Mei Terumī evaded the attack, but as she steadied herself, her gaze fell on Shigure with surprise.
The reason wasn't the strength of his ninjutsu—it was the way he used it.
A moment ago, Shigure had fired a projectile that revealed her shadow clearly. The technique itself wasn't unfamiliar, but the execution was entirely his own.
The same ninjutsu can manifest in countless forms depending on the shinobi. But even with variation, the essence remains the same.
What unsettled Mei Terumī was that Shigure's method—those bullets the size of beans—mirrored her own signature technique.
"Don't tell me… this boy copied my ninjutsu after seeing it just once?"
A terrifying level of talent!
If it were true, Mei's desire to recruit him into Kirigakure grew stronger. With a genius like this, the Mist could secure its future for decades.
She licked her lips softly, eyes narrowing with intrigue.
"As a mere Genin, you can contend with me—a Kage—in ninjutsu. Boy, you have every right to be proud."
But Shigure didn't share her sentiment.
Proud? Of what? Just a shadow?
He knew he wasn't the strongest in the shinobi world—not yet.
"Ninjutsu—"
He was about to continue, but Mei Terumī cut him off in an instant.
Her body flickered, vanishing from sight, and in the blink of an eye she was behind him. A kunai spun in her grip, gleaming as it arced toward Shigure's neck.
Fast! Too fast!
He hadn't expected her Body Flicker Technique to be this overwhelming. At that speed, forming hand seals was impossible.
So, he abandoned the thought.
"Ninjutsu—Instant Escape!"
Shigure's body liquefied, collapsing into a pool of water that unraveled into countless lines before slipping past Mei Terumī's strike.
In midair, the fluid mass reformed, condensing into his shape as he landed lightly on another rooftop.
Mei Terumī's attack cut through nothing but air. She tilted her head up at him, brows furrowed.
"Did he just… cast without hand seals?"
From her angle, she couldn't be sure.
"Tch… what a troublesome Body Flicker."
Her curiosity sharpened. Shigure wasn't merely using the Body Flicker Technique—he was blending it seamlessly with his own unique ninjutsu. That wasn't something an ordinary shinobi could achieve.
Even Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, hadn't possessed such an art. Few across the shinobi world ever would.
This was no ordinary ninjutsu. It bordered on a secret technique—something beyond imitation, something innate.
You couldn't just decide to learn it.
Shigure was only a Genin, yet without any formal instruction from Konoha, he had developed techniques on his own.
Instant Ninjutsu… this talent is monstrous.
"Boy," Mei Terumī's voice turned cold, "our duel is over. Now begins the true battle. I won't hold back. Even if I have to knock you unconscious, I will drag you back to Kirigakure!"
Swish, swish, swish!
A volley of kunai and shuriken whistled through the air toward Shigure.
He frowned. If you want to be serious, then I'll answer in kind.
"Chill… Diffusion!"
Cold air erupted outward. The rain of weapons froze instantly midair, then shattered, falling like icy hailstones.
Shigure raised his hand. Snowflakes condensed out of nothing, swirling together as he tightened his grip on Zangetsu.
"Breath Style—Third Form: Flowing Dance!"
His body moved like a serpent weaving through a river's current, afterimages trailing behind him as he merged with the snow and water. He surged toward Mei Terumī, cutting through her defenses with relentless momentum.
Konoha shinobi, who had just arrived at the scene, halted in shock. The bitter wind cut through their cloaks.
"S-So cold!"
"Gekkō Shigure… he's fighting the Mizukage? What happened to the Chūnin Exams?!"
Mei's voice rang out, sharp and commanding:
"Boil Release—Skilled Mist Technique!"
Hiss!
A wave of thick, corrosive fog spread outward, engulfing the battlefield.
Shigure's eyes narrowed. A crackling roar followed as lightning-charged ice swept forward. The building Mei had been standing on collapsed, buried beneath snow and frozen solid in an instant.
Frost spread rapidly, encasing the ruins. But Mei Terumī's mist crept closer, corrosive enough to strip flesh from bone.
Shigure's gaze hardened. At once, an ice wall rose before him.
"Ice Release—Control of Ice and Snow!"
The barrier stopped the toxic fog, though it hissed and melted under the heat. On the other side, Shigure conjured twin whirlwinds of snowflakes, launching a howling storm toward Mei.
"Good reaction." Mei's lips curved into a smile. She shifted her mist, expelling another burst that collided with the icy gale. The snow hissed and melted on contact.
Shigure scowled. Not only corrosion… it's heat as well. Boil Release—it's the perfect counter to Ice Release.
His eyes locked onto Mei. The moment her feet touched the ground, Shigure acted. Ice surged upward, freezing her in place.
It wouldn't hold for long, but all he needed was a moment.
Countless snowflakes condensed above, spiraling into a raging blizzard.
Buzz!
The Konoha shinobi froze as they saw the storm expand. Panic spread instantly.
"Run!"
Someone shouted, and the group scattered in terror.
Crack! Boom!
The ice binding Mei shattered. She lifted her head, eyes narrowing at the storm collapsing onto her.
"This long-range freezing technique… truly troublesome."
The storm engulfed her as Shigure slammed his hands against the ground.
"Freeze them all!"
Ice crystals spread from beneath his feet, racing outward. The earth itself glazed white as frost consumed everything in its path, surging toward Mei Terumī.
The frozen storm and creeping ground ice together aimed to bury her completely.
Even distant rooftops glittered with frost, coated in Shigure's spreading cold.
Then—
Szzzzzz!
A strange sound split through the storm.
Boom!
White mist burst forth, colliding with the blizzard. In an instant, the ice and snow dissipated, steam rising as heat swallowed the cold.
Mei Terumī stepped forward, steam rolling off her body, her expression calm yet edged with respect.
"Kid… your Ice Release really is troublesome to deal with."
...
TN:
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