"That move… only works with this trick!"
Raizen's eyes gleamed as he scooped up a massive chunk of clay from his ninja bag. He clenched it in his palm, and instantly, a colossal clay dragon burst into existence, wings spreading wide and jaw snapping toward Amamiya Gen below.
The patriarch's eyes narrowed. He didn't yet know the full strength of this technique, but the size alone screamed danger.
"C2, go!" Raizen barked.
The clay dragon roared and launched into the sky, spitting explosive missiles in rapid succession. Amamiya Gen's face darkened as he unleashed a barrage of Lightning Style attacks, striking down as many projectiles as he could.
But the missiles weren't just ordinary explosives—they were tracking clay projectiles. They twisted and darted around Gen's lightning, evading with uncanny precision. Even the elite Jōnin had to leap back to avoid the relentless pursuit.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Explosions rocked the battlefield, sending tremors across the ground. Even Amamiya Gen, seasoned elite Jōnin of the clan, felt the chill of sweat running down his back.
This… detonating clay is worse than I imagined.
"Enough, Douren!" Gen shouted, forcing Raizen to halt mid-air. Raizen descended back to solid ground, wings of his clay bird folding as he landed. Gen's gaze lingered on the massive construct, a flicker of envy passing through his eyes.
Control of the skies… the advantage is terrifying.
The Jōnin patriarch knew well the stories of future Akatsuki members like Deidara—talented ninjas whose aerial dominance with explosive clay made them legendary. Raizen hadn't reached that level yet, but even now, he owned the advantage of altitude and range.
"Your strength exceeds my expectations," Gen said slowly, exhaling. "You may go to Songshan Mine as you requested."
Raizen let out a quiet sigh of relief. Fighting bandits and minor skirmishes had been one thing, but real ninja combat? That was the thrill he'd been waiting for. Defending the Songshan Mine would finally put him against worthy opponents.
The next day, Raizen prepared for departure but first sought out Amamiya Tian.
"It's been a long time, Douren," Tian said with a heavy sigh. Raizen braced for a lecture, but Tian's tone shifted, serious and deliberate.
"I hear you and the patriarch applied to go to Songshan Mine?"
"Yes," Raizen replied. "If the Ueshi clan intends to strike our family, the mine will be their first target. I want to make sure it's defended."
Tian nodded gravely. "The Songshan Mine is our only industrial stronghold. It produces high-grade iron ore, essential for weapons and income. It's renowned across the region, which makes it a likely target. I suspect Ueshi isn't the only one interested."
"Not just the Ueshi clan?" Raizen blinked, alarmed.
"About half a month ago, several mysterious ninja attempted to ambush our transportation team at the Matsuyama Mine. Our clan repelled them, but we lost some personnel. Ueshi alone could not muster that many—it's possible they're working with another clan."
Raizen's brow furrowed. "Can I see the map?"
Tian led him to a table, spreading out a detailed map of the Songshan Mine. He traced the mining routes and transport lines, highlighting areas that could be vulnerable to infiltration.
"This incident shows signs of something unusual. Be careful out there," Tian warned.
"I understand," Raizen replied, nodding. After a final rest that night, he set off for the mine. Riding high above the terrain on his clay bird, he finally reached the distant shores of the Songshan Mine, ready to defend it against whatever awaited.