On the battlefield.
The crackling sound of burning flesh, mixed with intermittent, weak wails and the stench of charred remains, permeated the scorching air.
Yoshikawa Iwa continuously directed personnel to bring back those who hadn't died yet from the sea of fire.
From atop the high wall, Hinata Aokawa watched this scene, raising his hand to fire continuously with his Spirit Bow.
Although many were blocked by the defensive Ninjutsu organized by Yoshikawa Iwa's men, he still harvested seven or eight heads.
At this moment, the enemy forces had dwindled to fewer than a hundred people.
Furthermore, after two powerful attacks, the enemy's morale had dropped to its lowest point.
Yoshikawa Iwa looked at his subordinates around him, their faces filled with fear and their hearts no longer in the fight.
Although he wanted to organize another attack, he knew the situation was beyond saving.
"Retreat!" Yoshikawa Iwa ordered helplessly.
Hearing this, the Cloud Ninja felt as if they had been granted a grand pardon and swarmed frantically toward the Fuyuan Bridge.
Hinata Aokawa watched the retreating enemy and did not raise his bow again.
The series of high-intensity attacks had nearly drained his Chakra dry.
There truly wasn't a single drop left.
Soon.
Under Yoshikawa Iwa's command, the Cloud Ninja retreated to the other side of the bridge.
However, they did not retreat completely; instead, they stopped and set up camp just outside Hinata Aokawa's attack range.
Hinata Aokawa frowned at the sight: "They intend to wait for the Kumogakure Army to arrive before attacking together."
"At least we can breathe a sigh of relief!" Uchiha Hachidai walked over, seemingly sensing his concerns, and explained: "Now it depends on whose reinforcements arrive first."
Hinata Aokawa nodded at his words.
"You've worked hard. It's thanks to you that we could hold off this wave of attacks." Uchiha Hachidai patted his shoulder.
"Yeah, it's all thanks to Aokawa." Shirakumo Hayama punched Hinata Aokawa's shoulder lightly: "You brat, just how much more are you hiding?"
The rest of the group 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 against a common enemy can we repel them." Hinata Aokawa waved his hand.
"Haha, Aokawa, you're freaking awesome." Uchiha Inabi grinned, his face full of admiration: "So it turns out when you sparred with me tonight, you hadn't even shown your full strength. This level of combat power is just ridiculous."
"I declare that from now on, you are my, Uchiha Inabi's, big brother!"
"What do you mean 'your' big brother?" Hinata Iruha frowned and spoke up with dissatisfaction: "Aokawa belongs to our Hyuga Clan. If anyone's going to call him big brother, it's us in the Hyuga Clan!"
"Oh? Isn't the 'big brother' of your Hyuga Clan always the Head Family?"
"You..." Hinata Iruha pointed at Uchiha Inabi, speechless for a long moment.
Uchiha Inabi didn't go easy on Hinata Iruha: "We Uchiha are different. Whoever has the strength is the big brother; we never care about seniority. Whatever the big brother says goes, and wherever the big brother goes, we follow!"
"Oh? Then when Lord Madara left the village back then, surely many people followed him." Hinata Iruha finally found a chance to strike back.
"You..."
Hinata Aokawa didn't pay attention to their bickering.
He swallowed two ration pills and sat 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 their heads, and the environment remained harsh; he needed to increase his strength as much as possible right now.
As soon as he immersed his consciousness into the Sea of Consciousness space, lines of text prompts appeared.
[In the subtle gaps between the power plays of two nations, by skillfully utilizing asymmetric combat power to kill Onigumo, you have received a blessing.]
[energy crystal * 6]
[United against a common enemy, defending together, achieving victory in the first battle, you have received a blessing.]
[Wind Release Chakra Nature * 1]
[Wind Release Chakra Nature Transformation (Practiced level) * 1]
[Wind Release Chakra Shape Transformation (Practiced level) * 1]
[Wind Release: Great Breakthrough (Practiced level) * 1]
[Fire Release: Great Fireball Experience * 1]
[Fire Release: Great Fireball upgraded to proficient level]
[Uchiha-ryu Kenjutsu (Practiced level) * 1]
[energy crystal * 63]
[A soul-piercing shot, striking the morale of the enemy reinforcements, you have received a blessing.]
[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 * 13]
[Flames filling the sky, repelling the enemy's second wave of attack, you have received a blessing.]
[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 * 185]
[Your understanding of Water Release has reached a new level.]
[You have obtained the crest: Water Release Mastery.]
He had harvested quite a few skills, and the energy crystals added up to a total of 438.
And then, there was a... crest?
Hinata Aokawa had almost forgotten about this thing; aside from the crest related to spiritual energy given at the start, he hadn't seen it appear again.
He hurriedly opened his personal information.
---
racial imprint: Quincy (Mixed-blood, fusion rate: 1.0%)
Talent Skill: Spiritual Particle Cluster
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: 479
---
He clicked on the description next to the "Water Release Mastery" crest.
[Water Release Mastery: Thoughts 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 5%.]
[Effect 2: Water Release talent increased by 1%.]
[Effect 3: Mastery of Water Release Chakra Nature Transformation and Shape Transformation increased by 1%.]
[Effect 4: Water Release Ninjutsu damage and range increased by 3%.]
Holy crap!
This is actually useful.
Especially items 3 and 4, which could significantly 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 veritable all-attribute Chakra Ninja.
He moved his gaze to the energy crystal column; adding the remaining 41, the total had reached 479.
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 there was after the imprint became Mixed-blood.
He hurriedly used his mind to click frantically on the "+" after the fusion rate.
The fusion rate rose sharply.
It stopped on its own at 4%.
[Your Mixed-blood imprint fusion rate has reached 4%; you have unlocked a new Racial Skill.]
[You have obtained...]
-------------------------------
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