"BOOM!!"
In the very next instant, the two identical Water Release techniques clashed head-on, colliding with explosive force and sending towering sprays of water into the air. The two sides locked in a fierce contest, chakra surging against chakra.
Mizuhara Aran only gave a faint smile, because he knew full well the true power of his own jutsu.
The deadlock lasted barely two seconds.
On the bald thug's side, the flow of water began to weaken sharply—while on Aran's side, the torrents surged higher and stronger, swelling like an unending tidal wave.
In a battle of rising and falling tides, the outcome was inevitable.
"BAM!!"
The bald man's jutsu was overwhelmed and shattered. The moment before losing consciousness, one final thought flickered in his mind: How… how can a kid this young have so much chakra…?
The answer was simple—Aran had perfectly copied his technique and possessed unlimited chakra.
Standing nearby, the young girl's eyes widened in disbelief, her lips forming a small, round "O." She could never have imagined that the strange, lean boy before her was capable of such overwhelming power.
And while his looks might have been nothing to brag about, those eyes—sharp, radiant, like a sky scattered with countless stars—made her heart beat just a little faster.
Aran gave the two unconscious bald thugs a dismissive glance, then spat to the side."Pathetic. With skills like this, you dare to run around causing trouble? Do I look like some pushover to you?"
He looked down at the puddles pooling at his feet, his mood noticeably lifted."Not bad at all. One quick fight and I've picked up another jutsu. Now I've got both Fire Release and Water Release in my arsenal. Should make future fights much more interesting."
Without another thought, he strolled toward the shade of a tree not far away.
As Aran approached, he finally got a clear look at the girl's face, and for just a moment, something like a spark of admiration flashed in his eyes.
"You alright?" he asked politely.
The girl snapped out of her daze, quickly ducking her head. "Y-Yeah… I'm fine," she said softly.
At the same time, she silently scolded herself—Seriously? After all that, I'm here getting flustered over him?
Aran looked at her, then offered, "Want me to help you up?"
He extended his right hand, open and steady.
A faint blush spread across her cheeks as she placed her small, delicate hand in his palm.
The moment their hands touched, both of them felt a subtle jolt run through them.
For the girl, this was the first time in her life she had ever held the hand of a boy other than her father. Her face turned even redder.
For Aran, the smooth, soft texture of her hand—like the finest white jade—made his grip instinctively tighten just a little.
Feeling that firm but gentle pressure, the girl lowered her head further, almost hiding her face entirely in her skirt.
Aran chuckled lightly, gave a small tug, and pulled her to her feet.
Once she was standing, she quickly slipped her hand out of his, leaving him with a slight pang of regret.
Shame… I wasn't done enjoying that.
"What about them?" The girl pointed at the two unconscious bald men, her tone forced into calmness.
"Oh, that's easy. For guys like these, the simplest thing is to… 'interrogate' them properly. I know a few people in the village's Interrogation Division. We can hand them over." Aran's smirk hinted at less-than-innocent intentions.
Of course, no interrogation was really necessary—it was obvious what they had been up to. Aran just wanted Morino Ibiki to have some fun with them.
"I'll leave it to you…" the girl replied shyly.
Aran gave an awkward little laugh. Why does it sound like she's already acting like a wife letting her husband take charge?
Not that he minded. In fact, he found he rather liked it.