The most troublesome aspect of the Earth Release: Four-Direction Earthen Flow Formation lay in the final mud construct—the one that had absorbed the remaining three elemental attributes.
Shiraishi analyzed the situation in an instant and made his decision.
The silver blade in his hand burst forth with a fierce radiance.
He anchored his psychic force beneath his feet, synchronizing it with High-Speed Movement. In that moment, his body seemed to lift from the ground. A faint glow formed from released psychic energy, intertwining like a pair of translucent wings behind him.
Ebizō stared, momentarily dumbfounded.
So this is the real effect of externally released psychic force?
He had read records before, but this was the first time he had witnessed it firsthand.
However, the test was far from over.
Ebizō shifted his hand seals. The mudflow walls thickened, and the entire Four-Direction Formation transformed. The mud construct that had been wielding Fire Release rapidly decayed, its energy condensing into a blazing mass that poured into the final construct.
With four attributes combined, the mud construct's power surged explosively.
A violent chakra storm erupted, disrupting Shiraishi's psychic control and forcing him back to the ground—though he still managed to avoid touching the churning mudflow beneath his feet.
The construct's form became increasingly distinct. A layer of mudflow armor formed across its body, and as it clenched its fists, the air around them grew heavy and oppressive.
The final construct slowly sank its stance, then threw a single right punch.
Its arm shot forward, fist stretching and tearing through the air, howling like a high-speed train. In an instant, it closed the distance to Shiraishi.
Overwhelming speed. A single, devastating blow aimed straight at his face.
Brilliant light erupted from the construct's body, blazing like a torch ignited midair, dragging a terrifying wave of chakra that shook the battlefield with a thunderous roar.
Wind Release. Fire Release.
The fusion of two chakra natures produced a terrifying effect.
As Shiraishi tracked the movement, his silver blade erupted with a spiraling wind edge.
But the construct's body was absurdly tough. It forcibly blocked the wind blade, its defense and destructive power reinforced by Ebizō's control. Any ordinary genin would have been utterly overwhelmed.
The blade failed to break through.
Shiraishi's fighting spirit surged.
He drew his focus inward, then reversed his psychic output, forcing the surrounding mudflow to surge backward toward the construct, slowing its advance.
The incoming mudflow was countered by a powerful vortex of water that formed around the construct. In the clash, countless hardened mud pellets were launched toward Shiraishi.
The silver blade flashed repeatedly as he blocked and evaded.
In the blink of an eye, the construct punched again.
Shiraishi raised his blade to block—then planted his feet hard. His left arm swelled with power as he drove a punch forward, full force.
Layers of compressed wind wrapped around his fist, creating a terrifying cutting force.
The construct showed no fear and answered with an equally brutal punch.
The collision was swallowed by a massive explosion.
Muscles bulged, veins stood out—but the scene was quickly obscured by surging firewaves and raging windstorms. Around them, the mudflow walls began to tremble and crumble.
The construct swayed slightly, then stabilized.
Shiraishi staggered back one step, his foot sinking into the ground. Numb pain surged through his arm—bones in the striking limb had fractured.
That punch had contained a transformation of Earth Release.
For Shiraishi to last this long against the strongest construct inside the formation—on the very first day—was already remarkable.
Perhaps killing Zi'ao truly hadn't been luck. Without such blade technique and taijutsu, Shiraishi would never have had the chance to defeat that cunning puppet master. After all, this kind of close-combat ninja was a puppeteer's natural nemesis.
Punches alone wouldn't suppress it.
Shiraishi reinforced his body with psychic force. His left leg tensed, the instep snapping straight as he tore free from the ground. With the speed of a blade leaving its sheath, he slashed forward.
Wind-like wings flared behind the construct as it evaded the strike. At the same time, its right hand extended—palm transforming into a blade of brilliant wind. Borrowing gravity, it struck like lightning toward Shiraishi's neck.
Wind Release. Fire Release. Earth Release. Water Release.
The seamless switching between four attributes began to wear Shiraishi down.
He arched backward sharply, narrowly avoiding the strike. His body and silver blade spun together, transforming into a raging tornado as he counterattacked.
Under psychic control, his speed surged. Enhanced by High-Speed Movement, he struck faster than the construct's own Wind Release.
But the construct's body hardened further, drawing surrounding mudflow into itself.
Countless layers of mud converged.
Shiraishi thrust his blade in.
As the construct raised its guard—
Suddenly, chakra threads shot out from all directions, spider-silk thin and impossibly sharp. Under psychic manipulation, they moved in eerie, unnatural patterns.
This is…?
Unthinkable.
As Shiraishi's psychic force intensified, the chakra threads gained the same resilience as his silver blade. As they danced through the air, they sliced cleanly through the construct's mudflow defense.
The blade pierced its body.
In an instant, the Wind Release core shattered.
The remaining three energy cores shifted—Fire Release surged to dominance. A violent heatwave exploded outward, forcing Shiraishi to retreat several steps.
Time.
The first day's trial was over.
Shiraishi had lasted a full hour.
More importantly, the methods he employed left Ebizō increasingly impressed—especially the technique of combining chakra threads with externally released psychic force, turning them into lethal weapons.
The Four-Direction Formation dissolved.
Shiraishi bent forward, gasping for breath. He had only broken one elemental core; the remaining three represented the formation's adaptive combat potential.
According to Sunagakure's records, Ebizō possessed even stronger battle formations beyond this one. No wonder he stood shoulder to shoulder with Chiyo at the pinnacle of the Elder Council—his strength was undeniable.
"Actual combat is the best way to awaken one's potential," Ebizō said calmly. "Next, you'll spend the entire night here refining chakra."
He unsealed a scroll.
With a heavy thud, a massive vat appeared—filled with a dense mixture of medicinal extracts, releasing an indescribable stench.
Shiraishi didn't hesitate. As he removed his clothes, Ebizō clicked his tongue appreciatively.
"Good bone structure, solid muscle. That girl would be quite pleased."
Shiraishi understood the implication. "I pay close attention to physical conditioning. When natural impulses arise, I suppress and restrain them to strengthen my mental resistance."
…Won't this kid end up emotionally numb someday?
For a moment, Ebizō genuinely pitied Maki. Being involved with a cultivation-obsessed research fanatic like this was a young girl's misfortune.
As Shiraishi stepped into the medicinal vat, the unique medicinal energy began to flood through every part of his body…
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