They're promoting the "Konoha threat" theory, and spouting nonsense about the Hidden

Chapter 18 Qi Circle Slash

"Hozuki Shingetsu is ultimately suffering from the disadvantage of age. If he had trained for another two or three years and honed his ninjutsu properly, he might not be a match for Kaguya Hirotoshi."

The Jonin shook their heads, unsurprised by the outcome. Kaguya Hiroto was a renowned genius in her day; how could eight years of training be so easily overcome? Moreover, their secret techniques were countered, and their own attacks couldn't even break through her defenses. How were they supposed to fight this battle?

"That's not necessarily true. In positional warfare, the Kaguya clan naturally has the advantage. But in a real open-field battle, who do you think would win? Hozuki Shingetsu can easily manifest from the water and take down the sensory-less Kaguya Hirotoshi with a single water cannon shot. So, Hozuki Shingetsu lost, but the Hozuki clan didn't lose."

Several Jonin from the Hozuki clan had even come up with excuses to exonerate Hozuki Shingetsu.

"Haha, Hozuki clan leader, have you decided which member of your clan will marry into my Kaguya clan?" Kaguya Yoshio smiled as he looked at Hozuki Zangetsu beside him.

"The results aren't out yet, isn't Chief Kaguya afraid of being proven wrong?"

Hozuki Zangetsu remained completely calm, ignoring the blatant taunt. Although the unfinished Water Release chakra mode was impressive, he knew his son's strength was far greater than that.

Although he hadn't fought his own son in person and didn't know all of his tricks, Hozuki Shingetsu hadn't even used the one move he knew!

"Ninjutsu without hand seals... these young people are truly formidable!"

Thinking of that terrifyingly destructive move, Hozuki Zangetsu, I couldn't help but feel a deep sense of感慨 (gǎnkǎi, deep emotion).

Meanwhile, on the other side of the field, Hozuki Shingetsu also realized that this couldn't go on. His half-finished Water Release chakra mode simply couldn't break through Kaguya Hirotoshi's defense, and continuing like this was pointless.

So he mustered all his strength to force Kaguya Hirotoshi back, and after using Body Flicker Technique to create distance, he deliberately deactivated his Water Release Chakra Mode.

The current half-finished Water Release Chakra Mode can only be used to bully weaklings. However, the key is that if you want to bully weaklings, your Water Release techniques are more than enough. Therefore, this half-finished version is really a bit of a waste.

"I still need to improve! I wish I could have a Yotsuki clan ninja who has mastered Lightning Release Chakra Mode so I can observe them."

Remembering a use of the cheat system he had developed, Hozuki Shingetsu kept thinking about ways to improve it.

"Have you given up?"

Seeing Hozuki Shingetsu's blood and energy return to normal, Kaguya Hirotoshi thought Hozuki Shingetsu was about to admit defeat, and he still felt a little unsatisfied.

Although Hozuki Shingetsu's Water Release Chakra Mode is not yet complete, it is still quite rare that he can fight on equal terms with Hozuki Shingetsu when Hozuki Shingetsu has activated his Shikotsumyaku ability.

Despite their differing stances, he did acknowledge that Hozuki Shingetsu's reputation as a genius was not unfounded.

"Give up? This is nothing!"

Actually, there is a way to defeat Kaguya Hirotoshi, and it's quite simple.

That is to summon the spirit beast, Mirage, and use it as the main body to emit mist and create a wide-range illusion, a mirage.

Once activated, this ninjutsu allows the user to create illusions of themselves and the mirage from any direction within the mist area.

Although the illusion itself has no offensive power, its true form can be hidden in the mist and launch an attack at any time. This mist can also enhance the perception of ninjas with blurred senses, further improving the practicality of ninjutsu.

The "Hidden Mist Technique" and "Silent Killing Technique" of Kirigakure were inspired by this ninjutsu and evolved from it.

As the Second Mizukage's signature ninjutsu, this move is completely different from ordinary genjutsu in its counter-method.

Normal genjutsu can be broken by simply disrupting one's chakra flow, but this technique requires accurately locating the mirage's hiding place within the illusion and then breaking its defenses to dispel it. However, the mirage itself possesses extremely strong defensive capabilities, and it cannot be broken without extremely powerful offensive ninjutsu or a large number of explosive tags.

Back in the day, the Mirage combined with the Steam Explosion was the Second Mizukage's signature technique, and even the Second Tsuchikage, who developed the "Bloodline Limit," had a headache because of it.

Hozuki Shingetsu was able to master this ninjutsu only after gaining the approval of the Mirage with the help of a cheat system.

Once this ninjutsu is unleashed, Kaguya Hirotoshi, who lacks the ability to sense ninjutsu, will naturally be unable to break it and will only be at Hozuki Shingetsu's mercy after his chakra is exhausted.

However, even if they win, the result will be too ugly to achieve Hozuki Shingetsu's goal of establishing prestige.

With this thought in mind, Hozuki Shingetsu took a deep breath and raised a finger.

"Huh? Is this some new kind of surrender gesture?"

Ignoring Kaguya Hirotoshi's taunts, Hozuki Shingetsu spoke calmly.

"One move, I'll finish you off in one move."

Kaguya Hirotoshi was furious that her taunt had backfired, and she instantly teleported to Hozuki Shingetsu's side, her right hand transforming into a spear that pierced through Hozuki Shingetsu's right chest.

Although it's impossible to kill someone in front of so many people, having his right chest pierced is enough to keep that foul-mouthed kid in bed for a month or two.

As the manipulator of the Shikotsumyaku (Corpse Bone Pulse), Hirotoshi Kaguya also has various means to leave incurable hidden dangers in Shingetsu Hozuki's body.

Genius? Who wasn't a child prodigy back in the day?

A cold glint flashed in Kaguya Hirotoshi's eyes. Only geniuses who have grown up are true geniuses; all those who haven't manifested their abilities can only be called potential.

Wow!

"Water clone?"

The pierced Hozuki Shingetsu turned into a stream of water and dissipated on the spot. Knowing that Hozuki Shingetsu was about to counterattack, Kaguya Hirotoki focused her mind and carefully listened to the surrounding movements.

hum!

hum!

Just then, a strange sound suddenly appeared behind Kaguya Hirotoshi, like the unwilling roar of a violent energy being forced to change its shape.

Kaguya Hirotoshi turned around and saw that on Hozuki Shingetsu's right hand, the violent chakra that had been undergoing irregular Brownian motion was now slowly rotating around the center at high speed under the control of Hozuki Shingetsu's willpower. A disc as thin as a cicada's wing was slowly forming, and tiny serrations even appeared on the edge of the disc.

Sensing danger, Kaguya Hirotoshi decided to strike first. Her long whip drew a graceful arc in the air, like a serpent, and firmly wrapped around Hozuki Shingetsu's left hand.

"Got you!"

Kaguya Hirotoshi was overjoyed, and then, using the whip as a shield, she flew to Hozuki Shingetsu's side, her spear pointing directly at his chest.

"Let's see how you run this time!"

However, at this moment, he did not see any panic on Hozuki Shingetsu's face, but instead heard a familiar phrase.

"Got you!"

Hozuki Shingetsu also raised his right hand, and the rapidly spinning disc met Kaguya's strongest spear.

"Are you saying I'm afraid of you?"

Despite sensing danger emanating from that disc, Kaguya Hirotoshi still chose to trust her family's bloodline limit, the title of the strongest shield of the Shikotsumyaku, which had been proven countless times!

Boo!

Like the noise of a cutting machine, after a brief stalemate, in Kaguya Hirotoshi's incredulous gaze, the Corpse Bone Vein melted instantly like butter meeting high temperature. The disc didn't stop there, and with overwhelming force, it directly severed his right arm!

(End of this chapter)