On the Battlefield.
The crackling sound of burning flesh, mixed with intermittent, weak wails and the stench of charred bodies, filled the scorching air.
Yoshikawa Iwa continuously directed his personnel to bring back those who hadn't yet died in the sea of fire.
On the high wall, Hinata Aokawa watched this scene, raising his hand to fire continuously with his Spirit Bow.
Although Yoshikawa Iwa organized personnel to block many of the shots with defensive Ninjutsu, he still harvested seven or eight more heads.
By now, the enemy forces had dwindled to fewer than a hundred people.
After two powerful attacks, the enemy's morale had plummeted to its lowest point.
Yoshikawa Iwa looked at his subordinates, whose faces were filled with fear and who no longer had the heart to fight.
Although he wanted to organize another attack, he knew the situation was beyond salvation.
"Retreat!" Yoshikawa Iwa helplessly ordered.
Upon hearing this, the Cloud Ninjas felt as if they had been granted a grand pardon and swarmed frantically toward the Fuyuan Bridge.
Hinata Aokawa watched the retreating enemies but did not raise his bow again.
A series of high-intensity attacks had nearly drained his Chakra.
There truly wasn't a single drop left.
Soon.
Under Yoshikawa Iwa's command, the Cloud Ninjas retreated to the other side of the bridge.
However, they did not fully retreat; they stopped and set up camp just outside Hinata Aokawa's attack range.
Seeing this, Hinata Aokawa frowned: "They plan to wait for the Kumogakure Army to arrive before attacking together."
"At least we can breathe a sigh of relief for now!" Uchiha Hachidai walked over, seemingly sensing his concerns, and explained: "Now it's a matter of whose reinforcements arrive first."
Hinata Aokawa nodded.
"Hard work. We held this wave thanks to you." Uchiha Hachidai patted his shoulder.
"Yeah, it's all thanks to Aokawa." Hakugin Sohma punched Hinata Aokawa's shoulder lightly: "You kid, how many more secrets are you hiding?"
The others also gathered around.
"I apologize for my previous remarks."
Hinata Aokawa turned to look; it was the Chunin who had mocked him at the beginning.
He was actually still alive.
At this moment, he was bowing ninety degrees, expressing his apologies to Hinata Aokawa.
"Don't worry about it. Only by being united can we repel the enemy." Hinata Aokawa waved his hand.
"Haha, Aokawa, you're so badass." Uchiha Inabi grinned with a face full of admiration: "It turns out that when you sparred with me tonight, you hadn't even shown your full strength. This kind of combat power is just too ridiculous."
"I declare, from now on, you're my, Uchiha Inabi's, big brother!"
"What do you mean 'your' big brother?" Hinata Iruha frowned and spoke up dissatisfied: "Aokawa is from our Hyuga Clan. If anyone's calling him big brother, it's us from the Hyuga Clan!"
"Oh? Isn't the 'big brother' of your Hyuga Clan always the Main House?"
"You..." Hinata Iruha pointed at Uchiha Inabi, speechless for a long time.
Uchiha Inabi didn't hold back against Hinata Iruha: "We Uchiha are different. Whoever has the strength is the big brother, regardless of seniority. Whatever the big brother says goes, and wherever he goes, we follow!"
"Oh? Then when Lord Madara left the village back then, there must have been many people following him." Hinata Iruha finally found a chance to counter.
"You..."
Hinata Aokawa didn't pay attention to their bickering.
He ate two ration pills and sat down cross-legged to rest, preparing to use all the energy crystals he had obtained from killing Onigumo.
The Kumogakure Army was like a sword hanging over his head; the environment was still dire, and every bit of strength he could increase now counted.
As soon as he immersed his consciousness into the Sea of Consciousness space, rows of text prompts emerged.
[In the delicate gap between the gambits of two nations, you skillfully used asymmetric combat power to kill Onigumo. You have gained Favor.]
[energy crystal * 600]
[United against a common enemy, defending together, victory in the first battle. You have gained Favor.]
[Wind Release Chakra Nature * 1]
[Wind Release Chakra Nature Transformation (Practiced level) * 1]
[Wind Release Chakra Form Transformation (Practiced level) * 1]
[Wind Release: Great Breakthrough (Practiced level) * 1]
[Fire Release: Great Fireball Experience * 1]
[Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique upgraded to proficient level]
[Uchiha-ryu Kenjutsu (Practiced level) * 1]
[energy crystal * 630]
[A direct hit, crushing the morale of the enemy's reinforcements. You have gained Favor.]
[Lightning Release: Lightning Ball (Practiced level) * 1]
[Wind Release: Gale Palm (Practiced level) * 1]
[Lightning Release: Earth Flash (Practiced level) * 1]
[Lightning Release: Lightning Clone (Practiced level) * 1]
[energy crystal * 1300]
[Flames across the sky, repelling the enemy's second wave of attack. You have gained Favor.]
[Lightning Release: Lightning Dragon (proficient level) * 1]
[Konoha-ryu Kenjutsu Experience * 1]
[Konoha-ryu Kenjutsu upgraded to proficient level]
[Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation (Practiced level) * 1]
[Water Release: Water Whip (Practiced level) * 1]
[energy crystal * 1850]
[Your understanding of Water Release has reached a new level]
[You have obtained the crest: Water Release Mastery]
He had gained quite a few skills, and the energy crystals totaled 4,380.
And then, there was a... crest?
Hinata Aokawa had almost forgotten about this; aside from the crest related to spiritual energy given at the beginning, he hadn't seen another one appear.
He quickly opened his personal information.
---
racial imprint: Quincy (Mixed-blood, fusion rate: 10.00%)
Talent Skill: Reishi Gathering
Racial Skills: Holy Arrow, Holy Arrow: Scatter, Holy Arrow: Demon Break, Reishi Network, Hirenkyaku, Rantō Tenkū, Seietsu, Green Cup, Gokakuhō
crests: Innate Full Spirit, Water Release Mastery
Kekkei Genkai: Byakugan
Chakra Natures: Water, Lightning, Earth, Fire, Yang, Yin, Wind
energy crystals: 4,790
---
He clicked on the description next to the "Water Release Mastery" crest.
[Water Release Mastery: Your thoughts are like the tide; even formless water obeys your command. You can easily perceive and guide the water currents and moisture in nature.]
[Effect 1: Chakra consumption for releasing Water Release Ninjutsu is reduced by 50%]
[Effect 2: Water Release talent increased by 100%]
[Effect 3: Mastery over Water Release Chakra Nature Transformation and Form Transformation increased by 100%]
[Effect 4: Water Release Ninjutsu damage and range increased by 30%]
Holy crap!
This is actually practical.
Especially effects 3 and 4, which could drastically increase the strength of his Water Release.
He moved his gaze downward.
Hmm!
A Wind attribute had also been added to his Chakra natures.
Now he was a true all-attribute Chakra Ninja.
He shifted his gaze to the energy crystal column; adding the 410 he had left over, the amount had reached 4,790.
With so many energy crystals, he had to quickly convert them into fusion rate to increase his combat power.
He just didn't know how much inflation had occurred after the imprint became Mixed-blood.
He quickly used his mind to frantically click the "+" after the fusion rate.
The fusion rate rose sharply.
It stopped on its own at 40%.
[Your Mixed-blood imprint fusion rate has reached 40%; you have unlocked new racial skills]
[You have obtained...]