CH_53

Leaping out from the forest were four shinobi in Iwa attire.

But the three chūnin among them showed no intention of engaging—only the Iwa jōnin continued forward. They'd probably already worked out their plan while pursuing.

The three Konoha genin truly weren't worth their attention. Even if Tōji and the others had been chūnin, they'd likely have thought the same—in this kind of situation, the outcome of the two jōnin's fight would essentially decide the whole squad's victory.

Neither side wasted a single word. Real combat wasn't about exchanging pleasantries—it was about seizing the moment to kill.

Though the Iwa jōnin looked lean, the wiry muscle on him suggested he'd put serious effort into taijutsu training.

But he wasn't in a rush. The Konoha squad ahead was already ready to fight on the river, and he stepped onto the water with ease. He even let the three Konoha genin retreat further back to a safer distance.

"Come on!" Kenji, seeing the Iwa jōnin already several steps onto the water and confirming his terrain advantage, called out like a declaration.

Both Kenji and the Iwa jōnin entered combat mode almost simultaneously, charging at each other while forming hand seals.

Since it was a head-on confrontation, it was generally hard to conceal the first jutsu's hand signs.

Tōji watched the two jōnin's hand seals with growing bewilderment… Ox-Snake-Hare-Rat-Boar-Bird-Ox-Horse-Serpent-Rat-Tiger-Dog-Tiger-Serpent-Ox-Goat-Serpent-Boar-Goat-Rat-Water-Monkey-Bird-Dragon-Bird-Ox-Horse-Goat-Tiger…

That string of seals had actually been initiated by the Iwa jōnin first. Kenji must have read the first few hand signs and deduced it was the 【Water Release: Water Dragon Missile Technique】. Knowing they could both use Water Release, he decided to counter with the same jutsu.

By the time they were halfway through the seals, Tōji had also guessed what was coming… Even though he hadn't yet learned a B-rank Water Release jutsu, the only one he knew with that many seals was the 【Water Dragon Missile】.

"Fall back!" Tōji didn't bother explaining—he just yelled and retreated hard.

Neru and Natchi weren't fools either—they followed Tōji without hesitation…

Tōji kept his attention locked on the two jōnin… Serpent-Rat-Monkey-Hare-Boar-Dragon-Goat-Rat-Ox-Monkey-Bird-Water-Rat-Boar-Bird!

『It really is the Water Dragon Missile!』

He might never get to see Zabuza and Kakashi's battle in this lifetime—but at least he got to witness this primitive version of the Water Dragon Missile duel firsthand!

And it wasn't one of those awkward standoffs where both parties stood still forming seals while building atmosphere.

On the river, neither man slowed their charge. When the seals were complete, neither shouted their jutsu name with cringe-worthy flair—two water dragons, each over two meters in diameter, erupted from the water in front of them!

But both clearly had further plans!

Using his own water dragon as cover, the Iwa jōnin kept charging forward across the river—looking like he was going for close combat!

Kokubō Kenji, though—he surprised Tōji. For the first time, he took that steel plate off his back, channeled chakra into it, and surfed on top of it like a surfboard straight up onto the head of his own water dragon!

Kenji's cool factor instantly maxed out!

"The captain's turtle shell—er, I mean, steel plate… shield—is that what it's for?" Tōji muttered quietly to the two beside him.

As he was saying that, Kenji was already leaping off his "surfboard" toward the Iwa jōnin on the river!

『What kind of circus heritage is that?』

The two water dragons started brawling with each other—as if the jōnin had only summoned them for atmosphere.

And at that moment, one of them descended from above on his steel plate, while the other leaped upward!