, Chinoike Blood-Red Eyes, Mist Red-Eyes, Shikotsumyaku, etc.
Shin can't mess with those unless Snake Uncle grafts cells or eyeballs onto him—and he'd have to be insane to try.
Second are those born from fusing two or more Chakra natures—those can be replicated given samples.
He was born with Wind, Water, Earth, and thanks to his Golden Finger each nature is already highly refined.
Now he'd touched Wind + Water Ice Release; after fighting the Mist fem-boy he had a solid hypothesis—he just needed time to test it.
As for Water + Earth Wood Release? That was Konoha's founding Hokage's trademark. For a sample he'd simply swipe experience from Yamato later.
The guy was honest; Kakashi couldn't have all the bullying fun.
Shin's interest in bloodlines wasn't to become a pure Ninjutsu cannon—that style never suited him.
The main goal was to deepen his grasp of Chakra nature transformations via Fusion.
The side goal? Curiosity—wasn't it cool?
---
Shin shelved those thoughts, pulled a medical kit from a storage scroll and set to work on the injured—mainly Might Guy and his two teammates. The late reinforcements were only tired.
Wiping out the Mist-nin without losses owed less to numbers than to Kirigakure being bled white after successive wars.
They'd suffered worse than Konoha: pre-war purges, then post-war beat-downs.
Their few experts were either bleeding on southern isles against Sunagakure or on covert missions in the Land of Fire; harassers on this line were second-stringers.
Shiranui Genma and Ebisu were simple fixes; Shin handled them quickly.
Might Guy had it rough. A pure taijutsu fighter, he'd tangled with a Kaguya while another Ninja kept slashing him. Had the enemies cooperated, Guy would've needed the Eight Gates to win.
Who knew how many gates he could open now? Little Lee would reach five at thirteen; Guy looked about the same age.
But that was personal, a Ninja secret; prying would be rude. With comrades Guy would probably answer anyway.
Shin cleaned every cut with antiseptic, then laid on palms for Mystical Palm.
"Senior Guy, you're pure taijutsu—fighting bare-handed up close is rough for you."
Guy flashed a grin and thumbs-up: "That's how I sprinkle my Youth! Injuries mean my sweat hasn't flowed enough."
"Ever thought of picking a weapon to protect yourself? You don't want your body worn out too soon to keep sprinkling Youth, right?"
"Makes sense." For once Guy pondered, then pictured the Nunchaku he trained hand-speed with at home.
"I know what weapon I'll use! Thanks for the tip—I'll protect this body so my Youth lasts longer."
"I believe you can. Still, as a Medical Ninja I advise proper nutrition and tonics, or you'll never surpass Senior Dai."
Guy blinked: "You know my dad?"
"Saw him around the village, but I met him at the hospital. My mother knew him well."
"Your mother is…?"
"Higashino Megumi. I'm Higashino Shin."
Guy, terrible with names, scrunched his brow until memory struck: "Right! Megumi-senpai from Konoha Hospital—Dad mentioned her, I've seen her. So she's your mom; no wonder your Medical Ninjutsu's so good."
"Exactly—her."
Guy tried to stand; Shin pressed him back, so he sat and bowed where he was. "Thank Megumi-senpai for me. Dad said without the doctors those years, his body would've given out long ago."
"We're all Konoha comrades. I checked Senior Dai myself. Compared to him, you're in great shape—Youth is on your side—but look after yourself, especially after you're grown."
"Got it—thanks, Shin."
Guy flashed another sparkling Leaf-white smile.
Might Dai was only a Genin and often left off squads, so money was tight; every resource went to his son. Guy, now a Chunin and future Jonin, would earn plenty—if he protected his body he could lessen the damage from opening the first seven gates.
As for the eighth—no body, mortal or divine, survives that one.