Suikazan Fuguki's pupils suddenly constricted.
He had absolutely not expected Rukia to be able to release Ninjutsu instantly from such a close distance!
The key was that it was Unmarked Ninjutsu, which left him no time to react!
Electricity enveloped him, and Suikazan Fuguki's body went numb, causing him to involuntarily retreat.
Even the Samehada in his hand almost slipped.
Fortunately, relying on his excellent physical conditioning, he quickly recovered.
After creating distance from Rukia, Suikazan Fuguki, having suffered a loss, decided not to press forward.
This young lady has no martial virtue!
She said she was an Ice Release Ninja, but she used electricity to ambush him!
Moreover, this kind of Ninjutsu that doesn't require hand seals leaves no time to react in close combat.
He must change his strategy!
Suikazan Fuguki's eyes were grave.
If close combat wouldn't work, then he would use long-range attacks!
"Water Release: Water Dragon Jutsu!"
Suikazan Fuguki spewed a water dragon formed from a stream of water, rushing towards Rukia.
Due to fighting on the sea, his Water Release Ninjutsu was strengthened by one Rank.
The Water Dragon Jutsu looked incredibly intimidating.
Rukia remained calm, elegantly drawing a circle at her feet with Sode no Shirayuki.
Crack, crack—
The sea surface instantly froze into a circular Domain.
Rukia softly said, "First Dance: Tsukishiro."
The next second, the water dragon swooped down!
But upon entering the circle Rukia had drawn with Sode no Shirayuki, it was instantly frozen into an ice dragon.
Suikazan Fuguki's eyes widened, and he released Water Release again, refusing to believe it.
"Water Release: Water Formation Wall!"
A meteor-shaped water ball descended from the sky, smashing towards Rukia.
However, just like the water dragon, as soon as the water ball entered her frozen Domain, it instantly turned into an ice ball and shattered on the icy surface.
Suikazan Fuguki was silent for a moment.
Today, he finally experienced the malice of elemental counters.
Frustrating!
Too frustrating!
How was he supposed to fight this?
That place that turned into ice... Sakumo Hatake noticed a clue.
As long as Suikazan Fuguki's Water Release entered that circular area, it would be directly frozen.
It was as if that place was an icy Domain, and except for its owner, any intruder would become an ice sculpture.
Seeing this miraculous Ice Release,
even the Minazuki Clan within the Kirigakure forces felt conflicted.
The way this Ice Release manifested was far stronger than anything their Minazuki Clan could do.
They could only create Ice Release offensive Ninjutsu and then throw them.
They were completely unable to create a Jutsu that formed a Domain and froze all intruders.
The only thing they could show off was the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals.
The other Kirigakure Ninja were also in an uproar.
"What do we do? Lord Suikazan seems to be at a disadvantage."
"Damn it, wasn't the Uzushigakure already destroyed? How did such a strong person suddenly appear!"
"It's fine, we still have the other Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist-sama, they can definitely deal with the enemy!"
Sakumo Hatake was also influenced by the Kirigakure Ninja's words, and couldn't help but look at the movements of the other Lieutenants.
He saw the female Lieutenant, who had long, wavy orange hair and a figure comparable to the current Tsunade, move.
She instantly appeared in front of Kuriarare Kushimaru.
So fast!
Kuriarare Kushimaru was startled.
But the mask on his face prevented anyone from seeing his expression.
Matsumoto Rangiku clicked her tongue in annoyance, complaining, "I finally got an easy job, and you guys messed it up. Let's finish this quickly; I'm planning to go to an izakaya after work."
Kuriarare Kushimaru let out a chilling laugh and coldly said, "I've been underestimated."
With that, Kuriarare Kushimaru used a Body Flicker Technique, appearing in front of Matsumoto Rangiku, and swung his sword, signaling the start of close-quarters combat.
Matsumoto Rangiku parried calmly, even taking the time to yawn.
His attacks were blocked one by one, but Kuriarare Kushimaru showed no discouragement, persistently continuing his sword attacks.
But to outsiders, the attack methods of this Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist member seemed somewhat unremarkable compared to Suikazan Fuguki.
It seemed somewhat unworthy of the resounding reputation of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.
However, Kuriarare Kushimaru didn't care; instead, his laughter grew increasingly cruel, as if he had achieved some goal.
Matsumoto Rangiku said boredly, "I've played with you for so long, are these steel wires your only trick?"
"!"
Kuriarare Kushimaru's pupils widened under his mask, startled.
He'd been seen through!
But he quickly suppressed his emotions and laughed cruelly, "Heh, you saw through it, but so what? You're already surrounded by me, hahahaha!"
With that, Kuriarare Kushimaru suddenly yanked longsword: nuibari!
A net woven from steel wires suddenly appeared in the sunlight.
And in the center of the net was Matsumoto Rangiku's figure.
The steel wires, illuminated by the sun, shimmered with a cold light, like man-eating venomous snakes.
Looking at Matsumoto Rangiku, who was surrounded, Kuriarare Kushimaru laughed triumphantly.
This was the special feature of his longsword: nuibari!
The steel wires hidden in the hilt had already executed countless enemies for him.
Now, his longsword: nuibari's death list would add one more person.
Seeing this scene, the Kirigakure Ninja shouted, "Kill her! Kill her!"
Rukia's easy suppression of Suikazan Fuguki had brought them immense fear.
Now, seeing Kuriarare Kushimaru suppress a Lieutenant of the same Rank as Rukia, the Kirigakure Ninja became excited!
They eagerly wanted Kuriarare Kushimaru to kill Matsumoto Rangiku, to alleviate their inner fear.
But Matsumoto Rangiku showed no panic; even when surrounded by countless man-eating steel wires, she maintained her lazy demeanor.
She even casually said, "Is that all?"
Kuriarare Kushimaru clicked his tongue in annoyance; on the verge of death, and still so arrogant!
"Longsword Ninjutsu: Earth Spider Stitch!"
As his voice fell, the giant steel net instantly tightened and stitched together around Matsumoto Rangiku!
It seemed that the sharp steel wires were about to cut her into several pieces!
Just then, with a clang.
Matsumoto Rangiku's Zanpakuto was drawn from its sheath.
"Roar, Haineko!"